There were many icons of the 20th century that were essential to the growth of music around the world. Such as Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and of course Prince. Prince was a singer, songwriter, producer, and actor that was an inspiration and many people’s favorite artist. He died on April 21, 2016 found unconscious in his estate due to a fentanyl overdose. Prince was only 57 years old when he passed away. For a while prior to his death, Prince had been struggling with substance abuse using different kinds of drugs such as fentanyl. At the time of his death, Prince was considered an impressive artist and even somewhat a rival of Michael Jackson.
I interviewed my mom, April Mack, who’s a PhD professor at Denver University. When my mom was growing up, she was a huge Prince fan, and I wanted to hear her perspective on the death of the singer. I asked her how she reacted when she heard about his death. This is what she had to say.
“I was really sad. I was a big fan of his. He was my idol.” My mom said, “He just seemed larger than life that I never thought he could die. He was a huge inspiration to me. I listened to his music constantly. He just seemed so invincible to me.”
The shock of his death left my mom and many people in shock. His music and persona inspired many around the world. In 2023, Prince was put in Billboard’s “Top 100 Artists of All Time”. I asked my mom how Prince was an inspiration to her growing up.
“He was the main artist I listened to growing up. For my fourteenth birthday I went to see his movie Purple Rain with my grandmother. That was one of my favorite memories growing up.” My mom voiced.
During the times of Prince’s peak, he was often compared to his so-called “competitor” Michael Jackson. Prince and MJ (Michael Jackson) were enemies in real life. Both artists expressed each other’s dislike for the other’s musical direction and personas. Jackson also expressed something similar after Prince released his movie and album “Purple Rain”.
“I always liked Prince more. I felt more connected to his music and him as a person. I just didn’t grow up in the era of Michael Jackson compared to my siblings. He was later after Prince.”
The death of Prince was a momentous event in pop culture. He’s considered one of the best artists in modern times. His career serves as an inspiration and legacy to many. “In my opinion, he’s one of the best artists to ever live”.
