I enjoyed this when I read it at the time you published it on Overcooked. I wanted to mention that I also shared it recently with a class of university writing students. We had a really interesting discussion about the way that the piece weaves memoir with an exploration of Prince's music, and also the craft lessons we might learn from the piece when writing personal essays of our own.
Thanks so much, Emily! I feel privileged to know you shared my piece with your students and that they got something out of it. Let’s catch up properly soon x
Thanks so much for this - it made my day. It's so good to hear an answering voice sometimes... Your own story is very compelling: I love the way you describe the lonely evening walks with the headphones. So Prince was a good friend to you too! Could be a book. When I hit London in the late 80s to form a band Prince became an even more vital lifeline. Lovesexy had just been released and every word of that album helped me through those times. I went to see him when he played Wembley in 88 and it was like a surreal hallucination, the stage in the round, the bed, the Caddy and the fabulous clothes, his baritone voice so commanding and ironic. You were ahead of the curve with Dirty Mind - it must have been great to track his progress as those early albums came out... I haven't read Penman on Fassbinder yet, but he's on the TBR list. Thanks once again for the kind words.
I enjoyed this when I read it at the time you published it on Overcooked. I wanted to mention that I also shared it recently with a class of university writing students. We had a really interesting discussion about the way that the piece weaves memoir with an exploration of Prince's music, and also the craft lessons we might learn from the piece when writing personal essays of our own.
Thanks so much, Emily! I feel privileged to know you shared my piece with your students and that they got something out of it. Let’s catch up properly soon x
When I read ‘Memory Songs’, I wondered how you must have felt about all those personal details being shared, eg the abusive stepdad.
Noel Gallagher has said his traumatic childhood helped him become an artist. In many respects, Noel Gallagher is a prick.
Thanks so much for this - it made my day. It's so good to hear an answering voice sometimes... Your own story is very compelling: I love the way you describe the lonely evening walks with the headphones. So Prince was a good friend to you too! Could be a book. When I hit London in the late 80s to form a band Prince became an even more vital lifeline. Lovesexy had just been released and every word of that album helped me through those times. I went to see him when he played Wembley in 88 and it was like a surreal hallucination, the stage in the round, the bed, the Caddy and the fabulous clothes, his baritone voice so commanding and ironic. You were ahead of the curve with Dirty Mind - it must have been great to track his progress as those early albums came out... I haven't read Penman on Fassbinder yet, but he's on the TBR list. Thanks once again for the kind words.