TrevorAyer said:

in my opinion .. lol .. it's not his faith that caused his decline but rather his lack of real friends and his effort to make friends thru his musical output

in any regard .. i think you will have better luck quoting prince own lyrics than to find articles or interviews .. considering prince interviews for the most part are minimal .. and he is so personal and revealing in his lyrics

for example .. i can count my friends on a peace sign .. one .. two ..

prince dumped the revolution .. those were his friends and probably his last true friends .. his best music was inspired or at least meant to impress certain individuals .. usually romantic .. sometimes just wendy and lisa .. but later we see him try to impress the tony m crew by throwing in mutherfuckers and raps .. he wants to be friends with renato and blackwell so he tries to write jazzier tunes .. and rainbow chillin is clearly an ode to larry graham .. his child hood hero that he desparately wants to be down with since he dumped all his old friends and is lonely

without true friends .. and with only cheap plastic friends like your tony m or larry to impress .. his music became ingenuine .. less artistic .. more of a conversation .. like .. hey look what i can do .. i can quote scripture and play jazz and rap and sound rich and like im a playa .. look at me .. be my friend .. i am just like you .. i get it .. i get jazz .. i get rap .. i get jw .. see i put it on my record .. look at me .. chuck d likes me .. ?estlove likes me .. will you be my friend?

his music became conversational .. likely because he had has no friends to have conversations with .. so we might get a conversation about family names or microchips or even something like reflection sounds more like a conversation than a song or poetry .. i think prince used to sit around bullshitting with friends and come away from that inspired to write poetry .. to sum it all up in some elequent phrase .. delicately decorated with words and mannerisms he picked up from his friends (think the time jams or even a title like susannahs pajamas or next time wipe the lipstick ...) .. during his 'decline' it became like he was preaching a sermon to strangers .. explaining every little thing and trying to sound convincing .. but its no longer an interaction with fans .. its more of prince telling his fans what is on his mind .. why .. not because of his faith .. but because of his loneliness .. he has no outlet for these conversations because he is insecurely trying to impress larry .. not just hang with him and make cool music ..

i think if he had real people in his life that really loved him, not his fame and money or business opportunity, he wouldn't be trying to converse with his fans thru his music .. his expression would be more pure, more of a overall pistache of his life and world than a lonely guy trying to fit in and make friends with his new age ideas ...

prince always had faith .. i think it was more pure in the 80's .. more real .. i don't think you can convincingly argue a "decline" TO his faith .. i think its his events in the real physical world that affected his decline far more than his faith

This is a very good post

OldFriends4Sale said:

That interview showed a delusional side of Prince (saying the Time broke up because they ran out of things to sing about etc)

I post this because, in those pieces he's comparing the darker & "God experience" to changes in albums music song writing. If he possibly is writting from a 'quenched' life experience ... does it cause a decline in his stardom or creative fullness

Sometimes you gotta feel it to let it out

Mostly, I agree with what you are saying, but I didn't start the thread to say that religion or his becoming a Jehovah's Witness is the cause of his decline. Again, I don't think that there has been a creative decline. I'm just looking for article's that connect Prince's decline to his becoming a Jehovah's Witness so that I can show that Prince has had the same criticism as Newton and Einstein of allowing religion to limit their intellectual/creative prowess. And, maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying or why you are posting this article because it seems that your post is another of the posts that is critiquing or admonishing me for asserting that religion has caused Prince's decline when that is not what I have said or inferred. But, please correct me if I am misunderstanding your reason for posting the article. Again, I agree with your sentiment, but I don’t think it applies to what I have said or what I am doing, which is merely looking for articles that connect Prince’s decline to his faith so that I can compare this occurrence with what happened with Newton and Einstein.

OldFriends4Sale said:

TrevorAyer said:

in my opinion .. lol .. it's not his faith that caused his decline but rather his lack of real friends and his effort to make friends thru his musical output

in any regard .. i think you will have better luck quoting prince own lyrics than to find articles or interviews .. considering prince interviews for the most part are minimal .. and he is so personal and revealing in his lyrics

for example .. i can count my friends on a peace sign .. one .. two ..

prince dumped the revolution .. those were his friends and probably his last true friends .. his best music was inspired or at least meant to impress certain individuals .. usually romantic .. sometimes just wendy and lisa .. but later we see him try to impress the tony m crew by throwing in mutherfuckers and raps .. he wants to be friends with renato and blackwell so he tries to write jazzier tunes .. and rainbow chillin is clearly an ode to larry graham .. his child hood hero that he desparately wants to be down with since he dumped all his old friends and is lonely

without true friends .. and with only cheap plastic friends like your tony m or larry to impress .. his music became ingenuine .. less artistic .. more of a conversation .. like .. hey look what i can do .. i can quote scripture and play jazz and rap and sound rich and like im a playa .. look at me .. be my friend .. i am just like you .. i get it .. i get jazz .. i get rap .. i get jw .. see i put it on my record .. look at me .. chuck d likes me .. ?estlove likes me .. will you be my friend?

