When he changed "The Cross" to "The Crist" I really became pissed off. "The Cross" was a very powerful song in his live set but since he changed the lyric it just makes me sick! Now just because he doesn't believe in the cross as a religious symbol anymore why can't he still just sing about it? Songwriters are storytellers. 99% of the time fiction story tellers. Was "Sister" fiction? "Bob George"? What, at the time was he a pimp threatening to kill his hoes? I know this "The Crist" thing happened years ago but I just watched "The Cross" from the end of the Sign Of The Times film and man that was a great ending to a great show.

Go back to school

The Christ...is just as nice as The Cross...I don't get upset about that kinda stuff...I just don't like it when Jesus is hangin' on the wood...It is better when He get's off of it.

Mad? Nahhhh.

Arguing over whether in the story it was a cross, a pole, a stake or even a tree all seemed to be completely missing the point. But what the hey.

Dayclear said:

Oh wow, what do we have here? You think you can take me to school well try me. Can you explain your comment or is mommy getting you dressed?

NouveauDance said:

Ok. Ya'll missing my point. I'm more pissed about changing the title of the song after it was recorded. It's as bad as George Lucas going back and adding CGI crap to scenes of Star Wars. Do you know what I mean? You sing along to and jam to a song since '87 and then, BAM!, it's not the same song. You dig?

bigben07 said:

I understand where you're coming from, but The Christ makes a lot more sense with that lyric change than the change he made to I Feel For You - "i'm spiritually attracted to you" he sung on the 21 Nights tour.

I wouldn't say it made me mad as hell, but it definitely annoyed me.

Same with whatever the hell cd that was...Gold Experience? when he stopped saying "May U Live 2 See the Dawn" and instead wrote "Welcome 2 the Dawn". I was just like, what the hell? I thought you were talking about Jesus, not this stupid-ass album with no good songs.

Pretty much the last nail in that coffin as far as I was concerned. I haven't truly been a fan since. Very disappointing.

First of all...spell it correctly. It's "The Christ." Christ - not Crist. (That's what the "go back to school" comment was about.)

Secondly...what's the big deal? The Cross was a metaphor for Christ. He just dumped the metaphor in favor of a more literal lyric. Big whoop.

At the time, a lot of fans were vocal about their dislike of this track change, but then there were a whole load of other things people didn't care for either at the time.

Personally, I think things should be left as they are. See also: Sexuality/Spirituality (I think this change is rather more rather nauseating).

I was baffled by it. I remember seeing the NAACP Awards in 1998 and him singing it and I had a friend who didn't know who Prince was sitting with me and with that speech and the lyric change, I was embarrased like a mug. I respect that it's his song, but I saw no need to change the lyrics to it. It was fine as it was but I can agree with the person who had said earlier that if any song HAD to have a change, The Cross/Christ would be the one to have it. I may not agree but it's better than the changes he did with I Feel For You and D.M.S.R.

purplecam said:

I was baffled primarily by the speech (which he also did on the Jam of the Year) tour). I mean...you want to change the lyrics - fine. But hold the propoganda.

I'm a firm believer in Elbert Hubbard's adage:

Never explain. Your friends don't need it and your enemies won't believe it, anyway.

Genesia said:

I'm with you 100%

Prince is just adjusting his lyrics as he evolves on his never ending spiritual journey. I guess we have to respect his reasons for the lyric changes even if it gets to be annoying at times.

Dayclear said:

Nice. We have people here that get off on seeing typos. Nevermind what a fellow-Prince fan is saying, let's just make fun of a typo. Nice job acting like a 12 year old.

Not mad, more sad.

It was sad to see him sing that way in concert and trying everybody to sing along, but everybody was like: WTF dude, what the hell did you do that for?

If u like the song so much...y not just listen to it..no one is stopping you.

Prince has moved on. his beloefs are different now.

Y shouuld it make me mad?...im happy for him.

if i want to listen to the cross...i pull out my cd

not to mention i wear a cross around my neck everyday.

Genesia said:

Oh, I like that. Very true.

I remembering being rather disappointed with the lyric changes. These were songs I loved!! And if it ain't broke don't fix it! But if the changes meant it was the only way he was every going to perform these songs again; then what's a little word swap here or there?
[Edited 7/22/08 15:49pm]

metallicjigolo said:

If he would of "moved on" he wouldn't of "went back" into '87 to perform The Cross/Christ in the first place. All of the lyric changes make me sick. He should respect the fans that supported those songs by not altering the lyrics. Remember when Coke tried the New Coke thing? It wasn't Coke, it became something else. If he wanted to sing about Christ he should of wrote a new song.

bigben07 said:

Truth be told, it's not like he changes the lyrics to EVERY song of his, it's just a few and he hasn't done The Cross or whatever it is since the late 90's, I think. Who knows what the future holds regarding his view of lyrics, just wait and see. That's all I can tell ya.

I actally prefere The Christ to The Cross because the song itself is about Jesus not the thing he died on, also I think changing your lyrics to what your beliefs are now, is a very good thing because you are singing something that you believe and what comes from the heart. Imagine singing about something you didn't agree with anymore.

Prince deserve do what he want to do about his lyrics, we all have to respect him

I kinda do when Prince changes lyrics to songs. I mean especially when it's a song that I really dig. I rather him not sing it at all than change the lyrics to fit his new religious life.

Of course

I wanted to fuck somebody up!

How dare he change a song and not include Doug E. Fresh or Tony M. rap seques in the song!

No.

bigben07 said:

Great song, (Chross or Crist, i don't mind ) but by my knowledge not the ending of the show, only of the movie.

As stupid as 1999: The New Master.

viewaskew said:

1999 the new master, now that is a total and utter rape of the original. What was he thinking?

I don't know.

I've only seen it sung on Rave to the year 2000 - and I actually really liked it.

It was like he was proclaiming his love for Christ.

It changed the song slightly. Deepened it.

I respect Prince for going all out and singing it as a true religious song.

Infact I'm going to listen to it now..