Around the World in a Day, the 1985 release by The Artist then known as Prince, a colorful and psychedelic Trip into a carefree and existential Spiritualism, came with an interesting graphic stickered to the shrinkwrapped cover of the album. 

It was a picture of a gleeful red-headed child carried away by a balloon emblazoned with the title of the album. Like the girl on the seesaw mentioned in the song "Paisley Park," and pictured on the album's fold-out cover painting, the image of the buoyant boy and his bright balloon seemed to convey the notion of young Prince fans (a population which had more than quadrupled with the previous year's release of Purple Rain) swept into the Heavens, a joyful journey for those who grasped Meaning and Message from such songs as "I Would Die 4 U" and the epic though lyrically sparse anthem, "Purple Rain." 

Of course, not everyone that bought Purple Rain became absorbed into the mystique of such concepts as "Paisley Park" ("Admission is easy. Just say you believe and come to this place in your heart.") or "The Ladder" ("Everybody's looking for the Ladder. Everybody wants Salvation of the Soul."). The ubiquitousness of Around the World in a Day in cut-out bins and used record shops is testament to the fact that most people just "didn't get it" and thought it all "a bit weird." 

This, despite Prince's apparent desire or need to influence a "New Breed" of person and provoke Revolutionary ways of thinking. His constant use of the pronoun "everybody," his sermonizing on songs like "Let's Go Crazy," and his insinuation that he knew a "better way" or a "better place" are just a few examples of his chosen and/or God-appointed Identity as Shepherd, if you will. Directing whoever was willing into The Dawn of a New Day. 

It is undoubtable that The Artist aka Prince has had and continues to have a profoud effect on certain individuals, not to mention his considerable musical and creative influence. His open portrayal of human sexuality, his struggles against racism, small-mindedness, and corporate ownership, and the hopefully neverending Search for Truth, Love, and God which he can't help but to unfold upon each new album have obviously affected and changed the lives of many people. 

  Knows this. Whether an unavoidable Spiritual calling or a genius marketing contrivance, The Man (as he is sometimes called) has consciously developed an intimate bond with his listeners. Through his deliberate usage of the pronoun "U," his deep and Knowing gaze, his interactive presence on the Internet, and his insistence on the term "friend" instead of "fan"  has created a devoted following with an intense nature that far surpasses that of any other popular artist. 

There was talk in 1985 of Prince building a clubhouse for his fans to come and hang out. (This wild notion probably evolved into his tightly secured Paisley Park Studios.) In the liner notes of Sign o' the Times, there's a shout out to "all the boys and girls," telling them "the purple boat will come to take them away soon." And on Lovesexy and Graffiti Bridge, Prince informs his listeners that they have become part of the New Power Generation. 

The "balloon motif" appears rarely in the works of The Artist aka Prince. He may have intentionally filmed scenes of ascending balloons for the movie Under the Cherry Moon as a reference back to the gleeful child soaring across the cover of Around the World in a Day. But, as with most of his actions, one can only guess since he usually offers no absolute answers. 

The song "200 Balloons," the B-side of "Batdance," could also be a reference to the original balloon metaphor. Though the initial impetus for the song was probably the 200th anniversary of Gotham City parade scene at the finale of Batman, the lyrics seem to be a plea from Prince for people to follow along with him, to "fly with him."  

He petitions those who've listened to his music to continue with him despite his mercurial ways. "I made u a couple of times so u made me a star / So take me 4 what I'm worth. Love me for what I are." He promises to "take u very far." 

These invitations came at a time with Prince at the low end of an ever-decreasing popularity. The public relations fiascos at the end of the Purple Reign year, the quirky nature of his two subsequent albums, his inability to speak publicly, his refusal to tour the US extensively, as well as problems with his managers and slight financial troubles had caused the mega-star to gradually slip into sub-par sales figures and critical backlash despite hit songs like "Kiss" and "U Got The Look" and the undeniable quality and innovation of his work. 

On The Black Album, Prince pokes fun at himself, deriding his formulated pop song "U Got The Look" with several sarcastic "slammin"s as he darkly intones, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em."  
On "200 Balloons," he pleads, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em; baby, say it's so." as he bends to his Warners masters and sucks himself into the Batman franchise. 
Still, he calls out most strongly to his loyal fans, his "balloons," to stick with him, to do it and not be stopped, to fly with him into the next level. 

Times change. Prince is now . It's what he really was throughout.  is Free. His fanbase has dwindled considerably, but we are still here in some number. There's at least 200 of us. And whatever lofty heights we have attained in our soul, our minds, or our bodies is partly due to something  did for us. Some glimpse he helped us to see. 

200 Balloons, the web site, is based upon these ideas. It is our goal to bring together the fans of Prince, the friends of , old and new, and contribute our Understanding of  and his Artistry and the effect if has had on ourselves and upon the World at large. 

Please help us in the achievement of this goal by telling us about yourself and your experiences. Even if you are no longer "in the scene" and just happen by, please relate some antecdote of Prince's place in your life whether your first kiss had "Little Red Corvette" in the background or you danced drunkenly to "Kiss" at a country & western bar or whether you just work out to "7." 

Tell us your story! 
And someday we will all fly away together.