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Thread started 11/12/04 4:35pm

altavista

What if Prince started writing gospel music?

I'm really interested to know what a straight-up gospel song from Prince would be like, with choir and all. Given his strong religiousity, you'd think this would be a natural.

He has songs that have that gospel soul, I'm talking about the genuine article.

Is anyone aware that he's done anything like this?
Come here, babe.. yeah...
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Reply #1 posted 11/12/04 4:38pm

Spanky

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altavista said:

I'm really interested to know what a straight-up gospel song from Prince would be like, with choir and all. Given his strong religiousity, you'd think this would be a natural.

He has songs that have that gospel soul, I'm talking about the genuine article.

Is anyone aware that he's done anything like this?


Ever heard of Everywhere? fishslap
I wish u heaven
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Reply #2 posted 11/12/04 4:57pm

Anxiety

I think it could be argued that he's already written plenty of gospel music. "Lovesexy" was described by Prince as a gospel album. I don't think he'd ever record a traditional, by-the-numbers gospel album, though I think "Everywhere" is a nice example of what it could sound like if he did.
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Reply #3 posted 11/12/04 5:25pm

deebee

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Anxiety said:

I think it could be argued that he's already written plenty of gospel music. "Lovesexy" was described by Prince as a gospel album. I don't think he'd ever record a traditional, by-the-numbers gospel album, though I think "Everywhere" is a nice example of what it could sound like if he did.


Yeah, and don't forget the stuff he's written/produced for Mavis Staples. I think that most of the songs on The Voice are a pretty good example of his ability to write this more "straight-up" kind of material and give it his own twist.

Personally, I prefer it when he just does his own thing. Maybe it's that his own stuff--when it's good--incorporates all of those influences, but has his personality stamped on it. When he tries to limit it to just one element (say, by doing "a jazz album", "a piano album", etc) it doesn't work as well as when he just does his own thing, but in a jazz-influenced (e.g. And God Created Woman) or piano-led (e.g HCUDCMA) form. I imagine it would be the same if he did "a gospel album" - there wouldn't be the same scope for it to be as inventive as the way he's used gospel influences in his own work.

Maybe not. Maybe it would focus his songwriting, and force him to dig deep (something which he really needs to do a bit more of....)
"Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced." - James Baldwin
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Reply #4 posted 11/12/04 5:27pm

Dewrede

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More gospel songs ;

Last december (infact almost the whole "Rainbow children" album)
The ladder
Anna stesia
God
4 the tears in your eyes
The holy river
The cross
One of us
Eye know

I probably left a few out

Honestly , i think that's enough songs about god already !
The man should get back to playing nasty guitar !
Tho i must say he's on the right track again i.m.o
[Edited 11/12/04 17:37pm]
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Reply #5 posted 11/12/04 6:51pm

gold31

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"Everywhere" is a 100% gospel song.
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Reply #6 posted 11/12/04 7:56pm

glamslamkid

i read this on Housequake:
Reporter: Do you plan to release a spiritual album?
Prince: eye have. it's called Lovesexy.

i never considered it spiritual until then.
GlamSlamKid...The resident clown on Prince.orgy

Paw Power Pussy paw
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Reply #7 posted 11/12/04 9:14pm

LovesexyIsThe1

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Dear God... no.
Lovesexy Funkateer
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Reply #8 posted 11/12/04 9:17pm

CherrieMoonKis
ses

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Ok although I know he is intensely spiritual and have written plenty of spiritual songs and I love Gospel music, the idea of Prince writing straight up GOSPEL music is creepy to me. At least, maybe the gospel I listen to *James Hall, John P Kee, etc.*
[Edited 11/12/04 21:17pm]

NO MORE EDITS edit wall
[Edited 11/12/04 21:18pm]
peace & wildsign
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Reply #9 posted 11/13/04 10:08am

Snap

i love the sound of "willing & able" -- wish he'd do more with gospel choirs
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Reply #10 posted 11/13/04 2:14pm

