I love Prince's music - pretty much all of it. But the reasons I like it lately have more to do with familiarity and nostalgia than they do with the actual content.

I guess I'm tired of the lack of "life" in Prince's recent output. It seems all so "surface" and "fantasy" to me lately. Examples of what I am tired of hearing from Prince:

• Hair references
• Party references
• "Shout outs" to the NPG or "party-people" (save that for live performances)
• Cheesy seductions
• Sex: yeah, I know this is his forte, but it's like a crutch when he doesn't know what else to sing about. It's gone from being controversial to sexy to just now kinda embarrassing.

I want to hear LIFE stuff that makes me feel something! Not just a nice melody or cool bassline. Like:

• Mature romance, breakups, etc - with emotion, regret, etc.
• Politics - take part in THIS world Prince, not the one you're trying to create
• Acknowledge SOMETHING! Seems like nothing (contracts, marriage, etc) is ever his fault.
• KEEP ON singing about God, etc. This is one area where he excels.

Religion: sing about how it's changed YOU Prince. Don't try to convert me, or invite me to join you. Show me how it's worked for you and I might join you on my own.

Politics: Prince, you can take a more active role without choosing sides. SST was a perfect example of what YOU can do when you want to. Cinnamon girl and Dear Mr. Man were also good examples.

I love Prince's music, have since I was 12 years old. And I will continue to buy it for the beats and to support him. But I am hoping for a major turnaround from pop to the next level of songwriter.

Don't get me wrong, there is room for plenty of superficial pop songs, but for me I'd like the bulk of his work to just SCREAM life experience.

And I'm not moved by quantity. I don't care if he has thousands of songs. I'd rather he had just hundreds of songs that hit the mark. I'd play those forever, like I do with The Beatles and Hendrix.

I never paid much attention to his lyrics. And I had to laugh when he was voted as 10th best living songwriter of all-time.

We all lost PRINCE in the year 1993

I pretty much agree wit ya to a point on everything U said EXCEPT the polotics. Cuz I don't wanna hear Prince Do polotics.

u took the word right outta my mouth... rhyming sinners with dinners (Incense and Candles), i was like WTF? this sh4t is for the birds. but then again i've already posted this several times. P shake it off, dig deep and come with something that truly matters.

adorable2 said:

Sorry, tryin' to figure out what U mean by that?

I think he has two sides, serious and non-serious .
He does deserve to be on top 10 of best living songwriters in my opinion, he has a good hold of language and uses it to his advantage. He is good in english and grammar. Yes, some of his songs may be cheesy but that is intentional I think. He is a good poet

armybrat said:

but stevie wonder he ain't

luv4all7 said:

oh sorry i was ranting. I mean the part in the song Incense and Candles when he rhymes the word sinners with the word dinners. that pushed me over the edge i was like n8gga please.

but don't get it twisted P has written some excellent songs.

Oh okay, I hear ya.

adorable2 said:

there is a difference between songs and LYRICS!

ccollin88 said:

right and P has written some excellent songs and lyrics then again he writes so many songs and lyrics some are bound to be trash.

adorable2 said:

I Agree

adorable2 said:

OR maybe P knows what he's talkin about and maybe U don't?

Shut up already..DAMN!

I really love Prince's lyrics. Alot of them have thought provoking lines that he can express in such a clever or witty way. Sometimes it takes me a while to get it then when I do I'm like "Oh you funny man you!"

Se7en said:

What are you taking about? A good portion of Prince's old material (pre-1990) has some of the qualities you seemed to not like. Especially the stuff released between 1985 - 1988.


.
[Edited 7/9/06 5:10am]

Didn't the Musicology CD have some pretty thoughtful, serious lyrics?

Cinnamon Girl, Reflection, Dear Mr Man?

And the One Nite Alone Piano CD and The Rainbow Children also had some pretty deep lyrics (and some bad, shallow ones, it has to be said).

