Alltough the ideas on Lovesexy did sound rather 'fresh' at the time: combining sexual desire and religious guilt to the extreme, in retrospect i think it lacks from the same thing that The Rainbow Children does: too many dogma's, not enough spiritual insightfullness.
As has been said, there is a lot of christian idea's and imagery to be found on the Lovesexy album. Very calvinistic idea's even, when you really take a look at the lyrics: not differing much from what evangelical priests were saying in the 1950's.

Personally i find it rather cringeworthy too look back at material from the Lovsexytour: Prince trying to convert the crowd, trying to let them say: I believe etc.. Its all a bit TOO much, too awkward and too unsubtle.
[Edited 8/15/08 10:07am]

abigail05 said:

You know, at first, I wanted to debate this, but I think Prince as we knew him was never the same.

The commercial and critical fallout really threw Prince off course artistically. He never got back into his "zone," so to speak.

I still think the album is brilliant for the very reasons many here do not like it. It has an openness and joy that no Prince album, before or since, has quite matched. Even TRC is downright dogmatic by comparison..

Anxiety said:

That to me is the appeal of the album. It is a pure artistic expression, lacking in self-consciousness.

I must admit at the time of the release, the message of the album did touch a spot at me, but hey, i was age 13.

In retrospect my view on those lyrics have changed quite a lot. I mean, i can still enjoy the brilliantly arranged music from time to time, but the lyrics (in relation to the reported events in Princes life around that time) makes me think: geeze, man, when popping one xtc-pill makes you act so melodramatic that you draw back the black album, and almost 'hysterically' ask for forgiveness on its replacement (The Lovesexy album), youre definitely not 'sane'.
Its the simplistic 'overreacting' that irritates me, after 10 years of a career built on not so subtle sexual lyrics (1978 - 1987), you get years of asking for 'forgiveness' and promising he will be a good sheep (1988 - 1992).

To be honest, IMO Prince just lacks the lyrical subtlety to really 'deal' with such issues, and to make a convincing artistic statement with them.
Looking back at the Lovesexy-concerts, it occurs to me the message is so black and white and simplistic, that it would even be considered to 'banal' for the script from a Disney-movie.

Riverpoet31 said:

I have to say RiverPoet I disagree. I think Lovesexy are the best and most free-est lyrics in the world. That truly epitomise the essence of spontanious prose.

Prince as a beat poet is never bettered than this album.

He rambles and rambles but as Kerouac famously said. 'Editing is a form of lying'.

And I agree.

Let it all hang out, let the blood, sweat and tears hang out.

I can see why people don't like it, it makes them feel uncomfortable, but I for one love it!

umm.. whoever said it was better than Rainbow Children should go get his/her ears checked. Musically, it is outstanding. Eye No is so energetic, the blended mix into Alphabet street still gives me goosebumps! I wish U heaven is pounding and serene at the same time, the title track is fun, elastic, confused and a blast! Just like any party! positivity is spooky electric, funk! Anastestia has a wicked bassline and beatuiful feeling to it. Come on, musically there was nothing like it at the time, it jerked around, and was so umpredictable, yet it retained it funkyness and gospel feel to it. It's prince at his most improvised and versatile at the peak of his creative (perhaps over creative) powers.

The only issue is lyrically,with the exception of SOTT, he has never been a clear thinker lyrically! listen to songs like sexuality, partyup, raspberry beret, temptation, etc - the lyrics are just quirky but also kind of cool in a Prince way that no one else can replicate. Lovesexy has this quirkyness all over the place and that's what makes it interesting for me - its a constant theme of how he felt throughout his early career and made him interesting - he was even copied for a time by Madonna (Like a Prayer), because most people are intrigued by this type of ideal and conflict, "what are the repercussions of loving both GOD and the feeling of SEX", will he go to hell? Im sorry, Im not sorry, etc. It's this dualism that fed his musical enegy in the first part of his career. Its only recently (and Im talking about TRC onwards) that the abolition of sexiness from his records has made him a more average artist with nothing (in my opinion) special to say anymore. bland.

Bring back the creativity, joy, funk and confusion of Lovesexy I say!

ntpoet said:

It's a yin/yang sort of thing.

Lovesexy was the Yin (good)

Black album was the Yang (bad)

But it all depends upon your perspective.

In reality, they're inseprable.

As some of the songs from the Black Album wound up on Lovesexy.

But in the end, "The Black Album" wins.

Oh, you quiet now..

pepper7 said:

Man, it needs to be TRACKED !!!!!

abigail05 said:

The only thing wrong with Lovesexy was the GAY COVER. And the fact that it wasn't tracked.

Purple123 said:

There is a small handful of us who know the unbelievable TRUTH about Prince. We are his disciples.

vinx98 said:

If you think there is not "sexiness" in Prince's recent music, then you havne't been listening.

mydrawers said:

its not the same. also that conflict is gone.

Purple123 said:

i was just thinking bout this this moring watching VH1 soul

mydrawers said:

nice to meet you Mr. Duchovny

I would have to say that Prince's music, if at all "religious" is more spiritual than "Christian". This is because Prince is spiritual, not Christian. There is a absolute difference between the two.

mydrawers said:

mydrawers said:

One post makes you sound like the village idiot, the other like a cultish crackpot, either way, you didn't come off well in this thread.

I need to get laid.

ntpoet said:

Take that line and it's "christian" because of the Jesus reference. But it's just as well a spiritual message; someone falls back on his faith to save himself. BTW: Since when did christian and spiritual exclude eachother?

Oh yeah that's right you love opening a can of worms.

but i say BOTH.

Do you guys really think Prince was a Christian back then?? I honestly don't think so. Prince's actions certainly arent very christian-like. If anything he was searching for the truth...like Madonna's Ray of Light album. You could say, oh the Ray of Light album was Spiritual or Christian cause she talks about "God" but i seriously doubt madonna is a Christian based on her actions. It takes more than words.

So with that being said you would say he's a god?

It feels more spiritual to me.

Its an emergence and exploration of Prince's spirituality like he hadn't done before. Before this, he had written songs with some religious connotation, but never anything like this.

Prince himself referred to this as a gospel album.
I'm not sure which category that'd fall under

My experience with Christian music is that they praise the word of God almost 100% of the time as if they're forcing their beliefs on you. Look at any of those commericals for those Christian/Gospel album collections and that's what comes to mind for me when you say "Christian album."

I don't feel so much that Prince is forcing his beliefs on me as much as he wants to share his own beliefs and uses the songs to explore/explain his spirituality. Anna Stesia is the only one that truly goes into his relationship with his Creator where he addresses him like he were at a confessional. "Forgive me, Saviour, 4 have sinned" is ultimately what he does in that song.