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Thread started 07/13/07 10:57am

HousequakeComS
ucks

English grammar and Prince.

style is puppy breath
[Edited 7/14/07 16:29pm]
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Reply #1 posted 07/13/07 10:59am

KoolEaze

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HousequakeComSucks said:

I was wondering if like me, you wince and some of Prince's lyrics. Of course he is a genius but can the same be said of his use of English Grammar?

One example is: If I sell my soul, what will it cost?

This this purely hypothetical question needs a little fine tuning in order to make it grammatically correct.

Can YOU see how the sentence be improved?

What Prince lyrics leave you numb from the waste down?


If I sold my soul, now what would it cost ?
" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #2 posted 07/13/07 10:59am

BobGeorge909

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I'm sure if he write a letter in regular english/prose, it would look and sound fine.

His songs are written in verse. Since when did verse follow the conventions of everyday speech?
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Reply #3 posted 07/13/07 11:03am

HousequakeComS
ucks

BobGeorge909 said:

I'm sure if he [b]write[/b] a letter in regular english/prose, it would look and sound fine.

His songs are written in verse. Since when did verse follow the conventions of everyday speech?


If he wrote me a letter I dare say.
[Edited 7/13/07 11:05am]
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Reply #4 posted 07/13/07 11:04am

KoolEaze

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It´s interesting that you point out a grammar mistake from the "glory days" when he wouldn´t make so many grammar mistakes.These days, a lot of singers and rappers from his generation make a lot of grammar mistakes in order to come across as "hip" or down with the latest slang. Think about it...in the late 80s, people like Ice-T , KRS One , Whodini and Melle Mel would never, ever use broken English or bad grammar in their lyrics or interviews...it´s funny that these days, not just the young rappers but also a lot of those old school veterans (deliberately ?) use bad English in their songs or during interviews, with KRS One being the only exception to the rule.
" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #5 posted 07/13/07 11:05am

purplesocks

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Future Baby Mama should be Future Baby's Mama

see the diffrence
life is but a dream...
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Reply #6 posted 07/13/07 11:06am

KoolEaze

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BobGeorge909 said:

I'm sure if he write a letter in regular english/prose, it would look and sound fine.

His songs are written in verse. Since when did verse follow the conventions of everyday speech?

lol Yeah, you´re right but then again it was Prince himself who corrected someone in 1988 while performing Still Would Stand All Time lol

"Who´s the fool singing will ? It´s would...!"
" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #7 posted 07/13/07 11:07am

BobGeorge909

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HousequakeComSucks said:

BobGeorge909 said:

I'm sure if he [b]write[/b] a letter in regular english/prose, it would look and sound fine.

His songs are written in verse. Since when did verse follow the conventions of everyday speech?


If he wrote me a letter I dare say.
[Edited 7/13/07 11:05am]




i did that on purpose...2 c if U'd point it out and of course u couldn't resist. What other GRAMMAR mistakes did i make?
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Reply #8 posted 07/13/07 11:08am

BobGeorge909

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KoolEaze said:

BobGeorge909 said:

I'm sure if he write a letter in regular english/prose, it would look and sound fine.

His songs are written in verse. Since when did verse follow the conventions of everyday speech?

lol Yeah, you´re right but then again it was Prince himself who corrected someone in 1988 while performing Still Would Stand All Time lol

"Who´s the fool singing will ? It´s would...!"




that's different...it's a different tense and LOTS of meaning can be changed when the tense is changed.
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Reply #9 posted 07/13/07 11:12am

HousequakeComS
ucks

BobGeorge69


You gave me the impression that you were inherently [i:d152c5df0f]babau[/i:d152c5df0f]-


No em facis proves!


Where are you based?
[Edited 7/13/07 11:17am]
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Reply #10 posted 07/13/07 11:13am

wickyb

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All that glitters ain't gold

|
|
V

All that glisters is not gold
"Sheeeeeeeeit"
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Reply #11 posted 07/13/07 11:14am

XxAxX

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me no think prince bad speak person confuse
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Reply #12 posted 07/13/07 11:17am

BobGeorge909

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XxAxX said:

me no think prince bad speak person confuse




where's pook when u need him!
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Reply #13 posted 07/13/07 11:21am

KoolEaze

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18 and over...I gots 2 bone ya.
" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #14 posted 07/13/07 11:29am

jbchavez

If I Was Your Girlfriend

I don't know if the title would work written correctly.

If I Were Your Girlfriend

Honestly, there are grammatical errors throughout music. Music isn't graded for grammar.
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Reply #15 posted 07/13/07 11:49am

ReginaCarman

HousequakeComSucks said:

I was wondering if like me, you wince and some of Prince's lyrics. Of course he is a genius but can the same be said of his use of English Grammar?

