A friend just came over, suprise visit.
We were as usual having a conversation about music. We have many mutual interests.
He's over 10 years younger than me, so we both gain from these conversations.

He, absentmindedly picked up my huge Prince cd folder and realises what he's got in his hands!

"What these r all prince CDs? Well that's sick, man."

I hate being forced into the defensive, On anyones' behalf.
This has happened too often. I usually hide my prince cds, how about you?

No, I dont hide my Prince cds. Im not ashamed of the way I am..... I can just say that the Franco Battiato ones r more visible thant Prince ones.... but nobody complans, otherwise they would taste the teeth of my dog....

I don't hide them, everyone who knows me, really knows me..knows my love for everthing Prince.

Lilith said:

I think it's easier as a girl. Masculinity is often more insecure than it's counterpart.
personally, I don't give it a 2nd thought. I'm comfortable with both masculine and feminine aspects in my personality.
Many aren't, whatever time it is.

thedribbler said:

Man, the day I would have to hide anything in my house from a so-called friend is the day I stop having friends over! My Prince cd's are all over the place, no hiding. If anyone calls me on it, I essentially call them ignorant fucks for even stepping to me like that. If they don't like it, there's the door.
But being forced to defend?? Man, seriously, that's weak. Not being an ass or anything here, but if you like Prince and what his music says, why do you even feel that you have to "defend" what you like?

I'm Black, and I have everything from classical to country on my shelf. There have been a few times that someone has called me out on something, but I literally get offended that someone can be so close-minded. I tell them that's how I feel, how music is universal and no one has a copyright to like this or that type, and the discussion ends. One day a friend fronted me on my Led Zepplin collection...I asked if he knew the history, what they were influenced by, how people have co-opted what was our music and turned it into something that we're not supposed to like. To that I say bullshit. I like what I like, and make no apologies for it.

Livin' in shame? Is that what it really makes you feel like when this happens?
[Edited 3/17/07 11:14am]

BlackandRising said:

Livin' in shame is an accurate exaggeration. Prince is a scandalous and confusing figure for most people. He appeals 2 the young, when sexuality is the most important thing to them. It's often a case of love or hate with prince.

thedribbler said:

I understand the love/hate thing, but the things that I dislike, or, for lack of a better word, "hate," I tend to listen and evaluate, but never draw back as if it were the ebola virus...maybe it's a "with age comes wisdom" type of thing. There are certain genres/artists I don't particularly like, but I defer to the fact that whoever is trying to turn me on to it likes it, and we discuss why we like/dislike and come to a understanding. I think that age is definitely a factor, though.

I don't hide my Prince CDs
I even show them off

Prince is

Mine are displayed on the stand next to my bed

babooshleeky said:

Mine r 2!

theodore said:

And my husband sleeps next to me

babooshleeky said:

Every time my boyfriend comes over he's like Not Prince!

He's jealous of Prince

theodore said:

So is my husband, and my son keeps tellin' everyone I want to Marry Prince, he's only 6!

babooshleeky said:

Ur son is

theodore said:

Ya..he's a real riot.....

That's crazy, why would you hide the fact that you like Prince or anybody else. sounds like you are the one with the problem not anyone not him, if people can't except you for what you like then there not your friends!

My husband tells me if I ever go missing he's sending the police after Prince. I have a Prince-ly decorated office and almost all of his cd's. I write poems to Prince and post them in myspace to ALL of my friends including my kids... Everyone knows how I feel about his music and even though I shelter my youngest from the 'former' Prince, I'm schooling her on real music via his clean stuff. She likes it too...I'd never hide my admiration for him, but sometimes I like to get a reaction from someone claiming to like him, so I'll say he's Okay...lol

babooshleeky said:

I don't hide my prince cd's.
Whether I am female or not I don't care what people think about me.
If they take the time out to care anyways then I'm already better then them and that proves i shouldnt care



PRINCE ROCKS! Who cares what they think!

Prince has such a broad specturm of music he can and has done everything and he is a fantastic entertainer, a beautiful man. I'd be wondering why anybody DID,NT like him. they must have stinky taste in entertainers!

HA! Hiding yer cd's (BIIIIIG LOL) prolly says more about you than anything else.

Hide yer porn, not yer music.

I'm not ashamed of my Prince collection. I once had a life sized Rave Un 2 The Joy Fantastic Prince given to me by Sam Goody I put it in my bedroom and I know people probably thought I put it in bed with me and dry humped it every nite and btw I did but... wait what is this thread about again? Oh yeah don't live in shame owning Prince cds are nothing to be ashamed about.

PaisleyPark5083 said:

My sentiments exactly...family and friends sometimes tease me because of my love for Prince, but I don't hide it. I'm quite proud of it, actually.

BlackandRising said:

You're right, of course.
young people often develop an opinion about p. b4 they've even learnt how to think clearly, let alone objectively. I don't want to fight every single battle.
I remember when prince brought out if I was your girlfriend in the mid eighties - My god how some people were challenged!!
sensitive smalltown teenagers have a tough time.
It was easier 2 b a fan of freddy Mercury than Prince

AvramsDad said:

I've never been into porn.

Prince is the

All of my friends tell me;who's that gay?He's name is prince,oh i'm a king.But i still like him well it's my life and i do whatever i want!I don't wanna b like others!

thedribbler said:

"if I was your girlfriend" is a perfect example, because it definitely challenges preconceived notions about what love is from a man's POV. All you have to do is listen to the words and it's crystal clear what the song is about, but the title...my friends already had in their heads that Prince was gay/bi, so their minds were already closed, so they heard it, but didn't hear it, if that makes sense. I would explain it and say that Prince was simply telling someone he wants to be so close, like girlfriends are, but machismo was definitely a factor with men. Women, as I saw it, got it way before my male friends did.

The more I think about it, age is definitely a huge factor, esp. with being able to open one's mind and challenge concepts you held in your youth.

Thing is some of princes work has become very personal to me. If someone recognises the music 4 what it is, which of course they often do. Let's say, 4 arguments sake: provocative. They may quite innocently start thinkin' out aloud and not realise That I'm catching every single word and it's havin' mo' than a superficial effect on me. they usually mean no harm at all

I dont hide em, I usually get offensive too and I hate that. I try to just stfu and move ob, because actually twod ays ago in school,some girl was listening to MY ipod and had the nerve to talk shit about Prince, and said,'"he's ugly and his music is wack" my mouth dropped open to just say something about one her little crushes but i just snatched my iPOD away and left. Now she's all angry with me, and Im like "bitch its my iPOD get your own damn iPOD and hate on Prince all you want, but not with mine:"