Is this topic forbidden on the Org?

I'm curious as to what the fans think, particularly those that have been following him since "For You."

The general consensus here is continually that the albums released since his conversion have been mediocre, shadow examples of his former self. People here seem to hate The Rainbow Children, Musicology, 3121 and Planet Earth with a Passion. Part of me wonders how you can have an artist give you 4 albums you dislike in a row and still be a fan, but that's just me.

But I am curious as to people believe it was the transformation into a Jehova's Witness that marked the end of Prince's true creativity or if it was just a coincidence.

*I myself love his new stuff. So don't attack me for these beliefs. I'm just genuinely curious.
[Edited 1/19/09 14:25pm]

bleutuna said:

You mean that Prince found God when he joined the JW? What was he referring to before that?

It ruined his sense of humour.

remko said:

I wouldn't call his vague references to spirituality synonymous with someone who has 'found God.'

But, if you need clafirication, since becoming a hander-outer of Watchtowers.

bleutuna said:


Vague references?


In the beginning, there was God
He made the earth, and the heavens
He gave us light to rule the day
And another light to rule the night

The Lord, thy God
Made, He made the seas
He made the fruit upon the trees
When He saw, when He saw that it was good

He made a man, made a man
Only He could, only He could
God made u
God made me too
He made us all
Made us all equally

Now u say
God made u
God made me
He made us all equally

Wake up children
Dance the Dance Electric
There isn't much time
Who screamed?
Was it u?

It wasn't finding God that damaged his music. It was finding Jehovah.

He sounds like a narrow minded ideologue whenever he speaks now.

Accujack: Now you're just being annoying. In the first post I wrote SPECIFICALLY and deliberately trying to ignore the question.

Apparently you think it has ruined his music?

And I think many would argue that the author of Sister and Darling Nikki probably hadn't quite "found God" yet. Prince one of them.

Prince's spirituality was vague, used more for poetic effect than as a doctrinal mission to lead one's life by. If you argue, apparently you seem to forget the lifestyle he lead prior to becoming a Jehova's witness?

I've already clarified.

Edit: Jehova is another word for God. So is Yahweh. Blah blah blah. Jesustimes.
[Edited 1/19/09 14:24pm]

Thank you, PurpleKnight.

I know Jehovah is another name for God. I was referring to the religion he chose.

PurpleKnight said:

Co sign on that one. I always had the idea that Prince had God in his life. I remember the preaching during Lovesexy '88. (Do you believe, Do you Believe (and half the crowd shouting Nooooo.)
I'm not into God, but i liked the way Prince handled it. (Love = God).
Seems indeed that the JW-thing is taking it too far.

I was gonna say something, but...

I think it sounds judgemental to blame a person or a religion.
It is a person that makes the actions.Your work should speak for yourself.

Poor Jehova gets all the blame.

remko said:

He loves to preach that God is love, but he seems to have forgotten that love is God.

He used to be about liberating yourself and realizing the path to transcendence through love (emotionally and physically realized) for one another. Now he's an old man who wants everyone to live by a draconian doctrine.

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Ellie said:

How? Last time I heard him in concert he seemed to still have it completely.

i love prince's songs about GOD i think he should do more of them

PurpleKnight said:

As a religious person myself (non-Christian though), I would distinguish the pejorative term "narrow-minded" from "focused", I think it might be easy to not see a distinction if you've not mentally experienced it sufficiently. To me, he sounds focused most of the time these days. There are moments when the term "narrow minded" might be applicable to him, but proactively following a path is no different than developing a discipline for the results it'll bring about. Its just that the results for him are metaphysically on a different plane.

"Ruined" is much too harsh a word.

I would say the content of the songs - ie. what he's actually singing about, has become a little less interesting/thought provoking, however the music itself is still great.

I don't feel that it's damaged his music but its certainly done an injury to his lyrical content.

lezama said:

By the nature of his journey, he's narrow minded. It is not just a derogatory judgement. His doctrine demands nothing less than an obsequious mind.

The difference between what he is doing and developing his own discipline is that his has a moral arrogance. He believes, as per the religion's beliefs, that those who live differently than what the doctrine states are immoral. That dogmatism has made his lyrics boring and sententious.

Very true. Which was the whole thing about 'finding God' that I mentioned in the first place.

Prince has a VERY open interpretation of what was and wasn't religious, and it was more of a pop-spirituality with pepperings of Christianity (of some variety) thrown in.

He doesn't seem to push they lyrical envelope as far, and, when that happens, his music suffers as well. They're intrinsically tied together.

Finding God can never ruin anybody. As far a s that goes his music is NOT ruined.

PurpleKnight said:

Hmmm.. give a few concrete examples of what you mean by "narrow-minded" and "moral arrogance" so that I don't misinterpret you.

bleutuna said:

What are some things Prince wrote about 25 years ago that he doesn't write about today? I kinda vaguely see what you're saying but when I think closely about it its not as solid as it seems on the surface.

lezama said:

The one that really stands out is when he wrote to Wendy and Lisa and demanded that they publicly renounce their homosexuality.

Then there was the lyric in Last December that sums up his new viewpoint: "When the truth arrives, will you be lost on the other side? Will you still be alive?"

There is also the unfortunate appeal to Prince of misogynistic theories like the theocratic order.

bleutuna...U so easily put words in our mouths by saying that so many people dislike, "The Rainbow Children," etc. You may only be talking about a handful of people...out of the average 80 that come on board regularly to post here.

Prince's music is beautiful.

Ellie said:

I disagree

Dayclear said:

co-sign

bleutuna said:

I think the people that hate all 4 albums are few and far between but each one certainly has its haters. Even if someone hates all 4 can they still be a fan? Of course, not liking his new stuff doesn't mean someone suddenly stops liking what they previously did.

Personally, the only album you mention that I'm not crazy about is Musicology. I like a few tracks but overall find it a bit meh. That's got nothing to do with his beliefs though. 3121 was much better and I like Planet Earth more than 3121.

The Rainbow Children stands on its own though. It's his most in your face album as far as the JW beliefs go but the music is awesome. In my top 3 Prince albums, despite having his beliefs rammed down my throat. In fact, this album on its own is absolute proof that religion hasn't ruined his music. It's his most religious, yet most musically interesting ablum in a long while.

The lyrical envelope is still pushed today, except today the envelopes content is about OTT Jehova preaching...that crosses more lines than the explicit sexual lyrics me thinks. maybe he should lean toward purely instrumental music

bleutuna said: