Legendary artists like Prince never really die. The legacy of this phenomenal musician is very much alive. The tribute of Justin Timberlake at the Super Bowl this year clearly demonstrated that. Prince’s music is still celebrated throughout the world. And Amsterdam has the honor to be hosting a very special exhibition of personal artifacts of Prince this spring with My Name is Prince.
This article was written for Hello Amsterdam Magazine, edition March-April 2018.
The artist
Born and raised in the Minneapolis area, musical wonder Prince sold over 100 million records worldwide, making him one of the best-selling artists of all time. He won many awards, including seven Grammies Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and an Academy Award. His iconic songs include 1999, Purple Rain, When Doves Cry, Kiss, and Sign O’ the Times.
Following the success of the exhibition at the O2 in London, My Name Is Prince will now be on show at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. It opens its doors to anticipating audiences on 8 March and showcases hundreds of items from Prince’s private estate Paisley Park.
Dutch connection
Prince had a special place in his heart for the Netherlands. In 1981, his first concert outside of the United States was at pop temple Paradiso. Since then, Prince and his Dutch fans forged a bond for a lifetime. Many events underline Prince’s Dutch connection. The Sign “O” The Times movie was originally filmed in front of a Dutch audience, tickets for the 1988 Lovesexy tv-broadcast only went on sale here, and during his show in Amsterdam in 2014 Prince said goodbye by telling his fans to ‘come to my house’. Between 1981 and 2014 he gave about 50 concerts in The Netherlands.
Paisley Park
Prince had a private estate in Chanhassen, a suburb of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the place where he produced many of his biggest hits. Fans have a chance to tour the legendary complex that served as the center of Prince’s creative universe. Guided tours take you through recording studios, exhibit spaces that show films like Purple Rain and Graffiti Bridge, and a concert hall where Prince held exclusive, private events and performances. The tour also features thousands of artifacts from Prince’s personal archives.
Not everyone is able to travel to Minnesota though. Therefore, the Prince’s family has come up with the great idea of exhibiting a part of Paisley Park abroad. My Name is Prince brings Prince’s house to his Dutch fans. It transports the spirit of Paisley Park to Amsterdam with a selection of many special artifacts on show. They include instruments, outfits, awards and handwritten song lyrics. Just a few highlights are clothing from the tours of Purple Rain and the Lovesexy, wardrobe from the film Graffiti Bridge, and the VOX guitar he played for his last ever solo on a Dutch stage.
Prince’s legacy
Partly responsible for the chance to admire these personal items are Prince’s siblings. They are keen on keeping Prince’s legacy alive through the fans.
“Our family is extremely honored to have this exhibit at Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam, and we know Prince would be as well. We know him as a brother who became not only one of the most prolific songwriters of all time but an entertainer and musician who was unlike any other. He loved to share his work and life with his fans. It’s only appropriate we share him and these amazing artifacts with the world now that he’s gone.”
My Name is Prince. 8 March – 8 June 2018. Beurs van Berlage, Damrak 234.
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