Time has passed for people to mourn over Prince Rogers Nelson's death. The death of Prince was a devastating loss for many people not just the entertainment world. The 57 year old musician was an animal lover and a committed vegan.
It hit home when I heard about the loss of Prince. Growing up, I was a bit isolated from the media and music, and only could watch half an hour of educational television. I stole my sisters CD of Prince and would blast it in the house whenever I had the chance. I fell in love. No one forgets their first artist and first CD.
Prince did more than change the style of music and art. He made a difference and cared for the environment. Many know Prince to be private and to himself. What many people did not realize how generous a man he was. Prince donated to many charities for various causes, from Elton John AIDS Foundation, to Jazz Foundation of America, to PETA.
Prince avoided interviews to keep his personal life away and hidden from the media. From many interviews, he always expressed his thoughts through music. He could be noted as a social activist, as well as a controversial artist. Making bold statements with his music involving sexual language that can be seen as inappropriate to the young audience. Aside from being a social activist, Prince was a supporter of PETA. His love for animals lead Prince to be a vegan and live an animal product-free lifestyle. He made it clear with his lyrics in “Animal Kingdom”.
"No member of the animal kingdom nurses past maturity
No member of the animal kingdom ever did a thing to me
It's why I don't eat red meat or white fish
Don't give me no blue cheese
We're all members of the animal kingdom
Leave your brothers and sisters in the sea
Animal, animal kingdom
Animal, animal kingdom
Who told us we should eat the swine?
You can bet your final money, it damn sure wasn't no friend of mine
What about the clams on the shore?
Souls in progress, here come the fisherman, soul no more."
Prince kindly donated this song to PETA to use as the invitation to the 20th anniversary party that was held in New York.
Prince spoke multiple languages, from R&B, to rock and roll, to pop. He was an active member and donor of PETA attending multiple Galas and events for the benefit of their cause. It did not stop there, in 2006 he was cited as the PETA’s Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity. Prince said “Compassion is an action word with no boundaries.”
Prince spread his animal activism in his 1999 album “Rav Un2”, explaining that the fur coat he was wearing on the cover was faux wool because seven lambs would have to be slaughtered for the making of it.
Personally my favorite from the album “Planet Earth”, was when he sang about the importance of environment and the Earth.
"Just like the countless bodies
That revolve around the sun
Planet Earth must now come into balance with the one
That caused it all to be
Then we’ll see His kingdom come,
So shall it be written, so shall it be sung
Prince had many passions and this was just one of them."
