the commodore's had "Jesus is Love" and Mariah Carey recently had" Fly Like a Bird" hit it big...so why don't Prince's songs about faith get airplay?

Fury said:

I would die 4 U

skywalker said:

great example. make a religious song that is catchy and not preachy, and people will listen. but Prince has long ago ceased creatively and abstractly approaching themes and subjects with analogies and ninstead now prefers to simply be blunt about it. if he wrote little red corvette today, it would simply be called "baby sleeps with too many men and should learn to practice safe sex." that is why people don't listen.

7 is one of Prince's most religious songs that recieved a good amount of airplay as well.The Holy River,another strongly spiritually based single didn't recieve as much air play however. Songs like Purple Rain,1999 and Let's Go Crazy each have spiritual themes without being overtly "religious".

Actually,Controversy was either banned or editted on certain radio stations back in the day when many thought his narration of the Lord's Prayer was somehow blasphemous.

Some of his more obviously spiritual songs may not be chart toppers, but there are exceptions. In addition to the ones already cited, I'll add "Let's Go Crazy." I've seen interviews with Prince talking about this song. To him, the "de-elevator" is the Devil. I'm paraphrasing here, but Prince said something like, "In 1984, you couldn't say "God" on the radio. To me, 'Let's Go Crazy' meant 'God.' In other words, 'Stay focused and you can beat the de-elevator." I think he made these comments in his interview with Chris Rock that aired on VH-1 in 1997/98. Can anybody elaborate on this?

Fury said:

Prince rarely releases religious songs as singles, but when he does, they
HAVE had airplay and they HAVE had sales. So the premise of your
question is actually untrue.

As has already been mentioned, I Would Die 4 U was probably one of the
most religious songs that Prince has released as a single, and that got huge
amounts of airplay and was a hit single.

he has alot of songs with religious themes. he just chooses another way of expressing spirituality.

how is I Would Die 4 U spiritual? i get it i guess, but can someone explain it and give examples from the lyrics?

tznekbsbfrvr said:

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/spiritual

A better question might be: How can one hear "I would die 4 U" and have it not be spiritual? Even if someone were to construe the lyrics to not be about Jesus (which they clearly are)the song would still meet the definition of "spiritual".
[Edited 4/17/07 6:58am]