Let's ask him at the next open soundcheck!!!

Xtract from "genius, a gift of GOD"

-----

Just as a “blow job” doesn’t mean blow, this song shouldn’t be taken so literally.

Prince in an interview with Chris Rock revealed how he was introduced to sex as a young boy. He described the experience as one that was “initiated heavy and quick” by his recently remarried mother. He was given playboy magazines and erotic literature was laying around to be easily picked up. He said that it was “pretty heavy at the time” and that it “really affected [his] sexuality a great deal.” Perhaps his older stepsister also contributed part of her library to this “education.”

That sounds like the birth of a “Dirty Mind”, and when mixed with a heavy dose of imagination also the genesis of “Sister”.

I think Prince is using the song “Sister” to come to terms with this own twisted, familial feminine introduction to sex. The way Prince was taught the birds and the bees is not exactly textbook child psychology.

Prince was never pimped by his own sister and forced to work the streets of Minneapolis to make money, nor was he forcibly molested by her.

This is just Prince using a whole lot of smoke to hide the metaphorical, personal flame within. It’s actually quite sweet when you get at the heart of it. Poor little guy with no male figure around to guide him properly through puberty grows older and takes his anger out in song.
Brendan

Prince's older half-sister Sharon.

I thought the song had to do with Prince wanting to stay with Sharon in New York City (in 1976-77 where she had an apartment at the time?) so that he could shop his demos to the local record companies (which we know in fact he had done). But something happened between Prince and Sharon (she didn't want him around?), and he had to leave New York (probably sooner than he wanted). Sounds like Prince, out of anger and a porno-induced mind, had some fun with putting together this quick little ditty.

By the way, Prince's little sister, Tyka, wrote a song about him regarding a similar situation where Prince took a whole bunch of people to France with him in 1985 while he was filming Under The Cherry Moon, but he left Tyka behind. Her song is called "Brother" and it's also very raunchy -- no, actually it's called "Paris" and it's a pretty little tune -- probably my favorite of hers.

Why do the song have to be about anything. Is "Killer Clowns from Out of Space" inspired by anything? What's wrong with you people?!!!!! If I know Prince, and I don't, this is probably what he wanted. People talking about the song and giving it meaning that's not there.

Maybe... having sex with your sister? How about that?

Novabreaker said:

EXACTLY

there is no deep meaning to it. It's just a song about incest. It's not meant to be autobiographical. It's just a song that is meant to turn heads and express himself.

Uhm, how can Prince express himself if it ain't about anything?

3 - superficial views in a row - the org can be a shallow place for paddling! kdj997's response is probably the most ridiculous - you really think Prince put this out just so people would talk about the song and give it meaning that wasn't there??!! What sort of a purpose is that? You were right - you don't know Prince!

Mindflux said:

The self expression is that he expresses himself as an artist with no boundries. He wasn't afraid to write a song that would leave many in disguist, and wanted people to know that, so he went to the furthest length to do so.

and if you're so smart why not share your views my dear genius instead of being critical towards others.....

Why is it so hard to believe that this is nothing more than a STORY.... He is a writer and very creative person... everything doesn't have to be autobiographical.....

OK, just for the sake of argument, let's say it is inspired by real life, Is it necessarily his truth or is he telling the story of someone close to him?

friends, family, and band members have been talking about what inspired Prince songs for the last couple decades -- if you don't wanna know, then go somewhere else -- on the other hand, we can make a whole list of songs that we know have been inspired by people or certain situations in Prince's life (and in fact, books have already been written). was "Hello" just a made-up story? come on now, some of us like to know the idea behind the song. don't spoil our fun.

edit: good example, which i already stated, is Tyka's song, "Paris" -- is it just some made up story about her longing to visit Paris? nope. it was inspired by something Prince didn't do for her. for the same reason Prince's song "Sister" was inspired by something Sharon didn't do for him -- he's basically getting back at her (kinda like the way he used the song "Darling Nikki" in the movie Purple Rain).
[Edited 1/19/05 10:11am]

Always thought it was a play on the term "sister," or black woman. He's talking about a sister and throws in the incest line as another bit of shocking word play.

jayaredee said:

First off - I do not regard myeslf as a genius (though, its kind of you to even consider applying that moniker, sarcastically or not!), but I'm smart enough to not just take Prince's work at face value, as you have.

Its unfortunate that you contradict yourself so blatantly - you say there is nothing to this song and yet now purport that it was a statement to the audience that he is an artist with no boundaries. If art can be expressed in anything other than what it intends in a literal sense, it is a success! You also state your opinions as thought they are fact, eg "there is no deep meaning to it" and "its just a song about incest".

