USA TODAY

Prince, The Rainbow Children (3.5 out of 4) How fitting that Prince's resurrection as a pop visionary comes by way of a religious awakening. Having exhausted sexual taboos, the recently converted Jehovah's Witness bravely plunges into the forbidden zone of faith, taking provocative discourse to a higher plane without abandoning his lust for greasy funk and bump-and-grind beats. Preaching peace and harmony, Prince slams hypocrisy, racism, sexism and spiritual bankruptcy in his strongest sacred and social statements since 1987's masterful Sign 'o' the Times. Periodic slides into piety and dogma are forgotten in the heady rush of strikingly original music, a soulful symphony of rock, funk, gospel and jazz hybrids. Flawed only by its irritating Darth-like narrator, The Rainbow Children delivers salvation from mediocrity in an often-bewildering interplay of biblical references and sensual grooves. Peerless production, experimental glee and brilliant musicianship add up to one of Prince's most challenging and fascinating works to date, whatever your take on the enigmatic valentines to God. -- Edna Gundersen

rainbowchild said:

TRC is my favorite Prince album! Saw him in concert at Kodak (now Dolby) Theater and it was divine!

interestingly most reviews I've read favour the Rainbow Children, I wonder why Prince chose not to continue in the direction of the musical arrangement.

I truly Adore the Rainbow Children. I'd only really dabbled midly with Prince prior to hearing this one. I read a review that made it sound really interesting (they said the lyrics were incomprehensible) and asked me mum to pick it up for me that Christmas!
Now over 10 years on since that I think it stands in my top 3 Prince albums. I even shelled out £120 to get the LP haha
I still find the music utterly spellbinding- I don't think he has ever done anything as experimental sounding as Digital Garden- Family Name is still also one of my favourite Prince tracks too - the guitar and the message of the song really helps.
Oh and the bass on 1+1+1=3? Pure funk!

Digital Garden

Specific recording dates are unknown, but it is likely that initial tracking took place in late 2000 or early 2001 at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA.

The musical track transforms into a segue that continues the narrative of the album. "The Banished Ones" take over the world, except for the palace of the "Rainbow Children", which they surround with a "digital garden"; they try to remove "The Wise One" (king of the Rainbow Children) from power. The Wise One eventually "obliged with an invisible deed", and The Banished Ones return to the place they were born, "Menda City" (a play on words of "mendacity"). The Rainbow Children are then "willing to go door-to-door in search of those willing to do the work" of dismantling the digital garden. The segue then leads directly into The Work Pt. 1.-PrinceVault

The Banished Ones approaching the palace shouted obscenities. They tried 2
confuse the Rainbow Children and dethron their king. Using the lies promoted
by the whosepapers, hellavisions, and scagazines- The Banished Ones
constructed a Digital Garden around the palace that extended throughout the
world. Furthermore they demanded compensation 4 their time spent in the
palace b4 the exile. This was noise! "So be it," said the Wise One, and
gladly obliged with an INVISIBLE DEED. The Banished Ones accepted and
returned to their place of birth in MendaCity. As 4 the Rainbow Children,
they began deconstructing the Digital Garden. Door to door they went in
search of those willing to do The Work

this album sums up all that is right and wrong with prince as a musician and ultimately why nobody bothers with the purple poseur anymore .. it takes a bunch of great musical ideas and absolutely poops all over them with his other sensibilities making this record unlistenable .. no other record goes to such extremes of good ideas mixed with absolute shit ideas in one song or one record .. usually we get some mediocre music with a few cringe inducing lyrics .. this time we get one of his greatest tunes 'rainbow chillin' decimated by his stupid darth vader monologue .. we smooth lite jazz of muse to the pharoah mixed with his worse combo of religion and porn ever .. we get essentially grungy jazz for much of the record .. a combo that just does not work .. and the over all lyrics are just some of the dumbest prince has ever laid down .. yet the tones of the production are some of his best .. this is why people cant be bothered with prince .. he just ruins everything great that he starts

Possessed: the Rise and Fall of Prince

Chapter 19: Xenophobia

p 243

As Prince began recording his next full album, the Rainbow Children, Jehovah's Witness doctrine emerged as a prominent element in his music. So too did tinges of anti-Semitism, along with dollops of patriarchal sexism. The song "Muse 2 The Pharaoh" demonstrates both tendencies, positing a gender hierarchy where men make the decisions and produce great art while women serve them. The song also makes an invidious comparison between the Holocaust and the enslavement of black Americans, arguing that extermination is preferable to a loss of freedom.