his music became conversational .. likely because he had has no friends to have conversations with .. so we might get a conversation about family names or microchips or even something like reflection sounds more like a conversation than a song or poetry .. i think prince used to sit around bullshitting with friends and come away from that inspired to write poetry .. to sum it all up in some elequent phrase .. delicately decorated with words and mannerisms he picked up from his friends (think the time jams or even a title like susannahs pajamas or next time wipe the lipstick ...) .. during his 'decline' it became like he was preaching a sermon to strangers .. explaining every little thing and trying to sound convincing .. but its no longer an interaction with fans .. its more of prince telling his fans what is on his mind .. why .. not because of his faith .. but because of his loneliness .. he has no outlet for these conversations because he is insecurely trying to impress larry .. not just hang with him and make cool music ..

i think if he had real people in his life that really loved him, not his fame and money or business opportunity, he wouldn't be trying to converse with his fans thru his music .. his expression would be more pure, more of a overall pistache of his life and world than a lonely guy trying to fit in and make friends with his new age ideas ...

prince always had faith .. i think it was more pure in the 80's .. more real .. i don't think you can convincingly argue a "decline" TO his faith .. i think its his events in the real physical world that affected his decline far more than his faith

This is a very good post

I, too, agree with his sentiment, especially what I have bolded, but, again, I have not asserted that Prince's decline is due to his faith. My paper is not about that.

1725topp said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

That interview showed a delusional side of Prince (saying the Time broke up because they ran out of things to sing about etc)

I post this because, in those pieces he's comparing the darker & "God experience" to changes in albums music song writing. If he possibly is writting from a 'quenched' life experience ... does it cause a decline in his stardom or creative fullness

Sometimes you gotta feel it to let it out

Mostly, I agree with what you are saying, but I didn't start the thread to say that religion or his becoming a Jehovah's Witness is the cause of his decline. Again, I don't think that there has been a creative decline. I'm just looking for article's that connect Prince's decline to his becoming a Jehovah's Witness so that I can show that Prince has had the same criticism as Newton and Einstein of allowing religion to limit their intellectual/creative prowess. And, maybe I am misunderstanding what you are saying or why you are posting this article because it seems that your post is another of the posts that is critiquing or admonishing me for asserting that religion has caused Prince's decline when that is not what I have said or inferred. But, please correct me if I am misunderstanding your reason for posting the article. Again, I agree with your sentiment, but I don’t think it applies to what I have said or what I am doing, which is merely looking for articles that connect Prince’s decline to his faith so that I can compare this occurrence with what happened with Newton and Einstein.

No, I think there are many other things beyond religion. Trevor Ayers post is more in line with what I'm believing and add a lot of Ego to it. My post was more or less saying that it's not as much his 'defined faith' as it is a possible stiffled life.

I questioned in another thread, Sheila E who has very strong defined faith prob moreso connected with the Evangelical community who will perform Erotic City vs Prince JW who won't

I'm asking questions about this topic too,

One of my favorite post 1999yr album is the Rainbow Children.

I'm looking for 'articles' but so far haven't found anything yet.

OldFriends4Sale said:

No, I think there are many other things beyond religion. Trevor Ayers post is more in line with what I'm believing and add a lot of Ego to it. My post was more or less saying that it's not as much his 'defined faith' as it is a possible stiffled life.

I questioned in another thread, Sheila E who has very strong defined faith prob moreso connected with the Evangelical community who will perform Erotic City vs Prince JW who won't

I'm asking questions about this topic too,

One of my favorite post 1999yr album is the Rainbow Children.

I'm looking for 'articles' but so far haven't found anything yet.

Okay, now I understand. I guess I'm getting a bit war weary because a few people have posted either chastising or admonishing me for stating that Prince's decline is due to his faith when I never stated that, and it gets a bit frustrating because when I reread what I have written, including the initial post, I don't know how they are getting that idea. But, I understand your posts and appreciate the discourse. Thanks.

