txladykat said:

i can relate

Snap said:

no, where talking about all the money that was made from slavery. All the money that was made that has been invested into businesses that have made trillions of cash.eg: Nearly all the banks around the world, even 1s that have changed their name, cuz they've evolved from old banks. the governments, TRADE, import, rape, murder, torture and loads more, do i really need 2 go on?
im not talking about the working class the ordinary folk, im talking governments, and all these big companies, the big monopolies

luv4all7 said:

It's all about the demographics. Where I live, all the working poor and homeless are all white or Native. The few black people in the area are all comfortably middle class.
[Edited 8/27/05 16:03pm]

catpark said:

It is a great tune. And it's a pop song not a manifesto. Yeah the lyrics are simple but they're effective at making his point.

That voting line bugs a whole lot of people including me. But it does get a reaction. It got people talking. Nothing like some provocative Prince.

interpret said:

I agree.
Great song. Wish the bass line varied a lil bit, tho. But that don't take away from the gem this is, especially due to the lyrics. The line you quote on affirmative action/reparations (yes, reparations is a great lyric.

interpret said:

The line is politically myopic. Someone once said we get the politicians we deserve. Even when the choice is poor, you can still do the smart thing and pick the lesser of two evils. Besides, Prince believes a theocracy should be instituted.

i think that "Dear Mr.Man" is on par with another one of my favorite songs....

"Money Don't Matter 2Night"


socially conscious songs that make you think.

avatarfunk said:

"Dear Mr. Man," musically, sounds a lot like "What U Dyin' For?" by Angie Stone.

The lyrics are banal. An embarrassment.

I hit "skip" every time this track comes on. Just when I thought he couldn't do worse than "Radical Man 2045," Prince recorded this track.

DarkKnight1 said:

ThreadBare said:

I'm with you. I'm rather surprised some see these lyrics as clever. They are so simple and cliche. There's very little artistry in them.

Reminds me of when people praised that "Why" song by rapper Jadakiss ... or when they praise Kanye..

Just because people bring up profound social issues, doesn't mean they are contributing something new, insightful, or deep about them.

Prince's songs like Pop Life, Party Up, Annie Christian, Free, America, etc. are my favorite social songs from his canon. Dear Mr. Man is as unremarkable as its title.

SynthiaRose said:

That's how I see it, too.

andykeen said:

co-sign

It's a nice enough tune but the lyrics kinda lack substance for me. He lists several grievances with no real conclusions.

luv4all7 said:

-----
The article came from Forbes not Tiger Beat what makes you think it is not true.

We are talking about wealth and black folks have less than whites in the good old USA. Try looking outside of your neighborhood.

SynthiaRose said:

-----
Looking for a solution to social issues in a pop song !!! It is Prince's opinion and he just said what a lot of people of color think. " Fuck U and the corrupt ass system we are living in. Some of you guys will sit around praising some asshole sambo rapper who is going on about bitches and hoes but put down anyone that is genrally pissed at the system and can just say so with degrating woman or promoting black on black violence.

laurarichardson said:

And it's our opinion the song isn't necessarily as progressive, articulate or revelatory as other people obviously find it. I'm not looking for Prince to solve anything -- I'd wager Synth isn't either. And, please, comb my posts for praise for a "sambo rapper" or the flawed system of the United States.

You all right?

laurarichardson said:

Laura, I would respond to you, but I'm not sure what argument you're bringing and in response to what comments.

I haven't mentioned the topic of solutions, nor implied they should be in pop songs.

The song is sophomoric and underdeveloped conceptually. He brings up substantial issues, but merely makes cliched quips as a 2-year-old would.

And given my comments on this thread and elsewhere, I'd be highly unlikely to praise a Sambo rapper.

Your diatribe is misplaced and unreasonable as a response to what I've stated.

SynthiaRose said:

Co-sign

Like I've said, the song is uncharacteristically simple and derivative for him.

Compare lyrics like "Who told me, Mr. Man, that I got a right 2 moan? How about this big old hole in the ozone?" to lyrics like "In France a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name."

There's no contest.
[Edited 8/28/05 15:39pm]

To sum it all up. Some people love this song. Some people hate it.

How familiar.

Although some of the lyrics are a bit simple I do really like the song. It sounds alot like a Sly song to me. Nice horn lines .

SynthiaRose said:

-----
'It's a nice enough tune but the lyrics kinda lack substance for me. He lists several grievances with no real conclusions."

That comment came from Destinyismine and that is what I was responding to. It seems most of the people on this topic who don't like the song seem to dislike it due to the polical message that they do not fine deep, meaningful, or providing a solution.

My comments are addressing all of the faults that various people found with the song. In addtion, it is my opinion and I certainly don't care if you think it is unreasonable or misplaced.

great song, not classic, but great.

ThreadBare said:

-----
I did not say you made a comment about a Sambo Rapper but, lots of people on this board do spend a awful lot of time finding some great meaning in a lot of shitty rap music were you will find the lyrics are lacking any substance at all. I can't see why anyone would get upset over P's mild political comments over the crap that we are getting in mainstream music these days.

I am find clear headed and shuck and jive free.

Hey, the confusion came about from you copying comments Synth and I made but, apparently, you meaning to direct your comments to other posters.


C'est tout, m'amie.


.
[Edited 8/28/05 18:01pm]

destinyismine said:

but, you gotta admit, this is typical of Prince. He always wants us to arrive at our our "conclusions" of his lyrics, not the conclusion he thinks we should. what one person may conclude from the song, may be a totally different conclusion for another.

laurarichardson said:

Didn't mean to start a DEBATE..... But I never said I didn't think it was true, I only said hard to believe is all. Look Buddy, I'm not claiming that I work on WALLSTREET or anything, but I hardly read TIGER BEAT (anymore). Call me ignorant if you want, but I don't know Forbes from ADAM. I do however live in a very poor part of the NEW U.S (as opposed to the OLD one your talking about?) and here were all poor white/black/hispanic whatever. If you must know though, I have lived all over the world and the "poor people" weren't all black! Peace? LUv ya baby!

i think how this whole black/white poor thing came about is cause someone said that Prince was referring to "black" people in the song.

that is just an interpretation on the readers part, nothing more. some want to read into it as he is talking about black people only, some want to read into as he is talking about all poor people...doesnt make anyone's perception wrong, or even right for that matter. Prince is notorious for putting lyrics out there and expecting each individual to draw their own conclusion.

while my conclusion is that he is just talking about "poor people in general" that doesnt necessarily mean my conclusion is correct, nor does it mean those who have concluded that he means "black people only" is correct, just a difference in interpretations is all.

but i do have to say, for those of you with blinders on that believe that only black people can be poor (i said "can be" not are )....needs to venture into other neighborhoods, regions, etc., as well. it exists in every race, country, etc.

good day yall

txladykat said: