I'm listening right now to some of Prince's "Rainbow Children" music off his ONA live album, and I think that his quest for spirituality has led him into some interesting musical territory, whether one believes in his faith or not. Don't you think this spiritual quest has made his music grow and expand? I think so, after being away from it for so many years... I really love what I am hearing... If a spiritual quest makes him do this quality of music, then I say go for it... But if and when he becomes disillusioned with the JWs, I hope P keeps up the spiritual influence in his music...it has always been there!
[Edited 11/21/09 23:04pm]

poetcorner61 said:

I'll say the same thing I always do:

Despite what many here at the org shout, I see no REAL indication that Prince's music or persona has changed drastically because of his faith. He has always changed/evolved as an artist.

I believe that his embracing of hip hop in the early 90's had much more of an impact on his music than his embracing of one faith or another.
[Edited 11/21/09 22:00pm]

No. It's fucked him up, he's lost 80% of his funky mojo, and he fancies himself a preacher now. He used to be a leader for the opposite of the norm. Now he's a conformist. That's not evolving, that's giving in.

Prince's music has been spiritual all along. Maybe the words are a little "louder" now.

ernestsewell said:

Well,imo I dont care he won three Grammy's,NCAAP and a Golden Globe since his "changed".

sweething said:

True..."The Cross","The Ladder",Lovesexy(album lol) etc,

JarviusLovesexy said:

It was good then and its good now, huh, JarviousLovesexy?

sweething said:

Just as good actually lol

i think it has i enjoy listening to his spiritual themes in his music

I think Prince addressed a lot of speculation that people don't want to accept with these lyrics which are raw and to the point from the song "Don't Play Me.":

Don't play me
I'm over 30 and I don't smoke weed
I put my ass away and the music I play
Ain't the type of stereo U're tryin' 2 feed
Don't play me

Don't play me
I use proper English and I'm straight
I'm in the news again 4 payin' dues my friend
I'm not the ganda U prop in my way
Don't play me

Cuz I've been 2 the mountain top and it ain't what U say
Don't play me

Don't play me
I'm the wrong color and I play guitar
My only competition is?well, me in the past
And time and time, if time existed, movin' ever so fast
Don't play me

U couldn't play enough of me now 2 make me feel like a star
Don't play me, I already do in my car
Don't play me

Don't be mad at me, the curtain puller in the game
Maybe all, how U call us, niggas ain't the same
It's all good when U know the only fame
Is the light that comes from God and the joy U get 2 say His name
Don't play me (Don't play me)

I've seen the mountain top and it ain't what U say
Don't play me

I already got laid

I think that says a whole hell of a lot--nothing much I can add to it, to his one of his best songs on the album called "The Truth."

Anything that makes the person grow is good for whatever their talent is.
Prince has, like many of us, been on a spiritual path since he first started making music. He touched on it only though, back then, and embraced more of his rebellious side which appealed to a much larger audience, particularly the younger generation, who like him, were embarking upon their lives as young adults.

I'd say his whole evolution from young adult into mature adult has only complimented his music. He has entered experimental realms in music and lyrics, which only a purely talented artist can do. It's always a risk, but it was one he could afford to take.

The words have changed and instead of being easily accessible to the majority, like they once were, they are now more accessible for a smaller certain kind of audience. Those who are open to accepting his new expressions, not of sex but of God. One thing Prince has always been, is open and expressive in his music, no matter what he is singing about.

For those who feel it has influenced his music badly, it is only because it doesn't live up to their earlier impressions and has thus failed to live up to their expectations of now. But Prince's musical talent hasn't diminished at all. The content might be different, but the music itself has just gotten better.

Bohemian67 said:

Prince's growth as a man making music and as a man on his journey with GOD has been present since the beginning of Prince's career.

Prince has a GOD given gift of talent. I believe that thread of appreciation for GOD has shown through every Prince song...as the "bass in his bones."

Prince's love 4 GOD and his inspiration are the foundation of Prince's success.

The sexuality is just a part of life that we all know and identify with. Prince has made that gift of life colorful in his music and maybe at times slightly graphic, however...Prince worship's GOD with all that he is as a man.

poetcorner61 said:

I think he has always been spiritually inspired and think he always will be so it will always be in the music no matter what he loves God.

NO!

I think sone of his spiritual songs are some of his best. Sometimes I think I should take out all of my CD's and make one CD of his songs about God and such.

As far as his religious conversion, I don't think that's improved his lyrics any or even really changed his themes.

Now instead of "Darling Nikki" he has someone else singing "Here I Come". Same theme. First song said the word masturbate, second song didn't. Personally I like the first song better.

sure. purple rain is supposed to be about jeebus, right?

ernestsewell said:

I agree.

peter430044 said:

Ohhhhh please. Prince was met by full force the grace of spirituality. Once this happens, you are never the same. Your eyes are OPENED, your life begins sticking rather than straying from the track ordained for you to utmost prosperity.