*

As for the different manner in which Shelia E allows her faith to affect her artistry as opposed to Prince, I just chalk it all up to people being different and handling things in a way that makes sense for them or that best allows them to accomplish their goal. For instance, in losing fifty pounds I stopped eating sweets, except for fruit and carrot soufflé. I have not had cake, ice cream, cookies, candy bars, etc. since March 1, 2009. Even though I have a regular exercise routine, I still do not eat those sweets because I'm a glutton. I love to eat, and I am prone to overeat. My wife, on the other hand, has a similar exercise routine, but she eats sweets regularly because she has more discipline and rarely overeats. The analogy may not exactly fit, but Shelia E, because of her personality and understanding, can make peace with her Christianity and performing "Erotic City" in a manner that may not work for Prince's personality and understanding of Christianity. (Just speculating, but Prince may be worried that if he performs "Erotic City" that may open the flood gates, releasing his entire freaky self, and before he knows it he will be grinding on the floor, singing "Head," and masturbating with his guitar. And while lots of fans may enjoy it and he may enjoy it for the moment, he may later regret that he disappointed himself and his God. Again, I'm just speculating, but my point is that a lot of times people make decisions based on issues or problems that could occur even if there is little possibility that they may actually occur. I remember when Al Green was receiving a life-time achievement award, and he said to the cheering audience, "Y'all better stop fo' y'all make me sing 'Love and Happiness,'" crooning the title of the song with that southern soulful style he has. The audience erupted in anticipation, and Green simply smiled, finished his acceptance speech, and left. While I don't think that singing "Love and Happiness" would have caused Green to drop dead and go directly to hell, he may have been worried about any number of consequences and decided it was better not to sing it.) I may be over simplifying, but E's, Prince's, and Green's cases are like most of us in that we all make decisions based on what we think will best allow us to accomplish our goals, even if it may be strange to others. Of course, my wife still eats her sweets right in my face, saying "Man, you don't know what you are missing," to which I always respond, "Yes, I do--fifty pounds."

OldFriends4Sale said:

TrevorAyer said:

in my opinion .. lol .. it's not his faith that caused his decline but rather his lack of real friends and his effort to make friends thru his musical output

in any regard .. i think you will have better luck quoting prince own lyrics than to find articles or interviews .. considering prince interviews for the most part are minimal .. and he is so personal and revealing in his lyrics

for example .. i can count my friends on a peace sign .. one .. two ..

prince dumped the revolution .. those were his friends and probably his last true friends .. his best music was inspired or at least meant to impress certain individuals .. usually romantic .. sometimes just wendy and lisa .. but later we see him try to impress the tony m crew by throwing in mutherfuckers and raps .. he wants to be friends with renato and blackwell so he tries to write jazzier tunes .. and rainbow chillin is clearly an ode to larry graham .. his child hood hero that he desparately wants to be down with since he dumped all his old friends and is lonely

without true friends .. and with only cheap plastic friends like your tony m or larry to impress .. his music became ingenuine .. less artistic .. more of a conversation .. like .. hey look what i can do .. i can quote scripture and play jazz and rap and sound rich and like im a playa .. look at me .. be my friend .. i am just like you .. i get it .. i get jazz .. i get rap .. i get jw .. see i put it on my record .. look at me .. chuck d likes me .. ?estlove likes me .. will you be my friend?

his music became conversational .. likely because he had has no friends to have conversations with .. so we might get a conversation about family names or microchips or even something like reflection sounds more like a conversation than a song or poetry .. i think prince used to sit around bullshitting with friends and come away from that inspired to write poetry .. to sum it all up in some elequent phrase .. delicately decorated with words and mannerisms he picked up from his friends (think the time jams or even a title like susannahs pajamas or next time wipe the lipstick ...) .. during his 'decline' it became like he was preaching a sermon to strangers .. explaining every little thing and trying to sound convincing .. but its no longer an interaction with fans .. its more of prince telling his fans what is on his mind .. why .. not because of his faith .. but because of his loneliness .. he has no outlet for these conversations because he is insecurely trying to impress larry .. not just hang with him and make cool music ..

i think if he had real people in his life that really loved him, not his fame and money or business opportunity, he wouldn't be trying to converse with his fans thru his music .. his expression would be more pure, more of a overall pistache of his life and world than a lonely guy trying to fit in and make friends with his new age ideas ...

prince always had faith .. i think it was more pure in the 80's .. more real .. i don't think you can convincingly argue a "decline" TO his faith .. i think its his events in the real physical world that affected his decline far more than his faith

This is a very good post

It's a very, very good post.

Just want to add that after the Revolution split up, he further cloistered himself away at PP. The downfall literally begins with that big white mansion. Freud would have a field day.

[Edited 9/11/12 13:45pm]

2elijah said:

1725Stopp I guess I will be the only one on this thread to disagree that his creativity declined after the Revolution members were no longer part of his band.

I don't disagree with you; in fact, I don't see much of an artistic decline today. I love TRC, Musicology, Loutusflow3r/MPLS, and 20Ten, but I want to keep the thread on the original topic because I have become so frustrated with posters needing to tell me that I am wrong for relating Prince's decline to becoming a Jehovah's Witness when I never said that. So, I've tried to avoid the other discussions as much as possible just so I could remain focused on my original question and not become overly frustrated by the people who accuse me of connecting Prince's decline to his faith, when, again, I never did that.

