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Saturday, April 23, 2016

Oh well.

Seeing as Prince is now dead I will never get to fulfill my bucket list of asking him if the album Purple Rain was an allegory for the life of Jesus Christ. (Seriously)

I was driving home from Christmas vacation a few years ago when two or three thought I had sort of mashed together at the same time.

First, a Mormon friend of mine called and it set my mind to thinking about Prince....the musician. I know, most people are wondering how did I make that leap, but I thought I  read one time how Prince is a Mormon and actually did the door to door mission thing (I think he turned out to be a Seventh Day Adventist or Jehovah Witness) The thought of him doing door to door on a bicycle in a white shirt and his purple platform boots always just struck me as funny for some reason. Anyway,  I decided to throw in the CD "Purple Rain".  Always an awesome road album.

Then for some reason I started to think about other cool concept albums and Pink Floyd's "Dark side of the moon" came to mind. Although I was never a huge Floyd fan, I always thought it was neat how they merged the album to the movie "The Wizard of Oz" for an alternate story line.

Then it sort of hit me. Ya know what wold be easy to do? A rock Opera or musical with Purple Rain about the life of Jesus. The more I thought and the more I listened the more it seemed it was already done.

"Computer Blue" while my least favorite track on the album I thought it fit with Mary waiting for marriage and "The righteous one". Then being told by an Angel that she will give birth without being married.

"Let’s Go Crazy."   I thought John the Baptist  talking to a crowd who want revolution (the activity, not the band) without any thought of an afterlife.  The song starts out with a preacher talking about getting through a difficult life and how things are different in the after world. But at this point. Your on your own. Then Jesus comes for baptism and his new life for us all.

"Take Me With U " Jesus gathering his disciples and Mary Magdalene the song talks about someone who is willing to follow the one who is "sheer perfection" anywhere.

"The Beautiful Ones" The choice between biblical and worldly life "give to Cesar what is Cesar's. Give to God what is Gods" Jesus telling the rich man who must give what he has to the poor and follow him. Possibly Jesus turning over money changer tables in the temple.
The song talks about a hard choice of  "Do you want him? (Cesar's worldly money) Or do you want me?

 "Baby I’m a Star" Jesus performing miracles and being followed by the masses. Possibly entering Jerusalem to acclaim and fame.

"Darling Nikki" The woman about to be stoned by an angry mob for adultery whom Jesus saves by saying "He who is without sin cast the first stone".  The song talks about a promiscuous woman who loves him and leaves him and his anger. There is even a secret reverse wording part of "Darling Nikki"  that talks about The Lord is coming soon.

"When Doves Cry" The last supper and the garden at Gethsemane prayer, questioning, the soldier confrontation.

"I Would Die 4 U" The scourging.

"Purple Rain". The judgement by Pilot and the Jews who "Say they want a leader but cant seem to make up their mind". The crucifixion, The "Purple Rain"  blood of Jesus that was shed for our sins and the resurrection..

It all fit. I listened to the CD 3 or 4 times in a row and the more I listened the more it seemed like it was almost intentional.   I can see the marketing side of it. The double entente on the name Prince. The tie of a hugely popular album, movie and artist with Jesus the most charismatic man in history and the most retold story of all time.    Very few people have successfully changed their name into a symbol. The two princes have.

I know musical plays have done well before with similar type concepts. Of course the classic "Jesus Christ Superstar" was and is still a hit.

 I thought it would be cool to make as a play/musical or video of my concept. People from both sides (secular music fans and religious people) could enjoy it.  I kicked the project around in my head for a year. I called it "The prince of peace in purple rain" or "Purple rain starring the prince of peace." project.

In the end, I decided to teach myself how to do video editing (No fun)  and do a rough video draft. It took a few months to complete.

Here is the video.  I hope you enjoy it.