Musicians React To Prince’s Death
Prince and Bowie in the same year, two of the most influential musicians in pop music history. Fuck 2016. The jarring news that the legend has passed away at age 57 has led to a flood of purple heart and purple rain emoji-laden tweets. Here’s how musicians, many of whom are indebted to Prince in one way or another, are reacting on social media.
We’ll be updating this post throughout the day.
💔about Prince, one of the greatest artists has left us today. I'll miss my friend, his advice&great humor.Thank you for your magical music.
— Cyndi Lauper (@cyndilauper) April 21, 2016
Frank Ocean’s Tumblr post:
I’M NOT EVEN GONNA SAY REST IN PEACE BECAUSE IT’S BIGGER THAN DEATH. I NEVER MET THE MAN (I WAS TOO NERVOUS THE ONE TIME I SAW HIM) AND I NEVER SAW HIM PLAY LIVE, REGRETTABLY. I ONLY KNOW THE LEGENDS I’VE HEARD FROM FOLKS AND WHAT I’VE HEARD AND SEEN FROM HIS DEEP CATALOG OF PROPELLANT, FEARLESS, VIRTUOSIC WORK. MY ASSESSMENT IS THAT HE LEARNED EARLY ON HOW LITTLE VALUE TO ASSIGN TO SOMEONE ELSE’S OPINION OF YOU.. AN INFECTIOUS SENTIMENT THAT SEEMED SOAKED INTO HIS CLOTHES, HIS HAIR, HIS WALK, HIS GUITAR AND HIS PRIMAL SCREAM. HE WROTE MY FAVORITE SONG OF ALL TIME, ‘WHEN YOU WERE MINE’. IT’S A SIMPLE SONG WITH A SIMPLE MELODY THAT MAKES YOU WISH YOU THOUGHT OF IT FIRST, EVEN THOUGH YOU NEVER WOULD HAVE – A FLIRTATIOUS BRAND OF GENIUS THAT FEELS APPROACHABLE. HE WAS A STRAIGHT BLACK MAN WHO PLAYED HIS FIRST TELEVISED SET IN BIKINI BOTTOMS AND KNEE HIGH HEELED BOOTS, EPIC. HE MADE ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE WITH HOW I IDENTIFY SEXUALLY SIMPLY BY HIS DISPLAY OF FREEDOM FROM AND IRREVERENCE FOR OBVIOUSLY ARCHAIC IDEAS LIKE GENDER CONFORMITY ETC. HE MOVED ME TO BE MORE DARING AND INTUITIVE WITH MY OWN WORK BY HIS DEMONSTRATION – HIS DENIAL OF THE PREVAILING MODEL…HIS FIGHT FOR HIS INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – ‘SLAVE’ WRITTEN ACROSS THE FOREHEAD, NAME CHANGED TO A SYMBOL… AN ALL OUT REBELLION AGAINST EXPLOITATION. A VANGUARD AND GENIUS BY EVERY METRIC I KNOW OF WHO AFFECTED MANY IN A WAY THAT WILL OUTRUN OBLIVION FOR A LONG WHILE. I’M PROUD TO BE A PRINCE FAN(STAN) FOR LIFE.
And just like that…the world lost a lot of magic ✨ Rest in peace Prince! Thanks for giving us so much…
— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/ddlovato/status/723196141714608128
https://twitter.com/ddlovato/status/723199818785427456
Long Live The King.
— Questlove Gomez (@questlove) April 21, 2016
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
— ErykahBadoula (@fatbellybella) April 21, 2016
Numb. Stunned. This can't be real.
— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) April 21, 2016
R.I.P. His Purple Majesty. Thank you for everything.
— CHVRCHΞS (@CHVRCHES) April 21, 2016
My heart is broken. There are no words.
I love you!— SheilaEdrummer (@SheilaEdrummer) April 21, 2016
One of my biggest inspirations. A true icon. You will be missed. Sad sad news today… #RIPPrince
— Nick Jonas (@nickjonas) April 21, 2016
"Devastated to hear the news about Prince. An enormous talent that we were all big fans of." – Duran Duran pic.twitter.com/478Q9dVF7K
— Duran Duran (@duranduran) April 21, 2016
Prince 🙏🏽
— Yung Rénzél 👑 (@RickRoss) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/trvisXX/status/723198461387128833
Listen to tangerine by Prince or his cover of A case of you
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) April 21, 2016
None of prince's albums are available in digital format. You Have to find a physical copy. I appreciate that, bout to go an adventure
— Lil Chano From 79th (@chancetherapper) April 21, 2016
WHAT THE FUCK NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO
— lanzo (@babyhaim) April 21, 2016
A photo posted by Kesha (@iiswhoiis) on
PRINCE . You legend. Rest In Peace
— Lily (@lilyallen) April 21, 2016
I'm shocked to hear that Prince passed at such a young age. Musically, he could do it all: sing, play, arrange and produce. Love & Mercy
— Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) April 21, 2016
pink cashmere & a prayer sent into the moon: rip baby
— Arca (@arca1000000) April 21, 2016
Oh man Prince so sad. His music influenced many generations and will continue to.
— LINDA PERRY (@RealLindaPerry) April 21, 2016
Prince….there's no way
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) April 21, 2016
Rest in power, Prince.
— Russell Simmons (@UncleRUSH) April 21, 2016
Damn. RIP to a true legend. The world won't be the same without Prince's crazy ass.
— FLYLO (@flyinglotus) April 21, 2016
https://twitter.com/therealelp/status/723212172503879680
I can't believe #Prince has passed. This is horrible news. #ripprince so sad :( :(
— Hilary Duff (@HilaryDuff) April 21, 2016
We've just lost an incredible talent! So sorry to hear about #Prince we will always love your music forever and ever! #RIPPrince
— La Toya Jackson (@latoyajackson) April 21, 2016
A photo posted by Ariana Grande (@arianagrande) on