OldFriends4Sale said:

Timmy84 said:

It's funny as I look back at the "controversy" of Purple Rain. In the other thread where it was mentioned about songs Prince couldn't play anymore, I said something about him not doing "Computer Blue", since he hardly curse anymore in his shows, that hell wasn't even as much of a curse word as it used to be, then I thought about it, there wasn't a moment on PR except for "Darling Nikki" where it was really that daring. I'm guessing because Tipper and Al Gore had a problem with the lyrics mentioning masturbation and "grinding" that this is why it got the sticker but it's one of Prince's least cursive albums. I don't even think he said DAMN in any of the songs and besides from "hell" in "Computer Blue" but I guess it shows you how wild things were in the '80s that someone would dare do a song about a "girl masturbating with a magazine" when nowadays people think it's real tame right now. I understand it was all about censorship but I always thought those people were pushing it about it being detrimental to a young listener. Anyways, I just thought that was interesting. What y'all think about that time?

I've talked about this before, with a lot of Prince's 1980's music did not have a lot of cursing,

He might have cursed a lot in concerts but not on albums/songs. The more explicity words I didn't hear from him till 1990's

Nothing on Purple Rain has words kids can't listen to. Even the B sides are pretty clean except 4 Erotic City

Well actually he didn't start to get real explicit until The Black Album (Bob George being a prime example of it).

And there were hints even in the early '80s. Does "Fightin' war is such a fuckin' bore" in "Party Up" ring anything?

Oh and don't forget this sweet tidbit from "Sister":

"Oh motherfucker's just a motherfucker, don't you understand?!"

I didn't think it was Tipper who had heard it originally... I seem to remember a News expose from the 80's. If I remember correctly, it was a suburban family man who purchased Purple Rain for his family during the time when PR was really huge. He stated that he thought it was an innocent Pop record (like Thriller, I guess). When Darlin' Nikky came on while he was listening with his family, he was shocked and horrified. I remember this guy being geniunely pissed in the interview. He then started complaining to his local Congressmen and Senators and it snowballed from there... Some of the politician's wives decided to form the P.M.R.C with Tipper as the ringleader.

At least, that's how I remember it.... Lyrical content was a big hot button issue at one point.

It IS kinda' funny that the rather tame Purple Rain is what stirred up all this commotion. We'd already had Prince talking about wanting to fuck the tastes out of mouths and people like Mercyful Fate singing "hail Satan". I guess the massive mainstream success of PR led to it getting in the hands of people who would be offended by certain things and cause a fuss.

gemari77 said:

I didn't think it was Tipper who had heard it originally... I seem to remember a News expose from the 80's. If I remember correctly, it was a suburban family man who purchased Purple Rain for his family during the time when PR was really huge. He stated that he thought it was an innocent Pop record (like Thriller, I guess). When Darlin' Nikky came on while he was listening with his family, he was shocked and horrified. I remember this guy being geniunely pissed in the interview. He then started complaining to his local Congressmen and Senators and it snowballed from there... Some of the politician's wives decided to form the P.M.R.C with Tipper as the ringleader.

At least, that's how I remember it.... Lyrical content was a big hot button issue at one point.

It IS kinda' funny that the rather tame Purple Rain is what stirred up all this commotion. We'd already had Prince talking about wanting to fuck the tastes out of mouths and people like Mercyful Fate singing "hail Satan". I guess the massive mainstream success of PR led to it getting in the hands of people who would be offended by certain things and cause a fuss.

Tipper was not the first person to get their panties in a knot over rock music. Hell that ball had been bounching for decades! There were a few early attempts at getting something done. Some form of warning. But it was not really until Tipper got the album for one of her girls that things got started.

But before that people knew about 'sister' and 'head' and 'jack u off' as well as all the other rock bands with evil or dirty songs.

I'm down with what Tipper and her gang were trying to do....essentially rate music like they do the movies.

What's not cool is censorship, which is what they tried to do to Ice T (Cop Killa) and NWA.

^ Maybe it's just me but I think what Tipper did and what went down with Cop Killer was pretty much the same thing.

jtfolden said:

...and there is absolutely nothing wrong with albums having labels like that, imo.

I seem to recall that in the beginning a few of the stickered albums actually sold more than they might have done without it, as well.

The problem is that certain retailers refused to carry stickered records. This effectively censored your album and limited your audience. This was way before amazon.com, so no internet orders or anything. If Walmart is the only retailer in your area, you're out of luck. You'll never hear Purple Rain or Judas Priest.

AhPook said:

jtfolden said:

...and there is absolutely nothing wrong with albums having labels like that, imo.

I seem to recall that in the beginning a few of the stickered albums actually sold more than they might have done without it, as well.

The problem is that certain retailers refused to carry stickered records. This effectively censored your album and limited your audience. This was way before amazon.com, so no internet orders or anything. If Walmart is the only retailer in your area, you're out of luck. You'll never hear Purple Rain or Judas Priest.

That's why I would've hated to go to Walmart if there's an album I want and it's either not there or if it's there certain parts are blurred out for no good reason at all.

NDRU said:

We label our movies, our music, our TV, our videogames, our food... But somehow books escape this. Any kid can pick up a book with completely pornographic descriptions I guess we figure if they read a book it's worth the psychological damage?

Well see that don't make sense, you're gonna label everything EXCEPT books? I mean it's like "might as well or don't do it at all".

NDRU said:

We label our movies, our music, our TV, our videogames, our food... But somehow books escape this. Any kid can pick up a book with completely pornographic descriptions I guess we figure if they read a book it's worth the psychological damage?