TrevorAyer said:

in my opinion .. lol .. it's not his faith that caused his decline but rather his lack of real friends and his effort to make friends thru his musical output

in any regard .. i think you will have better luck quoting prince own lyrics than to find articles or interviews .. considering prince interviews for the most part are minimal .. and he is so personal and revealing in his lyrics

for example .. i can count my friends on a peace sign .. one .. two ..

prince dumped the revolution .. those were his friends and probably his last true friends .. his best music was inspired or at least meant to impress certain individuals .. usually romantic .. sometimes just wendy and lisa .. but later we see him try to impress the tony m crew by throwing in mutherfuckers and raps .. he wants to be friends with renato and blackwell so he tries to write jazzier tunes .. and rainbow chillin is clearly an ode to larry graham .. his child hood hero that he desparately wants to be down with since he dumped all his old friends and is lonely

without true friends .. and with only cheap plastic friends like your tony m or larry to impress .. his music became ingenuine .. less artistic .. more of a conversation .. like .. hey look what i can do .. i can quote scripture and play jazz and rap and sound rich and like im a playa .. look at me .. be my friend .. i am just like you .. i get it .. i get jazz .. i get rap .. i get jw .. see i put it on my record .. look at me .. chuck d likes me .. ?estlove likes me .. will you be my friend?

his music became conversational .. likely because he had has no friends to have conversations with .. so we might get a conversation about family names or microchips or even something like reflection sounds more like a conversation than a song or poetry .. i think prince used to sit around bullshitting with friends and come away from that inspired to write poetry .. to sum it all up in some elequent phrase .. delicately decorated with words and mannerisms he picked up from his friends (think the time jams or even a title like susannahs pajamas or next time wipe the lipstick ...) .. during his 'decline' it became like he was preaching a sermon to strangers .. explaining every little thing and trying to sound convincing .. but its no longer an interaction with fans .. its more of prince telling his fans what is on his mind .. why .. not because of his faith .. but because of his loneliness .. he has no outlet for these conversations because he is insecurely trying to impress larry .. not just hang with him and make cool music ..

i think if he had real people in his life that really loved him, not his fame and money or business opportunity, he wouldn't be trying to converse with his fans thru his music .. his expression would be more pure, more of a overall pistache of his life and world than a lonely guy trying to fit in and make friends with his new age ideas ...

prince always had faith .. i think it was more pure in the 80's .. more real .. i don't think you can convincingly argue a "decline" TO his faith .. i think its his events in the real physical world that affected his decline far more than his faith

Inspiration in art is hard to assess. It undoubtedly factors in the creative process, but to what extent and in which way? I was reading through Michael Bland’s posts yesterday and he seemed to suggest that Prince has pragmatic approach to making new music, using the equipment and personnel at hand, exploiting accidents in the recording process and sometimes creating music for specific situations or to achieve a particular career goal. The traditional idea of an artist inspired by his “muse” or trying to impress a love interest is rather conservative and unnecessarily romantic, even slightly vulgar. And who’s to say if the need to impress others motivates him at all? When trying to figure out the history behind a piece of music, or any work of art, we should at least pay attention to known facts: Prince tried his hands at jazz before he met Renato and Blackwell and he continued to dabble in rap and hip hop after he fired Tony M. Why he should try to impress someone he has fired is beyond me. And to try to impress someone you have not yet met is impossible (unless you share Prince’s unorthodox concept of time ). Pseudo history and tabloid psychology iom.

1725topp said:

2elijah said:

I hear you and agree that you never implied that;good luck with your research and hope you will share it here when completed, if possible.

Thanks for the well wishes. I have about a week's more work with adding the magazine quotes and editing. If I didn't have other teaching, writing, and editing duties, I could finish it in a couple of days. I will be targeting three journals--two print and one online. It usually takes about three to six months to receive an acceptance or rejection, depending on the size of the journal. Being a writer is like being in the military--hurry and then wait. Of course, if it is accepted by the online journal, I can just share the link, depending on their access policy. If it is accepted by one of the print journals, I can scan it, of course. So, I'm off. Thanks again for all the kinds words and encouragement. When I joined the Org, I didn't think that I would agree with everyone, but I was hoping to find people who could be insightful, even when we disagree. You are like that, and there are others on this site who make it a pleasure to be here. Take care.

NouveauDance said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

This is a very good post

It's a very, very good post.

Just want to add that after the Revolution split up, he further cloistered himself away at PP. The downfall literally begins with that big white mansion. Freud would have a field day.

[Edited 9/11/12 13:45pm]

Yes, and EGO partnered up with Prince, if u get a chance read the 1990 Rolling Stones interview again.

Paisley Park as a concept was beautiful, the Warehouse and his home studio hungry creativity

1725topp said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

No, I think there are many other things beyond religion. Trevor Ayers post is more in line with what I'm believing and add a lot of Ego to it. My post was more or less saying that it's not as much his 'defined faith' as it is a possible stiffled life.

I questioned in another thread, Sheila E who has very strong defined faith prob moreso connected with the Evangelical community who will perform Erotic City vs Prince JW who won't

I'm asking questions about this topic too,

One of my favorite post 1999yr album is the Rainbow Children.

I'm looking for 'articles' but so far haven't found anything yet.

