The last true venture from Chaos & Disorder:

Into the Light
I Will

This occured to me as I was going through my prince collection on my ipod searching for Prince songs that give me spiritual comfort/reflection and I realized I was flipping through older albums only. I scanned through everything from Chaos and Disorder forward and there isn't really anything, with the exception maybe of The Love We Make and Everywhere, that remotely move my spirit.

I mean think of songs like The Ladder, Sometimes it Snows in April, The Cross, Eye No, Question of U, Sacrifice of Victor. These are amazing songs but he doesn't make songs like this anymore even though he's supposedly more religious.

I think for me, this is where a big disconnect with Prince is coming from. Even besides all the career fan bullshit. It doesn't feel like he's searching anymore. And I know fams will come in here talking about how they were bathed in the holy spirit when they heard chocolate box and that kind of crap but yeah, Prince's spirit has been sleeping for a long time now and I'm just realizing this.

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[Edited 8/14/09 8:52am]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I hear ya, but I think Prince is still searching, he's just finding different things and they don't appeal as much to many of us.

I feel you!

It's like he thinks he knows it all now because he thinks he's found the answer. Only the answer, isn't what he's found and he won't find it, until he wakes up and realizes the search is never over.

Anyhoo! Hey...dahling!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

not asleep but at peace

EmethEverywhere said:

Someone who is at peace doesn't engage in mafia style tactics against dancing babies.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

yeah, i hear you. although, i've been moved by the occasional song since that
cool combo you mentioned.

a lot of the stuff on "the truth" is spiritual in a non oppressive and really
moving way imo.

and then, there is the album whose name we dare not mention in fear of another
discussion about it's racist, sexist, jazzist or whateverist inclinations.

much as most people hate it, and the narration, i quite like it. the titlesong
is very spiritual to me. but i'm not farmiliar with JW religion and so i just
take it to be a jazzy bowl of funkadelic soup with some space-religion stirred
into it. it's a bit pick n mix. but it works for me.

last december is very spiritual too but i dislike the chorus. it's just too
preachy for it's own good. not even that, i could probably handle that, but
it just sounds cheesy as hell "in the name of the fater in the name of the
son we need to come together as one".

i get more of a spiritual kick out of *body massager? please!* than i do out
of such teenage evangelist lyrics.

lastly, there's lotusflower. i know you hate it, especially "boom" but,
hear me out, at least the lyrics are vague enough and weird enough and there
is a spiritual vibe to it. or perhaps i'm just being delusional.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I totally agree. My first thought on seeing the thread title was "What about The Rainbow Children?" but these songs don't move me like any of the ones you listed, even though I really love that album. I don't think I've made it through C&D more than a couple of times though as I find Zannalee so completely heinous (only Prince track I have ever skipped after first 3 seconds - can't do it) so I would need to give those first two another listen.

SORRY, OFF TOPIC:

What does "fams" mean?

porfyrivrohi said:

It's an insult created by Prince to con gullible fans into believing they hold some special place in his heart or that he gives a shit about them.

Fan = fanatic
Fam = family

I think Reflection is one of the most real songs he's ever done, and very moving.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

played in Monaco this evening

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Oh, I see. Thanks!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Yep, Prince invented it because he didn't like the word fanatic and what it implied. The irony is, only the fanatics ever called themselves fams.


As for the topic, I've never been moved spiritually by Prince. Or anyone for that matter.

can any one afford to be a prince fan anymore..£29.99 for his last cd from hmv...come on p!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

While I understand your sentiment and can empathize with it, how can you expect someone to take your feelings or ideas seriously or to heart if you discount the feelings and ideas of others? And of course, your post may be rhetorical, but I do take you at your word that Prince has not moved or inspired you in a while. So, why can't you take me or anyone else at their word that Prince's work is still pleasurable to me, still inspiring to me. (Though books most inspire me to write, I was inspired to write a poem and an essay from Lotusflow3r/MPLS.)