.

How did this former rebel, who during the 1980s had been pop's leading advocate of sexual freedom and cultural diversity, re-emerge in the 2000s as such a moralistic and narrow-minded figure? The answer in part is that Prince had never wholeheartedly embraced the role of revolutionary; this was simply one of many guises he adopted. The Prince of Dirty Mind, Controversy, and 1999 represented an important (and for a time dominate) part of his personality, but streaks of piousness and moral superiority were apparent even then. The trend in his work toward religious conservatism, which became more prevalent after his marriage to Mayte Garcia in 1996, was dramatically accelerated by Larry Graham's arrival on the scene in 1998. By the time The Rainbow Children was released in December 2001, Prince had committed, privately and publicly, to the Jehovah's Witness faith, and continued to extol Graham as his most trusted spiritual advisor. In an interview that appeared in Gotham magazine in 2001, he revealed that -at Graham's prompting -he was eliminating all profanity from his music.

Musically, it's an amazing album. The guitar work is some of his best.

Lyrically, it's pretty awful. Almost laughable.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Possessed: the Rise and Fall of Prince

Chapter 19: Xenophobia

p 243

As Prince began recording his next full album, the Rainbow Children, Jehovah's Witness doctrine emerged as a prominent element in his music. So too did tinges of anti-Semitism, along with dollops of patriarchal sexism. The song "Muse 2 The Pharaoh" demonstrates both tendencies, positing a gender hierarchy where men make the decisions and produce great art while women serve them. The song also makes an invidious comparison between the Holocaust and the enslavement of black Americans, arguing that extermination is preferable to a loss of freedom.

.

How did this former rebel, who during the 1980s had been pop's leading advocate of sexual freedom and cultural diversity, re-emerge in the 2000s as such a moralistic and narrow-minded figure? The answer in part is that Prince had never wholeheartedly embraced the role of revolutionary; this was simply one of many guises he adopted. The Prince of Dirty Mind, Controversy, and 1999 represented an important (and for a time dominate) part of his personality, but streaks of piousness and moral superiority were apparent even then. The trend in his work toward religious conservatism, which became more prevalent after his marriage to Mayte Garcia in 1996, was dramatically accelerated by Larry Graham's arrival on the scene in 1998. By the time The Rainbow Children was released in December 2001, Prince had committed, privately and publicly, to the Jehovah's Witness faith, and continued to extol Graham as his most trusted spiritual advisor. In an interview that appeared in Gotham magazine in 2001, he revealed that -at Graham's prompting -he was eliminating all profanity from his music.

Unfortunate indeed.

I think this album exemplifies what Prince has been doing wrong all this time. He spends so much effort chasing a sound for an album, rather than just going with what sounds good. TRC sounded like he said "Okay, now I'm going to make a jazzy album." and stuck to it to fault.

This Album awakened me up to P's music again. One of my favorites forsure! Beautiful Genius rhythmic flows.

And this pic....OMG! ........ Good God Almighty!

I slept on this for a couple of years. last year a started listening to it, and I couldnt stop. It's truly one of his best albums, so organic and playful.

OldFriends4Sale said:

Possessed: the Rise and Fall of Prince

Chapter 19: Xenophobia

p 243

As Prince began recording his next full album, the Rainbow Children, Jehovah's Witness doctrine emerged as a prominent element in his music. So too did tinges of anti-Semitism, along with dollops of patriarchal sexism. The song "Muse 2 The Pharaoh" demonstrates both tendencies, positing a gender hierarchy where men make the decisions and produce great art while women serve them. The song also makes an invidious comparison between the Holocaust and the enslavement of black Americans, arguing that extermination is preferable to a loss of freedom.

.