Okay, now I understand. I guess I'm getting a bit war weary because a few people have posted either chastising or admonishing me for stating that Prince's decline is due to his faith when I never stated that, and it gets a bit frustrating because when I reread what I have written, including the initial post, I don't know how they are getting that idea. But, I understand your posts and appreciate the discourse. Thanks.

*

As for the different manner in which Shelia E allows her faith to affect her artistry as opposed to Prince, I just chalk it all up to people being different and handling things in a way that makes sense for them or that best allows them to accomplish their goal. For instance, in losing fifty pounds I stopped eating sweets, except for fruit and carrot soufflé. I have not had cake, ice cream, cookies, candy bars, etc. since March 1, 2009. Even though I have a regular exercise routine, I still do not eat those sweets because I'm a glutton. I love to eat, and I am prone to overeat. My wife, on the other hand, has a similar exercise routine, but she eats sweets regularly because she has more discipline and rarely overeats. The analogy may not exactly fit, but Shelia E, because of her personality and understanding, can make peace with her Christianity and performing "Erotic City" in a manner that may not work for Prince's personality and understanding of Christianity. (Just speculating, but Prince may be worried that if he performs "Erotic City" that may open the flood gates, releasing his entire freaky self, and before he knows it he will be grinding on the floor, singing "Head," and masturbating with his guitar. And while lots of fans may enjoy it and he may enjoy it for the moment, he may later regret that he disappointed himself and his God. Again, I'm just speculating, but my point is that a lot of times people make decisions based on issues or problems that could occur even if there is little possibility that they may actually occur. I remember when Al Green was receiving a life-time achievement award, and he said to the cheering audience, "Y'all better stop fo' y'all make me sing 'Love and Happiness,'" crooning the title of the song with that southern soulful style he has. The audience erupted in anticipation, and Green simply smiled, finished his acceptance speech, and left. While I don't think that singing "Love and Happiness" would have caused Green to drop dead and go directly to hell, he may have been worried about any number of consequences and decided it was better not to sing it.) I may be over simplifying, but E's, Prince's, and Green's cases are like most of us in that we all make decisions based on what we think will best allow us to accomplish our goals, even if it may be strange to others. Of course, my wife still eats her sweets right in my face, saying "Man, you don't know what you are missing," to which I always respond, "Yes, I do--fifty pounds."

love it

love your examples

I am a whore 4 sweets, mostly baked goods, i too tho workout and have a good motab

1 more slice of white cake in the fridge

I saw Al Green at a music fest some years ago, and he tore up Love & Happiness. He found his way with the beauty of the song and who he is.

I think with Prince there is a strong ego involved

Yet Prince plays a sample of Erotic City at shows and at the reveal party of LotusFlow3r.com site he and band played Erotic City for a few minutes.

"I did not have sex, I just used my finger..." is what that sounds like

I think it was just 3 yrs ago that sheila said she would not be performing any of those song anymore. Even though A Love Bizarre is full of phallic imagery and talking of love making...she is now performing Olivers House & Erotic City

Maybe Sheila sees it as more like an actress acting out a part

whereas Prince + Ego sees it as an endorsing of behaviour

OldFriends4Sale said:

love it

love your examples

I am a whore 4 sweets, mostly baked goods, i too tho workout and have a good motab

1 more slice of white cake in the fridge

I saw Al Green at a music fest some years ago, and he tore up Love & Happiness. He found his way with the beauty of the song and who he is.

I think with Prince there is a strong ego involved

Yet Prince plays a sample of Erotic City at shows and at the reveal party of LotusFlow3r.com site he and band played Erotic City for a few minutes.

"I did not have sex, I just used my finger..." is what that sounds like

I think it was just 3 yrs ago that sheila said she would not be performing any of those song anymore. Even though A Love Bizarre is full of phallic imagery and talking of love making...she is now performing Olivers House & Erotic City

Maybe Sheila sees it as more like an actress acting out a part

whereas Prince + Ego sees it as an endorsing of behaviour

I hate you people with high/very active metabolism. A piece of cornbread, which I love, sets me back three or four pounds!!!

*

Do you think its ego or Prince being a naturally mischievous joker that causes him to play those snippets of past raunchy songs? When Prince plays those snippets, I think it’s like him teasing and playing with the fans, like "I know what y'all want to hear." And, it's like connecting with the audience on some level, having an inside joke, if you will, with the fans. And, also, art is interesting in that one's ideology drives the art so how one sees life affects not just what one creates but, also, what one performs. In 2007, I decided to edit some of my manuscripts and remove as much profanity as I could from the poetry and stories. It wasn't for religious reasons, but it dawned on me, "How can I challenge students to expand their vocabulary if I'm not doing the same?" So, a few months after editing the books, someone who knew me from the poetry scene of ten years earlier emailed me and stated, "Hey, man, do you know they have changed your books. I just purchased a copy and all the rawness has been replaced with all of this imagery." I responded, "Yeah, I did it. I wanted to challenge myself to master the language." He responded, "Yeah, that's cool and good for you, but I'd rather have the poems with the cussing. Can I get a refund?" That's still funny to me, and we gave him a refund.

