As much as I love this dude and respect his on personal beliefs I can't help feeling uncomforable with all the references i.e. if 3121 actually translates as God then we are seeing it everywhere i.e. gigs, perfume, background artwork on PE etc, the way he works it into Chelsea Rodgers, Lions of Judah [gimme a break!] etc. Message seems to be , 'i'll give your groove BUT it comes with a JW ref'
I never had any time for organised Religion that uses all manner of tricks to suck you in. Prince seems to be well into this now and i ain't happy.
I had no issues with the whole Lovesexy voyage, maybe it's just the thought of LG etc taking control, anyways anyone think i'm being way too narrow minded on this or not?.

funkyhead said:

I'm not offended at all. I'm not a JW but I definitely believe in God so it doesn't bother me. He's an artist and the work of a true artist is going to reflect their beliefs and inspirations. He's not a corporation or a politician trying to be politically correct and not offend anyone, he's an ARTIST.

No. I am not offended. I also am not involved in any type of organized religion either. I just feel Prince doesn't owe me anything. If he owed me something, then I would have a right to be offended. I can choose to either buy or not buy an album. If I don't like the message being sent via the album, then I can choose not to buy it.

Don't hate..only giving my opinion. Hopefully others can too without this topic turning into a cat fight, as it often does, LOL.

I hate all religions with an immense burning passion.

His sexist views due to his religion are sick

it's been discussed ad nauseum, just surf a few pages into the threads.

emilio319 said:

What i heard on his tours 200-2003 was not art; it was hateful dogmatic prejudice preaching. Having the view that people are wrong becuase they don't follow a book is horrible and plain stupid
[Edited 7/17/07 7:26am]

i take a passing interest in whatever he's on about in his lyrics, but in terms of it making or breaking my enjoyment of his music, i really don't care either way.

The 2001 Celebration was one of the saddest moments in my life. I personally saw one of my heroes turn into a bitter old bigot. I hope he's truly over it and not just hiding his true beliefs.

emilio319 said:

ITA

emesem said:

what happened?

No

There is no religious preaching in 'Lion of Judah'.

'Lion of Judah' concerns a relationship and contains Prince's most honest, powerful lyrics in years.

Have you actually read or properly listened to the lyrics for 'Lion of Judah'? It sounds like you have only given it a superficial listen, with all due respect.

If 'Lion of Judah' is religious, then '7' is a Gospel song.

'Lion of Judah' is indicative of strength and the ability to conquer one's enemies. Nothing else.

icke4presidant said:

I think these have lessened if not vanished.

Prince is always collaborating and pushing women into the limelight. Just recently we've had Shelby, Tamar, Shelia E, Wendy ... . Nikka Costa is opening his London shows and Prince has raved over Amy Winehouse.

Sorry, but that doesn't sound like a sexist to me. Prince may have been heavily influenced at some stage, but I've never been convinced of the entire 'sexist/homophobic' thing.

Not really. I'm not overly religious, but I don't care if the music I listen to has religious overtones. Everyone has their own individual view and tastes; as long as it's good music, it's fine with me.

His lyrics never offend me. I may not agree with what is said, but I'm not offended.

OperatingThetan said:

The women he mostly pushes in our face are the ones he's shagging or trying to shag. I'll forgive him for Carmen though LOL!!. Before you attack there's enough ex PParkers [ Wendy, Eric etc] who have claimed the same. You think he would've pushed Nikka so hard if she was 5ft, fat and ugly - no offence to the 5ft fat ugly women on here by the way!!.

Please lets not put Nikka and Amy in the same group as all the Prince zombie girls. Not fair.

OperatingThetan said:

7 IS a Gospel song and you're right , i can only listen to Lions of Judah superficially coz [IMHO] it is utter dross. Sittin'on the floor of an all white room feelin' kind blue' is the kinda rubbish i wrote when i was 16!.

I've never been offended with his JW/Biblical references. I have to admit that some of the songs that have had heavy JW references were boring songs to me. Not all. My favorite song on 3121 IS The Word. I love the message and I love the accoustic guitar.


M

PurpleCharm said:

What's ITA?


Edit: Nevermind, think I got it...I totally agree...you young whippersnappers and your acronyms (lol).
[Edited 7/17/07 9:04am]

Nothing ever offends me anymore especially not the mention of God...Prince has talked about having sexual relations with his Sister, rape, and all other types of subjects. I'm certainly not about to get offended now.

OperatingThetan said:

Another person who can see past the title.

Come on folks, clean your ears out - Lion Of Judah is NOT a religious song.



In answer to the OP - Religious references in Prince's recent work do not offend me - I don't agree with them necessarily, but it just so happens in recent years his most interesting stuff has had a religious, or at least an esoteric, slant to it.

Were people offended by Christian lyrics before TRC, because Prince's stuff has always been litered with overt Christian references.

NouveauDance said:

You're absolutely right. Ever since practically the beginning Prince has mixed his religous beliefs into his music so I don't see why people are offended now all of a sudden, he's been doing it forever.

A few examples:

* The song "Controversy" includes the "Our Father" prayer.
* Purple Rain is full of religous references like "May U Live 2 See The Dawn" and when he drives his motorcycle through the tunnel that says "Love God" in the When Doves Cry video.
* The whole conversation with God skit in his shows during the Purple Rain tour.
* He has a song called "God."
* The song "The Cross" from Sign O The Times.
* The whole LoveSexy was very religous.

Those are just a few examples off the top of my head from the 80's so if mixing religious beliefs with music is offensive to some people then it's kinda hard for me to see how they ever became fans of Prince's music since the religious references have been all over his work for practically his entire career.
[Edited 7/17/07 9:05am]

emilio319 said:

I totally agree. What's the big deal now?

skywalker said:

He was never homophobic then

singing about God, Jesus, Spooky Electric is ok.

Its when your preaching becomes ignorant, intolerant, bigoted, closed-minded, racist and misogynistic is when its a problem.

icke4presidant said:

Aren't Wendy & Lisa gay?

I'm more offended by his hackneyed attempts at political commentary.

'Straight hair ain't got no CURL'
2 each his own . . . spirituality is but 1 part of the WHOLE P