I have an 8 yr old (turning 9 in Dec) and a 6 yr old, and I've been sneaking in my Prince listening when they're not around or on my headphones. I've also kept the CD covers out of reach (so they won't read the song titles, or see some of the pictures on those older ones).

My kids listen to a lot of children's songs, folk songs, classical, and "standards" from around 1920-40, but the older one knows pop songs from friends/school. (A lot of those pop songs are stupid, btw - they drive me nuts).

Anyway, when's a good time to let kids hear Prince songs? I really like the musicianship, but some of the lyrics, especially to some of his best songs, are a little... you know.

What are u protecting them from?

Eh, I don't necessarily think they will want to listen to Prince. What child wants to hear their parents music? I also think it is silly to worry about the odd curse word that they might hear but if is a concern that you have why not make yourself some "clean" cd's/playlists? Even at his raunchiest Prince did not really curse that much and anything from the last 10-13 years should not need any editing.

I don't think there is a set age. I heard swearing and sex talk as a child, and it didn't hurt me any. It all depends on the child, I guess. If you think your kids can't handle it, don't let them hear the dirty songs. But I don't believe there's any set age that all kids are ready to handle sex/violence/dirty words, etc...

It's a matter of are your children mature enough to listen to Prince's music without repeating the dirty words, or trying to imitate some of the nasty things Prince sings about sometimes?

I think that "Sister" is the only song you need to worry about. Trying to explain what that song is about to your children could be a bit...awkward.

rialb said:

I think that "Sister" is the only song you need to worry about. Trying to explain what that song is about to your children could be a bit...awkward.

Not "Head"? He intercepts a gal on her way to be married! Or "New Position"? Sex is the core basis of that described relationship!

Depends on the age of the child and what you are comfortable with. I played the Gold Experience all the time when my son was a little kid and he wasn't any worse for it. Not that he understood what the lyrics were about...although the subject matter is more tame than a song like "Head." He was into Michael Jackson at the time, not Prince... Now, he's a big fan of Prince.

[Edited 9/15/11 12:38pm]

We started ours at birth. For awhile, their favorite song was "Wedding Feast"!

Our son moved in a different direction at about 11, but our daughter will still jam to some Prince. She's 15.

I listened to prince once when i had just turned 15, and i LOVED it. i can understand why parents wouldn't want younger children listening to this but who are we kidding? kids these days know EVERYHTING about EVERYTHING. they're gonna learn about it all one day, why not from Prince? admittedly ALOT of his songs are dirty but dirty is what MAKES Prince. he's daring to go where no one else would. he should be admired by all ages, these days most 15 year olds think Prince is a member of the royal family!

rialb said:

I think that "Sister" is the only song you need to worry about. Trying to explain what that song is about to your children could be a bit...awkward.

Kids don't listen to lyrics anyway. They just "like the beat".

[Edited 9/15/11 14:15pm]

SezmanPT said:

these days most 15 year olds think Prince is a member of the royal family!

Actually, most people these days think Prince is Michael Jackson's son.

NeonCraxx said:

rialb said:

I think that "Sister" is the only song you need to worry about. Trying to explain what that song is about to your children could be a bit...awkward.

Kids don't listen to lyrics anyway. They just "like the beat".

[Edited 9/15/11 14:15pm]

I definitely hear kids singing lyrics to their favorite songs, though, and you don't want them singing any 'dirty' Prince songs in front of other people, or at school..

The1592 said:

SezmanPT said:

these days most 15 year olds think Prince is a member of the royal family!

Actually, most people these days think Prince is Michael Jackson's son.

The1592 said:

SezmanPT said:

these days most 15 year olds think Prince is a member of the royal family!

Actually, most people these days think Prince is Michael Jackson's son.

i dread the the generation in which prince and MJ are no longer as loved/known as much as they are now. alot of people i know only know prince because of purple rain but... he's so much better than that. kids these days are too obsessed with trivial music of the likes of... justin bieber.

SezmanPT said:

The1592 said:

Actually, most people these days think Prince is Michael Jackson's son.

i dread the the generation in which prince and MJ are no longer as loved/known as much as they are now. alot of people i know only know prince because of purple rain but... he's so much better than that. kids these days are too obsessed with trivial music of the likes of... justin bieber.

Not true... A lot of younger fans in their 20s and younger have "discovered" Prince and MJ... Mostly because of youtube and word-of-mouth on internet forums.

purplethunder3121 said:

SezmanPT said:

i dread the the generation in which prince and MJ are no longer as loved/known as much as they are now. alot of people i know only know prince because of purple rain but... he's so much better than that. kids these days are too obsessed with trivial music of the likes of... justin bieber.

Not true... A lot of younger fans in their 20s and younger have "discovered" Prince and MJ... Mostly because of youtube and word-of-mouth on internet forums.

