My two-year-old son is almost as big a fan of Prince as I am. He does the guitar poses, microphone tricks, spins, screams and tries the splits and can sing the lyrics to over 15 songs ( not the more risque songs). However, my other half thinks that he is too young to be exposed to Prince and should be doing nursery rhymes instead. She appreciates Prince's music and went to an O2 show last year with me but got angry when she saw him performing and singing along to the videos of 'Uptown'and 'Controversy'. I think she feels his former image is a bad influence on our child but I think it's good for him to take an interest in Prince's music as well as other types of music. He has loved music since he was a few months old and is captivated by all kinds of musical performance.

So,do you think my wife is right and given Prince's stance on his old music (lyric changes) do you think he would approve of my son singing 'Controversy'(without the Lord's Prayer)?

bigbrother said:

I figure, if the kid is gonna listen to it anyway or hear it when hes older, what difference does it make if you let him listen to it now?

Are you married to Tipper Gore? Then tread lightly.

Im confused as to why the Lords Prayer would be considered unwholsom (sorry if im misspelling) as explicit lyrics. Were cool if ur all anti christian & stuff, but it just sounds a little hypocrytical.



its ok for a 2 yr old to sing songs of an adult nature, but heaven forbid they sing the Lords prayer?

My kids were exposed to children's books, Sesame Street, The Disney Channel, and simulataneously with the radio playing as well as Prince music and other artist's.

My kid's as babies had constant twinkles in their eyes and were always happy...Their teacher's loved them as well as neighborhood parents. My youngest was an exceptional child as a pre-schooler. My kid's were bouncing in their cribs when they were awake, and fast asleep to music still playing.

Your wife has a right to her opinion, however, at two years old, I do not believe the lyrics will be understood fully, although the love in the music will be felt.

I've already decided that when I have kids, I WILL introduce him or her to Prince's music, but just put up boundaries about which songs they can listen to and which are "big people's" songs.

I would define Prince's music as "daddy's favorite songs" and encourage him and ask him to pick his own and expose him to all kinds of music. If his favorite is Prince then fine at least he knows not every other household plays so much Prince and he can pick something else.
I was raised around dixieland music... my father played the drums in a band along with a practically prehistoric way of making music (a family thing) called "playing the Bones" (basically like the spoons but with ivory like sticks). If anyone's heard of the Bones please let me know...anyway... I don't care much for dixieland music even though I was around it constantly.....but I know both sides to the Herman's Hermits record my dad had by heart and all the words and danced my little behind off with my sisters in the basement while my dad played the drums. I picked up the drums for awhile when my feet could finally find the pedals, played in a little band for awhile and picked up piano. Music is good for kids....Your child at sometime needs to know that all Prince music out there is not the same and wheather you agree with it or not and why....before he thinks it's all cool. I was also exposed to Island music in the British West Indies and that is closest to my soul. I guess maracas are more my style.
Good Luck! Have Fun!! and Dance!
Children R 1-derful! God Bless you for caring enough to ask. You get the cool parent award 4 that 1.
[Edited 10/14/08 20:01pm]

I have to agree with your wife and your wife...let him isten to some of the song you just have to pick the ones for him because of the language...my 6 years old likes LOLITA..especialy the end..she started singing and dancing not in a nice way for her age..had to put a stop to it...she can listen again once she is older.

Let the kid hear some Prince tunes, it'll do him good. A lot of music that's actually meant for children is just god-awful. Get him introduced to proper music young.

If I ever have kids, I'll be wrapping a pair of headphones around my belly daily. My babies are going to be listening to decent tunage before they even arrive.

Hell, I just feel lucky that I found Prince.

I grew up in a house that blared my daddy's damn BB King records all day!