However, should you read between the lines and assess the work in the context of the artist you ought to realise that nothing is ever as it seems with Prince. His writing style frequently, if not constantly, uses metaphor, juxtaposition and other poetic licences and tricks to provide more than one meaning. The song fits in very well with what we know (or, are told) of Prince's upbringing. Anji's assessment is spot on.

PurpleKnight said:

I think Prince was just trying to be sexual and shocking...remember back in that time people were way uptight about sex and I am sure he thought Hmmmm what will get people talking about me? Obviously it can't be taken literally because his sister, and I honeslty mean no disrespect, but Vanity she is not.

Mindflux said:

I'm going to have to switch in to jerk mode:

You friggin' moron, why the hell was he in thongs and a trench coat. The song has no hidden meaning. Ya poser. i call you a poser because that's what you are. Any idiot who goes on a rant about artistic expresiion like you did, obviously knows nothing about what it's like to be creative or artistic. The song probably means what it is, a story about brother half the age of a perverted sister forcing him to have sex with her. If that's the case, tha's true creativity to create that out of thin air, being able to do that makes you creativity, which is a trait that you obviously don't possess. People who aren't creative believe that everything someone creative does must be inspired by something or have a hidden meaning. That's a normal human reaction, you use yourself as a guage to understand thing. The only thing is your guage doesn't go to a creative level so your way off base about things when you try top put them in an artistic persepective. The song may be inspired by something personal, if it is this thread proves that it's not a clear message but prince has proven in the past to do things to shock or get people like you (you know the uncreative poser types), Mindflux, to talk. Take the cough at the beginning of the Rasberry Beret video as exhibit A...
[Edited 1/20/05 13:12pm]
[Edited 1/20/05 13:13pm]

"poser" how old are you? anyway, don't ya know we all posers in one way or another?

Snap said:

Prince has got to be one of thie biggest posers in pop music.

kdj997 said:

kdj997 said:

Prince never wore a thong, its black underwear briefs and legwarmers.

Ok, now that I've stopped laughing, let's get a few things straight!

kdj997 said:

Where does one start? Listen, pal, you didn't have to switch in to jerk mode, you were already there with your initial post!

Ok, we have 2 premises here. On the one hand, there are people here who believe, myself included, that there is more to this song than meets the ear, that it is a metaphorical tale to express Prince's fucked-up upbringing when it came to sex. On the other, there are people here that believe it is a literal song and that Prince was forced to fuck his sister!!! (And, it has to be Prince, if this song is so literal - not a story about someone else. He clearly sings "I was only 16"). Without any other evidence, I still know which of these premises I would agree with. However, there is evidence.....

You ignore that fact that Prince himself has supplied us with the background to his sexual education and that his female role-models of the time (his mother and sisters) did little more than shove lurid pornography in front of him - how you can't see the connection between this and the lyrics to Sister is beyond me. You also ignore the fact that a huge majority of Prince tunes are multi-layered, both musically and lyrically and more than one meaning can be attributed even to a single line. Your opinion that this is nothing more than a literal song with only the aim to shock does both the song and its creator a huge dis-service. Ignoring this many facts is called ignorance.

You are also way off the mark when it comes to your shallow approach to philosophising about creativity - your most ridiculous comment being "People who aren't creative believe that everything someone creative does must be inspired by something or have a hidden meaning." hehe, that's such bullshit. Listen, INSPIRATION IS THE FATHER OF CREATIVITY - ie nothing is created without the inspiration to do it first, that's just plain basic dude! Your conclusion that people who aren't creative (and, creative how? Everyone has some creative aspect to them) cannot assess creativity is also ludicrous! Seems to me that you are the one who is deluded about creative processes and resultant reactions to it.

Unlike you, I have put forward intelligent argument to support my case yet, amazingly, you have managed to gleam from this that I am an un-creative, moronic poser, eh? I'm loathed to do this, but let's just clear that up too. You ever heard the phrase "know thine enemy" - you would do well to heed that advice in future, it might prevent further outrageous, presumptious outbursts such as the above. Explain the following;

FACT - I have been a musician for 25 years and play 8 instruments
FACT - I play in a band that has produced 21 albums in a 20-year career
FACT - my own solo album is currently in production and has label interest
FACT - your entire post is built on folly and you have exposed yourself as the ignoramus here, though, please do enlighten us as to the creative mastery you have that so obviously enables you to judge it so well.

