Love "don't play me" but the lyrics are telling. "I'm over 30 and I don't smoke weed." "I'm straight, use proper English." Absolutely anti-early Prince. The guy who enjoyed playing as if he were gay, woman alter-ego, and the English thing, well you can wonder what he's referring to there.

Then there is "I'm the wrong color and I play guitar
My only competition is?well, me in the past."

Wrong color to play guitar? Is he really that stupid and ignorant? 1st off, Jimi killed P in that category, and Jimi barely had a chance to show off his skills. The only competition is himself? Would have been nice if P had that mentality when he was pumping out all that rap shit, trying to be the musician he was not even near to.

HOWEVER, Prince is an icon, good or bad. A cartoon character of a mysterious man who likes to dress in the most superficial way possible.

Perhaps he could pen a tune about the caricature he's responsible for making himself out to be?

okidoki

I'm not going to address Prince's current persona or whether or not he's sold out. But as far as the song "Don't Play Me", there's a lot of truth in it.

Stating that he doesn't smoke weed and speaks proper English points to the fact that he has risen above sterotypes a lot of people may have about black men, especially one in Prince's position.

I'm the wrong color and I play guitar is in the same vain. A lot of people don't accept black people playing rock music. They want to pigeonhole people as far as what they can and can't do based on there own expectations. Yet, Prince (and Hendrix for that matter) has proven that he isn't limited despite his color.

Finally, the line my only competition is me in the past speaks for itself. Since the 80's and maybe even since Purple Rain, it hasn't been enough for Prince to be as good as or better than everybody else. Many people (critics and fans) will automatically compare the new music with the old.
[Edited 8/20/09 1:18am]

Rockability said:

''uptowns'' one of his earliest songs and he states that he isnt gay in that, i like the suits but i do miss all the flamboyant stuff he used to wear

Prude?. it's his dick, his music, his worldview, anyone who has heard him play the last what 7 yrs. can here he is not longer looking up at hendrix. Nice try, next negative thread Rockability LOL

Rockability said:

I think maybe you read too much into this..
First off, every once in a while Prince gets on the whole race thing, which makes no sense coming from him. As far as Jimi kiling Prince...hmmm... thats debatable. Jimi was an innovator, probably the greatest innovator of guitar, but not the greatest player. Jimis prime versus Prince...I think maybe Prince wins. Though, If jimi were still alive, it may be a different story.
Prince is very proud to be drug free in a society where it is so accepted and so popular ad promoted through music.
Prince has never gotten into the whole "competition" thing. Whenever he's interviewed, what is the thing most people compare him to?....Him in the 80's. And honestly, who else is there to compare him to or to compete with?
Prince is arrogant, but thats been him since day one. Regardless, he is the greatest all around musician of our time.

xpertluva said:

.....you could be right on these points. Nevertheless, i get what your saying.

xpertluva said:

.....you could be right on these points. Nevertheless, i get what your saying.

xpertluva said:

Well said.

Rockability said:

Wow you sound like you need a psych evaluation with this garbage coming out your mouth. Unbelievable the things people will post around here.
[Edited 8/20/09 11:31am]

Rockability said:

u seem to be missing the who sarcastic and flip nature of the tune. The title of the tune is "Don't play me" for christ's sake.


He isn't a prude at all. SUre he has taste and whatnot...that doesn't make hime a prude. Just cuz raunch and filth is missing diesn't make one a prude. He doesn't seem to completely dismiss people who indulge either. I'm sure questlove somkes his fair share of weed but P don't mind his company. What P is a prude about, if it actually makes him a prude, is people who lack restrain and respect. P is tolerant of A LOT of behavior. U hafta b in the music biz...but lack of restraint and lack of respect have ALWAYS been constants in P's life. He ain't a prude at all. Prude's don't write songs like valenteena or Dance 4 me.
[Edited 8/20/09 11:36am]

xpertluva said:

Absolutely right on with that. If there was ever a time Prince when wasn't trying to be anything but himself in a song, it was on this one.

purplecam said: