Now I personally don't have a problem with P's life choices. I can understand that he's in a different place in his life now and that he wants to put out a different image. It's fine by me if he's not cursing, gyrating, humping speakers or squealing about body parts.

What I do have an issue with is calling himself a JW. From what I understand, people who follow that sect of Christianity aren't allowed to listen to (let alone play) music at all, nor are they supposed to participate in "celebrations" (birthdays, Christmas, parties in general). Now obviously, P is still making music. I'm not saying he should stop-- I love the music-- but I almost feel that there's some kind of deception. If you're going to do something, just do it. If not, call it something else.

Prince's original sect of belief, the 7th Street Adventists, are not allowed to party, dance or make a living out of music either. So nothing's changed I guess.

What I guess I'm trying to say is that he's making a big show out of being less raunchy and graphic, but he's completely going against some of the basic JW beliefs. I just think it's silly.

Well, religion is silly. It's not like the rest of us proper Christians go around sacrificing canary birds for their God when they have sinned like the Bible tells us to do.

No matter what religion any of us are, we're all sinners.
He probably rationalizes his behavior like the rest of us.

I don't appreciate it, because it's so heavy handed.

I don't get the whole JW thing either. It does not make any sense to me.

LoVESeKZi said:

welp...I'm no JW but...I believe your understanding is not exactly accurate.
I'm not about to get all into it but..if you're interested join the NPG music club and hang out in the "Knowledge" forum. You'll most certainly be hipped to what is what ova there.

LoVESeKZi said:

YOu are wrong about just about all of that. I'm in a band and I'm a Dj so I guess that blows the whole music thing to bits. You might want to do your reearch by maybe actually asking a JW what the basic belifs are just like if I wanted to know more about Jews I'd ask a Jewish person. Simple as that.

Rev said:

That makes absolutely no sense whatsoever.

'Sin' is a Christian notion, so if you're not Christian, you don't have to believe in their nonsense rules and dogma.

It's a bunch of BULSHIT!
Look at litlle Michael. I don't think JW religion likes him playing with little boys either. Music is the least of the JW's problems.

el_callejero

MetroArea said:

Whatever.
The point was we all fail to be at apex of our faith, religion ...etc.
I could care less how others get through life being happy. I just don't want prince telling me I'm missing out on the truth.

I don't know where you got this information from, but it is totally false. The JWs have no problem with singing, playing music or dancing. Off the top of my head, I can think of a few JWs in the music industry: The Jacksons, Larry Graham & George Benson all spring to mind.

Larry Graham dunnit

LoVESeKZi said:

Strange but I was thinkin the same thing. Sort of. How can Prince call his band the NPG? Listening to the lyrics makes me think he's singing about closed minded people vs Love. I don't know, I don't get it.

New Power Generation
Lay down your funky weapon.
Yeah y'all, here we go
pumpin' the big noise in the 90's.

Pardon me 4 living, but this is my world 2
I can't help that what's cool to us might be strange to u
Pardon me 4 breathing, can we borrow some of your air?
the problem with u and your kind is that u don't know love is there

Lay down your funky weapon, come join us on the floor
making love and music's the only things worth fighting 4.
We r the new power generation, we want 2 change the world.
The only thing that's in our way is u.
Your old fashioned music, your old ideas,
we're sick and tired of u telling us what 2 do.

Pardon me 4 thinking, but there's something under my hair
I bet u thought the lights were on but noone's living there
U think that if u tell enough lies they will see the truth?
I hope they bury your old ideas the same time they bury u

Lay down your funky weapon, come join us on the floor
making love and music's the only things worth fighting 4.
We r the new power generation, we want 2 change the world.
The only thing that's in our way is u.
Your old fashioned music, your old ideas,
we're sick and tired of u telling us what 2 do.

We r the new, We r the new, We r the new,
making love and music
new power, we stand

Pardon us for caring, we didn't know it was against the rules (shout it out)
if we only want to love one another
then tell me now who's the fool (tell me, tell me)
no father, no mother, no sister, no brother, nobody can make me stop
said if u didn't come 2 party child, I think u better get up offa my block.

Lay down your funky weapon, come join us on the floor
making love and music's the only things worth fighting 4.
We r the new power generation, we want 2 change the world.
The only thing that's in our way is u.
Your old fashioned music, your old ideas,
we're sick and tired of u telling us what 2 do.
why don't u just be happy, baby.

[chorus repeated with this sung over it]
go on and get up offa my block
get up offa my block, because
love is there if you'd just open up 2 it.
if you'd just believe your whole world would change

New power generation, you've got to rearrange. We've got
we r the new power generation, you've gotta give up all the fight
we gotta try 2 love one another, baby. we r the new power generation
we r the new power generation.
we r the new power generation.

