Purple Tears In Rain

Thursday's news about Prince really took my breath away. I mean, just a few weeks ago the singers of the band America were talking about "Ventura Highway" and "Purple Rain" connections at their cheery Atlanta concert, then Prince sang a week ago, and now this sad turn.

First Avenue 4/21/2016 by Joanne Moze

For Minneapolis, the city that inspired my college years at Mankato, Minn., I can only imagine the public sadness and rich celebrations underway -- friends from the Twin Cities went downtown to First Avenue (site of the epic "Purple Rain" audio and film recordings) with thousands of other fans.

Kind of wish I was there to see the buildings and bridges aglow with violet light in tribute.

One fan at Paisley Park photographed a rainbow over the Artist's suburban home and studio where he was found unresponsive.

Philip Hussong via Twin Cities Live

I flew over that landmark on April 19, 1995, en route to KARE 11 for a live interview with my dad, an Oklahoma City bombing witness -- the award-winning pilot Max Messmer took us over Prince's residence, perhaps to cheer me up from the day's somber news, and Prince's lawn was covered with emerald grass, yellow daffodils and violets by the thousands arranged on tiered landscaping. The royal treatment, if you will.

The Minneapolis mayor shared a moving tribute to the city's hometown hero, and outlets from the Star-Tribune to The New York Times and NPR are sharing initial reactions, tributes and stories.

One reporter decided my experience at The Artist's penultimate concert -- in Atlanta's Fox Theatre one week ago -- was suitable as "all the news that's fit to print."

Paisley Park image via People.com

During these initial hours processing the news, the following key Prince moments from my life came to mind in step with millions of other fans' own memories:

-- Earliest Prince moments: Paying close attention to the lyrics to "1999" during a 1982 Lake Tenkiller camping trip, and starting my personal countdown to late '90s New Year's Eves; associating "Little Red Corvette" with the b-movie "Corvette Summer;" learning "Let's Go Crazy" lyrics from Olympics [now Odyssey] of the Mind teammate Jennifer Crooch and watching, mesmerized, the "When Doves Cry" video on MTV at childhood friend Nate Newby's living room; enjoying "The Glamorous Life" and "The Belle of St. Mark" performed by Sheila E. and written by Prince, also at age 10 (autumn 1984); and purchasing a "Pop Life" single 45 record

-- H.S. and college year connections: Julia Roberts singing "Kiss" in a bathtub; learning "Batman" lyrics; visiting the downtown Minneapolis dance club First Avenue/Seventh Street Entry with friends and learning the venue's Prince connection; studying his recordings during work shifts at KMSU-FM and learning his likely self-actualization peak whilst recording the song "Purple Rain" for the film; gaining a more complete appreciation of his catalog

-- Atlanta Olympics to early 2000s: Found it fascinating Prince hired Olympic gold medalist Dominique Dawes for a music video to his cover of "Betcha By Golly, Wow" (The Artist's main Olympic connection I recall so far); discovering "When You Were Mine" (sung by Cyndi Lauper) and "Stand Back" (sung by Stevie Nicks, who credits "Little Red Corvette" for its inspiration on her wedding day) as favorites Prince penned.

Via PaulLNewby.com

In 2004, during his "Musicology" tour, I finally experienced Prince live at Philips Arena, then a client venue, with several coworkers also in attendance. What a treat it was -- that guitar and his in-the-round staging were just spectacular. His voice simply soared.

He returned to a much smaller venue in Atlanta -- The Tabernacle -- a few years later in support of one of his proteges, a starlet who was not great (terrible, actually -- so forgettable her name does not appear anywhere online). Though he played some great guitar, and we saw him up close (arm's length), sadly he did not perform any of his own tunes. Not long after that night, Sinead O'Connor performed all her hits including "Nothing Compares 2 U" on the same church stage.

But my most vivid memory of Prince will likely remain what turned out to be his penultimate concert just one week ago.

On March 31 I stood in line for tickets at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta.

On April 7, I moped when Prince called in sick, delaying the event by a week.

