Traveling for work I spent time in Copenhagen where I made friends with John and Arron bartenders at Victoria Pub who allowed me to play there on off nights so I started bringing my guitar along with me. On one trip I was accompanied to an open mic night by some work friends who had never witnessed me perform and had no idea what to expect. I myself was a little nervous about the whole situation because I usually opt to keep my "hobby" low key. As we were waiting around for my turn, we mixed with the locals. There was a Finnish expat photographer who was rather well greased and had taken a liking to one of my workmates daughters. Though his flattery of her "photogenic nature" was indeed genuine, his "object d'art" would not be enticed to cooperate so I did the noble thing and distracting him with conversation.

When my time came to play, several drinks in, I took the stage, unpacked my guitar, plugged in, looked down and there was my cameraless new photographer friend at the foot of the stage along with several iPhone wielding workmates primed to capture a youtube moment. I am certain in their mind they saw a win win...if I sucked...Gold...if I was good...Bronze. So I played my two songs, "My American Lover" and "Squatter's Rights" which were both well received. As I left the stage, my new Finnish friend greeted me excitedly. Vigorously shaking my hand with his other hand on my shoulder, he leaned in and said, "that was sexy in my ear. No like an orgasm for my ear!". Without recoiling, I thought about what he told me for a moment and  replied..."Once I get past the grossness of what you just told me, I think you have just given me one of the best compliments I have ever gotten." In hindsight, I am now certain of it.

That evening when I returned to my hotel room, leaving him behind at the bar, for the record, I took his first comment and started writing my very own "Prince" song.