Been listening to Come and The Gold Experience a lot with the last couple of days. These two songs remind me of each other. Which one is better? And do you think P might ever play them again live? Oh and PLEASE post Come and Gold era pics.

TOUGH decision. They're both catchy and have accurate messages.

Race has one of my favorite Prince raps. Wonderful Anti-Racism song.

We March is kinda cheesy especially the "ice cream without the cake" line, but that's what I liked about it. I like to sing along to it a lot. I don't know why some people hate this song. It's fucking CATCHY AS FUCK!

Since I have the urge to listen to "We March" right now, I will have to go with that one.

lol

NeonCraxx said:

TOUGH decision. They're both catchy and have accurate messages.

Race has one of my favorite Prince raps. Wonderful Anti-Racism song.

We March is kinda cheesy especially the "ice cream without the cake" line, but that's what I liked about it. I like to sing along to it a lot. I don't know why some people hate this song. It's fucking CATCHY AS FUCK!

Since I have the urge to listen to "We March" right now, I will have to go with that one.

lol

!

Race, for me.

i like the way Prince connected We March and Emancipation on NAACP Awards & BRIT Awards. But, actually, Race is a better one.

[Edited 9/9/11 13:02pm]

I definitely prefer Race, which is an amazing song. We March was always the song I liked the less on TGE, but from the 1994 live version, I suspect the original studio cut would have been more to my taste. On the other hand I think it's a pity that Race was edited on Come, as well.

Definately We March, even though it's catchiest line was borrowed somewhere else

http://www.youtube.com/wa...mp;ob=av3n

databank said:

I definitely prefer Race, which is an amazing song. We March was always the song I liked the less on TGE, but from the 1994 live version, I suspect the original studio cut would have been more to my taste. On the other hand I think it's a pity that Race was edited on Come, as well.

agree - thats exactly what I was going to say

We March

Both songs are weak. But if I had to choose, I'd prefer "Race", just because of the cooler, more experimental attitude.

MarquessMarq said:

Race, for me.

Race.

I like them both. But I feel the funk more on Race.

Race, the extended version from The Beatiful Experience..

Race

Definitely "Race".

Neither.

Both are among the filler-tracks on their respective albums.

eelco said:

Definately We March, even though it's catchiest line was borrowed somewhere else

http://www.youtube.com/wa...mp;ob=av3n

Which line was that?

Race, in the space, I'll mark human... Brilliant..

Race! Wonderful groove. We march is Prince-light for me and it don`t flow so naturally as Race do.

Race

"We March" is my least favorite track on "The Gold Experience" and also one of my least favorite Prince songs overall. "Race" on the other hand is one of my favorite Prince tracks.

While "Race" is more hippy and psychedelic, "We March" is funkier and more soulful, with the gospel flavor and feeling of "Free," echoing more of the Civil Rights Movement, which moves me more than "Race." Also, I find it interesting when someone says that a song sounds "forced," which I think means inauthentic, but I don't like to put words into other people's mouths. Yet, I can't hear anything that sounds forced about "We March." (Forced for me is most of the time that Prince raps, but, since I don't listen to a great deal of rap, his rapping doesn't bother me.) I think for some people, "We March" seemed a transition from Prince's ideology of the individual versus the group and the paisley park world of multiculturalism that "Race" celebrates, but I never thought that Prince couldn't champion those causes of human universality while also addressing the specific needs and concerns of African Americans as he does in "We March." So, I think that his ability to write both songs indicates his range of musical ability and socio-political understanding and concern even if "We March" appeals to me more.

1725topp said:

While "Race" is more hippy and psychedelic, "We March" is funkier and more soulful, with the gospel flavor and feeling of "Free," echoing more of the Civil Rights Movement, which moves me more than "Race." Also, I find it interesting when someone says that a song sounds "forced," which I think means inauthentic, but I don't like to put words into other people's mouths. Yet, I can't hear anything that sounds forced about "We March." (Forced for me is most of the time that Prince raps, but, since I don't listen to a great deal of rap, his rapping doesn't bother me.) I think for some people, "We March" seemed a transition from Prince's ideology of the individual versus the group and the paisley park world of multiculturalism that "Race" celebrates, but I never thought that Prince couldn't champion those causes of human universality while also addressing the specific needs and concerns of African Americans as he does in "We March." So, I think that his ability to write both songs indicates his range of musical ability and socio-political understanding and concern even if "We March" appeals to me more.

FB style: Like! a lot

Race, hands down.

In Race, he sings about us all being human and equal. He sings about there not even being a race. He speaks of children not knowing bigotry unless they're taught it. He sings about not wanting to let history keep us apart.