One example is: If I sell my soul, what will it cost?

This this purely hypothetical question needs a little fine tuning in order to make it grammatically correct.

Can YOU see how the sentence be improved?

What Prince lyrics leave you numb from the waste down?

When it comes to creative writing one doesn't need to worry about grammar smile Regina Carma
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Reply #16 posted 07/13/07 12:30pm

logger

HousequakeComSucks said:

I was wondering if like me, you wince and some of Prince's lyrics. Of course he is a genius but can the same be said of his use of English Grammar?

One example is: If I sell my soul, what will it cost?

This this purely hypothetical question needs a little fine tuning in order to make it grammatically correct.

Can YOU see how the sentence be improved?

What Prince lyrics leave you numb from the waste down?



It from the WAIST down.
This this purely.....?
Wince AT some of Princes lyrics
Can you see how the sentence CAN be improved
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Reply #17 posted 07/13/07 12:34pm

gmcb

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HousequakeComSucks said:

Can YOU see how the sentence be improved?


I can see how THAT sentence could be improved. I think you should review your own posts before you criticize someone else's grammar. smile
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Reply #18 posted 07/13/07 12:38pm

anon

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BobGeorge909 said:

I'm sure if he write a letter in regular english/prose, it would look and sound fine.

His songs are written in verse. Since when did verse follow the conventions of everyday speech?
Right...and following convention usually makes art boring and static.

Also, with creative license you get to choose one word over the other because it flows a little better or because you like the way it sounds...or simply because it feels right. There ain't no rules.
Why do you like playing around with my narrow scope of reality? - Stupify
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Reply #19 posted 07/13/07 1:15pm

2elijah

Come on now..lol..telling artists how to write their songs is like telling Picasso how he should have painted...just my 2 cents.
[Edited 7/13/07 14:10pm]
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Reply #20 posted 07/13/07 2:24pm

markpeg

I think using a picture of an Eye for "I" is going too far. It's annoying to read.
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Reply #21 posted 07/13/07 7:42pm

wlcm2thdwn

You obviously are not Old School or from the hood because you would know everything that Prince is talking about, without a doubt!
[Edited 7/13/07 19:44pm]
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Reply #22 posted 07/13/07 8:45pm

GaryMF

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jbchavez said:

If I Was Your Girlfriend

I don't know if the title would work written correctly.

If I Were Your Girlfriend

Honestly, there are grammatical errors throughout music. Music isn't graded for grammar.

Actually, why wouldn't "were" work just as well? both our 1 syllable and would fit the rhythm?
rainbow
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Reply #23 posted 07/13/07 8:50pm

sexxydancer

What about "Baby,I R,I'm a star?" I R?? lol
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Reply #24 posted 07/13/07 8:56pm

GaryMF

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sexxydancer said:

What about "Baby,I R,I'm a star?" I R?? lol


I always thought that was just f*cked up!!!


I ain't never heard nobody saying that, lemme tell ya! wink
[Edited 7/13/07 20:57pm]
rainbow
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Reply #25 posted 07/13/07 9:04pm

sexxydancer

GaryMF said:

sexxydancer said:

What about "Baby,I R,I'm a star?" I R?? lol


I always thought that was just f*cked up!!!


I ain't never heard nobody saying that, lemme tell ya! wink
[Edited 7/13/07 20:57pm]

lol
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Reply #26 posted 07/13/07 9:08pm

happyhappy

poor grammar never stopped bob dylan, joan baez, myself, etc. razz
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Reply #27 posted 07/13/07 9:14pm

Genesia

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In poetry, grammar is often sacrificed for the sake of meter or imagery.

I often write non-grammatically because doing so emphasizes a point or gives a more colloquial affect.
We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #28 posted 07/13/07 11:58pm

UCantHavaDaMan
go

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I like it when he says "me and you." It's cute.
Wanna hear me sing? biggrin www.ChampagneHoneybee.com
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Reply #29 posted 07/14/07 3:06pm

GaryMF

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UCantHavaDaMango said:

I like it when he says "me and you." It's cute.

Wellt that's often said in spoken-colloquial American-English.

I'm a stickler for grammar usualy, but I think there's a difference between using spoken-colloquial forms (like "me and you" for example) or slang-dialectical patterns (i.e. ain't/no type forms which are very common especially in African-American dialects)..... and using plain old bad grammar "baby but I R".

One thing I hate in general is when people don't say "between you and I'..... that is just wrong... although fewer and fewer people are aware and one day it will probaby be deemed "acceptable". the only excuse in song to do it is for rhyming purposes. but there's a Whitney song, i can't think of now, where they say that and it doesnt' even rhyme....im like "you could've said you and "ME" and it would've been just as good.
rainbow
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