Stripe

Dewrede said:

More gospel songs ;

Last december (infact almost the whole "Rainbow children" album)
The ladder
Anna stesia
God
4 the tears in your eyes
The holy river
The cross
One of us
Eye know

I probably left a few out

Honestly , i think that's enough songs about god already !
The man should get back to playing nasty guitar !
Tho i must say he's on the right track again i.m.o
[Edited 11/12/04 17:37pm]


"The Cross" nod
"The Christ"???
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Reply #11 posted 11/13/04 7:23pm

TheBatman

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Stripe said:

"The Christ"???

You had to go THERE? This song is an insult to the original!
Tell me, do you bleed? You will!
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Reply #12 posted 11/13/04 8:14pm

psykosoul

TheBatman said:

Stripe said:

"The Christ"???

You had to go THERE? This song is an insult to the original!

How? confuse The message of the song is the same. Who do you think was the bearer of The Cross to begin with? I'm really interested in your response.
[Edited 11/13/04 20:16pm]
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Reply #13 posted 11/13/04 10:28pm

theoriginalQue
enB

how do U stipulate 'gospel'? are U speaking contemporary or traditional? a remake of a gospel standard(dont wait 4 it)truly he speaks of/on/to God N a number of cuts...
yo deebee, i co-sign on this quote "it would focus his songwriting, and force him to dig deep (something which he really needs to do a bit more of....)"
Being more True would surely ring through!!!!
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Reply #14 posted 11/13/04 11:29pm

Stripe

TheBatman said:

Stripe said:

"The Christ"???

You had to go THERE? This song is an insult to the original!


'Twas just a question! (I meant that...)
I was wondering what you're thinking about that... I never mentioned that it's better than the original... sad
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Reply #15 posted 11/14/04 8:49am

altavista

When I posed the question I was thinking of more traditional type of gospel. Some old school stuff, spare with organ lines and drum. I think he could really do a lot with that. As someone mentioned, with a choir would be very interesting.

Thanks for pointing out the work that he's done with Mavis and Rosie, which I honestly haven't heard. I've also just recently found out about the Rainbow Children. From what I've read on the web, it's a commercial for the Jehovah's Witnesses.

Anyway....

My thinking is that he may move more toward that direction as he gets older. I remember back in the 80s when I was in my teens and just getting heavily into Pricnce.. I wondered what his music would be like once he got tired of singing about sex and writhing on stage. I think it'd be something special.
Come here, babe.. yeah...
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Reply #16 posted 11/15/04 9:29am

TheBatman

avatar

psykosoul said:

TheBatman said:


You had to go THERE? This song is an insult to the original!

How? confuse The message of the song is the same. Who do you think was the bearer of The Cross to begin with? I'm really interested in your response.

Geez... where do I begin? Let's see... oh: "somebody lied about the way somebody died."

So let's:

1. Change the lyrics to fit our new beliefs instead of writing a new song.

2. Larry Graham. Let's give him a singing part, so he can back up my new belief.

3. The message of the song is NOT the same, if you understand why he changed it, and what the new lyrics mean.

4. After singing "The Cross" for 11 years, he wants to force a change? WTF?

I'm sure I can go on and on, but why?
Tell me, do you bleed? You will!
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Reply #17 posted 11/15/04 5:08pm

psykosoul

TheBatman said:

psykosoul said:


How? confuse The message of the song is the same. Who do you think was the bearer of The Cross to begin with? I'm really interested in your response.

Geez... where do I begin? Let's see... oh: "somebody lied about the way somebody died."

So let's:

1. Change the lyrics to fit our new beliefs instead of writing a new song.

2. Larry Graham. Let's give him a singing part, so he can back up my new belief.

3. The message of the song is NOT the same, if you understand why he changed it, and what the new lyrics mean.

4. After singing "The Cross" for 11 years, he wants to force a change? WTF?

I'm sure I can go on and on, but why?