Are you seriously comparing food labels with "Explicit Content" labels? And as for books, maybe parents should take more of an interest in what junior's reading.

Timmy84 said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I've talked about this before, with a lot of Prince's 1980's music did not have a lot of cursing,

He might have cursed a lot in concerts but not on albums/songs. The more explicity words I didn't hear from him till 1990's

Nothing on Purple Rain has words kids can't listen to. Even the B sides are pretty clean except 4 Erotic City

Well actually he didn't start to get real explicit until The Black Album (Bob George being a prime example of it).

And there were hints even in the early '80s. Does "Fightin' war is such a fuckin' bore" in "Party Up" ring anything?

Yeah, Bob George was more violent explicit than sexual, that album was pretty tame. Prince had a lot of analogy in those song that refered to sex, a line or 2 "I hate 2 C an erection go 2 waste" but over all it wasn't explicit 2 me.

Dirty Mind of coure probably has that most 'blantant' sexual references.

But over all cursing wasn't that frequent on most of those albums.

Timmy84 said:

Well actually he didn't start to get real explicit until The Black Album (Bob George being a prime example of it).

And there were hints even in the early '80s. Does "Fightin' war is such a fuckin' bore" in "Party Up" ring anything?

I have to disagree. Ever heard Let's Pretend We're Married?

motherfunka said:

Timmy84 said:

Well actually he didn't start to get real explicit until The Black Album (Bob George being a prime example of it).

And there were hints even in the early '80s. Does "Fightin' war is such a fuckin' bore" in "Party Up" ring anything?

I have to disagree. Ever heard Let's Pretend We're Married?

That's why I said what I said BELOW it.

motherfunka said:

Timmy84 said:

Well actually he didn't start to get real explicit until The Black Album (Bob George being a prime example of it).

And there were hints even in the early '80s. Does "Fightin' war is such a fuckin' bore" in "Party Up" ring anything?

I have to disagree. Ever heard Let's Pretend We're Married?

Party Up comes before Let's Pretend We're Married

OldFriends4Sale said:

motherfunka said:

I have to disagree. Ever heard Let's Pretend We're Married?

Party Up comes before Let's Pretend We're Married

I would say lines like "I want to be the only one you come for" and "I want to come inside of you" are more explicit than "Party Up" or "LPWM"

OnlyNDaUsa said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Party Up comes before Let's Pretend We're Married

I would say lines like "I want to be the only one you come for" and "I want to come inside of you" are more explicit than "Party Up" or "LPWM"

I wanna be your lover can be played on the radio, though, because "come" is not a bad word. Not like "I sincerely wanna fuck the taste outta your mouth!"

Actually I always heard those lines from I Wanna Be as a double entendre "I wanna be the only one that makes you come...running" We know what he means by it, its a little joke, but not technically pornographic to want someone to come running to you.

NDRU said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

I would say lines like "I want to be the only one you come for" and "I want to come inside of you" are more explicit than "Party Up" or "LPWM"

I wanna be your lover can be played on the radio, though, because "come" is not a bad word. Not like "I sincerely wanna fuck the taste outta your mouth!"

Actually I always heard those lines from I Wanna Be as a double entendre "I wanna be the only one that makes you come...running" We know what he means by it, its a little joke, but not technically pornographic to want someone to come running to you.

That's what I think too and I think he still performs the song in concert...

Interesting how one can look at dirty and explicit being two completely different things.

I was thinking the same thinga about Comupter Blue. Why doesnt he play it. Only says "hell" in it. And I wouldnt mind if he replaced it something else. Like "Tell me what in the WORLD is wrong". Just play it, DAMN..Song ROCKS.

ThrillUorKillU said:

I was thinking the same thinga about Comupter Blue. Why doesnt he play it. Only says "hell" in it. And I wouldnt mind if he replaced it something else. Like "Tell me what in the WORLD is wrong". Just play it, DAMN..Song ROCKS.

He's probably being anal retentive in general.

I want him to play the full version too at that!

OldFriends4Sale said:

motherfunka said:

I have to disagree. Ever heard Let's Pretend We're Married?

Party Up comes before Let's Pretend We're Married

My point wasn't that Let's Pretend We're Married came before Party Up. I was specifically thinking of the line "I sincerely want to fuck the taste out of your mouth". Call it a hint, or what not, but it is filth...and that's why I love it!

Timmy84 said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

But why is it that most of the so called dirty words are sexual words? Why I there such a sexual hang up?

Maybe he was always horny lol

Timmy84 said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Timmy84 said:

Maybe he was always horny lol

No I meant people in general

Oh lol

I don't know. But I guess I see where you're going. "I'll be the one to make you come...running", can kinda be seen as dirty but "I wanna fuck the taste out of your mouth" is explicit lol guess it's the way the lyrics/words go...

Timmy84 said:

ThrillUorKillU said:

I was thinking the same thinga about Comupter Blue. Why doesnt he play it. Only says "hell" in it. And I wouldnt mind if he replaced it something else. Like "Tell me what in the WORLD is wrong". Just play it, DAMN..Song ROCKS.

He's probably being anal retentive in general.

I want him to play the full version too at that!

You mean with the hallway speech in all? I dont really care witch version as long as he gets to the Father's Song part with the guitar.

ThrillUorKillU said:

Timmy84 said:

He's probably being anal retentive in general.

I want him to play the full version too at that!

You mean with the hallway speech in all? I dont really care witch version as long as he gets to the Father's Song part with the guitar.

Yeah but he could take that out if he wants. But I do want the Father's Song bit in it.