I don't see that Prince's lyric writing has changed that much to be honest, bar the lack of cursing and there are less sex songs (to be honest, I don't particularly want to hear someone approaching 50 to be singing about explicit sex). And given that the whole concept of 3121 is kind of a party CD as opposed to the more serious, reflective themes of Musicology, I think it's okay for 3121 to have less 'substantial' lyrics.

se7en, i can pretty much see where you're coming from
and i agree with several of your points
for me, personally, i'm irritated by prince's egocentric lyrics
that is, the songs are often about him and he makes that very clear
even to the point of including his name or making obvious references to himself
i know Prince is who he is
but many songwriters stay away from doing that
and for good reason
it makes it kinda hard for the listener to "own" the song
when the singer makes references to himself during the song
i don't buy prince albums for getting intimate with prince
but prince keeps popping up when i'm trying to share a special moment with my lady
and i don't do menage a trois
[Edited 7/9/06 9:55am]

Se7en said:

[b]

well what about these songs:

Ilove you but i don't trust you anymore,tangerine,wasted kisses, man o war,america,dear mr. man,cinnamon girl, money don't matter 2 night,we march,live for love,right the wrong,race,in this bed i scream,the same december,gold.

i could go on but i'll stop here

I included Dear Mr. Man and Cinnamnon girl as songs that ARE what I want to hear. Most of the other ones you listed are from 10 years ago! I wrote that he's lacking in his recent output. I could also list dozens of his songs that hit the mark, but dozens more that do not.

SNAP-

You nailed it - that's exactly what I'm feeling!
[Edited 7/10/06 4:23am]

http://www.studiosankara....ugaal.html

If DJ Awadi from Senegal can put his music to good use, why can't Prince?

Maybe if Prince creates a better new web site (I know the last one won a webby, but it was still weak, slow, cumbersome, not Mac friendly, "Hey Prince, ever hear of an iPod!"? ...) he can bring things together so his music have a greater impact and champion his issues on a global scale.

Branjolina, et al, are just pretty people who put their lives into the issues they care about. Prince's lyrics should get him more credit than being just a great funky musician jumping around in heels and avante garde outfits.

mzflash said:

Well there's the rub, he makes the songs but i buy them so maybe he could clue me in every now and again

recent output? Prince has been fairly constant lyric wise. The complaints you list could have been mentioned at nearly any point in Prince's career. Check it out:



"There is nothin' that will overcome the love we share
Nothin' that will break us apart
Girl, I got 2 always have U in my hair
Gotta always have U in my heart
Ooh baby, your place or mine
I'll get the music baby, U bring the wine.."

"There is a park that is known 4 the face it attracts
Colorful people whose hair on one side is swept back.. "

"...She's always in my hair..."

"..everytime I comb my hair, thoughts of U get in my eyes..."




"We don't give a damn, we just wanna jam
Partyup (Partyup, got 2 partyup)
That army bag, such a double drag
Partyup (Partyup, got 2, got 2, got 2 partyup)

Party - got 2 party down, baby.."

"..party like it's 1999.."




"...That's right, everybody say
(Party!) {repeat in BG}
Can't run from Revelation, no!
Sing it 4 your nation, y'all!
Dreamin' when U're singin', baby!
Say the telephone a-ringin', mama, now!
Come on, come on, U say
Everybody, 2 times
Work it down 2 the ground, I'm sayin'
(Oh baby, say it again)
(Oh, shake your body, baby!)
That's right, come on, sing the song
That's right, everybody say
Got a lion in my pocket mama, say!.."


Read THESE lyrics: http://www.dtt-lyrics.com....html#dmsr



"..Good evening
This is your pilot Prince speaking
U are flying aboard the Seduction 747, mmm
And this plane is fully equipped with anything your body desires.."



Whatever. Why don't you tell Superman to stop flying? Why don't you tell Stallone to stop making "Rocky" movies? It ain't gonna happen and to complain about it now it silly.




See: "I love U, but I don't trust U anymore"



See: "Dear Mr. Man", "Cinnamon Girl"



See: The Holy River



see: The Rainbow Children



again, see: The Rainbow Children




To each his/her own. I am sure Prince hits some like Hendrix and The Beatles never could/would.

Bottom line: Your complaints have been heard, but they are a moot point when it comes to Prince. If anything, Prince's lyrics have remained consistant only in that they tackle a wide range of honest, and sometimes not so honest, emotions/subjects that all humans can relate to. What are you complaining about?
[Edited 7/10/06 12:13pm]