I can't say that I disagree...

Sorry, I wasn't paying attention, did a prince die?  From what country?  

heh heh Jaymes quote "****s".

Mass grief is like a pandemic yawn. It presses down on the populace like a giant poultice. I'll never forget the sight of grown men crying at Princess Di's funeral. Left to their own devices, without the influence of those around them, they probably would have thought "Cor, Lady Di dead? Well I never, that's a turn up for the books," and forgotten about it. Instead they're pounded with the manufactured grief of the media, which causes some people to believe they should be grieving too, and then the sight of those people grieving upsets even more people, and before you know it people are afraid not to grieve in case it makes them look heartless and everyone's sucked into the monumental gravity of the moment. Before you know it people are talking about what the dead celebrity "meant to them over the years," and other people, who might not have been much of a fan, start thinking about what they meant to them as well, and they're digging deep for anecdotes too. "Raspberry Beret got me through the death of my cat in 1985." Hmm, did it now.  

jamesg1213
What I've found particularly mawkish and somewhat macabre over the last couple of decades is the pile of soft toys, cards, flowers and scribbled notes that appear almost instantly at the scene of any tragic accident or murder.
 
What, and who is that for? Why would anyone want to commemorate the place where a death happened? I don't get it.

I hate to be a cynic (actually that's a lie, I love to be a cynic) but I think in many cases people trot along with those soft toys and flowers because they like to be seen laying them down in tribute. 

jamesg1213
''If I had to pinpoint the beginning of the age of modern, recreational grieving it would be Princess Diana.''
 
Exactly. That was the turning point for me, where we seemed to lose all sense of dignity and proportion.
 

I agree, and that slimy insincere crocodile-teared Tony Blair started it all.

And what's up with all the people today getting overly upset and all about the weird behavior of people they don't know but saw on TV doing something weird? 

Personally, I do get why some feel the need to commemorate the passing of someone whose work touched their life. In such cases, it seems appropriate maybe to share a little text or something. And move on.
 
Beyond that, I fail to see the point. People have been lamenting the loss of Prince for 9 days straight now, changing their profile pictures on Facebook and sharing videos and performances, etc.
 
How could such an outpour of admiration and love be so sudden. Where were those people who are now calling him "The Mozart of our century" 2 weeks ago, where was that passion, where were the tribute bands?
 
Last time I heard of Prince was when he smashed someone else's guitar on a late night TV show, 2 or 3 years ago. And it was actually posted by Epiphone. I don't remember anyone but one of my contacts mentioning Prince, ever. But now it's like they've all lost their best friend.
 
 

Driving through Atlanta last week I noticed someone had put a HUGE banner of Prince (RIP etc) on an old, tall smokestack that stands sort of across I75 from Grady Hospital, then just down the road (I75) IIRC, just south of Turner Field there was a billboard with Prince RIP on it (again IIRC) I think it was one of those expensive electronic LED billboards. IDK, but I thought it was a bit much.
He was really talented but we all die.

Why do knee's have faces?
 
Better to knee you with!
 
J

My first "encounter" with death was when Elvis died, when I was 5. It was the first time I was confronted with the idea that even the people I knew would eventually die. (As strange as it may sound coming from someone who practically grew up in a cemetery.)
 
That and Lennon's death 3 years later are some of the most vivid memories of my childhood. 
 
Of course, there were others afterwards. Waking up to the news of Cobain's alleged suicide left me in a daze for a few days. And just recently, Bowie, who was arguably my favorite living pop artist, was also a huge shock.
 
So, as I said, I totally get the idea of wanting to mark the occasion, to gather one's thoughts and reflect on the influence that an inspiring artist has had on their lives.
 
As a matter of fact, I am constantly tipping my hat to people who inspire me, acknowledging influences, reflecting on how much their work is a crucial part of my own development as a musician, and sometime even as a human being. Though I don't wait for them to pass away.
 
That being said, I can't really wrap my head around the need to worship other human beings. I really think that some people lack a sense of nuance and emotional maturity.
 
Which is why I can't help but fee as though a lot of the lamenting is only a tribune for people to call attention to themselves. 

*Pfft...* I bet I could kick Bruce's butt at darts. 

Ya, that Frose.