....that becoming a jehovah's witness has made him unpopular? It's not just because he's toned down the sex aspect of his music --- i think many prince fans are perceptive enough to realise that that particular change was coming anyways -- but it's because of the religious order. is it too conservative and radical, and totally at odds with the free spirit Prince is? should he stop becoming a jehovah's witness and return to the spiritual feel of his earlier music, which transcended organised religion, rather than the dogma he keeps dishing out after becoming a JW? Simply put, has becoming a JW limited prince's love?

jw will expect prince 2 compromise every aspect of his life. i'm not convinced he will b able 2 do this.

he is simply not tameable.

i find incredible tht p is a strong character & yet has been roped in by these characters
i wonder what he's searching 4? he's never f**king happy, tht bloke

I think if the choice really came down to his popularity or his faith, he'd choose his faith.

wlcm2thdwn said:

Well, maybe Prince should do what Cat Stevens, now Yusuf Islam did: drop out of the music scene all together and devote himself entirely to his faith?

In fact, I really admire Yusef for just making a commitment--taking a stand--rather than just straddling both worlds even though he feels conflicted.

I would venture to say Yusef has turned out to be even a better activist than he ever was an music artist--as much as I admire him.

So maybe Prince needs to choose?

Funkyalien said:

I don't think that's our choice to make, and it's probably more important that we focus on our own spirituality. Prince will choose whichever route is right for Prince, as I'm sure he should be free to worship God in whatever manner he sees fit. And of course I don't know, but I'm willing to bet that he views the salvation of his soul as being more important than being a Rock Star.

Maybe he feels that it keeps him 'grounded' and gives him a structure to his life, maybe he feels he NEEDS it

Isel said:

I have to agree here because the whole "love me so I can get your money" but "don't love me because I don't want the attention" is getting tiresome and it just ain't right!

Spirituality in itself has a sexual oneness within it. Religion doesn't change the beauty that exists between two that become one.

We don't need anymore forest fires...Prince needs to stay out of the hillz.
And so help me God, if the wolves see him in concert before I do, I will quit the club.

I think the conversion made him a lot tamer and actually made it a bit easier for me to get into him/give him a chance.

Before all this (this journey through Prince's music and the albums), explicit lyrics were something I avoided entirely... and pretty much the subject of "sex" in music. But come to think of it, after I've started listening to him, I've kinda realized that "sex" is almost everywhere in music if you look hard enough.

One of the first things I had to overcome was my apprehension of the explicit lyrics, which took a couple of months with the different albums I was on... so now, I actually enjoy the explicit stuff more depending on what it is.
But don't you think for that someone of his age (:gasp: age? haha) writing new explicit material is a little strange? Him giving that up is probably just his way of growing up and stepping outside of him to go onto the next part of life

The conversion has made people like him less because they tend to shy away from the aspect of religion. I know I do, I think there are other ways I can preoccupy my time than studying the Bible and going to church.

Taking into account Prince is a free-spirit, I don't know how he's been able to do this, but I think he felt it was the right thing for him. People can say all they want how Larry Graham brain-washed him. I think Prince is on a path right now that he believes is working for him... and given Planet Earth, there is a sense of newfound enlightenment/spirituality about it that's truly inspired. There's a lot of good music in it, some of the best he's done this decade.

From that album alone, I think he's in a very good place mentally and spirituality. So I say "live and let live" because I think he's happy with himself right now. And isn't his happiness all that really matters in the end?

It really doesnt bother me that he is a jehovas witness, Ive never really been into pigeon holing or labelling people anyway.

He is entitled to his own beliefs, in much the same respect that I choose to be a catholic, it really has nothing to do with anybody else.

As long as he keeps making music I'll be happy!

wlcm2thdwn said:

Shouldn't everyone? What if Jesus had gone the popular route?

When people get older, they get religion.

No more songs about sex.

It is understandable. It breeds the myth that older folk aren't sexual.

?rince is older. He probably feels that the public would think that he was a perv today singing his older repertoire. It is kinda like Madonna. Madonna's music has changed in that same way.
[Edited 11/20/07 10:05am]

In no way do I want to offend anyone but I'm not big on the Jehovah Witness thing either. Too strict for me but I guess to each his own. I do miss Prince's more free spirited songs sometimes but hey I still got love for him. He will always be one of the best...

PDogz said:

Very well said. Its none of our business what religion he is. If hes changed thats his choice to do so. Just be thankful we've had so much great music from him!

Tame said:

Huh?

wlcm2thdwn said:

Read between the lines!

Isel said:

Prince's religion is entirely his business.

NO! Prince shouldn't do what Cat Stevens did....elsewise, many here would be in hiding, kinda like Salman Rushdie was, for a few years.....Devotion like that, who needs it?


edit sp check
[Edited 11/22/07 11:51am]

eh, i think if it restricts him too much he'll find loopholes out of unhappiness.

PDogz said:

I don't like the change in Prince music since he converted to JW. Not sure if one has to do with the other... after all Prince will soon be 50 years old. I am not sure how sexy it would look to have a 50 year old (or God willing a 60 year old) man rolling around on the floor licking the microphone stand.

That being said... Prince will have to answer to God on judgment day, just like the rest of us. If he believes that converting to JW is his way to God... who are we to say one thing about it? We should be more concerned about our OWN salvation.

prodigalfan said:

Or let's not forget the "Butt-Out" pants! YIKES! I guess this all goes toward saying that yes; Prince is growing older and will someday pass away (just like all of us). What about our souls then? If we can all find our way to our God in our own way, there just may be a huge-ass eternal Purple Party waiting for us on the other side (where we can actually hang-out with Prince on a personal level). And maybe, just maybe, that is what his music is trying to tell us today.

Isel said:

Just for the record, Yusuf Islam has now returned to music and has been doing gigs and new recordings since around 2003... I don't think it is good for any gifted artists to give up their art totally as I believe music is God's gift to man. It's how he uses that gift that makes all the difference.