Do you find Prince, with “The Rainbow Children” ,has become very condescending. The whole tone of the album is that he knows the Truth and his purpose is to educate us. With the greatest respect for the man, I love pretty much everything he’s ever done, but I resent the fact that he now feels he can talk down to me.

I see an awful lot of posts where people are unhappy with this aspect of the music. And here is my question do you feel Prince is in a position to talk down to you when he hasn’t lived in the real world since 1978,(before he was boss and started thinking of money as coming in seven figures) ?

His education is basic and what he has self thought is grounded in religion rather than the world, what I mean is that he has explored spirituality rather than the human condition. The development of his ideas is very well documented through his albums but it seems that he has come to some conclusion which isn’t making too much (common-) sense to the listener.

How many people here have a third level (college / university) education? And, Could this be the reason for this divide between us and the new music?

Enivri, Having a degree from university doesn't make U intelligent. Far from it. I mean, what IS intelligence...?

I agree with u in that TRC seems to tell us how we should be living our lives (as opposed to ..say "Elephants and Flowers"- "There will be peace for those who love God a lot" which I feel is more inviting). But this is the direction Prince's life has moved in. We all develop differently. Just because he hasn't been to university doesn't mean that he is not enlightened. Anyone can read a book. Anyone can question their existence. You don't need letters after your name to think. I personally believe that Prince was already pretty bright when he started out in the music business and although I don't agree with a lot of his thinking these days, I would not call him less intelligent.I would not call him more intelligent either. More talented, yes. He has just taken one road and I have taken another.

I don't believe Prince should talk down to us, not because he is Prince but because NOBODY should talk down to another person. I am insulted at times when I think Prince talks to us as though we have never questioned a thing in our lives. I am constantly questioning things and I don't need Prince to tell me how to think. However, I don't think he realises that he sounds condescending at times. He truly believes that he has found the TRUTH and wants to share it with us, that is all. We are not obliged to agree with him but there is no reason to shout him down just because his opinion is different to ours.

Well spoken. I think u may have a point. However if it's one thing that I do think Prince knows something about is the human condition. I don't think he knows alot outside his human condition. I think he [fame] has made it hard 4 folks to speak to him without some sort of fear attached to it, such as getting fired. But I don't really know. I know that one of the biggest aspects of our life is our environmental conditioning. So if u take Prince's environment and the people that it consists of... ?
I often wonder how many people in his life love him for Mr. Nelson plain and simple. Ones who aren't afraid to say anything to him. I guess what I mean is real love. I think he has found love in his new religion. And since he has found truth 4 himself he is excited and wants everyone to know. I think that there is a sense of innocence behind TRC and how he can come across as discriminating against those who found love and truth elsewhwere.

I'm just coming to a lot of realizations here too. I think education has a lot to do with it. Education and environment can be synonomous.

I'm on a break from getting my degree from UC Berkeley in Human Development But that doesn't mean I know anything about him 4 sure.

One last thing, I do think it is time for him to understand that we all find our truth and love from different places and should respect that.

Cunning: I agree with u about what is sometimes called "lifes education". That's why I say environment and education can be one in the same.

I think this subject might be more about open-mindedness vs. the classicly educated.

CunnilinguisticLover said:

I never said education means intelligence ,I agree far from it ,you could have a man that is highly intelligent that never learnt to read.

Education is the acquirement of knowledge, intelligence is the use of knowledge.

And my question ,really I suppose, is ;is it because our source of knowledge (our education) is different from Prince's that we now feel a gap between his understanding and our own?

life experience is your best education as ive learned in my 21 yrs.....(im not knocking anyone people should do what they want).

Berry makes a good point. How many people around Prince challenge his views and are truly honest with him?

He lives in a rareified atmosphere that only the super-rich and super-famous experience. Could you imagine how excruciating a Prince equivalent of Madonna's 'In Bed with Madonna' ('Truth or Dare') would be?

I'm not sure if lack of a formal education is a factor. If he had been to college, he could have ended up doing theology - and been even more prone to preaching!

Let's just enjoy the music and leave the hallelujahs to the JWs.

Enivri said:

I think you're over-analyzing the album.

It's no different than the rest of his past lyrics in terms of stating what he believes.

It's hard to figure out why a certain percentage of people take it all so seriously.

I think we take it seriously because Prince does.

Well, if you guys want to take everything seriously that he does it seems like your priorities are in the wrong place.

Thanks 4 ur judgments supernova.

I don't think my priorities are in the wrong place...at all.

I think you should concern yourself with your priorities and leave mine to me

Look, if folks want to be as fanatical, obsessive, and anal as to concern themselves with "everything" Prince (someone 99% of Orgville doesn't know at all) thinks is important, SO BE IT. 'Tis your life.

There are my judgements. You're welcome.

Enivri said:

Sorry, but I don't think Prince is being condescending. He has his views, and has always strongly expressed them; the only fault I see is that they are always changing.

And personally, me and my college gra-du-ate-ted self likes his new music (ducking). While I'm disappointed that I'm probably never hear P Control, Darlin' Nikki or Housequake live from him again (unless he shifts back), after hearing him tear up the Rainbow Children in Oakland, I have no concerns right now.

Unless he goes polka. Then I'm gonna have to snatch him and conduct hardcore de-programming (Little Richard, James Brown, Aretha Franklin and Cameo. Maybe some Sly, but I'd have to hypnotize him into forgetting about Larry. )