...yeah... there's no point in you going on and on...
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Reply #18 posted 11/16/04 11:29am

jkj10

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I'm not into gospel,but if he'd be playing the Christ in church,I'd go!!
It would tear the roof of any church!The only thing I don't like about Prince is his religious stuff,but if he would be making gospel music instead of pop music,he'd definitely would make something new and interesting out of it!!(like 'The Christ'..)Gospel with screaming electric guitars...Great!!
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Reply #19 posted 11/16/04 11:36am

Handclapsfinga
snapz

what's this "started" crap? confused
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Reply #20 posted 11/16/04 3:17pm

jackflash

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He did already - "Still would stand all time", and many others.

I don't think he ought to push this any further ('tho it's more listenable than his jazz attempts).

Maybe he should move to Nashville, wear a big stupid hat, eat some meat and write country music.
*****************************************
"Yes - bold steps must be taken, 2 bump a nation, their scrutiny is what I'm facin' " - "Jughead" W. Bush
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Reply #21 posted 11/17/04 2:52pm

Ifsixwuz9

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TheBatman said:

psykosoul said:


How? confuse The message of the song is the same. Who do you think was the bearer of The Cross to begin with? I'm really interested in your response.

Geez... where do I begin? Let's see... oh: "somebody lied about the way somebody died."

So let's see:


1. Change the lyrics to fit our new beliefs instead of writing a new song.

It's his song, he can do pretty much anything he wants with it.


2. Larry Graham. Let's give him a singing part, so he can back up my new belief.

see above answer

3. The message of the song is NOT the same, if you understand why he changed it, and what the new lyrics mean.

see above

4. After singing "The Cross" for 11 years, he wants to force a change? WTF?

see above
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll play it first and tell you what it is later.
-Miles Davis-
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Reply #22 posted 11/17/04 5:41pm

TheBatman

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hah! psykosoul

hah! Ifsixwuz9
Tell me, do you bleed? You will!
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Reply #23 posted 11/17/04 5:50pm

psykosoul

TheBatman said:

hah! psykosoul

hah! Ifsixwuz9


...and your point is?
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Reply #24 posted 11/17/04 5:54pm

TheBatman

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Uh... confuse I believe I made it.
Tell me, do you bleed? You will!
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Reply #25 posted 11/17/04 5:58pm

enjoyniki

I have wished for a gospel album too, as opposed to song here and there on each album. It would probably have the same feel as Madonna's "Like a Prayer" that choir could "sang".

It would be pretty cool to hear Prince music at church. flower
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Reply #26 posted 11/17/04 6:12pm

psykosoul

TheBatman said:

Uh... confuse I believe I made it.


thumbs up! Keep strivin' for the things you believe woot!
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Reply #27 posted 11/18/04 2:12pm

Ifsixwuz9

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TheBatman said:

hah! psykosoul

hah! Ifsixwuz9



In other words you have nothing to say. Bear in mind I never commented one way or another on his choices.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'll play it first and tell you what it is later.
-Miles Davis-
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Reply #28 posted 11/18/04 4:16pm

McGee

He did record music for a JW hymns album - together with George Benson and Larry Graham supposedly. There is some music circulating and the very track that is said to have princely involvement (it's an instrumental) sounds like it could be legit.
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Reply #29 posted 11/18/04 6:37pm

SexyBeautifulO
ne

psykosoul said:

TheBatman said:


Geez... where do I begin? Let's see... oh: "somebody lied about the way somebody died."

So let's:

1. Change the lyrics to fit our new beliefs instead of writing a new song.

2. Larry Graham. Let's give him a singing part, so he can back up my new belief.

3. The message of the song is NOT the same, if you understand why he changed it, and what the new lyrics mean.

4. After singing "The Cross" for 11 years, he wants to force a change? WTF?

I'm sure I can go on and on, but why?


...yeah... there's no point in you going on and on...


falloff So true!
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