Windy City Media Group Frontpage News

THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

home search facebook twitter join
Gay News Sponsor Windy City Times 2023-12-13
DOWNLOAD ISSUE
Donate

Sponsor
Sponsor
Sponsor

  NIGHTSPOTS

Dancing About Architecture
Purple Influence
by Marc 'Moose' Moder
2016-05-11

This article shared 2712 times since Wed May 11, 2016
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email


First, let me state that this space is, was and always will be a Prince-heavy zone, so pardon me for writing on such a rich topic two issues in a row. Second, after losing David Bowie within the same short calendar year, the following topic has been covered before. That said, I can't think of two bigger influences on the blurring of art/fashion/music/sex/God than those two giants. So it must be asked: Who wouldn't be here in our "Pop Life" if not for the presence of Prince?

—The sensual balladeer. Teddy Pendergrass, Barry White and Isaac Hayes all crooned before, but none of them worked in straight up SEX and respect like Prince. With a few verbal strokes, he made you feel safe, special, aroused and dirty. Real dirty. Acts like D'Angelo, R Kelly and Janet Jackson would all play with these factors, especially in the '90s when a ballad could still get airplay.

—The fashion plate. While he wasn't always in vogue and his outfits bordered on tacky in later years, he did stick to a consistent style, designing his own looks with his own fashion house. Seemingly hundreds of acts have gone on to work their personal looks into fashion lines, but none have committed 100% to these looks for 40 years. Think about it, we'd have no Mark Anthony for Kohl's or Adam Levine for Sears without Prince. Wait, is that a good thing?

—The sexual enigma. Like Bowie before him, Prince was happy to play with queer sexuality at the expense of his heterosexuality just for the sake of equality. Now it seems there's a star every week ( usually women though ) teasing their sexuality, sometimes for press, sometimes for real, but always for good in the end. Now if we could only get more men like Nick Jonas flirting with our community, I'd be happy to be flirted with.

—The independent warrior. Before bands like Radiohead, TLC and Wilco went rogue by skipping the major label system, Prince was selling his side projects via 1-800-NEW FUNK and then, after his Warner Brothers release, via his record club or his website. He even once presented a free CD with purchase of a magazine ( Twenty10 ). He was always playing with new ways to get his music directly to fans, not just for the bigger margin and masters rights, but because he became so bored so fast with completed songs.

—The multi-instrumentalist. Little Stevie Wonder amazed fans at age 12 with his ability to jam on keys and harmonica, but Prince took it further, playing almost every instrument on almost every album he released. Sure, he had many bands over the years, but 90% of the studio instruments heard are him, with some help from horn players, vocalists and strings. Even at 16, when he started, everything was Prince right down to production. Now thousands of bedrooms recorders like Moby and Miguel spend weeks recording and producing their own material on their own terms. Even Bowie spent much of his last weeks tinkering with new material he planned to release posthumously. If not for Prince's own studio, drive, ambition and talent, we'd not have thousands of vault recordings to last us through our natural lives as well.

Let's hope these discussions and the subsequent listenings inspire great new artists to rise forth and inspire us; however, none will compare 2 Prince.

DJ Moose spins Irresistible Bitch: Prince+TheLadies this Saturday at 11 pm at The Jackhammer Complex, 6406 N. Clark St.


This article shared 2712 times since Wed May 11, 2016
facebook twitter google +1 reddit email

Out and Aging
Presented By

  ARTICLES YOU MIGHT LIKE

Gay News

THINGS TO DO Open House Chicago taking place Oct. 15-16 2022-10-14
- The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is presenting Open House Chicago (OHC) 2022 presented by Wintrust on Oct. 15-16. The public is encouraged to discover a roster of 150+ sites in 20 community areas over the weekend, ...


Gay News

STAYCATION REVIEW Sofitel Chicago 2022-08-17
- Bonjour! If you're like me, you've walked past the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile (20 E. Chestnut St.; https://www.sofitel-chicago.com/) a million times. You've probably also admired the hotel's unique architecture almost ...


Gay News

Wrightwood 659 xhibits explore architecture, aocial engagement, Japanese "Modern Girls" 2022-03-31
-- From a press release - (CHICAGO, IL — March 31, 2022) Wrightwood 659 presents a trio of exhibitions opening May 6, 2022: AMERICAN FRAMING, a reinstallation of the U.S. entry in the 17th Venice Architecture Biennale; Rirkrit Tiravanija: (who's afraid of ...


Gay News

ART Wrightwood 659 exhibits extended into 2022 2021-12-06
- Two exhibitions currently on view at Wrightwood 659—a private, non-collecting institution at 659 W. Wrightwood Ave. devoted to socially engaged art and to architecture—will be extended through Feb. 26, 2022. "Romanticism to Ruin: Two Lost Works ...


