Just a thought

Who thinks the overall tone of this album is too religious or doesnt it matter to you?

Get On The Boat is the only track I can think of with any religous undertones,and I always skip that track.

muirdo said:

Beautiful, loved and blessed?

The Word

Satisfied - part of the lyrics


3121

?????
[Edited 7/22/08 6:48am]

syble said:

I would like to add the song LOVE to your list. 'from the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.'
I think most of his songs have scripture hiding somewhere. That has been from very early on in Prince's career one of his trademarks. Spirituality and sexuality goes hand in hand.

GiGi319 said:

Yes i agree about the scripture and religion lyrics, I think everyone does, its well agreed that its been a theme. But dont you think that as an album 3121 is too religious?

Its quite overtly religious Im not talking about metaphors or themes or ideas its quite blatant. Im not talking about spirituality either, I mean stark cold religion in use of 'the word' etc.

And yes I would add Love to the list too, the only one that is ambiguous is Te Amo but even that could be construed to be about GOd.

No I don't. It's no more religious than any other Prince CD in the past. No one was making a big deal about that kind of thing with the songs on Purple Rain, with Religious-type lyrics on Let's Go Crazy, Purple Rain and I Would Die 4 U. I think it's because Prince is more religious NOW as opposed to 24 years ago that this is such a big deal.
[Edited 7/22/08 7:07am]

purplecam said:

I dont think the Original Poster has ever listened to Lovesexy or The Rainbow Children.

muirdo said:

I know right?! It doesn't get any more religious that those 2 CD's.

I don't think it's too religious. I have actually never minded Prince's forays into topics spiritual - except on The Rainbow Children, which is so heavily dogmatic it's almost impossible to listen to.

By comparison, 3121 is almost refreshing.

syble said:

You're right even Te amo has some reference to the bible when he talks about 'from the dust of the earth and the knowledge tree'
Does it bother you when he quotes scripture? I don't think it will ever change that Prince will make references to the bible and God; that's just who he is.
Prince is on a never ending journey in the search to connect with God and his music reflects that on some albums more than on others. I understand that some people don't like to hear him preach, especially if they have other beliefs.
It has never bothered me, in fact I enjoy the fact that he always finds a place for God in his music.

Genesia said:

If anything, 3121 seemed like Prince was trying to find a way to mix sensuality with spirituality the way he used to do with songs like Lolita and Black Sweat. Just my

I had a hard time convincing my husband that Prince was talking religion on 'The Word'. Yeah I know...WTF. At the time I think he saw Prince as an androdgenous 80's rocker who mainly sings about sex . I reminded him about 'I Would Die 4 U' and told him about the JW conversion. He was married to a ex-JW and told me that Prince would have been disavowed? for alot of the things he does, so he doesn't believe he's really a JW either. I personally enjoy the religious overtones. In comparison to todays music, it's funky,'safe', and refreshing.
[Edited 7/22/08 9:26am]

the album is overrated

The Rainbow Children is the only album about religion I know

syble said:

i don't listen to his lyrics anymore. block those out

syble said:

i never got that from the album in particular.
no more so than some of his others.

XxAxX said:

laurarichardson said:

i parted ways with prince's philosophy back in 2002 still appreciate his music, i'm just not into his lyrics so much anymore

It has it's moments but that's Prince at this time.

I don't mind religion, I think 3121 is just fine.

Dayclear said:

same here. there's other things to worry about than the occasional
religious reference in his music.

particularly on 3121 i think he kept the pseudo-political and zany
religious rants to a minimum. they are not intrusive or offensive,
don't take away the attention from the songs or over all concept..

I still find 3121 his most enjoyable album of this decade.



That's not saying much

It doesn't matter to me, because he's using the same type of songwriting technique to talk about religious subjects that he used to talk about sexual subjects. What's good for the goose...

Besides, though Prince's songwriting has always straddled the line between spirituality and sexuality, his song topics have always been more spiritual than people seem to realize (or are willing to realize). I used to have this mixtape of Prince spiritual songs, and even back in 1994, years before the JW conversion, a considerable number of his songs were in this vein.

It's not any more or less than anything he's released since Emancipation.

From an Eagle's eye perspective...or even a dove's...religion can be about your love for GOD as one coat concealing the family...yet at the root, or the fish in the stream....religion is the faith that two specific people belong together, because between them is GOD's honorable blessing...Anything that believes in true love as a perfect pair...will be the personal religion for all of us. Prince has done a beautiful job of spiritually leading people to realizing that sex is for the two that are full of love for eachother...not completely vacant or lacking in any way...There is a recipe for true love...whether you have found your match or not...every second of Eternity is valuable...why fool around with the person that isn't meant for you? God will give it to you...only to take it away with proof that it didn't belong to you indefinitely...If there is a GOD...there is a designer...When you know there is a GOD...You know your mate.
[Edited 7/22/08 18:23pm]

muirdo said:

the original poster has heard it all pretty much!!

I wasnt asking if it was too religious in comparison to anything else just within its own context.

It doesnt matter to me whether prince himself is religious or not the content of those songs is very religious and i think quite different to earlier music where religious connotations were just that - merely metaphors and such like. TRC was a religious journey but not written as stand alone religious songs, TRC is a story.

The word and in particular loved and blessed are direct religious songs worthy of being on a gospel album.

I dont have a problem with them, infact i think some of his more religious inspired works (7) are some of his best written music and im not one iota religious.

I was merely asking the question if any of you as fans of ALL of Princes music from the very beginning find the over all 'feel' of this album too religious?

I like the album, or should say like many of the songs.

It doesnt gel as an album for me.


How any of you can say 'the word' is not religious obviously no nothing about modern christianity, i think that is his most blatant 'christian' song ever. Its not pretending to be about anything else other than being 'saved'. Its a joyful song that could easily be sung in congregation.


BTW IM NOT RELIGOUS!!!!! I was just asking!!!!!

I didn't notice it being any more religious than most of his other stuff. It's personally my favorite Prince album of the 21st century.

Genesia said:

Agreed!