How did this former rebel, who during the 1980s had been pop's leading advocate of sexual freedom and cultural diversity, re-emerge in the 2000s as such a moralistic and narrow-minded figure? The answer in part is that Prince had never wholeheartedly embraced the role of revolutionary; this was simply one of many guises he adopted. The Prince of Dirty Mind, Controversy, and 1999 represented an important (and for a time dominate) part of his personality, but streaks of piousness and moral superiority were apparent even then. The trend in his work toward religious conservatism, which became more prevalent after his marriage to Mayte Garcia in 1996, was dramatically accelerated by Larry Graham's arrival on the scene in 1998. By the time The Rainbow Children was released in December 2001, Prince had committed, privately and publicly, to the Jehovah's Witness faith, and continued to extol Graham as his most trusted spiritual advisor. In an interview that appeared in Gotham magazine in 2001, he revealed that -at Graham's prompting -he was eliminating all profanity from his music.

I think this should acknowledge that the lyrics are not clear and open for interpretation (the part refering to the Holocaust), since he says "Holocaust aside". At least they are for me. Also, that line alone hardly makes anyone an antisemit.

The track features Prince performing in falsetto and backing vocals by Kip Blackshire and girl group Milenia.

"The Work, pt. 1" was originally released as a downloadable single via Napster, during the height of its legal troubles. This was one of many innovative distribution methods Prince has used for his music. The song was also released on CD as a single, and later on The Rainbow Children. The downloadable single contains a section with some different lyrics and instrumentation than the later CD single and album versions. There has been no "part 2" released to date, although the title track to the 2004 album Musicology bears a strong resemblance and some fans have dubbed it "The Work, pt 2". The B-side on the CD single was the previously released "U Make My Sun Shine".

It's a top 5 album for me. It's amazing he put something like this out so late in his career. It's really great musically and live it translated better than anything he's done before. The 2002 version of NPG is by far one of my favorite line ups.

Specific recording dates are unknown, but it is likely that initial tracking took place in late 2000 or early 2001 at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA. The track is based around a drum pattern created by John Blackwell when Prince was out of the studio. When John Blackwell returned to the studio the following day he discovered that Prince had created an entire track using the pattern. Horn overdubs were recorded on 8 February, 2001, also at Paisley Park Studios (on the same day as horn overdubs on Mellow and The Everlasting Now).

OldFriends4Sale said:

There's a place I want to go
Where the milk and honey flow
Without God, it wasn't there
Now I feel it everywhere

Feel it, feel it
Can't you feel it?

When I was lost and couldn't see my way
I used to follow what everybody say
Now I know that it's written in the heart
Now I'm ready, I'm ready to start

Without God, it wasn't there
Now I feel it everywhere

We were always meant to be
In paradise eternally
Before the truth, I did not care
Now I feel it everywhere

Feel it, feel it everywhere
Feel it, feel it

Can you feel it, feel it?
This mighty good feeling everywhere
We've got so much work to do everywhere

Specific recording dates are unknown, but it is likely that initial tracking took place in late 2000 or early 2001 at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA. The track is based around a drum pattern created by John Blackwell when Prince was out of the studio. When John Blackwell returned to the studio the following day he discovered that Prince had created an entire track using the pattern. Horn overdubs were recorded on 8 February, 2001, also at Paisley Park Studios (on the same day as horn overdubs on Mellow and The Everlasting Now).

Recording Personnel

Studio version Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (credited as "All other instruments - digital or otherwise, lead and co-lead vox, percussion and sound FX per4med by Prince ...and U.") John Blackwell - drums (credited as "John Blackwell, the Magnificent") Niyoki White - co-lead vocals (credited collectively as Milenia) Mikele White - co-lead vocals (credited collectively as Milenia) Tia White - co-lead vocals (credited collectively as Milenia) Malikah White - co-lead vocals (credited collectively as Milenia) Michael B. Nelson - trombone (credited collectively as The Hornheadz) Kathy Jensen - baritone saxophone (credited collectively as The Hornheadz) Dave Jensen - trumpet (credited collectively as The Hornheadz) Steve Strand - trumpet (credited collectively as The Hornheadz) -PrinceVault

This is one of the most beautiful Prince lyrics and one reason why spiritual Prince interests me a lot. Moreover, the tune is amazing.