*

So, I can see that Prince may think that playing certain songs is endorsing behavior, but I don't see that as ego so much as it is a man in his fifties thinking or considering the effect that his work has on others. For the most part, Prince has idolized artist who believed that music is supposed to be positive and make life better. And while Prince's music has been an inspiration for me (while everyone else was concentrating on the sex, I was digging the message of be an individual and create your own journey and goals), I can imagine that as he matured he began to wonder how his messages measured next to the messages of James Brown, Sly Stone, Larry Graham, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, etc. Yes, these acts were wild and revolutionary, but their music was such that all generations could listen to it together and not feel weird and awkward. Again, I'm just speculating, but I guess I give Prince the benefit of the doubt that age makes a person wonder, "What has my life meant?" "Who have I helped?" And while many can argue that Prince is an ass personally, he has always created music, for the most part, that tried to inspire people to think about life in a way that keeps them from being hurt and from hurting others. And fortunately or unfortunately, he seems to have decided that some of his past work is not as positive/helpful to people as he initially thought it was.

i see we have come full circle and tied this thread in with the george lucas thread

sounds like you jar jar binksed ur past manuscripts .. for my ideaology art represents a moment .. yes perhaps a moment is 10 years but usually a moment is a time piece .. and it's one thing to finish a moment a long time from when it began .. and a completely un artistic other thing to take a moment perfectly preserved and 'modernize' it. yet .. editing out tony m. would totally make my dnp sexymf appreciation improve dramatically .. i don't wanna hear the christ .. when prince says he wants to fuck the taste out of your mouth .. for some reason it works .. but the mutherfuckers everyother line all over gold and exodus kinda ruin it for me ..

TrevorAyer said:

i see we have come full circle and tied this thread in with the george lucas thread

sounds like you jar jar binksed ur past manuscripts .. for my ideaology art represents a moment .. yes perhaps a moment is 10 years but usually a moment is a time piece .. and it's one thing to finish a moment a long time from when it began .. and a completely un artistic other thing to take a moment perfectly preserved and 'modernize' it. yet .. editing out tony m. would totally make my dnp sexymf appreciation improve dramatically .. i don't wanna hear the christ .. when prince says he wants to fuck the taste out of your mouth .. for some reason it works .. but the mutherfuckers everyother line all over gold and exodus kinda ruin it for me ..

First, I understand and respect your sentiment. And, unlike my manuscripts, people can still hear the original Prince recordings (though a lot are out of print they are accessible) as they can still view the original Star Wars. As for hearing Prince live, that, too, is a matter of ideology or preference. While art/songs represent a moment, for some artists the continuous live performance represents that artist's relationship with that song at that moment, not the moment that the song was created or recorded. So, some artists feel they have a right to change the live performance of the song to fit how they relate to the song at that moment, and I'm not just discussing moral shifts but shifts in aesthetics. As for the audience, a live performance is a sort of "buyer beware" circumstance because the artist may be like Frankie Beverly when he says, "Some artists change songs all the time, and people don't want to hear that; they want to hear what they know and love." I have friends who complain all the time that they went to see some artist and they almost couldn't recognize their favorite song. I, on the other hand, was raised around juke joint musicians who changed songs all the time. In fact, I'm upset if I see a live performance and the songs sound exactly like the record. And, I know we are discussing slightly different things, but my point is that I have no problem with lyric or music changes because I expect the artist the engage that song as it relates to his current moment and not twenty years ago. I'm not saying that I'm right for feeling this way or that Prince is right for doing it; I'm just saying that my expectation of what a live show should be makes me more open to the manner in which Prince changes his songs. I must add that so far he has not changed a lyric or groove so drastically that it changes the meaning or feeling for me, and, of course, that’s based on my subjective notions.

*

As for me, as a writer, literature is a bit different in that writers, traditionally, have more latitude to change works, especially poems, but even stories in some case. For instance, Walt Whitman edited Leaves of Grass for close to twenty years or so even as it was being sold in bookstores. Writers (poets and fiction writers) also have a tradition of publishing different versions of poems and stories in different journals. So, the concept of life-long editing is a bit different in the literary world. However, with that said, I understood the gentleman's issue and readily provided a refund. I would think that it is inartistic to live with something that no longer reflects who you are. The perfect scenario is that the original work remain the same, but the artist also has the ability/right to change that work as it fits one's current experience/moment, and patrons of that artist must learn if the artist's attitude toward changing one's art is more like Beverly or more like Prince. And, again, I don't think that either is right or wrong; it's just a matter of preference. Finally, to use Spinlight’s term, Prince is batshit crazy, and all of us should have the “buyer beware” mentality whenever we engage anything from him. With that said, I love the music, vocal performances, lyrical imagery, and messages of "The Exodus Has Begun," "Count the Days," and "The Return of the Bump Squad," but the language would cause me to feel awkward sharing them with one of my students, even though they are college students and we discuss poems and stories with profanity. While the language of those songs does not overshadow the power of the imagery and meaning for me, I would worry that the profanity would work to affirm, if not give license, that using profanity rather than mastering language (literary device) is acceptable.