'Nuff said, methinks!

temper temper

Wow...who knew that a simple question could get such heated responses?

Please, this is not out of anger, just incredulity

Hey David - long time no see. You've been on the org long enough to know how these things sometimes turn out!
[Edited 1/21/05 5:38am]

Mindflux said:

true

Mindflux said:

lol, I wrote this long ass reply but it got gobbled up by the internet monster. Anyway the cliffnotes version:

Everyone may be creative in one way or another but it's the same type of creativity and you can't put what may apply to one form to another. That's human nature though. you understand by personal experience.

Most kids don't have an official "talk" in regards to sex. They learn from their friends or sneaking in magazines. It was never hard to obtain porn when I was a kid and my parents didn't seem to care or either turned a blind eye, that's the case with a lot of people I suspect.

I suspect thata comment like this, "(And, it has to be Prince, if this song is so literal - not a story about someone else. He clearly sings "I was only 16"). " suggests a creative wall that seperates people creative in one aspect from those who don't possess creativity in that form. In terms of musicianship that wall is what "ground" some musicians and allow the skies not to even limit others. By that same sort of logic let's take a song like "Ogre Battle" by Queen:

"Now once upon a time
An old man told me a fable
When the piper is gone
And the soup is cold on the table
And if the black crow flies
To find a new destination
That is the sign

Come tonight
Come to the ogre site
Come to the ogre battle fight

He gives a great big cry
And he can swallow up the ocean
With a mighty tongue he catches flies
And the palm of his hand incredible size
One great big eye has to focus in your direction
Now the battle is on
Yeah yeah yeah!"

Well Freddie must be talking about himself, it couldn't just be a story to take at face value because he's singing in first person but we know ogres aren't real so it must be a metaphor or something...

My word, this is challenging as you don't seem to comprehend what I am saying. I'm trying to find a point in your post, which is made even more difficult by the fact that you're not even responding to the issues I raised.

The point I made about it "must be about Prince" because he sings those lines in the first person was referencing the fact that YOU think the song is literal - hence, it must be Prince that was forced to have sex with his sister. That is not my belief and yet you are trying to use that point against me. I think you need to re-read what I wrote.

As for using a fantasy song by Queen as an example, its way off point and doesn't prove a thing. We are talking about the song Sister, there is no point comparing it to other writings. However, it does make me wonder just what you make of songs like "Starfish and Coffee" or "The Rainbow Children", for that matter.

The simple fact is, NOBODY can really know for certain whether a song is metaphorical or not, other than the artist. However, it is possible to make logical deductions and form a sound opinion.

Your point about most kid's sexual education is irrelevant. We know Prince's view and that is what is being discussed here. Sure, I sneaked a look at porn as a kid, but it wasn't left lying around the house, or put in front of me as a lesson. It was with Prince, so he's embellished the story and come up with the song Sister.

The argument was that you thought this song was nothing other than either literal or just for shock value. I disagreed. Simple. You were also incredibly insulting over nothing more than a simple disagreement - hence the strength of my own reply.

For me, you still haven't supported your case and I suspect it will stay that way.

Peace.

Uhh, maybe I shouldn't have asked?

Anyway, I just think it's a song where Prince is imagining a fantasy where hypothetically he has a hot sister he gives into temptation with. Like him imagining something really lurid in his head.
[Edited 1/21/05 8:52am]

Mindflux said:

My point is fairly simplistic so I'll present it again like this: A guy like Prince has lets say a 50 ft ceiling when it comes to his type of creativity. While you have 2 ft ceiling, and you bump your head when ever you make even a slight move. I think you're having a hard time understanding the bility to create something out of nothing, or just for the sheer act of doing something creative. Because you're not able to associate that ability with yourself you have a hard time grasping how someone could write a fantasy song song about someone having sex with their sister. If I spoke in definitives saying crap like it's no way it could be taken anyway but face value, I was wrong because I don't know what was going through his mind at the time but I don't think that.

I can't forget the response you started out with



That right there is where I developed any accessment I've written about you. It seems like you have a hard time grasping the idea of creating something of a taboo subject out of nothing.

[quote] We know Prince's view and that is what is being discussed here. [\quote]

I don't know his view, even if you're going off of interviews did he say that disturbed him or was he just stating the truth.



I wasn't going to respond to this but since I'm replying in the first place why not:

Well yeah it's a point. You implied that because Prince was singing in first person it had to be about him, whether it's in a metahorical state or not. Using the same logic I attempted to make that point. I just think that's a flawed train of thought to type what you typed.