Just a great friggin song thats all eye no.... ....upload/download....cool

Musically it's one of his best. I know someone can feel what he says lyrically but I like it either way.

davetherave6767 said:

"Upload: a child with no father
Download: no respect for authority
Upload: a child with no mother
Download: a hard time showing love"

Out of the whole song, these lyrics are what stood out to me. So much truth!

I reckon Colonized Mind is one of the best songs he's done in the 00's, just beautiful

Mya said:

"Upload: a child with no father
Download: no respect for authority
Upload: a child with no mother
Download: a hard time showing love"

Out of the whole song, these lyrics are what stood out to me. So much truth!

I reckon Colonized Mind is one of the best songs he's done in the 00's, just beautiful

I love how the upload/download parts are echoed.

I never get tired of pointing out this song rips off lyrics, instrumental and melody from the following song. All he added was ignorant lyrics misinterpreting evolution and mocking single parenting.

^ Interesting.

Dsoul said:

I never get tired of pointing out this song rips off lyrics, instrumental and melody from the following song. All he added was ignorant lyrics misinterpreting evolution and mocking single parenting.

I don't mind his lyrics, but he is obviously ripping this off.

Without a sense of responsibility to a higher power (whether God or one's internal ethic, we are left with no "accountability".

It is therefore much "easier" for "other" negative values to become commonplace as people are easily led to do "whatever" without fear of some sort of retribution and conscience response.

Some people who profess to "know" God have colonized minds so its not absolute.

I don't think he's necessarily saying if you don't believe in God you have a colonized mind; I think its more that with God (the ultimate power) one is more likely to challenge/question when we are being led to do things and/or led to go against the supreme law of mankind.

What is similar between the songs is not unique enought to warrant an accusation of a ripoff, sorry.

shayde said:

What is similar between the songs is not unique enought to warrant an accusation of a ripoff, sorry.

Haha, the riff doesn't sound familiar? What about the "cloud 9... no responsibility" line?

davetherave6767 said:

Just a great friggin song thats all eye no.... ....upload/download....cool

Yesss! As far as P's more recent music goes, this is one of my faves from him.

Dsoul said:

I never get tired of pointing out this song rips off lyrics, instrumental and melody from the following song. All he added was ignorant lyrics misinterpreting evolution and mocking single parenting.

Wow love that...and yeah he totally ripped it.

Dsoul said:

I never get tired of pointing out this song rips off lyrics, instrumental and melody from the following song. All he added was ignorant lyrics misinterpreting evolution and mocking single parenting.

Damn............straight rip 4 REAL.

sweething said:

Without a sense of responsibility to a higher power (whether God or one's internal ethic, we are left with no "accountability".

It is therefore much "easier" for "other" negative values to become commonplace as people are easily led to do "whatever" without fear of some sort of retribution and conscience response.

Some people who profess to "know" God have colonized minds so its not absolute.

I don't think he's necessarily saying if you don't believe in God you have a colonized mind; I think its more that with God (the ultimate power) one is more likely to challenge/question when we are being led to do things and/or led to go against the supreme law of mankind.

Dsoul said:

I never get tired of pointing out this song rips off lyrics, instrumental and melody from the following song. All he added was ignorant lyrics misinterpreting evolution and mocking single parenting.

upload: a ripped off track

download: no respect for other artists

I see orgers don't listen to Jimi Hendrix because this song is much more Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)

Hey Baby is the direct inspiration

I just recently found the genius of this song to be even more amazing since I first heard it. There is so much truth within the lyrics. I find it to be one of his most amazing pieces he has made in recent years. WITH all of that being said, Listening to the first time (Here on this thread) Miriam Makeba "Quit It" it indeed sounds very similar. It would be interesting to know; if he ever heard this song before. This is a HUGE significance I can not ignore. They sound so similar in many aspects. The guitar and the instrumentation of everything here. I agree with the "thebanishedone" it sounds exactly" like Hey Baby". Nevertheless it is an amazing song, One I can listen to with a soothing understanding. I would only call this a "rip off" If he knows who this singer is and is familiar with her work and never gave her credit. OTHERWISE..this appears as just a musical coincidence (IMO) which happens ever so often, since there is so much music out there. NEVERTHELESS Colonized Mind is AWESOME! One of my favorite jams, with great guitar work on it!

Dsoul said:

shayde said:

What is similar between the songs is not unique enought to warrant an accusation of a ripoff, sorry.

Haha, the riff doesn't sound familiar? What about the "cloud 9... no responsibility" line?

Dude let it fucking go. The melody is not a ripoff and one line is nothing. The Temptations had a song called "Cloud Nine " which is about being on drugs and not being responsible. Do you think P ripped them off too.

In addtion, you can actually use a certain number of bars from songs and not get sued. I would think that if P borrowed from this song he did so in the correct manner.

I also do not see anything wrong with tackling the issue of single parenthood. One kid is fine. People having 5 kids by different mothers and fathers is straight stupid.

[Edited 8/4/11 18:39pm]

Dsoul said:

I never get tired of pointing out this song rips off lyrics, instrumental and melody from the following song. All he added was ignorant lyrics misinterpreting evolution and mocking single parenting.

