Remember when the music superstar Prince suddenly became a symbol you could not even say? Many people thought it was just a strange joke. But in a 1999 talk with Larry King on CNN, Prince finally explained why he did it. It was not a joke at all. It was a serious fight for his own name.
Prince felt like he was a prisoner. He told Larry King that his record company owned his name, “Prince.” He felt like they were using it to control him and his work. He even used the word “slavery” to describe how it felt. He had to find a way to be free and own the music he made.
Prince explains his name change (1999 CNN interview)
Hearing him say it himself really changes how you see it. For years, many people just thought he was being weird or difficult. But viewers listening to his quiet words finally understand his side. One person noted that he was simply ahead of his time, fighting for artists’ rights long before others even thought about it.
That deep need to own his art was a huge part of his life. He did not just want to be free for himself; he wanted to make a point for all artists. This same need to stand for something big shows up in other moments, like in a short, powerful talk he once gave to MTV.
“You are either are here to enlighten or discourage,” shared Prince in an interview with MTV.
In that interview, Prince looked right at the camera with a very calm face. He said we are all here for one of two reasons: “to enlighten or to discourage.” That is it. He believed his job, and maybe everyone’s job, was to lift people up. It shows how much he thought about his purpose.
Prince was always more than just amazing songs. He was an artist who made people think, pushed boundaries, and truly fought for what he believed in. He wanted his life and his music to mean something important. Follow Prince on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. His journey always has more to teach us.