blackbob said:

just to add to this....yes prince has dressed like your auntie betty in the past but why does prince get so put down with it all his career when you think of other major rock stars like david bowie ...who has cross dressed in parts of his career AND is a bi sexual man and freddie mercury of queen who was as camp as they come and 100 per cent a gay man....why is it when you mention bowie and queen ...you dont get the 'gay' putdown comments from boneheads but when you say prince...you do get the 'gay' putdown comments ?....i personally think that white guys ...and to a lesser extent ..white women...cant handle an effeminate little black man but can handle gay or bi sexual white guys ???....what other explanation is there for this if its not a racial thing ?....

.

So true, brotha's are extremely sensitive about anything that might even suggest femininity or homosexuality. Ever notice only black male comedians comment on Prince's appearance?, The riff Jamie Foxx did on Prince was the stuff only a brotha could come up with. I like to say, the lower you are on the social ladder (in your mind) the more emphasis you place on manhood because in your mind you have to fight for it. We also live in a violent, size obsessed country, muscle mass and your ability to take up space makes you "more" relevant. Prince is one of the few stars that journalist tag with his stature before writing what he is doing. "diminutive pop star prince...., elfin rock god prince...." and it is so transparent and from a language standpoint aggressive. It almost seems like the writer, not wanting to come to terms with this giant talent has to soothe himself by reminding the reader that this persons physical stature is not up to social standards. Prince will always be my dude cus he scares the fuck out of people with his very being.

Alexandernvrmind said:

blackbob said:

i am afraid that prince dressing up like your auntie in drag in parts of his career has stopped people taking him seriously and has hidden his real musicial genius from the public in general...and being against internet sites showing him hasnt helped that....but i think that is slowly changing now...

And there you have it.... Prince's gay fans (not saying Prince is gay by the way) will never bring themselves to acknowledge it

I am African American but I belong to a sports blog where 85% on the bloggers are 30 to 40 something white males. The blog has a section to talk about general topics including politics and music. I'm telling you right now I have posted that video of Prince shredding My Guitar and they were blown away. They had no idea... ZERO that he could play the guitar like that. The Super Bowl press conferences from the 2006 where Prince did not actually take questions but performed they were again blown away. Not to mention the actual SB performance. I even posted the Fury live clip from SNL. Again blown away Why? Because Prince alienates people and makes them feel uncomfortable. It’s his journey and more power to him... but when you walk around in heels, look better than Halle Berry (well maybe not Halle but you get the point) it distracts from the music which is what Prince says he is all about.

IMO if it was just about the music then he wouldn't be sitting on a giant flower naked with his hand near his nipple, legs crossed and a penis head coming out of one of the flower pistols. Look at the Newpowersoul Cover, or the promo pictures of Planet Earth.... I mean there are coutless other examples of where Prince offends the eyes Americans. The vast majority of people buy the music of people they feel like they relate to or like. So while Prince has been able to reach millions of fans with just his music... the vast majority of fans aren't like that

Prince has long sung about "our clothes our hair... we don't care" Well that’s all fine and good but some people are turned off by men that parade around dressed like women... and since they can't get beyond that it’s the single greatest reason why Prince doesn't dominate music and is not more iconic outside of Prince's own fans and music critics

That and the fact that Prince being a jack of all trades and master of much has more often than not mixed styles on albums that as I said earlier alienates people. Fans of Housequake aren't necessarily going to be down with Play in the Sunshine. Fans of American aren't down with Condition of the Heart. Fans of Kiss can't necessarily be down with Do U Lie.

Prince is probably the greatest combination of singer, musician, song writer, live performer and musical innovator I will ever see in my lifetime.... but I would be lying if I said it doesn't bother me that more people don't realize how talented he is. I am fully aware of the reasons why though and accepts it.

Lovesexy is a masterpiece and should have reached millions of more people. Prince sacrificed reaching those people by putting that ridiculous picture on the cover

Hey it’s his ride <shrug>

[Edited 9/15/10 8:31am]

Game.

Set.

Match.

Well played.

NouveauDance said:

Alexandernvrmind said:

And there you have it.... Prince's gay fans (not saying Prince is gay by the way) will never bring themselves to acknowledge it

I am African American but I belong to a sports blog where 85% on the bloggers are 30 to 40 something white males. The blog has a section to talk about general topics including politics and music. I'm telling you right now I have posted that video of Prince shredding My Guitar and they were blown away. They had no idea... ZERO that he could play the guitar like that. The Super Bowl press conferences from the 2006 where Prince did not actually take questions but performed they were again blown away. Not to mention the actual SB performance. I even posted the Fury live clip from SNL. Again blown away Why? Because Prince alienates people and makes them feel uncomfortable. It’s his journey and more power to him... but when you walk around in heels, look better than Halle Berry (well maybe not Halle but you get the point) it distracts from the music which is what Prince says he is all about.

