"Tonight, we celebrate the success of a very special performer. Here nominated for Album of The Year is Prince and The Revolution!" This evening would include the biggest ceremony of my life. I've dreamed of this very stage. Madison Square Garden still topped the list, though. Jazz keyboardist and Wendy's father Mike introduced us. Audience members shrieked between his joyful words.
Not even seconds later, percussion began. Lights even flickered to the music. Prince chanted with his trademark yelps and counted us in as usual. "Baby, I'm A Star" once again echoed toward my ears. At first, I nearly grimaced when the microphone struggled to picked up his voice. Behind him, Fink, Lisa and I worked drum machines or keyboards.
The rest of us shuffled to the beat or sang along while still holding various instruments. Of course, Shelia tapped away on her beloved drums. I quickly fell into the moment and grooved. For the sake of time, Prince dodged the second verse and I mentally prepare to give out my chords for the bridge.
His rare smile proved infectious given the wonderful evening. I stuck out my tongue across from Lisa and focused on jamming once more. My curls even bobbed side by side with these rhythms and I sang along without overpowering the man. I'd refused to upstage the man who gifted me with this opportunity of a lifetime.
Everybody say, nothing come too easy. When you got it, baby, nothing comes too hard. You'll see what I'm all about. If I gotta scream and shout. Baby, baby, baby, baby. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, ooh!
When the bridge concluded, we all entered my favorite part. This time, a horn section offered greatness. Brenda even choreographed this portion of the song. Mark and Wendy stood on either side of Prince to toss back curly hair in unison. The horns slowed down to offer a quick but funky groove now.
Afterwards, Prince slapped down his hand and called for the crowd to shout for more tuneful greatness. Once the horn section returned to jam, Prince nearly curled up and Jerome to leap over him. In perfect timing, the two shuffled at double speed. I knew for sure that Brenda jumped for joy while dancing and singing along in the wings nearby.
Now, Lisa and I synced with the horns once again. Prince, Jerome and the boys rocked sunglasses while dancing side to side. Moments later, Skip yelled with the microphone for Sheila to rock her drumsticks. Yet, I nearly panicked when audience members began flooding the stage. Fink and Lisa glanced toward one another for a moment.
We all now searched for Prince. Our bandleader had fortunately reached his piano to jam before long. While some armed with tambourines, I would only concentrate on Prince shouting. Luckily, I found my place and offered the last chord progressions with Fink ad Lis. Prince then rhythmically stretched to the pounding drum machine sounds while fighting to remove his white jacket. His clothed arms and hands signaled for us to finish as usual. I've never felt more relieved.
All that extensive rehearsal paid off as I remembered his gestures and cues more than anything else. Otherwise, we'd miserably fail while performing on national televsion. Skip hugged one last person before rushing to leave the stage, shirtless. His fists lifted to the ceiling while Big Chick and other guards chased right behind him.
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"Everybody kicked ass tonight. I don't even want to know what those people were thinking. Now, let's go celebrate! You deserve it more than anybody else. I'm nothing without ya'll." Prince joked despite the seriousness. He'd even confronted some of the award show team before walking into this room.
Before we all headed to another party, Prince centered the private room. This man acknowledged what happened this evening. I nodded time and time again. We were all troopers in one way or another. I'd never felt more rattled onstage before. Otherwise, I applauded with everyone else before filing out of the crammed space. Prince draped his arm around Brenda in the corner before kissing that woman deeply. I winked before racing with Shelia to find our limousine.
During the hand-picked celebration, I knocked back shots with Shelia. Prince and Brenda whispered sweet nothings to one another in a corner of this jam-packed but luxurious party. Starting tomorrow, we'd still station in California for quite a few gigs. Then, this gang headed toward New Mexico. Regardless of locations, I just couldn't wait to hit another stage with this brilliant people.
In other news, Skipper and his delightful fiancée would finally wed after we all ended that final "Purple Rain" gig in Miami this April. I could only imagine the majesty of this couple walking down an aisle on white sand. My eyes teared up at the thought alone. As I've said, Prince finally discovered his peace with my old friend.
No more games, till death do them part.
Shelia and I hit the dance floor before long. Wendy and Lisa paired up as usual. Fellow celebrities waved toward Shelia and I, but I suddenly felt invisible. I'd joined this band of course. All the while, my presence blurred time and time again. As if I was only a shadow of everyone else. Fink and Lisa cultivated one rhythm after another. Onstage, I only jammed when called by our otherwise incredible leader.
Now, Shelia and I danced across from one another and I debated confessing my truth. I'd never quit, but things just blurred. Maybe I wasn't meant to be part of the group sometimes. Still, I honestly feared confronting Prince about these emotions in one way or another. Just when I planned to finally admit my thoughts, Shelia nudged me frantically. When I turned around, my jaw almost hit the floor.
Michael showed up.
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