Simple as that.

Prince wants to get 'The Radio back' on 'Ol Skool Company' but on the other hand, he comes with 'Colonized Mind'. 'Facism, Illusion of choice you never had a voice' Etc.

Does he think things through? it makes no sense he should put out opposing views on the same album release.

I can't see any connection between "put the radio back" and "illusion of choice"..Can you explain it more?

Because there is an illusion of choice, over here but certainly in the USA, we cannot get the radio back.
Is it that hard or am I completely mistaken?
The whole radio industry is still payola based. Too few players, to little difference, locked in genres, etc.

On one hand, Prince is dissing the American voting system, on the other hand he's asking Obama to help him get back on the radio, so he's asking what he's just called a fascist on one song to get him back on the radio on another.

Not too hard.

i don't understand Prince on this one.

Marrk said:

The lyric is: "If the white house is black, we got to take the radio back."

My interpretation is that Prince is calling people to action. To me, it's if he is throwing out a power to the people statement...not asking Obama for anything.

Again, I think he is talking to the American public, not the American President.

Marrk said:

HAHAHAHAHA Prince ain't asking Obama to do anything. It's two different statements, about two different things.

There's nothing to understand. You're making it hard by trying to read into it. Prince's mention of Obama is a racial statement.

Prince wanting to be on the radio is a statement against the white washing of radio and how bland it's gotten while leaving "real music by real musicians" out in the cold.

ernestsewell said:

Not really. Two sides of the same coin is how i see it. Like Obama should give shit about Prince anyway! non-voting so and so.

Back to the 'Eminem getting teabagged' thread on non-prince! far funnier.

skywalker said:

i totally agree with skywalker.

ernestsewell said:

well now, you've made a good assessment.

4bjb said:

But why is Prince expressing any political views or opinions when his Religion is strictly against voting full stop?

Marrk said:

So just cause someone don't vote they cant have an opinion
. I don't vote it doesn't mean i like the way the country's being run

Good grief.

The two sets of lyrics have nothing to do with one another.

In Colonized Mind, the verse in question regards the two-party system. Prince is one of those who believes (apparently) that there are no appreciable differences between the two major parties in American politics, that people vote out of fear for what they hate least, and that it all leads to fascism regardless of who's "in power." In so doing, he betrays his ignorance of the roots, characteristics and outcomes of fascism.

In Ol' Skool Company, when he says, "the White House is black - we gotta take the radio back," he isn't asking Obama to do anything. There were many who thought there would never be a black president - at least, not in our collective lifetime. Putting the emphasis on music in radio once again is thought, by some, to be a similarly impossible dream.

cream72 said:

OK. I'll give you 'opinions' but what about political views? Is the message sit there and do nothing but whine about lack of airplay?

It might be that Prince is posing the question to the American people, but when you hear the ''White House is Black', it sure sounds like he's addressing Obama
first and foremost.

Like he hasn't got enough to be working on.

Genesia said:

Don't be mad at me, I'm not American. When i think about it on a basic level, I like you're answer best!

cream72 said:

You got it. If you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem.

ernestsewell said:

That's the dumbest thing I ever heard. Like there aren't plenty of people who do vote who are part of the problem.

ernestsewell said:

wait! what? you're saying Prince is part of the problem?

i hate this thread. i'll think of a better one next time. promise!

Genesia said:

Not dumb. I agree that people who vote can be part of the problem, but at least they're in it because they put the time and energy to vote, and have their stake in the process. Someone who doesn't vote is like someone who isn't a doctor coming into an O.R. and barking opinions on "snip this, tie that off..."

Marrk said:

LOL No, I never said that.

Let me explain a bit: I have said in the past that I can't stand Prince talking his political BS because of the simple fact that he DOESN'T vote, and I dismiss about 100% of what he has to say about politics. I do hold Prince a bit responsible by not voting as part of the problem, but no more than I hold anyone else who doesn't vote responsible for being an inactive part of the process.

I love to hear Prince talk about record companies, the business of music, and even some social issues. He's smart on a lot of things, no doubt. But if he's choosing to "not have a dog in that race", then don't comment on the race.

Imagine if EVERYONE voted in America, that was eligible to. Imagine if every single person was heard. Where would we be today? What Presidents and history would we have to call our own? Better? Worse? Would 3000 people still be alive as of 9/11/01? Maybe. No clue, could be either/or. We might have 10,000 dead because of something worse.

If he wants to pontificate about all things political, then truly be part of the process. VOTE. Write a Congressman, or your Senator. Do something. But to sit back on your Cuban boots and blurt out some about a process you're not choosing to be part of...I can't be bothered with that. Things like Megan's Law, etc would have never been put into action if it weren't for one person starting it. A citizen with an issue that pushed forward through the system and actually got something done. Prince can barely push his album and promote it, much less comment political issues. Just play the music, and sell the records. Leave the politics to those who vote and give a shit about this country.

skywalker said:

I agree, he's just stating facts. Radio is never coming back to the way it was back in the day.