Raspberry Berets and Second Hand Stores

With the devastating loss of Prince Rogers Nelson yesterday, I am still in shock. But I’ve been recalling my earliest memory of Prince, when I first discovered him in the early 1980s.

I was shopping at a funky record store in Seattle’s University District when I first heard Prince’s Raspberry Beret. It must have been 1982, as this is when his first version of the song was recorded (it was reworked with The Revolution in 1985). I remember stopping dead in my tracks and listening attentively to the song. The sound, first of all, was unique. The lyrics really caught me though:

She wore a
Raspberry beret
The kind U find in a second hand store
Raspberry beret
And if it was warm she wouldn’t wear much more
Raspberry beret
I think I love her

Here was a guy singing about a girl wearing a beret found at a second hand store, and professing his love. Since I’m life-long vintie thrifter who has always shopped at second hand stores – even when it was decidedly uncool to shop there – I was riveted. Plus I love berets and the color raspberry. I remember thinking WHO is singing this song? It started me on my life-long love of Prince and his incredible talent. His music videos soon became a staple on MTV, and he exploded with fame. But I am grateful I got to hear him in his rawest sense first, at that shabby record store 34 years ago.

Sleep well sweet Prince ♥

~Marilyn