[Edited 4/15/14 6:27am]

Javi said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

There's a place I want to go
Where the milk and honey flow
Without God, it wasn't there
Now I feel it everywhere

Feel it, feel it
Can't you feel it?

When I was lost and couldn't see my way
I used to follow what everybody say
Now I know that it's written in the heart
Now I'm ready, I'm ready to start

Without God, it wasn't there
Now I feel it everywhere

We were always meant to be
In paradise eternally
Before the truth, I did not care
Now I feel it everywhere

Feel it, feel it everywhere
Feel it, feel it

Can you feel it, feel it?
This mighty good feeling everywhere
We've got so much work to do everywhere

Specific recording dates are unknown, but it is likely that initial tracking took place in late 2000 or early 2001 at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA. The track is based around a drum pattern created by John Blackwell when Prince was out of the studio. When John Blackwell returned to the studio the following day he discovered that Prince had created an entire track using the pattern. Horn overdubs were recorded on 8 February, 2001, also at Paisley Park Studios (on the same day as horn overdubs on Mellow and The Everlasting Now).

Recording Personnel

Studio version Prince - all vocals and instruments, except where noted (credited as "All other instruments - digital or otherwise, lead and co-lead vox, percussion and sound FX per4med by Prince ...and U.") John Blackwell - drums (credited as "John Blackwell, the Magnificent") Niyoki White - co-lead vocals (credited collectively as Milenia) Mikele White - co-lead vocals (credited collectively as Milenia) Tia White - co-lead vocals (credited collectively as Milenia) Malikah White - co-lead vocals (credited collectively as Milenia) Michael B. Nelson - trombone (credited collectively as The Hornheadz) Kathy Jensen - baritone saxophone (credited collectively as The Hornheadz) Dave Jensen - trumpet (credited collectively as The Hornheadz) Steve Strand - trumpet (credited collectively as The Hornheadz) -PrinceVault

This is one of the most beautiful Prince lyrics and one reason why spiritual Prince interests me a lot. Moreover, the tune is amazing.

It's my favorite song on the album, I can listen 2 it everyday

Jay Leno Show May 1, 2001

the Work

• Prince: Guitar and Lead Vocals
• Mike Scott: Rhythm Guitar
• Rhonda Smith: Bass and Vocals
• Mr. Hayes: Keyboards
• Kip Blackshire: Keyboards and Vocals
• John Blackwell: Drums
• Najee: Saxophone, Flute
• Geneva: Backup Singer and Dancer

Prince added a group of sisters, Mikele, Malikah, Niyoki, and Tia White, collectively known as Milenia before the start of the second leg. John Blackwell replaced Kirk Johnson on drums.

The studio takes some getting used to, it seems flat somehow (probably P playing everything except drums) and loses the synergy of other-musician groove.

The ONA stuff is freakin BRILLIANT, and all the groove returns with NPG.

And HOW CAN YOU NOT LOVE:

"sometimes,

"you know,

"It takes,

"a while,

"for me,

"to do,

"my...hair

Does anyone know why Femi Jiya was no longer employed after this album?

Especially after the Prince & Femi year one comment in the liner notes?

*Femi commented on a Prince album not long after the release of The Rainbow Children - said to be in the vein of Purple Rain - which makes me wonder if he was fired*

rap said:

Does anyone know why Femi Jiya was no longer employed after this album?

Especially after the Prince & Femi year one comment in the liner notes?

*Femi commented on a Prince album not long after the release of The Rainbow Children - said to be in the vein of Purple Rain - which makes me wonder if he was fired*

I don't think he used Milenia the White sisters again either

Okay but, Prince did make that comment in the liner notes as if it was a big deal... The start of something special...

rap said:

Okay but, Prince did make that comment in the liner notes as if it was a big deal... The start of something special...

hmmmm like the Gold is the new Purple

Specific recording dates are unknown, but it is likely that initial tracking took place in late 2000 or early 2001 at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA. The track is mostly instrumental, but with spoken narrative to continue the album's story. "The Wise One" seduces "The Muse" who is sent to be his wife, bringing her into "the sensual everafter". The narrative is continued at the beginning of 1 1 1 Is 3.