A story on how artists find a way into our lives to forever remind us of what is important and fun. Love. Kindness. A story on our Prince and Purple Rain.

I was ten years old or something when my brother lifted me up on his shoulders and, while holding my ankles, danced with me, after all the guests that came to his birthday party had left. Danced by himself with myself attached to him, basically. Purple Rain was the song blasting through our big speakers at home, the song he, so passionately, was singing along to. On repeat and I so loved it.

He kept on telling me stories, love stories, best friends stories, in between the verses, choruses, while slow motion dancing.

Years later, I got to know what love tasted like and, more years later, what the ache of yearning for someone you love felt like and what the combination of these two can do to you on Purple Rain. When memories kick in and dreams drum all over.

I remember loving my brother so much that I would not only force him to take me to all of his parties, but I would, also, not go to sleep anywhere in the house without him and his music. Prince was there to help him put me to sleep. His friends are my friends, you know. I used to grip one of his foot, just like a little monkey would, and he would literally drag me, attached to him, through the house, that’s how much I wanted to see him laugh, when I was a kid, not bad, kid, not bad. Imagine! The fun! His face reading this must be fun, too.

Later on, teenage on, Cream was on when my then boyfriend tried to turn me on. Stripteasing. Jees, what am I saying here?

But you see?

This is what music does to us.

It’s the soundtrack of our lives.

A day comes and your mind just won’t stop and nothing feels right, but when The Most Beautiful Girl In The World starts in your headphones, you can actually feel the sunshine on your skin, your hair breathing and your lips softly smiling.

This. This feeling, this mood, this truth, this whole thing. It’s something about this. It’s clean. Natural. Genuine. Sparkling. In an era when most seem to pretend, very few just refuse to and this is how we fall in love with love all over again and again. And again.

I am no good with disappearings, the emotions are just so strong, it’s nothing and everything all at once. Everyone says things, yet all I feel is saying nothing. Which is also everything. But what’s the thing about this grief deep inside somewhere? It’s the ache of yearning for someone you love. Honouring the marvellous soul and never letting go – of course not, the marvellous soul is forever deep inside somewhere, holding your loved ones real tight, singing, creating memories and marvelling at this little Prince bathing in the rain forever is what feels right to you.

Start to love the rain.