I can understand where you are in your emotional and intellectual place. Someone who was very inspirational to you no longer is. That can be depressing. And I think that most of the people on this cite can empathize with that notion or with your plight. We've all had relationships with family and friends who were loving, nurturing, and inspirational that changed or ended. People change. Marriages end after years because people change. I have outgrown friends, and friends have outgrown me. Rather than lamenting over the fact that this person changed, I choose to remember fondly what positive aspect that person added to my life, even if now that person holds a current belief or behavior that is totally against how I believe and act. The same is true with any artist that we enjoy. Artists, by their very nature, are always "searching" and looking for answers; as the receivers of the art, we just happen to be allowed to listen to that person thinking aloud. We develop a special or deeper connection to an artist if he seems to like what we like or is searching for the same things for which we are searching. Sometimes you like and are inspired by their search, and sometimes you are not. But there is always a great likelihood that their search will take them somewhere we don't want to go. But rather than being bummed (and I am in no way trying to tell you or anyone else how to feel), a better, more productive use of your energy is enjoying the art that does still move you or identifying other artists who move you. I may disagree with a good number of your posts, but you always strike me as an intelligent and creative person. How would you like it if someone who liked you or your work several years ago wanted you to be the same person today that you were then? What if one of your friends or someone who admired your work told you that I don't like the person that you have become and were constantly trying to convince you to return to being the person you use to be? Would you think it fair for them to try to hold or confine you in a certain moment of your development? People change, and when they change into someone who no longer shares our ideas or likes we should just be thankful for the former joy that we had with them.

Also, just because someone is mean to someone does not mean that they are not trying to live the best life that they can. Of course, I don't see Prince being mean by having the mom remove the video of her child because it has his music in the background. During the late eighties, when I was purchasing bootleg stuff all the time, my best friend would get so angry and sad that the stuff in the vault wasn't being released. However, for me, it was Prince's music, and I knew that I was selfish and wrong for getting and listening to unreleased work. It is his work to do with what he desires. Just because I may want one thing with my art does not mean that he or anyone else wants the same type of reward for his art. Just because I want as much Prince material as I can afford does not mean that he wants to sell it all or sell it in a manner that is convenient for me. Again, it is his work. The truth is that most of us know the proper and legal ways to access and use the art of others. And when we are caught going over the line to access or use that art, we should just say, "My bad." But to say that Prince is mean or not truly at peace because he is protecting his rights to the letter and fullest extent of the law is being a bit narrow-minded. I'm not calling you narrow-minded, I'm just saying that your statement or concept of his actions is a bit narrow. We all have the right to walk the journey of our desire. Rather than being angry that someone took a right turn when we wanted him to take a left turn because a left turn is more pleasing or pleasurable to us, we should thank him for the fifteen seconds that his work/walk brought us joy.

And it could be that Prince's work doesn't move you as much because you are more mature and other things are more important in your life. When I was fifteen, Prince's work--especially his notions of the New Breed, and his F-the world mentality, and my body being mine to do with what I will, and Paisley Park as a metaphor for utopia--was a real ideology or philosophy to me, and I couldn't wait for the next record to enlighten and inspire me. Now, at thirty-nine, though I still love his work (music and lyrics), as evident in the fact that Lotusflow3r/MPLS are still the main play in my car and house, his work or ideals are not as important to me as far as shaping my life, or how I choose my friends, or how I choose my woman (yes, sadly to say, I was inspired to trim my garden of beauties to one flower because this chick knew the words to an unreleased Prince song; luckily we are still together after eighteen years.) At this point of my life, I don't need earth-shaking assertions or enlightenment from Prince. Just a guitar, a bass, and some funny or interesting lyrics, and I'm good. It is not necessary that I agree with his lyrics or concepts ("Colonized Mind") as long as they are not offensive to me and I find them funny or interesting. So, it may be that you are in transition or have already transitioned to a place where Prince's work just can't reach you. Still, you would do yourself better if you chalked the disconnect up to the nature of life and listened to what moved/moves you. I have read a lot of your posts. It doesn't take much to get your creative juices.

