Then we're on 2 totally separate pages.

Anna Stesia is not meant to represent God. He is not asking God to talk to him, ravish him, etc. He is looking for an anaesthetic (in the form of a "beautiful girl the most"), to numb his pain.

I didn't mention it before, but Prince is talking about 2 completely separate entities in the song. A beautiful woman to take his pain away, and then God, who is the only one that can do it.

The song has absolutely nothing to do with the greek word: anastasis, nor the Russian name Anastacia.


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[Edited 2/9/05 18:54pm]

I do agree that the first half of the song he is wanting a beautiful girl to numb his pain. I just think when he sings it after the "Save me Jesus, I've been a fool..." it could change meanings. Note that he sings the line AGAIN during the whole "Love is God, God is Love" bit. Why reprise this if he's found God to TAKE AWAY the pain, rather than numb it?

I think his choice of Anna Stesia is multi-layered in that regard. The fact that the name sounds like anaesthesia, as well as Annastasia (or Annastacia, if you prefer the Russian spelling), is not a coincidence.

I do agree that the first half of the song he is wanting a beautiful girl to numb his pain. I just think when he sings it after the "Save me Jesus, I've been a fool..." it could change meanings. Note that he sings the line AGAIN during the whole "Love is God, God is Love" bit. Why reprise this if he's found God to TAKE AWAY the pain, rather than numb it?

This is why, I believe, so many connect with Prince beyond his music. I think this is also why there was a sort of back-lash against him when he converted to the JW faith. At that point, he committed to a specific spiritual school of thought, and thus made it harder for some to relate to him, since their spiritual journey had taken them elsewhere.

Okay JediMaster,
'fess up. what book are you reading this from? Because this is really really good. Well thought out. You are making me pull out CD's that I just didn't like the melody, and try to find revelation from the lyrics (using your musings as a guide of course).

I am starting to feel a little thirsty. Anyone got any purple koolaid??

I'd like to have your opinions...

Which albums or periods do you believe were spiritual peaks for Prince?

I'm thinking the three majors are Controversy, Lovesexy and TRC (which brought him artistically full-circle themewise from the time of Controversy, I believe), but I believe that Purple Rain, ATWIAD and SOTT are very relevant as well...

I'm formulating some theories about Prince as an artist; am meeting with an advisor at my University next week... First theme I'm planning to explore is Apollonian and Dionysian elements - obvious, but haven't seen any major scholarship on this yet. (Thanks again to those who responded to my thread on Prince-based academic writing a few months ago...)

For those who do not know me, I've been a fan since his Controversy days, more or less.

I'd like to have your opinions...

Which albums or periods do you believe were spiritual peaks for Prince?

I'm thinking the three majors are Controversy, Lovesexy and TRC (which brought him artistically full-circle themewise from the time of Controversy, I believe), but I believe that Purple Rain, ATWIAD and SOTT are very relevant as well...

I'm formulating some theories about Prince as an artist; am meeting with an advisor at my University next week... First theme I'm planning to explore is Apollonian and Dionysian elements - obvious, but haven't seen any major scholarship on this yet. (Thanks again to those who responded to my thread on Prince-based academic writing a few months ago...)

For those who do not know me, I've been a fan since his Controversy days, more or less.

Its true that Brownmark became a JW, although it wasn't until he'd left the Revolution. The person who actually introduced P to the JW faith was George Benson.

Haha, get this...

After discussing multudinous possibilities with my advisor (for another day, my friends), we've settled on "the utopian prince" and a comparative study of Prince's Sexuality with Madonna's "Sex!"

Their attitude towards sex & spirituality was far too similar at one time.

Haha, get this...

After discussing multudinous possibilities with my advisor (for another day, my friends), we've settled on "the utopian prince" and a comparative study of Prince's Sexuality with Madonna's "Sex!"

Their attitude towards sex & spirituality was far too similar at one time.

