PurpleKnight said:

I can see your point with these examples. I guess I don't take his lyrics all that seriously because I've never read that far into them.

Not at all and the 4 albums you mentioned are Wonderful. Prince's Creativity and Music Has Not SUFFERED at all. The only thing that's different is when he changes the lyrics so not to CURSE. The only thing about him being more Religious is he's LESS SEXUAL and Not PROMISCUOUS.

jstar69 said:

Hell no, NEWS was enough!!!

I've often wondered about this.

As a non-believer myself, I'll admit that I'd be the first to jump on a soapbox and blame Prince's conversion for his lackluster output since Rave. I think it's slightly more complicated than that, though.

While his conversion has yielded some truly obnoxious lyrical results (The Word, Lion of Judah, the entire TRC album), I think his artistic decline is also a side effect of him getting older and experiencing the dimming of his muse.

After all, his last few albums have clocked in at reasonable lengths and have been efficient from a songwriting perspective - Leaner, focused, and not too out there. Which is, of course, in stark opposition to what most of us want out of him.

That's how I see it, at least. Have his last 4 albums been relatively weak? Absolutely, in my estimation. Has his Jehovah-centric lyricism harmed his overall output? Substantially. But is it completely to blame? Nah. His creatively was beginning to wane as early as The Symbol Album, and despite having lots of great songs and good albums during the '90s, whatever spark that drove him up to that point had clearly dimmed by the time stuff like NPS rolled around.
[Edited 1/19/09 18:36pm]

...since becoming a JW,prince has centered his music better..he focuses on the core and works inside-out..he has gotton 2 where he needs 2 b and will continue going 4ward...

...when u fall..look up!..becuz when u look up...that's where u have 2 go 2 get back up!...
...mzsexybaby

mzkqueen03 said:

Wha?

bleutuna said:

I don’t know why people here lately have had a hard time figuring out why someone who is a fan may be disappointed with a part of their fandom.
As a big sports fan myself, It’s relatively easy for me to say why I think my team "The Steelers" were better at different times.(wins) and why you think they suck, (sucking) but still be a fan, still find enjoyment in it. Still follow their games regardless.
Whether its sports, cars, music, you name it, of course its possible to be passionate about something you love and hate big chunks of it without it being contradictory.
I really find it really interesting lately how people question your fandom.

PurpleKnight said:

Yep. Back in the day, his "God Is Love" thing was actually cool, even to a non-Christian like me. Now...ugh. His older work ("older" meaning pretty much everything he did up till Rave) will always be something special to me. As far as his newer stuff goes, other than an isolated song or two it just does not grab me like his songs used to. Maybe I'm just getting old or something, but I just don't get that "feeling" I used to get when he had a new single. It actually makes me kind of sad when I think about it

...u can listen 2 different music 4 different reasons....prince's songs r becoming clearer 2 the point that they affect ur senses and bring impulses through ur circulatory system....
..mzsexybaby

Circulatory system?

Ruined might be too strong a word.

Let's just say it didn't do it any favors.

i believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, but i don't shove it down anybody's throat.

i always heard prince talking about God in his songs throughout his career. and he still does so today, only now, he has a religion that he follows as well. what i believe is different from what the JW religion does in many ways. and at times i find myself skipping over certain songs that annoy me too much with those lyrics. but over all i don't let it get to me. i don't think it has ruined his music at all. he's the best at what he does in my view!

..ur body becomes a receiver of the music...look at the video 2 'automatic'long version-..now if u just listen 2 the music instead of watching the video...u get a different view..it really isn't dirty..but the video makes it go ALL over the place!..beautiful!!....
..mzsexybaby

mzkqueen03 said:

You mean Prince has fallen?

...in general we all have fallen...but some of us dust it off and try again...i mean when u hit bottom u can only go up...how many artist out here have self-destructed?...2 many 2 name..so if u have an anchor 2 stablize,when u r ready 2 go..u go out like a rocket!..up?..or..down?..ur choice....mzsexybaby

I think this is one of the most interesting thread I've read in a while...

thoughts for food...
[Edited 1/20/09 0:49am]

KWms31 said:

I agree

Ellie said:

Seems to have doesn't it. I fell in love with the music and the lyrics back then. If I happened upon his new material I don't think the lyrics would arouse my interest.

If I want to hear religious pop music then I'd ask my sister for some of her stuff. As it is I don't. Plus the music seems a bit shit too.

Mind you, I've always been a fan of Cliff and without Mistletoe and Wine Christmas just wouldn't be Christmas. Or that other one where he sings The Lord's Prayer. My favourite has to be Wired For Sound though. And Cliff on roller-skates beats seeing Prince do the splits any-fucking-day.

mzkqueen03 said:

Oh seriously, get help.

i wasnt aware that Prince ever found God.
i am yet to see any fullproof evidence in his behaviour
or his lifestyle

bleutuna said:

since I've read his bullshit about not wanting to vote I think that as an afro american he has lost contact with (true) reality.

The dude is 50 YEARS old... not even Mick Jagger concentrates on the same motifs now in his music that he did when he was 19..
Prince has matured.. and has always been a person of Faith and this faith has always coloured his music...
That he now chooses to subscribe to a specific religion hasnt really changed anything imho Through his music he still talks about:

Love
Sex
Loss
Hope
and blasts those who piss him off.


Oh and Jn2 it took more than just the African American vote to get Obama into office, & even though P did not vote the better man still won

lezama said:

as a longtime fan, I think that it is no mere coincidence that his music became lackluster after converting to JW. I dislike most of his recent work, with Musicology being the best one, yet it is still mediocre. The passion is gone, and I am not too excited about his new releases. I hope he proves me wrong (not like he has to, because he doesn't have to prove anything to anyone anymore), but I don't think he will. I am a fan of the old Prince, and I listen to his pre-Rainbow Children albums religiously. So that is how I still consider myself a Prince fan-a fan of Prince's pre-2000 stuff.

yes, being a JW ruined not only his music, but his entire life.
No JW-friend will speak to him, when he wants to leave that creepish group of religious fanatics; they are not allowed to! I always thought he wanted to be a free man, I only see him in a very restricted and locked up position. That man really breaks my heart.

Dayclear said:

Amen to that.

First It was Wendy & Lisa's fault, then it was because he was on drugs, then it was because he's too old, now its because he's a JW.
Did miss any of the excuses?

..if prince is 50yrs old..by now he should have a plan of what HE wants..if finding God is what he truly needs..NOBODY can STOP that!..i'll b the 1st 2 admit i was worst off w/o God by my side...when prince is happy it WILL reflect in his music..his music will reflect off me...and down the line it goes..we have 2 take it 1-day-at-a-time....there is so much still unknown...
..mzsexybaby

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Tony M and Larry?