CJBabyDaddy said:

When historians look back, surely they'll recognize Prince's influence on humanity as the equivalent of Nelson Mandela times Martin Luther King times Mahatama Gandhi.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say....NO

he could use influence & contribute much more. for cheerity of course.

Totally! In fact with music, we get to have the facts in the lyrics and then the beats to make us move or sing. This indeed is a positive measure, and one that he has done with absolute "Excellence"

Praise be to our "Prince"

I must admit, though...I haven't been around for this JW stuff and finding it less, and less that I would enjoy this whole "JW" world with his music. I think, I better get myself up and get to this new album, and see if it is going to be me leaving again, so to speak. I hope not!

Is all weird? I mean any funk or stuff?

Input please, what is making it so different, then our purple funk master?

Totally agree. He has

At least made expressing sexuality fun and exciting. And the "norm"

* i write this while listening 2 "let it go"

humanity is a broad church, 2 put it that way...many houses in one huge mansion.

1 positive thang that Prince did, was to demonstrate and emulate to people of

African descent that it's alright to step outside of rnb, hip hop groove and explore territories

like rock and punk

with all due respect...get a grip. Prince is just an entertainer- a song and dance man. People who have moved humanity forward are the MLK's, NEWTONS, EINSTEINS of the world

I respect your opinion, but I have to disagree with you on me needing to get a grip!

IMO, I believe though the MLK's, Gandhi's, or Einsteins are very important, unique people

that make living in a imperfect world paradise, they are not the only examples to measure

what can move humanity forward. If you think about in the Bible, if it only takes faith the

size of a grain of mustard seed to move a mountain does it really require anybody to do

a lot to propel humanity forward? I believe God uses whomever He/She can to get His/Her

messages across whether it be a politician or a musician, like say Prince or somebody eles.

HomeSquid said:

Prince is just an entertainer- a song and dance man. People who have moved humanity forward are the MLK's, NEWTONS, EINSTEINS of the world

"Changes in government are brought about by changes in music" - Plato

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. ... I get most joy in life out of music.” - Albert Einstein

“Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.” - Albert Einstein

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” - Albert Einstein

Well music is used as a healing aid in some corners but other than that...

robinhood said:

HomeSquid said:

Prince is just an entertainer- a song and dance man. People who have moved humanity forward are the MLK's, NEWTONS, EINSTEINS of the world

"Changes in government are brought about by changes in music" - Plato

“If I were not a physicist, I would probably be a musician. I often think in music. I live my daydreams in music. I see my life in terms of music. ... I get most joy in life out of music.” - Albert Einstein

“Few are those who see with their own eyes and feel with their own hearts.” - Albert Einstein

“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.” - Albert Einstein

so..........?

DesireeNevermind said:

I'm going to go out on a limb and say....NO

agreed

Yes i think Prince is a good example Of proving people do make mistakes, People can change, Don't be afraid to be different, Always try something new. He also has influential lyrics.... Alot of his lyrics tell a story, teach a lesson or they are expressions on feelings and opinions.

LizaWoman08 said:

DesireeNevermind said:

I'm going to go out on a limb and say....NO

agreed

yup. he's been very entertaining but he hasn't move humanity anywhere all he's done is enjoy the fruits of where humanity is at...had he been born 100 years earlier he wouldn't be a rich, celebrity- a multi-millionaire who goes around with "slave" written on his face because he can't get out a recording contract he willingly signed.

I'm sorry but what I've heard and seen from prince makes me wonder if he's even a decent human...but it ain't my job to decide that

No.

how many peoples lives has he touched in a positive way?

how many suicidal teenagers did he literally save through his music?

how many lonely people have been comforted by his songs?

how many grumpy souls were inspired to be a little more loving?

how many people did he introduce to new ways of thinking?

how many sheep did he inspire to think for themselves?

how many seekers have been inspired by his spirituality?

how many musicians viewed him as a role model and learned from him?

how many artists became awakened to the perils of the recording industry thanks to him?

how many introverts did he inspire to not be afraid to be themselves?

how many souls did he inspire to embrace their creativity?

robinhood said:

how many peoples lives has he touched in a positive way?

how many suicidal teenagers did he literally save through his music?

how many lonely people have been comforted by his songs?

how many grumpy souls were inspired to be a little more loving?

how many people did he introduce to new ways of thinking?

how many sheep did he inspire to think for themselves?

how many seekers have been inspired by his spirituality?

how many musicians viewed him as a role model and learned from him?

how many artists became awakened to the perils of the recording industry thanks to him?

how many introverts did he inspire to not be afraid to be themselves?

how many souls did he inspire to embrace their creativity?

With all due respect the topic is about "moving humanity forward", not about making a bunch of his fans happy or a bit wiser. There seems to be a tendency in this thread to equate the two, but they are naturally not the same. Others view him singing songs about God already as "moving humanity forward". Kind of pretentious if you ask me.

Tremolina said:

With all due respect the topic is about "moving humanity forward", not about making a bunch of his fans happy or a bit wiser. There seems to be a tendency in this thread to equate the two, but they are naturally not the same.

It depends on your perspective.

Personally I can think of few better ways to move humanity forward than to make a bunch of people happy and a bit wiser.

Tremolina said:

robinhood said:

how many peoples lives has he touched in a positive way?

how many suicidal teenagers did he literally save through his music?

how many lonely people have been comforted by his songs?

how many grumpy souls were inspired to be a little more loving?

how many people did he introduce to new ways of thinking?

how many sheep did he inspire to think for themselves?

how many seekers have been inspired by his spirituality?

how many musicians viewed him as a role model and learned from him?

how many artists became awakened to the perils of the recording industry thanks to him?

how many introverts did he inspire to not be afraid to be themselves?

how many souls did he inspire to embrace their creativity?