Now here I go on another tangent.
It is interesting choice of words, Prince's sexuality vs Madonna's sex.
Although both were sexually explicity, Prince's sexual expression was more just that, an expression of his inner thoughts and feelings. Jedi also enlighten me about how sexuality demonstrated the inner battle Prince was having with his Id and his Super ego. (fleshly needs versus spiritaul needs). Madonna used sexuality as a tool. I think Madonna played more into the shock value than even Prince. And for some reason, I think Prince's sexual expression as being more sensual, fierce lovemaking where Madonna's expression was just a cold hard foch.
Maybe I think this was because I always had a crush on the light skinned boys with pretty eyes and big afro's.

Now here I go on another tangent.
It is interesting choice of words, Prince's sexuality vs Madonna's sex.
Although both were sexually explicity, Prince's sexual expression was more just that, an expression of his inner thoughts and feelings. Jedi also enlighten me about how sexuality demonstrated the inner battle Prince was having with his Id and his Super ego. (fleshly needs versus spiritaul needs). Madonna used sexuality as a tool. I think Madonna played more into the shock value than even Prince. And for some reason, I think Prince's sexual expression as being more sensual, fierce lovemaking where Madonna's expression was just a cold hard foch.
Maybe I think this was because I always had a crush on the light skinned boys with pretty eyes and big afro's.

I think Prince started out with the intent to shock, and then developed more into an artist who wanted to break down taboos and actually reflect on sexuality and spirituality. Madonna, on the other hand, moved further into the shock value thing, until she kind of reached a boiling over point. Eventually, she decided to be a more "serious" artist as well, but it took her a lot longer to start truly exploring her spirituality (it was a component of her music before, but again, was more for shock back then)

What's interesting is that they almost exactly the same age, and that they arrived at this "spiritual" apex at around the same time.

Prince seems to have had a boiling over point as well, albeit in a more personal way perhaps...

True. Prince's quest was much more open and apparent in his music. Maddy seemed to really explode into spirituality all at once. Of course, that's probably not the case at all. I don't think she really knew how to express herself in this regard until she reached a certain age.

A big, big difference between our perceptions of Prince and that of Madonna is the differences in their communications with the press...

[b]U R suppose to get 25 cents for each copy, to defray your costs (because they have you purchase them before you go door-to-door) That way, they're paid for and it's up to you to get your money back sellin' 'em.
Regarding Princes' spiritual awakening, we have Ingrid Chavez to thank for that!! She gave Prince some acid around the time the infamous "Black " album was to be launched. After a "vision" (or many visions, depending on the quality of the acid) Prince thought the album to dark and/or evil to be released. So he rushed "Lovesexy" out to appease the Warner Bros. assholes he USED TO work for. He took 2 or 3 tracks from the Black album ("when 2 R in love" was one
of 'em) Spiritually speaking, what did he gleen from the "Controversy" or "TRC" periods?? I'd also say that his "symbol" album was a crossroads for him. Most of the tunes have some sort of biblical reference (whether spoken or "gestured to") Brownmark was studying to become one of Jehovahs' Witnesses during filming of "Purple Rain" and the tour that followed. So Prince had his ear to this stuff early on. I studied for almost 3 years ('cause the girl I was seeing was BEYOND fine, but she was a JW. Live and learn, and sorry to those that I bothered at their homes... they made me go door-to-door selling those magazines. Peace & be wild!

Regarding Princes' spiritual awakening, we have Ingrid Chavez to thank for that!! She gave Prince some acid around the time the infamous "Black " album was to be launched.

Brownmark was studying to become one of Jehovahs' Witnesses during filming of "Purple Rain" and the tour that followed. So Prince had his ear to this stuff early on. I studied for almost 3 years ('cause the girl I was seeing was BEYOND fine, but she was a JW. Live and learn, and sorry to those that I bothered at their homes... they made me go door-to-door selling those magazines. Peace & be wild!