TrevorAyer said:

i see we have come full circle and tied this thread in with the george lucas thread

sounds like you jar jar binksed ur past manuscripts .. for my ideaology art represents a moment .. yes perhaps a moment is 10 years but usually a moment is a time piece .. and it's one thing to finish a moment a long time from when it began .. and a completely un artistic other thing to take a moment perfectly preserved and 'modernize' it. yet .. editing out tony m. would totally make my dnp sexymf appreciation improve dramatically .. i don't wanna hear the christ .. when prince says he wants to fuck the taste out of your mouth .. for some reason it works .. but the mutherfuckers everyother line all over gold and exodus kinda ruin it for me ..

love poetic riddle posts

U speak 4 me

1725topp said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

love it

love your examples

I am a whore 4 sweets, mostly baked goods, i too tho workout and have a good motab

1 more slice of white cake in the fridge

I saw Al Green at a music fest some years ago, and he tore up Love & Happiness. He found his way with the beauty of the song and who he is.

I think with Prince there is a strong ego involved

Yet Prince plays a sample of Erotic City at shows and at the reveal party of LotusFlow3r.com site he and band played Erotic City for a few minutes.

"I did not have sex, I just used my finger..." is what that sounds like

I think it was just 3 yrs ago that sheila said she would not be performing any of those song anymore. Even though A Love Bizarre is full of phallic imagery and talking of love making...she is now performing Olivers House & Erotic City

Maybe Sheila sees it as more like an actress acting out a part

whereas Prince + Ego sees it as an endorsing of behaviour

I hate you people with high/very active metabolism. A piece of cornbread, which I love, sets me back three or four pounds!!!

*

Do you think its ego or Prince being a naturally mischievous joker that causes him to play those snippets of past raunchy songs? When Prince plays those snippets, I think it’s like him teasing and playing with the fans, like "I know what y'all want to hear." And, it's like connecting with the audience on some level, having an inside joke, if you will, with the fans. And, also, art is interesting in that one's ideology drives the art so how one sees life affects not just what one creates but, also, what one performs. In 2007, I decided to edit some of my manuscripts and remove as much profanity as I could from the poetry and stories. It wasn't for religious reasons, but it dawned on me, "How can I challenge students to expand their vocabulary if I'm not doing the same?" So, a few months after editing the books, someone who knew me from the poetry scene of ten years earlier emailed me and stated, "Hey, man, do you know they have changed your books. I just purchased a copy and all the rawness has been replaced with all of this imagery." I responded, "Yeah, I did it. I wanted to challenge myself to master the language." He responded, "Yeah, that's cool and good for you, but I'd rather have the poems with the cussing. Can I get a refund?" That's still funny to me, and we gave him a refund.

*

So, I can see that Prince may think that playing certain songs is endorsing behavior, but I don't see that as ego so much as it is a man in his fifties thinking or considering the effect that his work has on others. For the most part, Prince has idolized artist who believed that music is supposed to be positive and make life better. And while Prince's music has been an inspiration for me (while everyone else was concentrating on the sex, I was digging the message of be an individual and create your own journey and goals), I can imagine that as he matured he began to wonder how his messages measured next to the messages of James Brown, Sly Stone, Larry Graham, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Wonder, The Beatles, etc. Yes, these acts were wild and revolutionary, but their music was such that all generations could listen to it together and not feel weird and awkward. Again, I'm just speculating, but I guess I give Prince the benefit of the doubt that age makes a person wonder, "What has my life meant?" "Who have I helped?" And while many can argue that Prince is an ass personally, he has always created music, for the most part, that tried to inspire people to think about life in a way that keeps them from being hurt and from hurting others. And fortunately or unfortunately, he seems to have decided that some of his past work is not as positive/helpful to people as he initially thought it was.

the part of him playing those snippets is not ego but it is that part of him that wants to play that music and it's him being mischievous, like at the Super B press conference when he asks 4 questions and when someone proceeds to ask he rips with his guitar into AnotherLoverH...

In bring his 'religious' ideals to this, playing snippets, if the song is so wrong why play with it. Like if you're not supposed to have sex out of marriage then why the heavy petting, or sextexting, phonesex I would think in the context of a denomination that will excommunicate and individual those latter things are just as wrong

But he did still play some of the song at his website preview party, I think he want to play those songs.

Prince really did a lot of cursing way more during his post 1980's music. I don't mind a 'dirty word' when placed just right, in a song or a joke, but just using it just to use it is like scratching on a chalkboard

Remember Prince made changes to his music and what he would/wouldn't perform way before his 50's. Him also considering the effect that his work has on others, is why the Black album was aborted.