With all due respect the topic is about "moving humanity forward", not about making a bunch of his fans happy or a bit wiser.

well i'm sorry if that's how you've interpretted my questions. i guess if ur minds made up we dont have much to discuss.

I said no in an earlier post. Obviously I'm only speaking for myself and those I know. It's pure guesswork regarding people I don't know.

Personally I don't think humanity changes. Societies do but ultimately they fall. To ask whether some pop star has moved humanity forward through his music is rather daft. You could ask whether Bob Geldof moved humanity forward with his passion for helping those that were suffering in Ethiopia. That would be easier to answer. Obviously the Boom Town Rats' music never did.

I see our time as a wave. There are swells and lulls. Our understanding improves as does our tech, but we, as individuals, aren't really that brighter than when we evolved all those years ago.

Stupid is as stupid does comes to mind.

DarlingNikki1025 said:

My question is does anyone feel that through Prince's work ethic, passion, and dedication to music that he has moved humanity forward in some significant way?

I thought about it a lil bit more and if any of us have seen Prince live or listened to a boot of a show you will notice he's trying to have 'us' The Rainbow Children to use that term loosely come to understand and recognize their is a better way. We all know P's a JW and reads and attempts to live by The New World Translation of the bible and he almost always has something to say about that when he performs. That's not too far off from what some religious leaders have tried to do but, not with music and stage performance.

For example 3 of my heroes are Al Hajj Malik Al Shabazz who fought for Human Rights and Civil Rights of African Americans. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who fought for Civil Rights of African Americans and equality for all men and women of all races. Muhammad Ali who fought against the Government during the Vietnam War and being drafted to fight in a war that had nothing to do with 'us' (African Americans).

I wouldn't put Prince up there with those 3 but, I get where you're comin' from [img:$uid]http://l.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/mesg/emoticons7/3.gif[/img:$uid]

What drew me to Prince was his work ethic and apparent rejection of the tired drug addict stereotype of rock/pop celebrities. Also, I liked his confidence to be himself and part of the 'freak show', which I think a lot of people who felt they were on the outside could relate to. This may not have changed the world but it reassured many people that it was ok to be different and that through sheer hard work and talent you can try to overcome the nay-sayers in your life.

You know, I believe Prince believes he is moving humanity, and others believe that through osmosis. But if I look really hard at Prince, he is and has always been out of touch with true humanity in way. I think evidence that he is out of touch is the way that he sort of carries himself above humanity, as though he is looking around with all of the answers. Maybe we all feel this way to a degree, but I think a person who gains so much adoration and pampering in a wordly sense at such a young age looses much of what common humanity has to struggle with. Not his fault persay, but I don't this his perception is that of the common lay man. Not anymore.

imo, he was part of a wave of performers who brought a new intensity to millions of people through music.

he was part of a wave that emphasized sexual freedom of expression, love, spirituality, standing up for your rights and peace.

though not all of his songs are along these lines and he dipped into darker territories, i think he can still be held amongst those who, as a group, moved humanity forward, through music.

as a musician only, i think he led the way for many other musicians, and in this sense, he definitely moved them forward, as musicians and song-writers.

all waves roll into the shore eventually, but i guess the main thing is what the tide brings to our feet.

robinhood said:

imo, he was part of a wave of performers who brought a new intensity to millions of people through music.

he was part of a wave that emphasized sexual freedom of expression, love, spirituality, standing up for your rights and peace.

though not all of his songs are along these lines and he dipped into darker territories, i think he can still be held amongst those who, as a group, moved humanity forward, through music.

as a musician only, i think he led the way for many other musicians, and in this sense, he definitely moved them forward, as musicians and song-writers.

all waves roll into the shore eventually, but i guess the main thing is what the tide brings to our feet.

If there is any credit that Prince can be given for "moving humanity forward" it's through music. But realisitcally speaking what were his contributions when you take a look at most of popuar music since the early 90's?

Tremolina said:

robinhood said:

imo, he was part of a wave of performers who brought a new intensity to millions of people through music.

he was part of a wave that emphasized sexual freedom of expression, love, spirituality, standing up for your rights and peace.

though not all of his songs are along these lines and he dipped into darker territories, i think he can still be held amongst those who, as a group, moved humanity forward, through music.

as a musician only, i think he led the way for many other musicians, and in this sense, he definitely moved them forward, as musicians and song-writers.

all waves roll into the shore eventually, but i guess the main thing is what the tide brings to our feet.

If there is any credit that Prince can be given for "moving humanity forward" it's through music. But realisitcally speaking what were his contributions when you take a look at most of popuar music since the early 90's?

maybe we should ask all the musicians all over the world who still buy his albums to this day to learn and be inspired by the work of a musical genius.

robinhood said:

Tremolina said:

If there is any credit that Prince can be given for "moving humanity forward" it's through music. But realisitcally speaking what were his contributions when you take a look at most of popuar music since the early 90's?

maybe we should ask all the musicians all over the world who still buy his albums to this day to learn and be inspired by the work of a musical genius.

Seriously. take a look at the state of music since the early nineties.

Tremolina said:

robinhood said:

maybe we should ask all the musicians all over the world who still buy his albums to this day to learn and be inspired by the work of a musical genius.

Seriously. take a look at the state of music since the early nineties.

purely subjective and i'm not sure how that changes that prince has moved humanity forward through music.

mind you, this is only my opinion. but, from what i've seen, prince creates so far out of the box that he reminds people it is possible to break out of such molds.

over time he has deliberately shattered stereotypes through his lyrics, dress and attitude.

quite a few of the 'younger' generation of musicians now refer to him as their idol.

i don't know about moving humanity forward, but he has given the world plenty to think about, and i think he has helped folk along the way.