4/14/2016 photo via GAFollowers.com

And on April 14 I cheered when Prince performed "Piano and a Microphone" for two concerts.

Friends who heard me describe the 7 p.m. show last week will tell you I concurred with many of the remarks made by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's music reporter in her review. One friend in Shreveport, La., will point out that I took Prince to task for an abbreviated performance (I did).

Some of my other feedback from the experience is now, as mentioned earlier in this post, part of the record in The New York Times. One thing left out of The Times' interview/conversation: Twice during Prince's show last week, I cried -- the melodies and his voice were so beautiful. I think Prince cried as well upon completing a cover of Joni Mitchell's "A Case of You" -- upon finishing the song, he stepped away from the piano, took nearly a minute to compose himself during audience applause, and returned to the mic to say, "Sometimes I forget how emotional these songs can be; keep it together, Prince."

Most folks have a favorite Prince song. I have several, for different occasions and milestones of his 40 years in the public eye. Listening to all the tributes tonight, "The Beautiful Ones" and the second half of "Purple Rain" stood out in my personal top five. I also dig one of his newest songs, "Revelation" on the "HitnRun - Phase Two" CD handed out at the concert last week. His Fox Theatre cover of "A Case of You," as mentioned above, is pretty sweet and hits some very high falsetto notes.

I captured about 30 minutes of the 7 p.m. concert on April 14, and this recording will remain pasted below for as long as possible before the copyright police come calling. The Mitchell tune is toward the end -- also included are "Chopsticks" with "Pop Life" and "I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man" as noted on the midsection of the set list.

I am extremely curious whether Prince's announced memoir is still possible (was enough of it in the can to keep a book on schedule). One previous biography was very informative though unofficial.

Thank you, Prince Rogers Nelson, for all of your many gifts shared with the world.

Photo of First Avenue by Nicholas Wolaver; "When Doves Cry" image via LivinLaVidaCoco; Editorial cartoon by Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Mike Luckovich

The following was recorded on Nicholas Wolaver's Samsung Galaxy via Voice Recorder app on April 14, 2016, at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta:

I provided the following transcription from the show/recording to The New York Times, paraphrased here:

Transcription: 

“Thank you, Atlanta. Once again I’d like to apologize for the cancellation I was a little under the weather. But we’re here now. I want to take this time to thank you, each and every one of you for coming out and enjoying this night with us. I want to tell you a little bit about myself. I was born in Minneapolis. My father taught me how to play the piano … (starts playing “Chopsticks”) …he didn’t teach me that. I taught myself … (continues “Chopsticks” more soulfully and playfully improvising, then upswing of supporting tracks) … One of the things my father taught me was that funk (pause) is space … (starts improvising a more funky piano beat). My father couldn’t sing but he, he, he used to do this thing with his month, he says (starts scatting lightly). I used to watch him do that and (more scatting) … That’s funky, right? (transitions to more serious tune). When I got a little older, and started doing things my way, he liked to frequent this club down on 36^th pimps and things used to hand outside and cuss for kicks … ” (starts singing "Joy In Repitition").

"Chariots of Fire" Blazes Vangelis Soundtrack Trail to AJFF

It's not often -- dare I write, it may be a once in a lifetime -- that the greatest Olympic film ever made comes to town.

The Oscar-winning five-ringed film "Chariots of Fire" in its 30th anniversary format will premiere worldwide this month at the 11th Annual Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. Bravo!

The best picture of 1981 is one of dozens of great features heading to the AJFF, which kicked off tonight with a snazzy party at The Fox Theatre and a screening of the new documentary "Jews In Baseball: An American Love Story"

It was cool to connect at the event with the AJFF P.R. team from Manning, Selvage & Lee (thanks for the ticket), 790 The Zone's Steak Shapiro (who introduced the film), and to shake hands with Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank while we briefly waited in line for a plate of delicious catering (BTW, I asked Blank whether he trekked to Dallas for the Super Bowl, and he confirmed that he did go to DFW but came back to Atlanta before the kickoff since "it's hard, you know" to see the game after this season, to which I replied "there's always next year, right?")