New Power Generation (Pt. II)
we r the new power generation)
Don't pick my apples, don't pick my peaches
(we r the new power generation)
leave my tree alone...leave it alone...leave it alone
(we r the new power generation)
Don't u look at me
(we r the new power generation)
If you're sad and u know it and u think u want to blow it
let your feelings out, love is there
©1990 Controversy Music - ASCAP

Just go!

Kid! Yo Kid!
I got ta do this, I got the noise, I got ta do this
so pump the big noise, c'mon in the house...

this here rap's about the true confession
if ya listen close u 'bout to learn a lesson
u must know failure before success
now this is the failure I must confess (well...)
I was hanging onto life trying deal with this
playing the games, almost got dismissed
cocaine was the thing that I took on
and nowhere was the place that I was going (preacher, cmon on)
I must tell the truth, I cannot lie
I was headed 4 the kill, steal, destroy, and die
top 2 the bottom 2 bottom 2 top
success is where I'm headed there ain't no doubt
success is something that we all want
but the truth is what we need to reach our point
I had to give this message the so-called truth
I hope it's somthing in it that's there 4 u
{on top of:
love to the left of me, love to the right
come on make a noise, somebody
party tonight! (oh yeah!)}
like I told ya before, I'm a tell ya again
success is something that's deep within
so remember the truth you cant go wrong
the flesh is weak and the spirit is strong
I know it to do this rap, and I know its right
'cause I did it in the name of Jesus Christ
(cmon somebody lets party tonite)
Party tonight! (oh yeah!)

you want me 2 what?? (shake!)
what? (shake! shake!)
awww, right

the New Power Generation has just taken control

Novabreaker said:

seventh-day. not seventh-street, seventh-day...almost makes it sound as if there's some weird sect that lives in the 7th st. entry or somethin.

at any rate--prince, could you PLEASE put somethin out soon so folks can get off of your secular jock?

callejero said:

I do believe Michael hasn't beena JW for a few years now.

LoVESeKZi said:

If you want to learn more about JW's and their beliefs, check out their site:
http://www.watchtower.org/ (Note: I'm not into JW at all, just providing this link as a public service! )

Astasheiks said:

Not since the Bad era around 1987.

OK, firstly, if I've offended anyone, I apologize. I wrote the first post without actually doing research, but I have spoken to a few JW's before and in one of my discussions I was told that I needed to repent for studying music.

JediMaster said:

William Devaghn, the one hit wonder that wrote "be thankful" ..."diamond in the back"

Well Prince lives how Prince wants to. He always has always will...the risk of being called hypocritical never bothered him I think... ...so I agree with you it is kinda silly!

LoVESeKZi said:

Whoever told you you need to repent for studying music was way off-base. As a JW myself for 19+ years, there is no forbidding of playing music. Unfortunately, some people like to press their conscience's on someone else as if it's "the gospel truth" when it isn't. I have a friend who is an elder, and has served in our world headquarters in New York for a few years, who also plays the drums, and plays them well. He's told me of a number of instances where someone in his congregation will tell him he doesn't need to be playing drums for whatever reason. He always opens the songbook we use and shows them a picture inside of Israelites singing praises to their Creator. Then he asks them, are you saying it's wrong for us to sing in the congregation for worship? So where exactly did you find in the scriptures that it's wrong to play a musical instrument? Shuts 'em up everytime.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Heh, my bad-d.

Housequake2K2 said:

Yeah, I did some research (thanks CandaceS!). So I dunno. It would seem to me that there's some JW's out there that need to do some research as well. And I will even say that (in most cases) within the context of what I read, P is making music that stays within the guidelines regarding what "appropriate" music is. Sorry Krystal, our beloved P may never be slutty again.

Housequake2K2 said:

...and there are those kinds of folks in almost ANY denomination. Someone who takes their own personal feelings on a matter, and presents them as if THEY are representative of the entire sect's beliefs. Known a few people like that in various denominations over the years.

LoVESeKZi said:

Any you all ever seen the Christain movie "Left Behind"?

LoVESeKZi said:

So true what you said about research. Sometimes a person gets so excited about what they learn, that while they apply a principle to themselves, they feel everyone should apply a principle the same way, when that isn't necessarily the case. For example, one JW (A) may like to go hunting, either for food or sport, or both. No scripture forbids that. Another JW (B) may have never gone hunting because they don't see themselves shooting an animal, even for food. Nothing wrong with either view, they're still following their conscience. What can be upsetting or troubling is if JW-B tells JW-A that he shouldn't be hunting when there is no violation of principle. Accepting that one person's conscience may work differently than the next is a princple that can be, but shouldn't be forgotten.

Astasheiks said:

No, I can't say that I have...

LoVESeKZi said:

A good Christain movie to watch. Lord knows Prince needs to watch it.