Gay News

Month-long Open House Chicago 2021 to feature in-person site visits Oct. 16-17 2021-09-25
--From a press release - (September 20, 2021) CHICAGO — Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) announced that Open House Chicago 2021 will again offer its popular in-person, indoor site visits, providing rare behind-the-scenes access to more ...


Gay News

ARCHITECTURE Thompson Center Idea Competition winners named 2021-09-14
- The Chicago Architecture Center and the Chicago Architectural Club announced the jury's selection of three winning designs for the Thompson Center Design Ideas Competition that represent three distinct, creative visions for the State of Illinois Thomp ...


Gay News

'Two Lost Works of Sullivan and Wright' opens Sept. 24 2021-08-08
- Wrightwood 659, at 659 W. Wrightwood Ave., is presenting "Romanticism to Ruin: Two Lost Works of Sullivan and Wright" a dual exhibition exploring two of these architects' long-demolished masterpieces. Said masterpieces ...


Gay News

ATTRACTIONS Chicago's First Lady offers a premium architectural tour 2021-08-05
- Recently, USA Today selected the Chicago Architecture Foundation's Chicago's First Lady cruise as the best boat tour in the country—and it's easy to see why. (By the way, it also was voted the top boat tour ...


Gay News

Helmut Jahn architecture exhibit has opened 2021-07-24
- The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), 111 E. Wacker Dr., has opened its first, major limited-run exhibit, "Helmut Jahn: Life + Architecture," the career retrospective of Helmut Jahn's innovative architectural designs. ...


Gay News

ATTRACTIONS Chicago Architecture Center reopens with new exhibits 2021-06-08
- On May 22, the Chicago Architecture Center (CAC), 111 E. Wacker Dr., opened all-new and updated exhibits in its 10,000 square feet of galleries full of scale models of new building designs from Chicago and around ...


Gay News

Chicago Cultural Center historic interiors to be restored for June reopening 2021-04-22
--From a press release - CHICAGO, IL — Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) today announced the historic restoration of the landmark Chicago Cultural Center to reclaim two lost interiors decorated by the ...


Gay News

Chicago Architecture Center announces Spring 2021 reopening schedule 2021-03-12
--From a press release - CHICAGO The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) announces plans for a safe Spring 2021 reopening of its popular CAC walking tours, CAFC River Cruise and CAC exhibits. Review COVID-19 safety policies for CAC experiences here. CAC ...


Gay News

Preservation Chicago unveils list of most endangered Chicago buildings 2021-02-26
- Preservation Chicago which works with city officials, neighborhood residents, owners and stakeholders to prevent what is often viewed as the wholesale loss of Chicago's important buildings has revealed its 2021 list of ...


Gay News

John Pennycuff Memorial Apartments in Castillo Plaza, LGBTQ housing in Logan Square 2020-12-18
- Last month, The John Pennycuff Memorial Apartments at Castillo Plaza (Pennycuff) opened at the corner of Milwaukee and Campbell Avenues in Logan Square after four years of development and city approval meetings and for the past ...


Gay News

Open House Chicago extended to Nov. 1 2020-10-22
- The Chicago Architecture Center (CAC) is extending its 10th annual Open House Chicago festival (OHC) through Sunday, Nov. 1. Attendees have seven more days to follow 25 trails for self-guided ...


 


Copyright © 2024 Windy City Media Group. All rights reserved.
Reprint by permission only. PDFs for back issues are downloadable from
our online archives.

Return postage must accompany all manuscripts, drawings, and
photographs submitted if they are to be returned, and no
responsibility may be assumed for unsolicited materials.

All rights to letters, art and photos sent to Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago
Gay and Lesbian News and Feature Publication) will be treated
as unconditionally assigned for publication purposes and as such,
subject to editing and comment. The opinions expressed by the
columnists, cartoonists, letter writers, and commentators are
their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of Nightspots
(Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay,
Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature Publication).

The appearance of a name, image or photo of a person or group in
Nightspots (Chicago GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times
(a Chicago Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender News and Feature
Publication) does not indicate the sexual orientation of such
individuals or groups. While we encourage readers to support the
advertisers who make this newspaper possible, Nightspots (Chicago
GLBT Nightlife News) and Windy City Times (a Chicago Gay, Lesbian
News and Feature Publication) cannot accept responsibility for
any advertising claims or promotions.

 
 

TRENDINGBREAKINGPHOTOS







Sponsor
Sponsor


 



Donate


About WCMG      Contact Us      Online Front  Page      Windy City  Times      Nightspots
Identity      BLACKlines      En La Vida      Archives      Advanced Search     
Windy City Queercast      Queercast Archives     
Press  Releases      Join WCMG  Email List      Email Blast      Blogs     
Upcoming Events      Todays Events      Ongoing Events      Bar Guide      Community Groups      In Memoriam     
Privacy Policy     

Windy City Media Group publishes Windy City Times,
The Bi-Weekly Voice of the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Community.
5315 N. Clark St. #192, Chicago, IL 60640-2113 • PH (773) 871-7610 • FAX (773) 871-7609.