If Prince can be free to write about INCEST, MASTURBATION, and SUICIDE and be hailed as "The New King In Town" because of it, why can't the man write about his views on history or other subjects that inspire him?

Is it only okay for the Rush Limbaughs and Bill O'Reillys of the world to spew nonsense, or is it possible that us folk that haven't been to "University" may have a world view that is worth hearing (or at least spouting off about)?

I happen to think that Prince has a lot to offer to the public discourse... but not only Prince, many of our "entertainers" could probably add much to the debate regarding ___ .*

It is unfortunate that so many that have a platform aren't using it in "these troubled times."

* insert your favorite subject of argument here.

Peace

It's not WHAT he's saying, it's HOW he's saying it that a lot of people are turned off by.

There are some fantastic topical songwriters out there - Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Chuck D., Jello Biafra, Gil Scott Heron, the list goes on and on and on...

Prince isn't used to writing deeply sociopolitical songs, and it shows. The lyrics are stiff and awkward and amateurish, where some of the stuff he's done in the past is masterful and brilliant and "where does this stuff COME from?"

Prince doesn't seem to be at a point where he can marry his socio-political agendas with the wit of his songwriting. He's not at a place where he seems confident combining the heavy hard facts with a sense of fun.

I think THAT'S what a lot of people (myself, anyway) are harping on. I love it that Prince wants to be more topical. But I love it even more when he writes good lyrics.

Anxiety said:

we've got a winner... it's basically like, it's cool that you're tryin 2 share your point of view on stuff but don't come at me and shove it down my throat; it'll just make me miffed instead of listen 2 whatcha gotta say. it's stifling, in a way.

Anxiety said:

Anxiety, I somewhat agree with you, but I have to say this AVALANCHE was great, a really gorgeous song. And yet the lyrics took a while gettin' used to. I still (24 years later) don't feel altogether comfortable with SISTER. It takes a while to get the hang of saying CONTROVERSIAL things in a NON-CONTROVERSIAL manner. Compare the sexual innuendo of a GETT OFF or CREAM to those of SISTER and HEAD -- miles apart.

And too, there isn't anything fun about doggin' folk out man... it's just heavy. I did dig some of the WNPG transmissions -- I can remember some lighthearted skits that Prince and Rhonda did, someone wrote those dialogs, right?

"you're just heavy all the time... tell a joke"
"you're a joke"

I picked AVALANCHE rather than the poem(?) in the VS. room 'cause it is an example of songwriting that many folk have been hollering about. How would you compare RACE and AVALANCHE from a standpoint of expressing oneself in a witful manner.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

I'd disagree, I'd say many here (his fanbase as a whole/society in general) ARE turned off by what he's saying and not just how he's saying it.

Hell, look at the insensitive way this website chose to interpret the words via the new Org Poll.

Essence said:

Essence, do I need to obtain a Yahoo account to view this poll?

kmc said:

Hehehe no, just on the P.Org homepage/news section. My sig link is unrelated...

Essence said:

that, 2...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

for me it's both.

kmc said:

OK. looks like 23 people have voted as of right now. The sample size is too small -- sort of like my dick!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Don't agree and wink at me, I meant the point as in the people don't want to hear the cold hard historical truths he's confronting folk with. hehee

kmc said:

What do you make of it's sentiments though? I found the mocking tone regarding serious historical issues raised to be condescending and bitter.

Essence said:

takin my wink n'agreement back...thing is, y'think the cat coulda done this a titch earlier...



edits are part of the world's unknown ills
[This message was edited Tue May 20 8:16:51 PDT 2003 by Handclapsfingasnapz]

just peeked at the poll - ahhh thank heaven for the ORGgods and their sense of humor.

Essence said:

The poll sucks.

More importantly, history as taught to us dumb Americans sucks. I don't think I seen any black faces in my history books, save negative crap.

"We claim Miles Davis, not Michaelangelo/We playin' D-flat in the funk
You better act like you know/We don't care, what Albert Einstein did
I'd rather know, rather know (what?)/How to build a pyramid"
2045: Radical Man

They should add this category:

Skinny motherfuckers with high voices -- that is how mocking the poll is in tone.

kmc said:

Geeezzz... who says he isn't "free" to express his "worldview"...???

btw. Tho Prince is not an historian, he is free to write about it. yet, don't make him out ot be someone whith authority, likewise, when it comes to religion and Prince.

Rainbow Children is very political. And he is totally free to express his views in a public forum. And we are totally free to critisize them.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

He could have put such messages in his music earlier? Well you can only talk on know when you know it, he didn't learn anything too deep about the moors circa his 80s peak I guess. He seems a a far more scholarly man as he gets older...

Essence said:

you're right.

kmc said:

the SONG is what sucks:

Masters of the Arts and all industry
While France, England and all Germany
Wallowed in the mire of their own bigotry
The Moors were the ones who were truly free

prince has just stereotyped the entire european continent.
you don't see why this is offensive? don't you see that he is becoming that which he despises?! there's an inherent contradiction in his message. think about it.

Abrazo said:

I believe Prince said he's not free:

"this is funky, but I just wished he'd play like he used to"

I believe radio said he's not free:

Radical Man was FONKY, but it had no forum.

someone get me the root of the word forum, bet free lives up in there.

Peace

heh. i'm sorry, i'm just laughing at the idea of prince being a "scholarly man" - for some reason that strikes me as extremely ridiculous.

this is the man who in the last year changed the lyrics in peach to "the bible's the only book she reads."

oh yeah, I am a product of American schools, too, so I have trouble expressing myself. But I can get FONKY

theblueangel said:

what was the original lyric?

theblueangel said:

who changed the face of the Sphinx?

theblueangel said:

You know what I meant man, whether you agree or disagree or even like the way in which he presents his new found knowledge you must agree he seems more than ever to be researching and taking views on "serious" issues.

theblueangel said:

Who rewrote the history books? I can answer that one: the victors.

wrong forum

kmc said:

XxAxX said:

Understand this is but a drop in the water compared to the European biased take on history we are taught in the west and it's disregard for the arabs, moors, natives.

Don't lose sight of Prince's pro Moor civilisation piece not being a bad thing in itself...