one of the articles in playboy that I remember from my youth- when I was not being distracted by other **things- was "Everyone wants to have sex with Prince" not only his music, but his image and his commitment to himself was inspiring.
slightly off topic but still on the death theme:
the other article I still remember (formative years) was one with two sisters, the younger having cancer and asking "why me?" and the older saying: don't ask why me, but rather.. why not you? none of us are so special that we don't die.