What is Otan, apart from Nato backwards?

lol, it's been ages since I've heard that question! I guess the rest of us had just learned to accept it.

I always like the Egyptian god theory, although I'm told that would be spelt "Aten" in the roman alphabet. Still it fits with the theme of the song.

I'm off to start a thread about 94 east!!

---

Annoying that he changed it to "opposite of NATO is monotheism" on the ONA Live album. He should have just kept it and to hell with everyone

actually, it is also the french abbreviation for NATO. Organisation Traitee de Atlantique-Nord or sumthing like that. I assume that Prince didn´t know that.

Ronald

rwielink said:

Naaaw.

It's ME!!

Adam Amun Aton Aten Amen

Ian said "Annoying that he changed it to "opposite of NATO is monotheism" on the ONA Live album. He should have just kept it and to hell with everyone"

But, don't you see this as Prince providing the explanation behind the lyric? (Something he rarely, if ever, does). For me, it proves the theory put forward about it being a reference to Aten, the Egyptian king who, as far as history can show, was the first to start a monotheistic movement. Ok, so its not quite NATO backwards, but you have to allow for artistic licence and it is a very clever point. When I first heard him say that at the opening night at the Apollo I thought to myself, "Wow - he's acknowledged a theory put forward on the org - cool!".

Although, upon re-reading your post Ian, you are probably saying that he didn't need to explain the lyric. (Sound of foot being removed from mouth!!).

GIOVANNI said:

Nema Neta Nota Numa Mada?

yeah then why do the JW refuse to believe that this is what he is saying??? I tried to tell one that it basicly stems from his interest in the beliefs of the egyptians reiligious beliefs but scoffed at the idea


I try to tell them all the time that he hasnt totally left his other beliefs but they refuse to belive this

Maybe Prince was just playing with words again. The opposite of PRINCE is ECNIRP. What significance is that?

GIOVANNI said:

I would answer this but it might be considered flame-bait...

Because any sort of interest in any other doctrines or belief systems (even Egyptology, which Prince had a very strong interest in) is strictly forbidden. You are not allowed to read about them, discuss them, whatever! (A bit like bootlegs!!)

You cannot even use it to legitimately, metaphorically or otherwise, illustrate a point - that lyric will have upset many a JW (even though we will proably get a select few on here who will deny this - but, beleive me, the majority will be offended).

Again, I was as surprised at that lyric as much as I was suprised at his performing Anna Stesia in the recent shows.

LittlePill said:

An anagram of which is encrip (encrypt - with Princes artistic licence of course!)

Mindflux said:

Maybe this is the real reason he changed it.

Muse was probably written in the early stage of his JW-ness, perhaps even years ago. So it might only be now that he doesn't feel comfortable singing it.Did he sing it this way on any of the ONA gigs? I remember hearing about NATO being the opposite of "Maceo" and "Me!" at a couple of shows.

Saxjedi said "Mindflux said:
---
Because any sort of interest in any other doctrines or belief systems (even Egyptology, which Prince had a very strong interest in) is strictly forbidden. You are not allowed to read about them, discuss them, whatever! (A bit like bootlegs!!)

You cannot even use it to legitimately, metaphorically or otherwise, illustrate a point - that lyric will have upset many a JW
---



Maybe this is the real reason he changed it. "

Very good point - I didn't think of that!

Mindflux said:

Possibly Mindflux but to be honest I kinda took it as a sign of backing down in the face of all the slagging he got over the original lyrics

And personally, yeah as you say, I probably prefer it if he doesn't try to explain himself too much, and if he just sticks to what he wants to say and not back down.

That said, if it was a better lyric and he is happier with it than the original, fair enough I suppose!