IMO if it was just about the music then he wouldn't be sitting on a giant flower naked with his hand near his nipple, legs crossed and a penis head coming out of one of the flower pistols. Look at the Newpowersoul Cover, or the promo pictures of Planet Earth.... I mean there are coutless other examples of where Prince offends the eyes Americans. The vast majority of people buy the music of people they feel like they relate to or like. So while Prince has been able to reach millions of fans with just his music... the vast majority of fans aren't like that

Prince has long sung about "our clothes our hair... we don't care" Well that’s all fine and good but some people are turned off by men that parade around dressed like women... and since they can't get beyond that it’s the single greatest reason why Prince doesn't dominate music and is not more iconic outside of Prince's own fans and music critics

That and the fact that Prince being a jack of all trades and master of much has more often than not mixed styles on albums that as I said earlier alienates people. Fans of Housequake aren't necessarily going to be down with Play in the Sunshine. Fans of American aren't down with Condition of the Heart. Fans of Kiss can't necessarily be down with Do U Lie.

Prince is probably the greatest combination of singer, musician, song writer, live performer and musical innovator I will ever see in my lifetime.... but I would be lying if I said it doesn't bother me that more people don't realize how talented he is. I am fully aware of the reasons why though and accepts it.

Lovesexy is a masterpiece and should have reached millions of more people. Prince sacrificed reaching those people by putting that ridiculous picture on the cover

Hey it’s his ride <shrug>

[Edited 9/15/10 8:31am]

That's all true, all true. But if someone can't mentally get past a stage costume or ONLY want quiet storm ballads or ONLY shreading guitar noize, who gives a fuck about them. It's not like Prince is broke because these people can't open their eyes and minds.

Bluring and breaking gender and race boundaries is what Prince was all about. Fuck everyone else.

I agree.....bravo....

RodeoSchro said:

I guess I must be very comfortable. I always loved Prince and everyone always knew it. It never even crossed my mind what others thought. I couldn't see any reason anyone would not like him, but then again everybody didn't like Jesus Christ.

dreamshaman32 said:

blackbob said:

just to add to this....yes prince has dressed like your auntie betty in the past but why does prince get so put down with it all his career when you think of other major rock stars like david bowie ...who has cross dressed in parts of his career AND is a bi sexual man and freddie mercury of queen who was as camp as they come and 100 per cent a gay man....why is it when you mention bowie and queen ...you dont get the 'gay' putdown comments from boneheads but when you say prince...you do get the 'gay' putdown comments ?....i personally think that white guys ...and to a lesser extent ..white women...cant handle an effeminate little black man but can handle gay or bi sexual white guys ???....what other explanation is there for this if its not a racial thing ?....

.

So true, brotha's are extremely sensitive about anything that might even suggest femininity or homosexuality. Ever notice only black male comedians comment on Prince's appearance?, The riff Jamie Foxx did on Prince was the stuff only a brotha could come up with. I like to say, the lower you are on the social ladder (in your mind) the more emphasis you place on manhood because in your mind you have to fight for it. We also live in a violent, size obsessed country, muscle mass and your ability to take up space makes you "more" relevant. Prince is one of the few stars that journalist tag with his stature before writing what he is doing. "diminutive pop star prince...., elfin rock god prince...." and it is so transparent and from a language standpoint aggressive. It almost seems like the writer, not wanting to come to terms with this giant talent has to soothe himself by reminding the reader that this persons physical stature is not up to social standards. Prince will always be my dude cus he scares the fuck out of people with his very being.

Co-Sign ...

blackbob said:

just to add to this....yes prince has dressed like your auntie betty in the past but why does prince get so put down with it all his career when you think of other major rock stars like david bowie ...who has cross dressed in parts of his career AND is a bi sexual man and freddie mercury of queen who was as camp as they come and 100 per cent a gay man....why is it when you mention bowie and queen ...you dont get the 'gay' putdown comments from boneheads but when you say prince...you do get the 'gay' putdown comments ?....i personally think that white guys ...and to a lesser extent ..white women...cant handle an effeminate little black man but can handle gay or bi sexual white guys ???....what other explanation is there for this if its not a racial thing ?....