In We March, it's the direct opposite. It's more us-versus-them and an ultimatum that if things don't change, there will be consequences. As catchy as the song is, that underlying message of a "march" is somewhat racist on its own, and seems to promote violence instead of the tolerance that Race promotes.

Se7en said:

Race, hands down.

In Race, he sings about us all being human and equal. He sings about there not even being a race. He speaks of children not knowing bigotry unless they're taught it. He sings about not wanting to let history keep us apart.

In We March, it's the direct opposite. It's more us-versus-them and an ultimatum that if things don't change, there will be consequences. As catchy as the song is, that underlying message of a "march" is somewhat racist on its own, and seems to promote violence instead of the tolerance that Race promotes.

Race for me! Hands down...

Se7en said:

Race, hands down.

In Race, he sings about us all being human and equal. He sings about there not even being a race. He speaks of children not knowing bigotry unless they're taught it. He sings about not wanting to let history keep us apart.

In We March, it's the direct opposite. It's more us-versus-them and an ultimatum that if things don't change, there will be consequences. As catchy as the song is, that underlying message of a "march" is somewhat racist on its own, and seems to promote violence instead of the tolerance that Race promotes.

Frist, your statement seems to imply that Prince or African people created the us-versus-them reality. African people in America have a history of persecution at the hands of their white brothers and sisters, and have a right to address the specifics of that persecution. Second, how is the concept of African people asking the people who are persecuting them to stop the persecution racist? As Frederick Douglass stated, "power concedes nothing without demand," so if people don't demand their freedom and liberation how will they get it? Third, to what I think you are referring is the lyric where Prince is simply stating that when African Americans have demanded their rights in America they have been killed. Thus, the song seems to be saying that if that does not stop, then the persecuted has no choice but to defend themselves. I'm sorry but not all people want to sing songs while they are being lynched, which still occurs today. In Mississippi alone there have been three lynchings of African American men since 2009. So to say that a song that recognizes a peoples’ right to defend themselves against violence promotes violence is, itself, racist because it implies that African people do not or should not have the same desire as everyone else to be free from torture and violence. Finally, let me get this straight. It is racist for African people not to want to be killed by being shot in the head, dragged in the street, or hanged in trees? Wow, I did not know that not wanting to be killed and desiring to defend myself and my community against violence makes me racist. I learn more and more every day I come to Prince.org. And finally, history does not keep people apart. Truth should never keep people apart. The only people who are afraid of history or who don't want to address history are those who have something to hide or who do not want to atone for their actions. There can be no forgiveness or reconciliation until the oppressor changes his ways. The inability to the oppressor to change his oppressive ways, not the facts of history, is what keeps people apart, is what keeps the lamb from being able to lie with the lion.

1725topp said:

Se7en said:

Race, hands down.

In Race, he sings about us all being human and equal. He sings about there not even being a race. He speaks of children not knowing bigotry unless they're taught it. He sings about not wanting to let history keep us apart.

In We March, it's the direct opposite. It's more us-versus-them and an ultimatum that if things don't change, there will be consequences. As catchy as the song is, that underlying message of a "march" is somewhat racist on its own, and seems to promote violence instead of the tolerance that Race promotes.

Frist, your statement seems to imply that Prince or African people created the us-versus-them reality. African people in America have a history of persecution at the hands of their white brothers and sisters, and have a right to address the specifics of that persecution. Second, how is the concept of African people asking the people who are persecuting them to stop the persecution racist? As Frederick Douglass stated, "power concedes nothing without demand," so if people don't demand their freedom and liberation how will they get it? Third, to what I think you are referring is the lyric where Prince is simply stating that when African Americans have demanded their rights in America they have been killed. Thus, the song seems to be saying that if that does not stop, then the persecuted has no choice but to defend themselves. I'm sorry but not all people want to sing songs while they are being lynched, which still occurs today. In Mississippi alone there have been three lynchings of African American men since 2009. So to say that a song that recognizes a peoples’ right to defend themselves against violence promotes violence is, itself, racist because it implies that African people do not or should not have the same desire as everyone else to be free from torture and violence. Finally, let me get this straight. It is racist for African people not to want to be killed by being shot in the head, dragged in the street, or hanged in trees? Wow, I did not know that not wanting to be killed and desiring to defend myself and my community against violence makes me racist. I learn more and more every day I come to Prince.org. And finally, history does not keep people apart. Truth should never keep people apart. The only people who are afraid of history or who don't want to address history are those who have something to hide or who do not want to atone for their actions. There can be no forgiveness or reconciliation until the oppressor changes his ways. The inability to the oppressor to change his oppressive ways, not the facts of history, is what keeps people apart, is what keeps the lamb from being able to lie with the lion.

