Imagine a cool spring morning in Minneapolis. The date is April 16, 2016.
Prince is an absolute global superstar. He has sold millions of records. He has traveled the entire world. But behind closed doors, he is carrying a burden. His body is incredibly tired and in physical pain. He knows deep down that his time on earth is running short.
He does not want to hide away in his giant mansion. He does not want to be a famous celebrity today. He just wants to find a brief, quiet moment of pure peace. He wants to relax and enjoy the simple things he loves most.
So, he decides to drive down to his favorite local record store. The famous, quirky shop is called Electric Fetus. It happens to be Record Store Day. Prince wants to feel like a completely normal fan one last time.
Remembering Prince – The Electric Fetus Record Store in Minneapolis
Searching for Old Friends
When Prince walks into the store, he forgets about his stress. He slowly walks through the narrow aisles. He flips through the plastic CD cases with a smile. He is not looking for his own music. He is looking for his ultimate heroes.
He carefully picks out six very special albums to take home. Each choice shows his love for all kinds of music.
- Stevie Wonder – Talking Book: He picks this up to feel that pure, ultimate funk and soul. Stevie is his absolute hero.
- Joni Mitchell – Hejira: He grabs this to hear her complex, beautiful songwriting.
- Santana – Santana IV: This album was actually released the very day before! It shows Prince still loved checking out fresh, brand new rock music.
- The Chambers Brothers & Swan Silvertones: He picks up these two albums to connect with his deep, spiritual roots in gospel and psychedelic soul.
- Missing Persons – The Best of Missing Persons: He grabs this fun compilation just because he loves tight, catchy 80s pop.
Prince + Stevie Wonder – Superstition – Live in Paris
Prince takes his burden and leaves it right at the record store door. He buys his six CDs and gets into his car.
He immediately unwraps the Stevie Wonder album. He slides it into his car stereo and turns the volume all the way up. The funky music completely fills the car. For a few miles, he forgets his pain. He feels nothing but joy.
He wants to share this happy moment with the world. He gets on his phone and types an excited tweet to his fans. He proudly writes that he “ROCKED STEVIE’S TALKING BOOK ALL THE WAY HOME!”
Tragically, just five short days later, Prince passed away. This shopping trip was one of his very last public appearances.
Music is the ultimate healer. Even the greatest, most famous artists in the world need to listen to their own heroes when times get dark. When the weight of the world feels much too heavy to carry, you can always find total comfort in your favorite melody.