To Clarify: Should you buy Prince's music because he made it for your taste in mind or should you buy his stuff because its what he makes for himself?

Let me clarify further: On another thread (much too long and dated at this point to add to it) someone was saying if what Prince writes makes him happy, that's great and what do we care? So in that case, are most of the listeners of Prince in DENIAL about what Prince is writing now?

Let me clarify even further: Are Prince listeners saying that Prince is funky because we associate the old Prince with funky when in reality Prince is now a Jehovah Witness Artist? I have been reading many posts where listeners are saying things like "who cares what the lyrics say, the music is funky."

Are listeners compromising their belief in MUSIC by listening to Prince and simply digesting his words carelessly? I'm not one to forget that the subconcious is a powerful thing. How many of these lyrics does it take before you become all-out brainwashed??

But I digress, and I am being sarcastic about the brainwashing bit. However, what is Prince's music now. If not for covers, it seems highly religious. Should it be labelled as such?
[Edited 2/4/09 17:31pm]

I have no idea what you're asking.

Genesia said:

A couple questions, but really I'm asking if we are blindly listening to Prince now, WITHOUT questioning anything re: his lyrics. And if we do question the lyrics, someone automatically opines "but its funky who gives a shit." But how funky is it really? Funky enough to get over the lyrics? That's why I dig the instrumentals now.....

i think P might have brainwashed me into believing i was ultra cool and sexy and irresistible to the ladies. Then i read a book on Chinese Astrology which merely confirmed this fact.

Hooray for Everything!

I can't speak for the collective "we" but I've questioned his lyrics ever since I heard "Sister". Personally, I don't actually need Prince's lyrics to validate my beliefs.

Some people around here act like they just realized that Prince can write some fucked up shit sometimes and he doesn't really give a shit what we think.




fucking squirrels...

It's only music for God's sake. Dig it or don't. Geesh...

See, more bitchin'

He already did!?!?

I'm not getting over "Here I come." I've drawn a line in the spiritual sand on that number.

I look 4ward to the rest of the music however.

Prince died in 1994.

funksterr said:

It´s 2009 ... we´re all posting here, 4 what??

rooting out the desert. come on you poetry magnets. (oh shit i'm one of those).

they do have boats for this sort of thing/ essentially the greatest import/export deal ever staged

(i do wish he'd shut up about the record deal tho'. kinda spoils it for some other people)

and thus, the drunk typist has spaken and beload the numphdipooty yam yam pakistan n water n shit

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE, LOVE (LOVE) - (someLOVE['love+the previously aforementioned']).

essentially YES.

AMEN break and the black Ghostbuster slash victim of 1984 - don't think we're not keeepin tabs on u - we can see rite thru U!

rant over. out.

I am Not Brainwashed and No Prince doesn't have to make music for me! He has to make what is from his heart and feelings. He is an Artist and whatever is inspiring him now is what he should do. His new music I would say is NEW AGEY. It's been fun being his fan all these years and hearing his musical diversity. He's Exciting and when an album is Truly amazing it really grabs you in the heart and Overwhelms you. Rainbow Children did that to me and when something is Funky case in point 3121 or Planet Earth you just feel like Dancing. Prince is Fun..

I have more respect for someone who's true to one's self.
If Prince enjoys the music he does and doesn't compromise himself just to please us and wat we want to hear, then it's all good.
The moment he starts makin music to our whim and fancy only, I'll start askin 'why Prince?"

one can agree or disagree with a person's lyrics. to agree doesn't make one brainswashed. i happen to be a Christian and its bothersome to me that Prince is a JW because i do believe they've gone off on some tangents rooted in misunderstanding and perhaps the way western Christianity has been practiced. i'd love to talk to him about such things, but musically, the way his faith manifests in his music, i'm okay with it. i think some ppl have an ax to grind with ppl who believe differently than they do about things such as homosexuality, etc.

I want Prince to stay true to himself. Prince was not making music for "me" per se in the 80's, as I was a child in grade school at that time, but I loved what he did and my mom was cool enough to buy his albums for me and it helped me become the fan that I am now. It's no different now than it was for me 20 years ago. I don't go into the record store wondering "did he hear my suggestions for how to make a dance song?". I've never stepped foot into a studio, so who am I to talk about how to make a song? I just hope that with each new CD he does, that I will enjoy it and keep on playing it 6 months later and beyond.

Yes. I'd like him to make death industrial and free jazz to me, because those are my two favourite genres! And "There's Others Here With Us" and "N.E.W.S" just don't cut it.

Rockability said:

I think you are over thinking. Prince hasnt really said too much about his religion other than the Rainbow Children album which was a themed album about the JW.

However Musicology, PE and 3121 he hasnt really said anything. So I think you are just beating a dead horse. I mean..seriously Lion to Judah maaaybe but that is kind of a bible story. You are really just looking for attention.

Andno I want Prince to be him...that is exactly why he hasnt made "music just for us" hes not a fucking slave in a sweatshop sewing together music with his fans as a whip. He is himself. No more no less. Get over Prince man..just get over it..hes not going to do what you want!

Dayclear said:

quite a bit lately eh? It seems everywhere.

wildgoldenhoney said:

That was my first thought, then I started to read.

Rockability said:

My English not being great doesn't help either in here...
Some additional vagueness.

You talk about lyrics but also about a music style.
I don't care about his lyrics, I love/like most of them except for Mr. Goodnight.
He has been changing a lot through the years so you can't associate the old P. with the new JW P.
Yes, some of his newest music is religious, e.g. get on the boat, beautiful and blessed, Lion of Judah etc. Not really exciting. Still I don't think he should make music I/others like. I like his instrumental songs and the older stuff but he should follow his own taste.

I can't help but think that Prince does read in here, listens to his fans. His new cd's seem proof.
For years I've been reading about people complaining, wanting him to go back to the sound he had in the 80's. From '88 he supposedly failed.
The newest songs I've been hearing, the ones with the mpls sound, seem to be made for those who only dig his "Princely" sound, as if he wanted to do them a favor after so many years of complaining.
The other songs, like Crimson&Clover and Colonized mind are his "now" songs.
I think it sounds somewhat strange that 80's sound, I love that sound but it just doesn't fit anymore. It sounds kitschy. He should stick to what he wants to make now.
I can only speak for myself but I really only listen to the music I like. I don't swallow everything he makes because he was such a god back then. What's bad is bad, what's good is good. But because of his grand past repertoire and his whole persona I do swallow the last somewhat meh albums.

oh fuck. i've just seen - look.... there's - a - FUCKING GIANT SNOWBALL!

R U N - F O R - C O V E R - ! ! !

mrsquirrel said:

CJanssen said:

Princey's been making music for Nursey and all other fans for 30 yrs and we him for that