Your saying that since he has turned away from evil and sin, he's not cool anymore? Really? Cause in my book that makes him all the more amazing. ESPCIALLY in today's severely corrupt society.

instead of just bringing the carnal, earthly music every other mainstream artist does- he's been denying status quo by giving the fruits of WISDOM in lyrics, and a compelling sense of love&direction. Now which is more important?

Alice Cooper said it best:
"Drinking beer is easy. Trashing your hotel room is easy. But being a Christian, that's a tough call. That's real rebellion."

I can't believe how blind some of you are. You must come to realize where the truth lies. Don't let the devil corrupt you, we are all stronger than that.

poetcorner61 said:

I think that "time" may have played more of a factor on the direction of P's "lyrics" if anything. I do not think with him being a JW that it has been that much of a major change. I am of course basing this on my personal experience and my age as well.

Neither of us are 25 anymore and no longer think that way, unless your talking about his taste in women. LoL

PurpleLove7 said:

Listening to some older CDs now I haven't heard in decades and I hear the spiritual influence/quest in some of his songs, before he became a JW. One in particular is "Thunder" off Diamonds and Pearls... There is no denying the gospel influence on some songs as well as Jazz/R&B/Rock/Blues. P alternates in between all these musical forms over the years... But references to spirituality abound in his music as well as the physical (or "profane"). He, at times, exhibits a cunning understanding of the attraction of music that contains both sacred and profane elements, and the fine balance juxtaposed between those two opposite dynamics, both in lyrics and sound! This is what intrigues me about him and brings me back to him again after all these years! His exploration and daring make me want to hear more, even when it isn't always successful!

skywalker said:

Agree. Still sexy minus the profanity. Still the spiritual overtones, only more specific. His perspective evolves while his core endures.

I do.

Its not the only good influence but it is a biggy.

Its not new - it has always been. He was spiritual long before he matured / converted to JW.

Without his spirituality people would be saying Prince Who? and this site would not exist.

ernestsewell said:

I think he began to change a bit around the time of emancipation. Not so much of what he now calls "potty mouth". Honestly ernestsewell do you really think that Prince is conforming to anyone or anything in 2009? I think the whole "I am a witness for Jehovah" thing was pretty much over by 2006 the latest. The lyrics clearly show that he doesn't think what they think. I think he has moved further and further away from their beliefs and will be releaved when they finally disfellowship his ass.
Things that they believe that he seems not to;

Men should not wear earings.
(he wears him on the tip of his ears)
Witnessing is more important then money, the hours that you work should not get in the way of your witnessing.
(Do you really think that Prince keeps his hours in the studio down so that he can be driven in a limo around to do "field service"? )

Fornication includes mutual masturbation and oral sex.
(Elixer anyone, it's a duet sung with a woman he spends an awful lot of time with)

They are strongly against bragging
( now this is funny. Mr Goodnight, the Other, and the new one about "never be another like me" were all at least sung after he became a witness)
Materialism is wrong
(If prince isn't materialistic, and openly so, I don't know who is. )


As I have stated before; Prince can't conform to anything for shit, even when he tries (and I honestly think he did try for a while with the JW's) Ernest, he is just waiting for them to kick his ass out. Believe me once he gets the heeve-ho he won't be trying to get back in,

Sorry, but not much 4 me ..

JesusFreak said:

Be careful with that! If one is going to embrace a religion (of any kind) one had better be aware of what it is one professes to believe and examine it critically before ramming it down someone's throat! Living an example is much better than proselytizing if you want to influence someone with your spirituality! Otherwise, a person is in danger of becoming a Pharisee!

Just heard the album Rainbow Children--would be so much better without the Voice of Doom! Really irritating!

JesusFreak said:

Alice Cooper is a born again Christian, believe it or not. When I lived in Los Angeles in 1990, the little church my aunt & uncle attended was kind of known for attracting stars. Faith Ford, Sally Struthers were regular attenders, especially Faith. Sugar Ray Leonard (asshole) showed up a few times too. Alice Cooper had recently found the Lord, and came often to the church, and apparently more just before I got to town. He always said how nice the people at the church were. (They were really nice, indeed.) The same pastor that is there now was on an MTV show last year. It was some show about people from two different sides of the universe, exploring the other side of things. There was an atheist, (or could have been someone who just had confusion about Christianity in general), that was brought to that church and talked to the pastor; the same pastor I knew back then.

Honestly, no I don't. While I believe Prince has always been spiritual, he made the jump to religious when he became a JW. He went from God loves all of us to God loves a chosen few. He used to be inclusive and now, he's exclusive. If some of you want to call that growth, good for you. I see it as him de-evolving.

Vendetta1 said:

Well, he was as inclusive as Christianity allows anyways...

Prince, Purple Rain tour 1985: "Don't be confused. There is only one Lord...Jesus."
[Edited 11/24/09 18:25pm]