As I watch the never ending coverage of Prince's death, a part of me gets very frustrated. Everyone is so upset about his passing. Buildings changed their lighting to purple, politicians and celebrities make statements. Now everyone talks about all the losses of musicians this year. It goes on and on. How do we as a nation react every time one of our brave service members losses his/her life? There is barely a mention of it. I worry about our priorities.
I do not know the person who wrote it, so I didn't respond. I respect this person's opinion, but honestly, when I see so many divisive political and social morality posts, I can't get upset that people come together on social media to mourn the loss of a famous person.
I would agree with his viewpoint if the White House or the Capitol Building were lit up in purple, because as far as I know, Prince never served our country. But if the city that calls itself the Rock and Roll Capital of the World wants to bathe its tallest building in purple one night, that certainly seems appropriate. As does any landmark in Prince's hometown where he gave back to the community. Unless you are a TMZ follower, most fans don't really care if he died of a drug overdose or in a mundane traffic accident. He died and that strikes an emotional chord with people, especially of my generation.
Prince became popular when I was in college. I've always associated songs with people throughout my life. Little Red Corvette reminds me of a particular conversation I had with a former college boyfriend. Purple Rain was one of the first movies I saw with my boyfriend-turned-husband. I played the Purple Rain soundtrack on my cassette tape player whenever I read a letter from my boyfriend/husband while he was doing a semester internship in NYC. When we were newlyweds, we babysat our 4 year old niece, who loved to sing the chorus to Prince's song, Kiss. It's hard for me to not be sad when I think about the artist who wrote and performed those songs.
Should the media give more attention to service members and their families, especially when lives are lost? Nobody can deny that. Yet, what statement can a politician or celebrity make about a person they have never met, or even heard of, besides a generic statement about the tragedy of another life lost (and depending on his/her political stance, it could often be stated that it's a life that didn't need to be lost at all)? Our town honors its fallen heroes by naming bridges and roads after them, tributes during Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, and newspaper articles about the individuals and their families. I don't believe they are forgotten, but unless you went to school with them or lived on the same street or had some other connection, you are probably not going to talk about individual military deaths on social media.
If it's still unclear why 'everyone' is upset about the death of another musician/celebrity, it's because of the way they touch our lives, though music or whatever medium. I wasn't particularly sad about the passing of Kurt Cobain, and I won't wax nostalgic when Bob Dylan bites the dust. Their music has no special meaning to me, so I understand that others may feel that way about Prince. But heck, I'll be sad when I'm 70 and members of the Brady Bunch start to die off. Because it's a piece of lost youth and your own mortality that makes you grieve.
I do not know the person who wrote it, so I didn't respond. I respect this person's opinion, but honestly, when I see so many divisive political and social morality posts, I can't get upset that people come together on social media to mourn the loss of a famous person.
I would agree with his viewpoint if the White House or the Capitol Building were lit up in purple, because as far as I know, Prince never served our country. But if the city that calls itself the Rock and Roll Capital of the World wants to bathe its tallest building in purple one night, that certainly seems appropriate. As does any landmark in Prince's hometown where he gave back to the community. Unless you are a TMZ follower, most fans don't really care if he died of a drug overdose or in a mundane traffic accident. He died and that strikes an emotional chord with people, especially of my generation.
Prince became popular when I was in college. I've always associated songs with people throughout my life. Little Red Corvette reminds me of a particular conversation I had with a former college boyfriend. Purple Rain was one of the first movies I saw with my boyfriend-turned-husband. I played the Purple Rain soundtrack on my cassette tape player whenever I read a letter from my boyfriend/husband while he was doing a semester internship in NYC. When we were newlyweds, we babysat our 4 year old niece, who loved to sing the chorus to Prince's song, Kiss. It's hard for me to not be sad when I think about the artist who wrote and performed those songs.
