How long has Prince been a JW? As stated again on the Tavis Smiley interview

Probably since about 1998 or so. Larry Graham was around at that time, slowly poisoning his brain with it. Not sure when he was accepted into the fellowship of the Kingdom Hall, but I would be that was 2000 or 2001 at the latest.

:cough:toolong:cough:

Back in the '90s people were saying he hadn't been baptized yet. Judging purely from the content of his albums and the things that have been posted to his various websites, my speculation is that he was baptized some time in 2000.

ernestsewell said:

"slowly poisoning his brain with it"

Good One, totally Amazing!!!
[Edited 5/19/09 8:44am]

ernestsewell said:

Ah, tolerance and open mindedness. Feel the love.

Tavis, Should have asked him, "Have you ever took the time to research these people you follwing"!!!!!
[Edited 5/19/09 9:45am]

skywalker said:

I am open minded, but it changed Prince. And it wasn't for the better.

ernestsewell said:

I don't disagree that you see it "changing Prince". However, I feel like Prince has always been evolving and that pre/post JW isn't some huge line in the sand that some believe.

Again, Prince has always changed. Ask vainandy. A fan of Dirty Mind era Prince isn't likely to find the same guy in the Parade era Prince. Sure, he'll still sing "head" but it's not the same as in 1980/81. There is even more of a difference on the albums.


Furthermore, I see a lot of unfortunate generalizations made at this website towards entire religious groups based soley on Prince's actions or inactions. So, I was reacting to that...not pointed at you specifically.

too long. give up the crutches Prince so you can fly again

ernestsewell said:

At least he/they doesn't/don't take those beliefs to the voting booth and directly affect us in that manner.

I have a feeling that he must have felt that his kid dying was some kind of punishment and started getting strict about spiritual study shortly thereafter.

herrherr said:

that is the only plus.

NDRU said:

I am sure that death totally put him on this path. I wonder if he ever received counseling or was ever able to connect with others who suffered that kind of loss or if it was business as usual with the yes men thus facilitating his own denial.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

He received counseling from a legendary bass player!

I honestly hadn't ever really considered the death before as a reason for his change, since he seemed to have moved past it so quickly.

I mean, Prince has always been about God, but 100 orgers equally obsessed/disappointed with his "change" must have a point as well. And that is the life event that I would point to as defining for Prince. His marriage fell apart after that as well, and I would not be surprised if his name change back to Prince was because of some kind of disillusionment that he felt during that time period.

NDRU said:

Think about it, he was just coming out of the Vegan Vampire era into this "Emancipation" and we know the whole romance between He and Mayte was scripted but so was the pregnancy. Don't know the exact quote in the booklet for Emancipation but it said something (I think Mother, sister, lover, wife) where the conception happened on the wedding night and mayte gave birth 9 months later.

There was incredible celebration on this freedom and within it a horrifying tragedy. Prince put on his game face and only really went into it one time (Until You're in My Arms Again). The death of my cousin pretty much destroyed her immediate family unit, I can imagine that the death of a baby would destroy a singular person.

Unfortunately for everyone involved Larry Graham happened to be the one waiting in the wings.....

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

You know, I think you're both right. The death of his son, along with his parents' death, was probably the catalyst for his religious conversion. Prince never properly grieved over any of those events, at least not outwardly. Didn't attend his father's funeral, lied about his son's death on Oprah. Seemed like he was incapable of dealing with loss.

"Come back" and "Until U're In My Arms Again," which were about his child, don't acknowledge the finality of death. Prince insists his spirit is still alive and he's waiting around for his return.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Off topic I know but I love that song.

As an artist it's disappointing that Prince didn't properly address the pain (The song that best reflects the pain, ironically, is Let's Have a Baby. It wasn't intended as sad obviously, but it is incredibly sad, lonely, stark sounding now). Releasing an album like Rave, he pretended all was well, but that album is pretty much a downer. He tried to act happy, but the unhappiness seeped through.

If he'd been openly unhappy, as he was with the record company dispute earlier, it might have affected his music in a good way.

On the whole I'd say he seems better off now than in 1999, though. These latest discs seem almost genuinely fun, not just pretending, and not that preachy except in spots.

Time wounds all heels.
[Edited 5/19/09 12:18pm]

I'm actually in the minority who feel Prince's JW conversion was probably good for him. He was completely lost after parting with Warner Brothers. It wasn't until Larry Graham took him under his wing that P was able to mount his commercial comeback.

P's a kid, he needs an authority figure to keep him in line. The JWs basically took over the reins from WB as P's chief babysitter. It enabled P to concentrate on his music.

His work is still short on joy, though. He's business-oriented now, more efficient than passionate, hitting the requisite notes to make a "Prince" album. He doesn't have much to say these says, so he trots out the old tricks and dusts off the old 80s playbook.

He saves his passion for his private world, I guess. The public just gets his skill and proficiency. No more pearls 4 swine!

Leave b 4 ur brain explodes prince!

Personally,
I feel like Prince still feel the pains of his childhood and it's spilling over into every relationship he's had/tried to have/trying to have.
Like he hasn't gotten over it.
It's clear that his trust level is slim - none...even after all these yrs.

JayJai said:

It sucks but every single one of us is going through life.

stanleylieber said:

It's not at all uncommon for people to go to their graves in the cradle of their dysfunction. I think so many of us, who are going through life and experienced loss and sadness, know what it is to evolve/cope/deal with/move on and you can tell in the music and interviews that it's all surface and show.

People lie to themselves all the time but I wonder if Prince believes his lies or just hopes that others believe the show.

Astasheiks said:

Prince stated in the Star Tribune interview dated 26 Sept 2008 he converted to a Jehovah Witness in 2001. Can people now just stop all the incorrect information in this thread

Just KeepinItReal

keepinitreal said:

Which is what I said.

Astasheiks said:

my bf's parents and family are all JW. He isn't...which I'm glad. His family scares me...seriously. lol

emilia1 said:

Why do they scare you?

gnolnikaerfoot

evolsidog
[Edited 5/19/09 22:35pm]

padawan said:

definitely more business than anything .... stunts the creative process imo