m22 said:

Imports are always expensive, if the rumours of a European release are true, expect to see it for a lot less than that in HMV at that point. $12 in Target, can anyone in the US afford NOT to be a Prince fan?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Tell it! AMEN!!!!! That is too funny, though, yet true. It is plain that he is not searching, and his music clearly reflects that. I think that the closest song that has somewhat moved me is " a million days" but even that is a far cry from The Ladder, Question of U, and I have to throw Purple Rain in there because that song really hits me deeply. the more recent stuff is just fluff....Wake up, Prince! Leave the Pro-tools alone and get yo hunger on!!!!

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[Edited 8/13/09 23:17pm]

1725topp said:

Wow! that was great. I hope he takes it to heart because that was some extremely mature and thoughtful writing. Many prince fans have trouble letting go and seem to forget that prince has to walk his own path. When that path deviates from their own wishes they tend to attack instead of accept.

kenlacam said:

This is really rediculous (sp). The reason Prince doesn't appear to be searching as much as the past is quite obvious. HE GREW UP. At 51 I would hope a person has found some sort of peace with the world. Its a function of aging and understanding your limitations. The world will go on but we are all very finite.

1725topp said:

Damn, that was excellent and dead on point.

1725topp said:

That was quite impressive ,1725topp; and I'd like to thank you for this clear and concise argument, but I don't fully agree with you.

I can relate to SupaFunky...'s story and while it might be that I have "outgrown" Prince as 1725topp suggests, I personally tend to blame it on the fact that P has embraced a very dogmatic religion that doesn't allow him any longer to explore the boundaries of spirituality.

Nowadays, Prince is still a very spiritual man but he devotes all his religious ideas to one deity, his god Jehovah. In his early work up to the nineties he liked to explore ideas of duality, reincarnation, tantrism and other metaphysical concepts. In his current work none of those ideas are present anymore. I believe this is because of a self-imposed restriction.

I don't agree that this is because of his age, as some suggest. I'm only 6 years younger than him and I'm still actively exploring many spiritual ways.

And it saddens me, but only like one could be disappointed that a favourite author has started writing in a new genre or that a beloved painter decided to paint only still lifes.

tricky99 said:

don't you fucking start with your stupid bullshit. It was a great post and I'll get to it.

I have noticed that Prince's Dolphin was balanced out in " the Gold Experience" with p control. It's as if the further P went in one direction the the more he'd end up going in the other. Dance 4 Me is not raunchy like P Control and Immersion was not as inspirational as Dolphin.

I think his spirituality and sexuality still have a ying-yang balance in his head, just not as extreme. Honestly I too loved 7, God, Heaven and many others but I must say Last December was also beautiful and it was on TRC.

LittleSister said:

Hey LittleSister and thanks for the kind nod. I was not saying that Prince was embracing religion just because of age but because he found something that works for him. As you say, you are still searching. My question is: Are you still searching because you enjoy the critical/intellectual pleasure of the search, or are you still searching because you have not found a religion that answers most if not all of your questions and meets most if not all of your needs? Either reason for still searching is cool. I use to study different religions because I enjoyed learning how similar threads (values and narratives) ran through most religions. Now, I study one religion because it seems to answer most, not all, of my questions and gives me a sense of inner peace. It seems that Prince has embraced being a Jehovah's Witness because it has answered most of his questions and he feels at peace. This does not mean that a few years from now that he will not develop more questions that they will not be able to answer, which may lead him on another journey. However, I just hope that if he does decide to study a new religion to answer his new questions that people don't say, "Oh, there he goes again. He ain't real about his faith." And nobody in this thread has said this.