Well, we're starting to get off-topic here, but I do think Prince will just fade away one day, but that's his own fault because he takes his albums out of print, videos off youtube, etc... but MJ is still huge, and will probably last as long as Elvis and The Beatles.

i know ALOT of 15/16/17 year olds that have never even heard of prince... maybe that's just here but he's certainly getting less popular. i don't think i've ever heard his songs played on daytime radio when EVERYONE is listening. how are people supposed to see his excellence when it's up to them to discover him. Elvis and the beatles are still iconic music acts but they're not as big a hype anymore. well they are in france but musically, they're like a decade behind.

You never need an age for music, IMO.

I'm 16, and became fan when I was 13. I been Madonnafan since I was 9. I grew up with all kinds of music. Yes, they are sexual, but now these days it's pretty tame. Kids know everything!

xLiberiangirl said:

You never need an age for music, IMO.

I'm 16, and became fan when I was 13. I been Madonnafan since I was 9. I grew up with all kinds of music. Yes, they are sexual, but now these days it's pretty tame. Kids know everything!

I've been playing the Black Album over and over to my eight-week-old son, especially "Bob George." It's the only sure-fire way to get him to stop crying when he's fussy. However, when he is old enough to understand the words, I may have to switch to "Everybody Loves Me" or something.

electricberet said:

I've been playing the Black Album over and over to my eight-week-old son, especially "Bob George." It's the only sure-fire way to get him to stop crying when he's fussy. However, when he is old enough to understand the words, I may have to switch to "Everybody Loves Me" or something.

That's interesting... I wish I had played "Bob George" when my son was teething...

xLiberiangirl said:

You never need an age for music, IMO.

I'm 16, and became fan when I was 13. I been Madonnafan since I was 9. I grew up with all kinds of music. Yes, they are sexual, but now these days it's pretty tame. Kids know everything!

I agree! 'Rope Burn' by Janet was my favourite song when I was five years old & I'm pretty sure I turned out alright

purplethunder3121 said:

electricberet said:

I've been playing the Black Album over and over to my eight-week-old son, especially "Bob George." It's the only sure-fire way to get him to stop crying when he's fussy. However, when he is old enough to understand the words, I may have to switch to "Everybody Loves Me" or something.

That's interesting... I wish I had played "Bob George" when my son was teething...

I think the voice scares him a little, and that makes him quiet. "Oh yeah, you quiet now...."

Mya said:

xLiberiangirl said:

You never need an age for music, IMO.

I'm 16, and became fan when I was 13. I been Madonnafan since I was 9. I grew up with all kinds of music. Yes, they are sexual, but now these days it's pretty tame. Kids know everything!

I agree! 'Rope Burn' by Janet was my favourite song when I was five years old & I'm pretty sure I turned out alright

You're so sure of that...right?

Just be selective. My 11 & 8 year olds love "Starfish & Coffee", "Delirious", "Raspberry Beret" & "La La La, Hee Hee Hee". BUT, I'm not gonna expose them to "Darling Nikki", "Head", etc....

DaveG said:

Just be selective. My 11 & 8 year olds love "Starfish & Coffee", "Delirious", "Raspberry Beret" & "La La La, Hee Hee Hee". BUT, I'm not gonna expose them to "Darling Nikki", "Head", etc....

unless your kids are homeschoolled, theyre hearing much worse on the playgrounds at school

uuhson said:

DaveG said:

Just be selective. My 11 & 8 year olds love "Starfish & Coffee", "Delirious", "Raspberry Beret" & "La La La, Hee Hee Hee". BUT, I'm not gonna expose them to "Darling Nikki", "Head", etc....

unless your kids are homeschoolled, theyre hearing much worse on the playgrounds at school

Sure, I get that... I don't shelter my kids. I hear the lyrics to Top 40 songs now & I just try to make sure that they are educated enough to be their own filter.... That being said, I'm still not gonna load "18 & Over" or "Jack U Off" onto their iPod....

DaveG said:

uuhson said:

unless your kids are homeschoolled, theyre hearing much worse on the playgrounds at school

Sure, I get that... I don't shelter my kids. I hear the lyrics to Top 40 songs now & I just try to make sure that they are educated enough to be their own filter.... That being said, I'm still not gonna load "18 & Over" or "Jack U Off" onto their iPod....

i can understand not personally showing them or having them listen to the song themselves, just as i wouldnt want to listen to jack u off with my mother. but would you people stotp them from listening if they had found the song on their own?

There's a lot of songs just in pop music that are very explicit. They might be too young to understand some of what P's singing about though, but there's a lot of songs we all hear as kids that you go "so that's what they were singing about?" when you get older.

I have no problem with kids being exposed to explicit songs, but as parents, need to monitor what the kids do listen to, and not allow it to be played in your car.

Just make a mix of songs for them to listen to.