Around the tim eof the Superbowl earlier this year this girl who was one of my friends on Myspace posted a bulletin about how she was disgusted at the fact that Prince was going to perform the halftime show. But she was a huge fan of the Chili Peppers. She had all these pics decorated on her page and everything. I replied to her and said "So, do you have a problem with Prince or something?". She said "um, yeah". Then I said "well then if you have a problem with Prince then you and I have a problem, haha". But I don't think she knew that I was kinda joking. So I guess she took that to heart and decided to take me off her friends list. But then I told her "how could you dislike Prince and love the Chili Peppers? They're both similar artists".

And when you think about it, Prince and the Red Hot Chili Peppers do have the same musical influences. They just create their music in different ways. James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles, George Clinton, Sly Stone, etc. They all paved the way for the purple hero as well as the funky monks.

I then told this girl that "anyone who has failed to see the similarities to both artists and decides to delete me over something trivial and insignificant doesn't deserve my fucking friendship anyway".

NWF said:

It's a good sporting that this girl doesn't like black performers, period. I know a lot of white folks who despise rap but LOVE Eminem.

blackguitaristz said:

It is very possible that race could have played a factor in this. But then again, she was into muscular, bulked up, macho men too. She loved wrestling stars like Shawn Michaels and Brett "Hitman" Hart too. I guess since the Chili Peppers fell into that bracket she dug them too. But Prince is pretty lean and muscular too, so why not him? She probably thought that he was (the usual stereotype that youngun's think) gay or effeminate or weird or something. Young folks can't seem to look past all the makeup and high heels and see the great artist that he is.

Would it make a difference if she knew that Kiedis is a Prince fan? Kiedis paid a strong tribute to Prince in to one of Prince's tour programs in the early 90s. I have it somewhere but can't dig it out now, sorry! Also that early RHCP albums were produced by George Clinton - another strong connection.

If someone can't articulate a sound reason for not like an artist (pun intended!) then they have issues. I can't stand Michael Jackson, and I can elaborate on why, and also admit occasions that I have liked his music.

But sad thing with Prince, is that often people don't like Prince for purely non-musical reasons. When you consider the strength in depth of the body of Prince's work, from Dirty Mind, Controvery, 1999, PR, ATWIAD, Parade, SOTT etc etc, it's very hard not to at least appreciate Prince unless you are really unenlightened to his music. And if that's the case (and these days, it could be as not much is played) the the only reason not to like him is because of non-musical reasons.

Oh, and 2 more reasons in Prince's own words: -

1. Who? Prince?? that skinny MF with the high voice!!!???

2. Oh my God isn't that Prince on television? Isn't he the wierdest looking thing you've ever seen or what????