Here's a rundown of some of the AJFF selections on my short list to attend:

• "The 'Socalled' Movie" featuring the Canadian performance artist
• "Little Rose" which appears to be a thriller spy flick
• "Vidal Sassoon The Movie" documenting the man behind the brand
• "Winston Churchill: Walking With Destiny" looking at pre-war England
• "An American Synagogue" checking out Frank Lloyd Wright's design built in Philadelphia
• "Tell Them Anything You Want" portrait of Maurice Sendak
• "Louder Than A Bomb" looking at a Chicago poetry slam

And of course, I intend to screen "Chariots of Fire," which will include a possible Q&A opportunity with Director Hugh Hudson (I'll post video or Q&A if this happens -- fingers crossed).

The AJFF also features dozens of other films. For baseball fans, "Jews In Baseball" is excellent, featuring a frank and often humorous look at Jewish ballplayers through history, including Barney Pelty of the St. Louis Browns (the first Jewish player on a baseball card), Moe Solomon, Hank Greenberg, Sandy Koufax, several owners or managers, the composer of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" (also Jewish) and narration by Dustin Hoffman.

There are several great lines in the film, and my favorite arrived early in the feature. Paraphrasing, baseball was referenced in the Old Testament, in fact, in the opening line of the Bible, which states, "In the Big Inning ..."

Logo via AJFF

Getting to Know Tara

After hearing Oprah Winfrey's comments about Chicago being her "Tara" (see video in April 8 post below) and the 2016 Olympic bid, I could not help but take in tonight's screening of "Gone With The Wind" at The Fabulous Fox Theatre (disclosure: a client of Edelman, the P.R. firm where I work).

It was a great movie going experience as the audience really got into it -- fun to hear folks laugh, cheer and even applaud en mass ... for a film of 70 years!

The folks at the Atlanta Film Festival hosted a special screening which finally afforded me views of the entire picture, which is, of course, excellent and best experienced in its original format. Previously, viewing "GWTW" was only possible via PBS or poor VHS options (I could not sit through the whole thing on videotape back in high school).

This year's Atlanta Film Festival seems to have a little bit of everything and something for everyone. Opening night included an interesting documentary "The People Speak," which was quite good (I'm now inspired to read the book which inspired it, referenced briefly in "Good Will Hunting"). Also planning to screen some of the upcoming films on the Festival schedule.

And when the projectors stop reeling, will have to at last read "GWTW" and stroll on over to the Margaret Mitchell House (just a few blocks from my "Tara" on Myrtle Street in Midtown). But that shall have to wait at least until tomorrow.

After all, tomorrow is another day!

It's Never 'Just A Game'

On the heels of the Lily Tomlin encounter last Friday (it was so cool to meet the Mark Twain Prize winner), today her name popped up in headlines as the 2008 recipient of the same honor, George Carlin, was celebrated posthumously in Washington this evening.

The are dozens of Carlin quotes I've memorized over the years, notable his monologue about the famous "Baby On Board" yellow car window signs of the late 1980s:

"... instead of 'Baby On Board,' how about an honest sign, like, 'Assh*le at the wheel!'? They could give those out free to people who drive Volvos and Saabs."

According to Wikiquotes, it turns out Carlin took on the legitimacy of a few Olympic sports, too. Given today's unfortunate incident involving a downtown Atlanta MARTA police team, Carlin's comments on boxing seem timely:

"Boxing is not a sport. Boxing is a way to beat the sh*t out of somebody. In that respect, boxing is a more sophisticated form of hockey. But beating the sh*t out of somebody isn't a sport, in spite of what the police think. When police brutality becomes an Olympic event, fine, then boxing can become a sport."

On sports, I think he punctuated his thoughts on competition with the notion that, "It's never 'just a game' when you're winning."

Just a few months ago, when George Carlin played a packed house at The Fox Theatre in Atlanta, he did not really touch on sports and 'stuff' (unfortunately, his final 20 minute rant was a bit much).

But it was good to see him live, and it will be fun to search for recordings or video of more of his material, like this one my boomer blogger friend and colleague, Marilynn, might enjoy (all in good fun, though in this case, not clean).