Should the media give more attention to service members and their families, especially when lives are lost? Nobody can deny that. Yet, what statement can a politician or celebrity make about a person they have never met, or even heard of, besides a generic statement about the tragedy of another life lost (and depending on his/her political stance, it could often be stated that it's a life that didn't need to be lost at all)? Our town honors its fallen heroes by naming bridges and roads after them, tributes during Memorial Day and Veteran's Day, and newspaper articles about the individuals and their families. I don't believe they are forgotten, but unless you went to school with them or lived on the same street or had some other connection, you are probably not going to talk about individual military deaths on social media.
If it's still unclear why 'everyone' is upset about the death of another musician/celebrity, it's because of the way they touch our lives, though music or whatever medium. I wasn't particularly sad about the passing of Kurt Cobain, and I won't wax nostalgic when Bob Dylan bites the dust. Their music has no special meaning to me, so I understand that others may feel that way about Prince. But heck, I'll be sad when I'm 70 and members of the Brady Bunch start to die off. Because it's a piece of lost youth and your own mortality that makes you grieve.
True indeed. People can get behind celebrities and such because they have meaning to them in some way. They saw and knew them to some extent. Where as service men and women they don't. So the most they can say is something generic.
ReplyDeleteOn the flip side you also don't see many internet trolls cheering or making fun or service men and women's death. Where as celebrities are fair game.
Good point that veterans (excluding Vietnam) at least get paid respect. Celebrities don't have much chance with the gossip mags that make stuff up about them.
DeleteI quite agree. As you say, people like Prince have had a huge personal impact on millions of people around the world, whereas the loss of service men and women affects their immediate family and friends but they are unknown to everyone else except in an abstract way as "fighting for their country" or "fighting for democracy". And yes, there are Memorial Day and Veterans Day to remember them.
ReplyDeleteIt's odd to me that someone would complain about the public being upset about his death. It was unexpected and he was only 57. Plus, it's been less than a week!
DeleteWell put. You can make many similar comparisons, I suppose - why don't we mourn single moms who struggle to feed their babies, or the homeless camped out beneath bridges, or that guy who stubbed his toe really hard on the coffee table? But that's missing the point. Prince touched many of our lives, mine included, and THAT is why I grieve over his passing. Great tribute, by the way. I wrote one myself but never posted it here.
ReplyDeleteYup, you really need some sort of connection to feel a loss. I'm sad when I hear about a child with autism who is bullied, but that's because I have a child with autism.
DeletePost your tribute! I enjoyed your re-post.
Spot on! I did not listen to Prince, really don't know his music (except for Purple Rain which I like) but his death was quite a loss for my wife and her kids. I am still in mourning for Buddy Holly, so I get it.
ReplyDeleteAs for our service men and women, there are not enough lights or speeches to thank them enough.
I like that your wife and her kids shared an interest in the same artist. All our kids love Fleetwood Mac and Barenaked Ladies, thanks to us.
DeleteAnd you are right, speeches and memorials don't do justice to our service folks.
When I realized he was 57 and thought, hey, that's younger than me... Self-righteousness is the problem with people having problems with Prince tributes.
ReplyDeleteIt seemed a bit self-righteous to me as well, but the comments that followed all agreed with him.
DeleteTotally agree and your last sentence sums it up all so well! I think I was shocked when I heard the news of Prince because he's a year younger than me, then you want to try to figure out what he might have died from to see if it was something preventable, etc. Definitely our military people should get attention when their lives are lost; they make a greater sacrifice for our freedom and country than most celebrities out there.
ReplyDeletebetty
It's always shocking when it comes out of the blue. I read online that people saw him riding his bicycle around town just a few days before. Weird!
DeleteWhat an awesome post! And you brought up some wonderfully valid points in making your point.
ReplyDelete"If it's still unclear why 'everyone' is upset about the death of another musician/celebrity, it's because of the way they touch our lives, though music or whatever medium."
Yes, you're absolutely right about that!
And as you said, you need some sort of connection to feel a loss. And that doesn't mean we can't or don't feel compassion for those loses.
I think some celebrities, such as Prince, David Bowie, etc., touched the lives of so many people through their songs, that when they pass away...their loss is felt so deeply within our hearts. It was the same with someone like Judy Garland. When she died, people all over the world mourned because they "connected" to her.
