A TPT staffer recently attended one of the first public tours of Prince’s Paisley Park. Here’s what she had to say about the experience:
I went to high school in Minnesota, and that’s when I became a Prince fan. I was in high school when Purple Rain came out, and so I shaved one side of my head to look like Wendy and/or Lisa (Bad idea—took me three years to even out my hair again) and played my Purple Rain cassette so much that I wore it out. Yes, that’s actually possible.
Prince Rogers Nelson and all of his records always seemed to be bursting with life, so it’s still hard for me to believe he’s really gone. That’s one of the reasons that I jumped at the opportunity to visit Paisley Park, and if you’re as real a Prince fan as I am, you will too.
Here’s why:
1. The doves aren’t crying
When you walk into the main atrium of Paisley Park, there’s a skylight and a two-story atrium under it. On the second floor are cages with Prince’s doves. We were there are night so they were pretty peaceful, even though there was a giant full moon.
2. Unreleased tracks, played live in Studio A
The tour guides tell you that Studio A was Prince’s favorite studio, and it’s phenomenal. It has three distinct acoustic environments—a large wood room, two small concrete rooms and a vocal studio. They play you two unreleased track that Prince was working on right before he died and they were SO FUNKY. How could they not be? And they play them loud because, yunno, you’re in a soundproofed music studio.
3. Hallway murals, hallway murals
Dig if you will a picture of a mural that could have been painted by Diego Rivera. On one side, Prince’s funktastic influences like Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder and James Brown; on the other the musical acts that he propped up, including The Time, Sheila E, Vanity 6 and more. In the middle, the Purple One himself, third eye glowing like a Hindu diety, raining the funk down upon the world.
4. The Purple Rain room
As if standing a foot away from Prince’s purple piano and this black and purple motorcycle (“Take Me with U”) weren’t enough, this room used to be his concert rehearsal hall. Before his family turned it into a museum exhibit, it was a platform next to a wall of mirrors that he and his dancers used to rehearse live performances.
5. The clothes. The shoes.
I subconsciously knew how fiercely Prince re-invented his personal style for each record, but seeing it all on display reminded me of my deep love for his white fake fur coat, paisley brocade Around the World in a Day suit, ruffles and, of course, high heels.
6. The fans
Honestly, this was the most beautiful part. There were young women dressed in tight, flared purple pants with eyeliner and black lipstick, seniors in wheelchairs grooving to the music, interracial couples holding hands, women dressed head to toe in purple leather… there was even a Scottish man standing outside waiting an hour until it was his turn to tour the building. People from all over the world, of all shapes, colors and sizes had love for Prince’s music.
My trip was special in lots of ways—I went on October 14, 2016, only to discover that the album Controversy was released on October 14, 1981. But the best part? I got to raise a glass afterward with my three friends from high school (who I haven’t seen in 10 years) and say “If you don’t like the world you’re living in, take a look around you, at least you’ve got friends.”
Are we going to let the elevator break us down? Oh no. Let’s go.
© Twin Cities Public Television - 2017. All rights reserved.
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