.

An interesting point Bob! Another factor would be the falsetto, or 'singing like a girl'..

Thank goodness these days, people of a certain age are likely to respond with some degree of respect for your choice (in my experience) as they know he's a respected artist albeit they harp on about Purple Rain and then ask if he's still releasing records. Grrrrr.

Scotsman1999 said:

blackbob said:

just to add to this....yes prince has dressed like your auntie betty in the past but why does prince get so put down with it all his career when you think of other major rock stars like david bowie ...who has cross dressed in parts of his career AND is a bi sexual man and freddie mercury of queen who was as camp as they come and 100 per cent a gay man....why is it when you mention bowie and queen ...you dont get the 'gay' putdown comments from boneheads but when you say prince...you do get the 'gay' putdown comments ?....i personally think that white guys ...and to a lesser extent ..white women...cant handle an effeminate little black man but can handle gay or bi sexual white guys ???....what other explanation is there for this if its not a racial thing ?....

.

An interesting point Bob! Another factor would be the falsetto, or 'singing like a girl'..

Thank goodness these days, people of a certain age are likely to respond with some degree of respect for your choice (in my experience) as they know he's a respected artist albeit they harp on about Purple Rain and then ask if he's still releasing records. Grrrrr.

The funny thing is the R&B groups of the past, all the way up to prince's youth had that one guy who sang in falsetto. Smokey and Eddie Kindricks were masters of that high register and even today Robin Thicke and Justin timberlake get "up there". I think combined with his look that register took on a more uncomfortable aspect that a lot of guys dont want to deal with lol. My thought was always if it bothered you that much; that it became an issue of Princes (or your) sexuality that is a YOU problem. That falsetto represented great things for me as a teenager, the ballads like Do Me Baby and Adore usually got the panties off lol. The guys that hemmed and hawed about it really were focusing on some other shit, hopefully they are living a no hang up life right now lol.

dreamshaman32 said:

Alexandernvrmind said:

I hear you and totally understand what you are saying... but I have a different perspective. I do care because I feel like the gender bending, stage persona, obsessive "I'm not a woman ...I'm not a man" "male female symbol" crap is exhausting and has completely overshadowed what a fabulous musician he is. He has sacrificed his musical legacy for one that in the opinion of most of the music public (at least those who even care) paints him as a petulant and rebellious drag queen rather than a timeless and well respected musician.

Consider the theme of Lovesexy and how important he said it was to him. How he stopped the Black Album and prepared this one instead. He had something to say... Lovesexy was a very personal statement and he truly missed an opportunity to reach people all because of that narcissistic over the top picture.

Another poster talks about how other musicians view him or did. I totally get that because although I am not a musician a listen like one. I was sold out for Prince after hearing 1999 and Little Red Corvette, Something in the Water and All the Critics... but others can't even see Prince or hear those great songs because of his appearance then and even now.

It just is what is... and Prince has said fuck em'... just like you did... and in the process sacrificed a portion of his legacy that he claims is far more important than anything

His music

He is a timeless musician but maybe he overemphasized that part of his persona to disarm a black audience ( whom he grew up with) that were already put off by his appearance. I refuse to believe he wasn't a target of taunts and called a sissy growing up, he stated as much to Tavis. We as Black folks have to admit that "the dozens" and homophobia is a part of our experience and black kids can be the most vicious. Maybe he saw freedom in the androgyny of white stars, a way to circumvent what he felt to be narrow ideas about "maleness" in his community. I always thought it was funny that Charlie Murphy complained that androgyny got you laid in the 80's, in the black community MJ, Prince and El Debarge made being pretty acceptable. But every trend has it's backlash and Prince's musical abilities and standing as one of our great talents will be casualties of this choice. He also baught into his own hype to some degree so theres an almost predictable approach to all of his projects since PR. We have no idea what an ego rush even pullin that shit off was for him. The obstacles were huge, and when he pulled it off the chances of anyone advising him on shit like Lovesexy were zip. In a lot of ways he beat the odds and i'm sure he believes he can repeat the feat with every project.

good post.. and yes I am sure he was called every name in the book... but I still as a fan wish it wasn't this way. That he handled it differently... shit if your not gay then don't dress like a drag queen.... but he has never gotten beyond it. He is 50 something years old... and when word leaked this year that his new project might be called Androgony... I rolled my eyes and thought. Dude is still talking about this shit?