I understand when you say that Prince's new religion is limiting, but I will add that one person's limitation is another person's protection. For instance, someone may not want to use a seatbelt because they find it too confining, but someone else may use it because they are afraid that without it they will not be safe. Now, that is probably a bad analogy because we can read actual empirical data on the safety of seatbelts, and there is no empirical data that proves that one religion keeps one safer or more emotionally at peace than another religion. But if Prince or anyone else does not feel limited and feels at peace, then I tend to be happy for that person. Of course it becomes a bit complicated when one person's religion may denounce the activity or beliefs of someone else, but that is, pretty much, the nature of most religions. I have Muslim, Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu friends. Each of them believes something or does something that is not acceptable by the others' religion. Yet, we all try to deal in love. And I will admit that though I do not tell any of them that they are wrong, when I pray I do ask the God that I serve to show us the truth while we try to walk in peace on this earth.

So, I guess that I am agreeing with you that Prince's new religion is limiting, but most, not all, religions are about discipline and sacrifice. It is about disciplining one's body so that one's mind and heart can grow. And that is the nature of life. We all sacrifice or give up one thing to have something else, even the simple stuff. For instance, since March 1 the only liquid I have drunk has been water, and I have not eaten any sweets except fruit since March 1. In that period, I have lost twenty-seven pounds. Now, the truth is that with my exercise regiment, I could drink other liquids and sacrifice by eating smaller portions of my meal and lose weight also. But, to lose weight, I must sacrifice, and I feel more comfortable drinking only water and not eating artificial sweets. And because I am losing the weight, plus five inches in my waist, and I no longer have man boobs, I don’t mind the limitations on what I eat and drink. So what may seem like an unneccessary limit to others feels like protection to me. The same is true for when I married. Most of my friends are married because I feel more comfortable going to the game or hanging with married men than single men. After the game a married man, if he is faithful, wants to go home. However, a single man wants to find single women. So, I feel more comfortable limiting or restricting my associations to faithful married men or men who at least act faithful in my presence. I am married, not dead or blind. I still like breasts and big booties. So, it is best that I limit my comings and goings to where I am not tempted by the breasts and big booties of other women; therefore, I go home to the breasts and big booty of my wife. Thus, some people believe that certain behaviors move us away from God, so they are willing to sacrifice some if not all of those behaviors because they believe that doing so will allow them to be closer to God. Again, there is no empirical data, but if the change in behavior gives them a sense of comfort, then I say very good for them. It seems that we are all seeking comfort, inner peace, love, and as much knowledge of this life as we can get. If being a Jehovah's Witness allows Prince to sleep better at night, then I am happy for him. I'm not happy for him because I think that I know him or because I think that his happiness will somehow transfer to my happiness. I am happy for him because he is one of many artists whose work has enlightened and soothed many of my days and nights, and I wish the same for him or anyone else.

For now, Prince seems to have found for what he has been searching. While on the other hand, you are still enjoying the search. You may never settle on one specific religion like some people never settle on one specific mate. However, at this point, it just seems that you would enjoy other artists who are still searching and contemplating the issues close to your mind and heart rather than being disappointed that Prince seems not to need to search anymore. And not to be redundant, but my final point returns me to my notion that all circumstances and people change, and we all change for different reasons. Rather than lamenting how Prince's change prohibits him from entertaining or inspiring us, we all, myself included, must find other means of inspiration and just be happy that Prince did, at one time, added something to our lives.

GREAT posts there 1725topp!!!

I gotta say the Colonized Mind spiritually moved me even if I don't agree with its message. Such emotional guitar work.

What's the "message" on Colonized Mind that you disagree with? On a first (and 2nd) reading I don't get it... Can anyone explain?

Without God
It's just the blind leading the blind

I'm an atheist. Not a militant one or anything but still.

The only time Prince even came close to spiritually move me was back during LoveSexy.

I was going through a very spiritual "New Age" phase... crystals, meditation, attempted out-of-body experiences... the whole nine yards. I really thought I'd be like the next Edgar Casey, channeling my higher self, etc. etc.

And then Prince sings Anna Stesia and mentions .... his higher self!

I came a butterly on my smurf blanket for sure