By the way, I've wanted to get this off my chest: I find it incredibly hypocritical of Prince to preach about unity and love4oneanother and at the same time make incredibly divisive comments about race. For instance, the whole rant before Family Name and in general his posturing as a victim. This is what really sickens me about Prince these days--that he's a poor black victim of evil corporations run by white men. Bullshit. Prince, you are no victim--the only reason your album sales and radio exposure are so anemic is because your artistry has dropped multiple orders of magnitude. Your output for the last 10 years is all tossed-off hackwork. I can't remember the last well-crafted tune you wrote, something with both musical and lyrical consistency. How I long for the day when you had credibility on the race issue and were an enlightening and unifying force: "Black, white, Puerto Rican, everybody just a freakin' . . . " THAT was unifying, THAT was fresh, THAT moved both our feet and our spirits. Prince, you are a lame race-baiter ala Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. SHAME ON YOU.

And YOU are a lame FLAME-Baiter!

LOL w/Harley

THECROSS2002 said:

I'm trying to make a point on a serious issue. Not trying to flame anyone other than Prince. Sorry you're offended, but this is how I feel--nothing personal aimed at you.

THECROSS2002 said:

You lose all credibility with a dumb statement like that. If you can't find a well-crafted tune with "musical and lyrical consistency" over the last ten years, then you're simply not listening.

No, I don't agree. I think that the opposite is true. Prince has been going out of his way to make sure that white folks, particularly white males, are having a good time and giving them their "special moment." If you look at some of the reports, you will notice that the people being chosen to sing and play on stage with him, being given musical instruments to play, being given his hat, or just being chosen to be acknowledged by him are white men.

sounds like a personal problem.

Batdance said:

What concerts were you at? In NYC, the guy who played during the soundcheck might as well be employed as a Chuck Berry look-alike.

The guy brings up a potentially valid point & we have the usual dismissive drivel from the likes of Harley Quinn.

still, sounds like a personal problem

A HUGE personal problem..

IrishEcho said:

I'm pretty sure that Prince has chosen several white guys to give "special moments" to: Atlanta Hat Guy, who Prince talks to a lot and gave him a hat, the Von Tobel guy who Prince called up to play guitar in Lakeland, and the guy from Dishwater Blond, who Prince called up to play. I think it was in Atlanta, plus there have been white guys chosen to sing into Prince's mic.

I don't think it's a question of who Prince invites up on stage with him - more a question of the attitude P is projecting in songs like Family Name. At the NY concert, he asked a white guy in the front row what his name was before he played "Family Name". The guy didn't hearthe question and instead said "What's Up New York???!" - Prince just gave him a funny look. He asked a couple of more people before giving up and launching into the song. One of the things I've always loved about P is that he kind of sang about a racial utopia where skin color didn't matter. He now definitely relates more to being black and the prejudices that exist against black people. I understand the point he's trying to make in the song, but I find it a little naive andbeside the point. My own last name is of Irish origin and was anglicized by British colonial rulers in the 19th century. People of course should remember their history but artists of P's stature should see the bigger picture. Reliving the past and using it as a crutch is not going to help you today or tomorrow. That said, I really loved that song about Abe Lincoln (Avalanche?) - really beautiful. Prince has always been a mass of contradictions - and I must say I'm happier to see him raise serious issues (even if I think he's a little misguided) rather than sing about "Freaks on this side" (yawn).

NatTurner said:

Indeed.

"I can't remember the last well-crafted tune you wrote, something with both musical and lyrical consistency."

WTF??!!! You know, I never really post a respone to anything but I've got to now. Hello!!! You are entitled to your opinion but COME ON! Have you been asleep these past 10 years? You can't be a real Prince fan based on that claim, maybe your not and if that's the case why bother posting on the org at all? WHATEVER!

Well it's clearly a personal problem but then we're all human, right? so we're all about personal problems. it's a valid statement from his/her view of the world, his/her perspective. i don't agree with it at all. I love Family Name - it's a great piece - it makes a statement about this country in particular - this country still has a long, long way to go for people to care about one another & live peacefully & happily together. Prince is bringing people together - he truly cares deeply about people - all people.

Prince is simply attempting to acknowledge the injustices that have been done to blacks in America. Avalanche and Family Name don't support racial inequality, but rather these songs attempt to stomp out the ignorance that ALL ethnicities are taught in American schools. Lincoln is not the victor that he is claimed to be. He signed the Emancipation Proclamation because he thought once Blacks gained their freedom, they would retreat to Africa. Nevertheless, his plan backfired. People often quote Thomas Jefferson's opener to the Declaration of Independence (Bill of Rights--whatever): "All men are created equally." But, did you know, his statement originally specifically excluded black people from this equality. Fortunately, it was removed from the final draft. The point is, KNOW YOUR HISTORY. Also, don't get upset every time a black person acknowledges these atrocities that have occurred in our history. Increase your awareness and decrease your ignorance.

Peace

HotThang said:

IrishEcho said:

Still mad, kelly?

In addition, there is a book "The Forgotten Cause of The Civil War", by Lawrence R. Tenzer, Ph.D.



This book explains how "full civil rights were not granted to blacks until a century later" - even after the 13th Amendment was signed. Not 2 long ago - the Civil Rights Movement was indeed, very, very, slow!



Oh yes, wouldn't it be nice if we were all just born "IN OUR MOST EXALTED FORM", NO RACE ISSUES, just LOVE!



[This message was edited Sat Apr 13 11:20:52 PDT 2002 by sosweetofspirit]
[This message was edited Sat Apr 13 11:22:16 PDT 2002 by sosweetofspirit]