Welp, at least we know he has really good taste in music. Thanks for pointing this out.

I love Miriam Makeba.

laurarichardson said:

Dsoul said:

Haha, the riff doesn't sound familiar? What about the "cloud 9... no responsibility" line?

Dude let it fucking go. The melody is not a ripoff and one line is nothing. The Temptations had a song called "Cloud Nine " which is about being on drugs and not being responsible. Do you think P ripped them off too.

In addtion, you can actually use a certain number of bars from songs and not get sued. I would think that if P borrowed from this song he did so in the correct manner.

I also do not see anything wrong with tackling the issue of single parenthood. One kid is fine. People having 5 kids by different mothers and fathers is straight stupid.

[Edited 8/4/11 18:39pm]

If everything else integral to the song isn't enough and the "no responsibility" lift isn't the cherry on the ripoff cake then I don't know what to tell ya.

thebanishedone said:

I see orgers don't listen to Jimi Hendrix because this song is much more Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)

Hey Baby is the direct inspiration

At first I didn't hear the similarity but starting at about 1:06 it became clear. Still, to my ears "Colonized Mind" sounds much more similar to "Quit It" than it does to "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)." If anyone is interested in comparing here is the Hendrix song:

[Edited 8/5/11 8:05am]

rialb said:

thebanishedone said:

I see orgers don't listen to Jimi Hendrix because this song is much more Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)

Hey Baby is the direct inspiration

At first I didn't hear the similarity but starting at about 1:06 it became clear. Still, to my hears "Colonized Mind" sounds much more similar to "Quit It" than it does to "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)." If anyone is interested in comparing here is the Hendrix song:

After listening 2 both, Prince's version sounds like a combo of both songs.

Either way, the basic structure of his is NOT original. (musically).

To those who're just hearing about the "similarity" between this song and Miriam Makeba's "Quit It", where on earth have you been??? It was established a long time ago on here that he DEFINITELY ripped "Colonized Mind" off of that song.

And to those saying there are no HEAVY similarities, please stop drinking the damn purple kool-aid. I'm looking at you, Laura.

alexnvrmnd777 said:

To those who're just hearing about the "similarity" between this song and Miriam Makeba's "Quit It", where on earth have you been??? It was established a long time ago on here that he DEFINITELY ripped "Colonized Mind" off of that song.

And to those saying there are no HEAVY similarities, please stop drinking the damn purple kool-aid. I'm looking at you, Laura.

I don't get what they are NOT hearing. it's 100% obvious that they are similiar.

People claiming Prince "stole" the song, comparing him to a thief and getting all worked up should just relax. Yes, clearly "Colonized Mind" is heavily inspired by "Quit It". I don't think anyone is disputing that. But look at it this way: Consider the thousands of songs based on the 12-bar-blues progression - no one ever claims that those songs are "stolen" from other blues songs. Consider also the thousands of songs built on the infamous I-V-vi-IV chord progression - again, no one ever claims those songs are "stolen". It's all about perspective. Music is a fluid art form. Prince is playing with the 'form' of "Quit It" the same way a remixer plays with the form of the song he/she's remixing. If there were more songs out there that used "Quit It" as a basis (like how artists use the blues progression as a basis), then everyone would be like "Ah there's no problem - he's just adding his take on the I-bVII-IV form"... Again... It's all perspective.

Musicians are constantly taking ideas from others and building on them in their own way. Similarly, anyone who knows anything about music theory will tell you that pretty much "everything" has been done already (particularly within the rigid forms of popular music). There's only 12 notes in Western music, and only so many combinations of notes that sound "good" to our human ears. The chords in both songs aren't exactly 'groundbreaking' (standard major/minor chords, simple structures etc.). It would not be completely surprising if it turned out just to be coincidence or some form of unintentional "rip-off". As a songwriter myself I've done this heaps of times - thought I'd written a cool, original melody only to listen back to it the next day and realise I'd unintentionally "ripped-off" another song. Now, I don't think this is the case. I do think Prince built "Colonized Mind" off of "Quit It". But I just don't think that should be such a big deal. Should Prince have given some sort of credit? Maybe. If it were me I think a simple nod in the liner notes would be sufficient. Do I think Miriam Makeba should get royalties or that Prince should be labelled a "thief"? No. There's (just) enough variation to my ears to allow him to claim it as an original song.

But yeah. Just relax people!

.

[Edited 8/5/11 7:31am]

Graycap23 said:

rialb said:

At first I didn't hear the similarity but starting at about 1:06 it became clear. Still, to my hears "Colonized Mind" sounds much more similar to "Quit It" than it does to "Hey Baby (New Rising Sun)." If anyone is interested in comparing here is the Hendrix song:

After listening 2 both, Prince's version sounds like a combo of both songs.

Either way, the basic structure of his is NOT original. (musically).

Yeah it's like the chorus of Prince's version catches the Hendrix vibe with it's lead line melody. All three are the same musical idea.

Makeba and/or the writer should definitely be credited yes. He released it the year after she died so don't know how that factored in.