MUSIC: In Memory of "Starfish & Coffee" -- the Classic, Purple Hyperconformist Anthem by Prince Rogers Nelson

My sobriquet -- "Synthia Rose" -- is derived from the Prince classic "Starfish & Coffee" which for the last 15 years has been my personal anthem of nonconformity in this hyperconformist world.

NOTE: For those unfamiliar with the song, it might help to first read the lyrics below before the analysis.

An Analysis :

I had listened to this seemingly simplistic and whimsical song for years without truly deciphering its meaning. Then one day, as a sophomore in college, I was sitting in my dorm room feeling forlorn and misunderstood because my off-center views infuriated everyone. My beliefs on relationships, race, sex, the Divine, and everything seemed to be just left of mainstream.

Then, the underlying message of the song crystallized for me and I was caught up in a swooning epiphany that still dazzles me to this day.

At that moment -- With the Sign of the Times album playing casually in the background, "Starfish and Coffee" -- with it's jarring alarm bell - needed into my thoughts and gave me understanding of what Prince meant by saying if you set your mind "free" maybe you'd understand.

Something unlocked and I felt a kinship to Cynthia Rose in the song.
I understood the song was about mental imprisonment, the inability to recognize that things can be done outside the boundaries of society, history, tradition and religion... and that that is okay.

* The alarm : The song begins with a alarm bell (both to symbolize the school setting and to wake up our sleeping consciousness, or unfree minds).

* The setting: The setting is school-- an institution known for its regiment and structure. School is a metaphor for all that is structured and habitual (which isn't necessarily bad) in this world. Notice that things are so structured, kids line up at a specific time (7:45 a.m.) and they have to be in rigid lines.