kpowers said:

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

That's one phallic lookin' mutha fuggin' pipe.

Interesting theory, but I think this is just another case of reading too much into Prince's actions.





Besides, any fan worth their salt could tell you that when the Purple One is trying to make a point, he's more likely to hit you over the head with it in some absurdist fashion than slip it subtly into the mix.

the way i see it, All Along The Watchtower was about his JW belief. he just mixed it up in a rock song.

The Best of You is a cool track to play - it rocks hard and it's a bit of an anthem. i totally see the setting going with that song.

Milty said:

Actually, maybe Watchtower was his nod to his JW experiences and a message to Larry Graham. And maybe the Foo fighters track is a way of saying he no longer buys it and that Larry has been playin his ass for a fool. He even ends it with "I gotta another confession my friend [larry graham], I ain't no fool."

Then he shows his shadow penis in Purple Rain to show the freaky Prince is back. Maybe he's saying "Larry, get outta here--I'm going back to fucking everything in site!"

I thought there was definately something more to it, mainly because of the sheer fact he was doing something left-field like that on a world stage, it was a bit of a risk, but I adored it. He was in strong voice and sang it with passion and conviction.

Oooh listen to me, I'm coming over all 'fammy'. Quick, someone twat me one.

sexyAuntyFuka said:

NSFW


http://www.thebirdman.org...ce-Nun.jpg

sexyAuntyFuka said:

NSFW


http://www.thebirdman.org...ce-Nun.jpg

meow85 said:

I disagree. Today's climate is permeated by politics. EVERYTHING is tinged with the body politic. Had he given a blatant anti-war message, he would have been crucified, eviscerated, drawn and quartered and skinned in the press by now.

Prince has never really made anything that hit you over the head with his message, he's always very subtle. Otherwise, there would have been no mystery about what he was about back in the day.

I think that any true fan sees that Prince's true messages are very hidden, very subtle, and require much thought to decipher.

When I heard what he played at the super bowl, I asked my self, why those two songs, and why die he mixe them the way he did? I didn't come up with what the blog did regarding Best of You, but All Along The Watchtower was a no-brainer for me. I thought, good choice to say something without really saying it.

Don't be so quick to disregard this as over-analysis.

Why cover these two songs together otherwise? They seemingly have no musical or lyrical connection.

Don't be so quick to disregard this as over-analysis.

Why cover these two songs together otherwise? They seemingly have no musical or lyrical connection.

Yes, I understand Prince digs Jimi, and I understand that the "Best of You" cover could be a slight dig at the Foo Fighters for the Darling Nikki incident, but this allows him do that and make poignant social commentary at a globally televised event.

We know Prince has a social conscience (Ronnie Talk to Russia, SOTT, Money Don't Matter 2nite, Cinnamon Girl, etc), and this is a hugely topical and unpopular war.

The more I think about it the more I'm convinced that this theory is spot-on.

Look at the expression on his face after he sings the final line "I ain't no fool," it's almost as if he's saying "Did you get that?"

There is broad speculation around the internet that the All Along the Watchtower/Best of You cover is a not-so-subtle anti-war protest.

The Largest Minority blog writes:

Prince’s Subtle Anti-War Statement During Halftime
Posted by: Manila Ryce
Posted Monday, February 5th, 2007 at 1:59 am
Filed under: US Politics, Videos, Society & Culture, World Issues, Entertainment, Personal Posts, War, Civil Unrest, Music, Political, Asia

The clip below is only half of the halftime show (making it a quartertime show?). While I only took Prince’s performance of “All Along the Watchtower” and “Best of You” to have an anti-war message, I left the end of his performance in as well. Why? Well, because there’s an extremely suggestive silhouette of Prince behind a giant sheet showing us exactly how excited he was to be performing at the Superbowl. Intentional or not, I had to include it for hilarity sake.


At about the midpoint of Prince’s halftime performance, the artist performed a mixed cover of “All Along the Watchtower” and “Best of You”. Prince starts “All Along the Watchtower” at its proper beginning, with the two riders (the joker and the thief) approaching. Dylan, who wrote the lyrics in ’68, placed the middle of the story at the beginning of the song to throw the listener into a conversation which had already begun.

“All Along the Watchtower” is generally considered to be a statement about social reform in the 60’s, with the watchtower representing an established power structure guarding itself from those who have a true, yet unaccepted view of human worth. The story is largely uneventful, and the only confrontation taking place is between value systems. Biblical references are also plentiful, leading some to believe that the Joker and the Thief are Jesus and the crucified man next to him, respectively. Without analyzing every line, the song originally described the growing resistance to the Vietnam War and the establishment which made it possible. Why would Prince play this song at the Superbowl? In my opinion, he was making an anti-war statement about the current resistance to the Iraq War.

After the one verse, Prince transitions into “Best of You” by the Foo Fighters. I believe this song is originally about a failed relationship between a man and a woman, but coupled with “All Along the Watchtower” it takes on a different meaning. In this case, we might think of the administration as the one getting the best of us as we fight its restraints on our freedom. Again, Prince does not start at the beginning of the song, but transitions in at “Are you gone and onto someone new? I needed somewhere to hang my head, without your noose.” This may have been a convenient place to open the song, as the lyric could refer to Saddam’s execution, and the persecution anyone might face for opposing the establishment. After confirming the pain we feel as a society, Prince asks over and over again, “Is someone getting the best of you?” At the end he defiantly states, “I ain’t no fool”.

Perhaps I drank too much during the game, and am simply reading into this. Then again, they do seem like odd song choices for Prince to cover without having a specific reason. Your thoughts and interpretations are appreciated.

Lyrics to the performance:

All along the watchtower,
Princes kept the view,
While all the women came and went —
Barefoot servants too.
Outside in the cold distance,
A wildcat did growl.
Two riders were approaching, and
The wind began to howl.

Are you gone and onto someone new?
I needed somewhere to hang my head
Without your noose
You gave me something that I didn’t have
But had no use
I was too weak to give in
Too strong to lose
My heart is under arrest again
But I break loose
My head is giving me life or death
I will choose
I swear I’ll never give in
I refuse

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Has someone taken your faith?
Its real, the pain you feel
You must
Confess
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Oh…

Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?
Is someone getting the best, the best, the best, the best of you?

I’ve got another confession my friend
I ain’t no fool

It makes perfect sense to me.
[Edited 2/7/07 15:03pm]

Okay since we're on one...

--SNIP--

It was my guess that Best of You maybe fit into his recent split with Mani.

But who really knows?

The mysteries of Prince are one reason I enjoy following his career.

bobsteezy said:

I'm surprised you're the first person to share my idea...I took Best of You to be about the divorce from Mani, while AATW was about the War.