I know I could look up wiki to check when he did convert, but when did you hear the difference in his music (if you did her any) after he converted to be a Jehovah's witness? Was it around "New power soul"?

It must just be coincedence, because after he converted he lost me with his output. I forgive "new power soul" as not every album can be great or even good, but "rave..." underwhelmed me, and whilst he did bounce back creatively with "the rainbow children", it feels somewhat like autopilot since then? As I said, maybe it is coincedence or maybe his new religion did change his writing? What do you think? Has his music got better to you since? No different?

If anything, it wasnt the JW conversion that changed the music (not necessarily for the better, not necessarily for worse) but the WB battle took a lot out of him emotionally and spiritually...and as some in the know have stated, physically.

To go as far as he did in the media with this battle...it's like he put everything he was on the table in an ultimate life gamble.

rdhull said:

If anything, it wasnt the JW conversion that changed the music (not necessarily for the better, not necessarily for worse) but the WB battle took a lot out of him emotionally and spiritually...and as some in the know have stated, physically.

To go as far as he did in the media with this battle...it's like he put everything he was on the table in an ultimate life gamble.

We did get some good music out of him because of it the battle with WB, so yeah I guess the WB battle changed his music somewhat first, but for me, he wasn't so creatively bankcrupt until after he left WB and specifically around "new power soul" time, or when he converted to JW LOL.

I think it was time to get some outside producers perhaps to work on his pop songs. Not that, that was ever going to happen LOL.

thesexofit said:

rdhull said:

If anything, it wasnt the JW conversion that changed the music (not necessarily for the better, not necessarily for worse) but the WB battle took a lot out of him emotionally and spiritually...and as some in the know have stated, physically.

To go as far as he did in the media with this battle...it's like he put everything he was on the table in an ultimate life gamble.

We did get some good music out of him because of it the battle with WB, so yeah I guess the WB battle changed his music somewhat first, but for me, he wasn't so creatively bankcrupt until after he left WB and specifically around "new power soul" time, or when he converted to JW LOL.

I think it was time to get some outside producers perhaps to work on his pop songs. Not that, that was ever going to happen LOL.

I havr never bought into the opinion of him being creatively bankrupt.

thesexofit said:

I know I could look up wiki to check when he did convert, but when did you hear the difference in his music (if you did her any) after he converted to be a Jehovah's witness? Was it around "New power soul"?

It must just be coincedence, because after he converted he lost me with his output. I forgive "new power soul" as not every album can be great or even good, but "rave..." underwhelmed me, and whilst he did bounce back creatively with "the rainbow children", it feels somewhat like autopilot since then? As I said, maybe it is coincedence or maybe his new religion did change his writing? What do you think? Has his music got better to you since? No different?

I would have to say for me it was obviously during "The Rainbow Children" era. But it never lost me, I actually think it brought it to another realm. Granted, it can be very redundant for some time. Sometimes appearing as "OVER KILL" But lately, it has become more balanced; which is nice.

It is not as different for me, just more organized and in order. The chaotic spontaneous zeal has kind of calmed a bit, but yet still very challenging and enlightening! For me anyways...lol

[Edited 12/7/11 22:17pm]

Do you think maybe it was just his age? Most people change as they get older, and most musicians usually go downhill, at least commerically and critically once they've been around for 20 years. Prince hit that mark in 1998, and I can't think of many other artists who continued to create great and/or commercially successful music that far into their career. Especially when they've been as prolific as Prince.

But as for me, I enjoy the majority of his music. Not all of it, but most of it, even the recent albums.

[Edited 12/7/11 22:31pm]

I don't think there is ANY relationship between his conversion and the evolution of his music. The musical directions that define his post-WB music were already taken when he recorded Emancipation, and u can see it coming as early as Come.

I'm sure there are many reasons why the quality of Prince's music has slowly declined over the years but joining an authoritarian cult isn't helpful, not in the long run. According to Wikipedia he joined the Jehovah's Witnesses in 2001.

rdhull said:

thesexofit said:

We did get some good music out of him because of it the battle with WB, so yeah I guess the WB battle changed his music somewhat first, but for me, he wasn't so creatively bankcrupt until after he left WB and specifically around "new power soul" time, or when he converted to JW LOL.

I think it was time to get some outside producers perhaps to work on his pop songs. Not that, that was ever going to happen LOL.

I havr never bought into the opinion of him being creatively bankrupt.

^ This. His creativity was never exhausted. It simply manifested in ways that were unfamiliar to what they had previously taken form as. The whole idea of his music altering in quality simply beacuse he changed ideologies/beliefs is unfair to the music because you're making a projective argument based on opinions vs. facts.

Being a JW may be part of it but I think he is just at a different place in his life. He has had to rebound from some heavy situations over the years like the death of his child, 2 divorces, the loss of his parents in consecutive years. Despite his astronomical talents at the end of the day he is just human and we may never know how he internally processed all this as it relates to his music.

wally1970 said:

But what Brought about this change , really , was the passing of his son . Ripped his heart out , thats when he went JW [Edited 12/8/11 11:40am]

I didnt want to mention this.

seemed to take the fun out of his music. Even in the early JW days the music and lyrics was playful and fun. Nows its just too serious and no fun at all imo. its too bad cause there used to be great humor in his music. Now its just boring. I keep the dream alive though that one day it will return.

in what aspects as the fun disapeared? i saw him live several times this year and he looked like hes having as much fun as ever, crackin jokes here and there and everything

Maybe he will do a rendition of that ol' time gospel song.. "Guide me O' thou great Jehovah"

LOL

uuhson said:

in what aspects as the fun disapeared? i saw him live several times this year and he looked like hes having as much fun as ever, crackin jokes here and there and everything

most of these people here no not of what they speak of...they're busy on the net armchair a&r-ing while 10,000-20,000 folks are partying with Prince, all of them having a great time

This topic is so original