In no way did I imply that Prince or African Americans created the racism, but I did directly state that it is still racist.

Racism exists when any race treats another with anything less than equality. It's not just one-way. It's wrong any which way you look at it. Do I agree with most of your posts - yes, but that's a whole other conversation.

My post was a comparison of two Prince songs, one that preaches equality and teaching a new generation about acceptance, and the other that seems to preach negativity and consequences. There's not much that's "uplifting" about We March. I'm surprised it wasn't a 3-way comparison with Family Name.

My challenge to Prince: instead of just singing about a March, do something positive and actually organize one. Give back to the community and use your celebrity to make real change. Instead of waiting until it's a defensive/reactionary tactic, be proactive and organize a peaceful assembly/march. I know you do a lot for inner city charities, but that's your money - not YOU in the flesh making real change.

Se7en said:

In no way did I imply that Prince or African Americans created the racism, but I did directly state that it is still racist.

Racism exists when any race treats another with anything less than equality. It's not just one-way. It's wrong any which way you look at it. Do I agree with most of your posts - yes, but that's a whole other conversation.

My post was a comparison of two Prince songs, one that preaches equality and teaching a new generation about acceptance, and the other that seems to preach negativity and consequences. There's not much that's "uplifting" about We March. I'm surprised it wasn't a 3-way comparison with Family Name.

My challenge to Prince: instead of just singing about a March, do something positive and actually organize one. Give back to the community and use your celebrity to make real change. Instead of waiting until it's a defensive/reactionary tactic, be proactive and organize a peaceful assembly/march. I know you do a lot for inner city charities, but that's your money - not YOU in the flesh making real change.

I have the same respect for your posts and ideas, but based on your definition of racism, I just don't see how defending oneself against violence is racist. When you discuss teaching acceptance, why should African Americans accept violence from each other or from anyone else? If and when someone is trying to harm me, I have a right to defend myself. That is not racist. That is a basic human right. Racism is when one group designs and maintains a system to dominate and control another group for various gains. "We March" is not promoting the use of violence to dominate and control white people. It is simply stating that African people have a right to defend themselves against violence. That is not racist. It may be militant, but I think that being a critically thinking African American in America is militant based on how this country has a history of limiting education to African Americans.

*

And, of course, we will also disagree about "Family Name," because I love The Rainbow Children. The line that so many people try to spin to racism, "would you rather be dead or sold," seems to address the fact that our Jewish brothers and sisters have done a better job of forcing people to respect their historical plight than African Americans have done forcing people to respect their historical plight, especially since African Americans still battle with self-hatred as a remnant of slavery and Jim Crow. And while you can say, what about Black History Month, I can state that Black History Month pales in comparison to the fact that our Jewish brothers and sisters have so organized themselves that the American government paid or enforced restitution to victims of the Holocaust as well as has a favorable policy toward Israel. However, African Americans have never received restitution for slavery (and I have never been a proponent of reparations), we still suffer discrimination in the judicial system, and our lack of organizing is a main reason for America's almost nonexistent policies with Africa. Yet, what "Family Name" asserts is that if African people don't learn to love themselves, which begins by learning one's history, they can never become healthy and sovereign people. I just don't see how the desire to be healthy and sovereign is racist.

*

Finally, as an artist (writer) and former grassroots organizer, we should not be so quick to minimize the power of art to impact socio-political policy. I have helped African American high school students write a play about being forced to have uncertified teachers in their districts and poems about police brutality and poor funding of education that the students presented to the community and their school boards, in several cases aiding in a change of policy. And in the case of "We March," Prince loaned the song to the coordinators of the Million Man March, something I'm sure you and I will disagree as being a worthwhile event, for the promotion and celebration of the event. Some people are more comfortable doing certain things, and it is unfair if not narrow to think that everyone's contribution to a cause or to the improvement of society will be the same. I know a lot of shady people who call themselves activists and organizers who are just poverty pimps. Don't forget that James Browns' "Say It Loud (I'm Black and I'm Proud)" helped to change how millions of African Americans felt about themselves, embracing the beauty of their African selves and inspiring those in the Black Power segment of the Movement, which was more responsible for the development of Black-owned businesses and the reinvestment in Historically Black Colleges and Universities than the integrationist aspect of the Movement had ever been. Is that racist? Is that insignificant?

Like them both equally for seperate reasons as posted above.