***

It's hard for me to imagine that some people don't get Prince's music. I can't speak for Prince the man as I don't know him personally. But a lot his music has a unique/special place in my mind and soul as inspiring or adventurous or fun or naughty or mischievous or rebellious or romantic. Silly as it may sound, it has helped me get through life to some extent. For some people it's the Beatles or the Stones. And for most of us here in this forum that are truly fans of the music I believe we have this in common.

I have tried to figure out what it is that makes people feel this need to lift up another human being over others and I have come to the conclusion that it is our need to worship. A need that I feel is built into every human being that has been born. It is misplaced worship for God.

What God put into Prince the man in the way of his musical ability I believe was not meant for everyone. So when people say I don't like this or that, then I believe it wasn't meant for them. It doesn't mean it's inferior or sub par or whatever other labels people may attach to it. It was a message sent to a specific someone that wound up temporarily at the wrong address. Fans of this music are the intended recipients of the messages. What is it about us that we are sent Christopher Tracy's Parade and 1999 and Purple Rain and Temptation and God and The Cross and Sometimes It Snows In April and Paisley Park and the others? Whatever it is I'm glad to be numbered among those who get to receive them.

Prince calls his songs his children and his fans his children's friends...really nice thought. But I believe that sometimes Prince the man gets in the way of what God may be trying to do through him. We all do. And thus you get songs for and about Prince. Perhaps even some of those tunes have eternal significance in that they may help us see the same flaws and lusts and imperfections in ourselves that we share with someone well known and loved and perhaps we can in time come to grips with them and grow out of them. People see a good looking man with extraordinary musical ability and they miss God and focus on Prince the vessel rather than the Gift itself and One who put it there.

Something I've always wanted to share. Something for the introspective to read and hopefully consider and for those for whom it was not intended - to reject.

He calls his fans "the Defendants".

ernestsewell said:

Unfortunate but often true...

I read the songs are his children and fans his children's friends thing in an article posted by squirrelgrease in the last Chaos and Disorder thread.

sgmusic said:

I never heard the "children's friends" part, but he did refer to the songs on 1800NEWFUNK as his children. Of course before that he referred to his songs as "experiences".

I'm cool with Prince's music and it has been a great part of my life, but Ernest is right. You're deluded about the fans thing. How can you ignore the total dump he has taken on them(us)? I miss the days where I did think he was presenting something that was just good (in so many ways) -- before he went on his trip of telling people how they should act he got us all together by just being who he was, not straight up pimping for a higher power. Lovesexy was spiritual but not judgmental. It was always an open invitation to join the ride, not exclusionary.
Anyway- I like what you're thinking, but have to say that it no longer applies to this guy. Hope it will again one day.

sgmusic said:

I like the way you think, interesting I also sometimes wonder why it is I really get his music when others do not.

sgmusic said:

I too find it interesting...I sometimes think that Prince is our "test" on earth. Did we "get" his music, or didn't we? I mean, God blessed him with an absurd amount of talent, in one individual...that's gotta count for something, right? I put it this way...once we hit the pearly gates, I wouldn't be AT ALL surprised to hear: DID U GET PRINCES MUSIC? Did u understand the message? He is singing of enlightenment and positivity (as well as pussy and pimpin' but that don't fit in my story, so we won't mention that). Nope, I wouldn't be surprised at all...

Prince? - No



MJ? - Maybe

I agree with u sgmusic.....I have told people sometimes that sometimes if it wasn't for princes music..i would not be alive.....he's kept me going with timely messages in his releases at points in my life where all i could see is despair.....and I don't think it is especially important that u follow his God but as long as u follow a higher being the messages fall into place with what he is trying to accomplish...prince's music is indeed a gift from God and prince being human is always going to be just that.I think prince is not disrespecting or "dumping" on his fans...I think he is weeding the gardens for the harvest.....we were told in 1984 That may u live to see tha dawn...Later we were welcomed to the dawn.....the dawning of a new spiritual revolution....its still going to take several years for noon, evening, and night to fall.

sgmusic said:

please clarify

Funny, I see Prince as one of us,..an equal. We all have our own special gifts.

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

Reply #22, second column, second paragraph.

http://prince.org/msg/7/3...sg_6950707

sgmusic said:

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

Sorry - typo

I read in the article that he calls his songs his "children" and his fans his children's friends.

IMHOTEP! IMHOTEP! IMHOTEP!

Firstly, I agree with Madison88.

Secondly, although there is certain music that is capable of tapping into my emotions & reflects my experiences and feelings, I am unable to say that "any" music has ever saved me from dark times. In dark times I am not open to external influence, not even music. I can recognise dark times in music though when I am in ok mode and can relate.

People complain about Prince preaching in his songs. For me personally, before I listen to any words in any song, (Prince or others) the music has to speak to me without words. If it does, I later gain insight into the lyrics. Words would never put me off a song, unless they were repetitive or violent. Sometimes I suppose, the music AND a catch phrase might entice me unconsciously. Does that mean I am not ready for a certain message? Not for me personally, because messages come in many shapes and form, not only through music.

About the need for worship being transferred to hero worship I don't know if I agree. I think people seek escapism. That is not necessarily a need to worship. Many people have yet to find and love themselves before they could ever transfer that to anything higher.

In our complex world, while there may be joy, love and happiness there is also dark despair and sadness. Yes people connect with something that reflects what they feel. But it is not always happiness. The youth are often wild, angry and rebellious. Techno, rap and other genres help them to release that. House took over like a raging fire because it was happy, uplifting music that brought masses together in an ever increasing impersonal world. "My house is your house and your house is mine." When people bond with something they feel affiliated to they might worship it yes. But is "the need to worship" the cause, I don't think so. I think it's escapsim first.

Yes escapism is about "filling a gap" but there are millions who are unaware that there is a "gap" and or what that "gap" is. They are too caught up in life and its chaos. Hence your deduction that perhaps not everyone is ready to hear a message is correct to a degree. But that people hero worship because they have a need to worship is to me not the prime cause of hero worship.

Was Prince sent to us? We were all sent to each other. You might discover the most golden lesson of life when you drop some coins into a beggars cup. The same as you may see/hear a message written in a song lyric/book/sunset or flower.

I didn't quite understand all of your thoughts SGMUSIC but I liked your post & see where you're coming from. Thanks for sharing Prince's quote, which I must admit I have trouble in understanding

No!

LittleNicci said:

Yeah it is nicely said.
Prince is extremely talent man, i think has been given this gift from God to be able to project himself with this deep spiritual side that people can relate too and i do think God does test him a lot throughout his life, like us all.

To long of a rant to read