Again, great post, my friend! I too was a big fan of Prince and took the news of his passing with much grief.
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I'm glad you enjoyed my post. I think people are particularly sad when the person who has died was part of their childhood or young adulthood. I've often read about people who got through rough times listening to a certain album, etc. it can have a very special meaning for some.
DeleteI agree, it's the level of connection we feel that determines the amount of mourning. Well said!
ReplyDeleteThank you! Connection is everything!
DeleteGreat post, Bijoux! It seems that every time a celebrity dies, someone will always complain about the troops not getting their due. It's not fair, but it's just not surprising. We're drawn to celebrities and we make them larger than life, so that when they die, we're all stunned. I wish the fallen soldiers received as much attention as the celebrities, too, but it's never going to happen. Maybe we should cut back on wars, so we wouldn't lose any soldiers. Just a thought...
ReplyDeleteAmen to that last sentence.
DeleteA lot of people feel connected to singers because they hear songs that touch them during the best and worst times of their lives.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely! I'm always amazed at how many lyrics I can remember after decades.
DeleteI agree with Mary --many songs hold a sentimental value,and hence we get a certain 'feeling' when we hear a certain tune/song.
ReplyDeleteBut- at the same time, I totally agree with you. I think there is so much more that needs attention.
There is a lot to be concerned about in the world. I'm grateful to music to be able to escape sometimes!
DeleteI completely agree with you. I was sick to my stomach when I heard about Prince. It was ridiculous to me since I didn't know him. But his music was the soundtrack to my youth. My very close friends and I were dancers and would ALWAYS use his music for our dance routines (Let's Go Crazy was a BIG one for us). Music has the ability to soothe and heal and I think Prince's music did that for many people. It makes you feel a kinship with the writer and artist. Music can get you through hard times. It lifts you up or comforts you. So, I completely get the outpouring over Prince's death. He was a remarkable artist. A musical genius. Do many people even know how many instruments he played? He would individually record each instrument on each of his tracks in the studio and them put them all together. WHO can do that? Do people even know how many #1 hits he wrote for other artists? The guy was amazing. It is a loss.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, we honor our fallen soldiers. Of course we do, and we should. But it is hard to feel we "know" them as we sometimes feel with an artist whose music soothes and comforts and uplifts us for decades.
Wow! You said it all! And I believe Prince played 27 instruments? Know something weird? When Bowie died and I wrote a blog piece, I was actually thinking about who I thought compared to Bowie, being an original artist. And the best I could think of was Prince! Shocking to lose both so close together.
DeleteYes! Bowie was another one. He was a little before my time and I never got into him completely but absolutely respected him as an artist. Another true loss (as a celebrity) for me was Maya Angelou. But she was older and it wasn't a shock the way Prince was. It is these people who we connect with through words and music that can make such an impact on our lives without even meeting them. And many times they make us feel things or see things in a completely different way that can help shape who we are. Music/art/poetry/theater. It is all so powerful. Besides, who is anyone else to say how others should grieve?
DeleteHe died and that strikes an emotional chord with people... I couldn't agree with you more. Maybe we need to get our priorities straight.
ReplyDeleteA look at the daily news tells me we've got priority problems. If I hear one more thing about Target bathrooms.....
Deletei loved prince and listened to some of his music, i still do. i was shocked and saddened at his death. i still don't want to believe it but he definitely touched people right in the heart with his music and i think that's why people are so upset. music can bring people together like nothing else, i guess it's the common factor.
ReplyDeletei'm not a fan of war of any kind, so i'm sad when anyone has to lose their life, but the reaction is not the same because we shared absolutely NOTHING with the person who died, whereas prince spoke to people thorough his music and most likely people felt he understood their feelings so well, a connection was made. i'm still in shock and that's why my blog color is purple. i didn't post anything about it but i did tweet and retweet two items. let people grieve how they want, i say. who are we to tell someone not to be hurt or upset.
I like what you said about the common factor. Yes!
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