I think a lot of people felt the same you did(in the bolded part) I never looked at the sex parts in the 1980's music as being 'in your face or over the top' it was just parts of life story, I didn't see his music as a focus on sex, but living. Doesn't he still perform Dance Music Sex Romance? I think that was what a lot of his music & proteges were about telling stories of rendevous and inner struggles, fantasies and such

Like many others I do see a difference in his pre 1990's music presentation of God-heaven/hell spiritual/religious ideals vs the latter, going to point of changing (yes its his music) but changing the Cross 2 the Christ, Sexuality 2 Spirituality and such. Just leave it alone. Don't use the bible in business agreements to make sure others do right by you, then not make sure people who did work 4 u get paid so they have 2 take u to court.

Overall I love the Rainbow Children album, I know there are probably lines that are not PC and offensive, but with the mix of Egyptology and JW ideas, and biblical stories of the Fall of man ect mixed in strongly with stories of the Banished Ones Digital Gardens and such, I still can't take it serious as being a testament of Jehovahs Witness doctrinal beliefs.

And singing of going down on a woman whether it's in Automatic 1982

I'll go down on U all night long
It's automatic (U will?) (Yes I will, babe)

or masturbation in Mellow 2001

Can I sing 2 U while U bring yourself 2 joy?
I'll go slow at first, while U quench your thirst
Wet circles around the toy
While U bring yourself 2 joy

is the same to me, how is singing Erotic City such a bad thing. If you can change Sexuality 2 Spirituality the change Fuck 2 Funk or Love but you want to play the song.

Automatic just went off Nasty Girls just came on ...

What's interesting is that Prince still uses sexual euphemisms in his concerts and still uses it in some form in his music. You think if he was as strongly devout as he claims, he would've left it alone 100% of the way. Why revive "Extraloveable" in 2012 if he was now strictly religious? I know, I know, he changed the lyrics somewhat but still...

Timmy84 said:

What's interesting is that Prince still uses sexual euphemisms in his concerts and still uses it in some form in his music. You think if he was as strongly devout as he claims, he would've left it alone 100% of the way. Why revive "Extraloveable" in 2012 if he was now strictly religious? I know, I know, he changed the lyrics somewhat but still...

Prince has NEVER stopped being sexual in lyrics or in performances. Just stopped swearing.

I think sometimes he tries to use Religious titles words & euphemisms that confuse people

Pre 1990 it was very innocent and very much clear his usage. I'm very studied and familiar with biblical information and I get confused

I love the song Planet Earth, but I always find myself 'ignoring' the chorus parts to a degree, and just going with how it's sung. Because again it gets to the point of needing an interpreter to put it in context and understand. Beautiful song but a song like this that could be put up as a 'single' with video that can be successful but maybe too much unfamiliar religious usage can be a handicap.

take Lion of Judah for example: I don't see how the chorus connects with the verse, the title starting off makes me assume it's going to be about something connected to his faith, not about finding out if the one he loves loves him back

Lion Of Judah

Sitting on the floor of an all-white room
Feeling like the color blue
Thinkin' 'bout the words that I can use 2 get this through 2 U
A million mistakes and then some
I've made with the ones before I've probably passed my expiration date
But still I adore U... adore U...

Looking 4 the energy 2 take U there
The places that U wanna go
Knowing if I do, U're fully aware the press will turn it in2 a show (A show)
Everyone expected this outcome
But still they jump around with glee
I guess should be happy but I'm still not sure that U really love me
Love me... Love me... Love me... U love me...

CHORUS:
Like the Lion of Judah (Lion of Judah)
I strike my enemies down
As my God is living
Surely the trumpet will sound

There was one who would stand by my side
Through the good and the bad
Let that one stand with pride — the best that I've ever had

skywalker said:

Timmy84 said:

What's interesting is that Prince still uses sexual euphemisms in his concerts and still uses it in some form in his music. You think if he was as strongly devout as he claims, he would've left it alone 100% of the way. Why revive "Extraloveable" in 2012 if he was now strictly religious? I know, I know, he changed the lyrics somewhat but still...

Prince has NEVER stopped being sexual in lyrics or in performances. Just stopped swearing.

I heard he said the f-word in a recent concert and a few d-words too. But that might've been hearsay. But like I said if he was so religious he wouldn't have to continue to incorporate sex into his music and his performances.

OldFriends4Sale said:

I think sometimes he tries to use Religious titles words & euphemisms that confuse people

Pre 1990 it was very innocent and very much clear his usage. I'm very studied and familiar with biblical information and I get confused

I love the song Planet Earth, but I always find myself 'ignoring' the chorus parts to a degree, and just going with how it's sung. Because again it gets to the point of needing an interpreter to put it in context and understand. Beautiful song but a song like this that could be put up as a 'single' with video that can be successful but maybe too much unfamiliar religious usage can be a handicap.

take Lion of Judah for example: I don't see how the chorus connects with the verse, the title starting off makes me assume it's going to be about something connected to his faith, not about finding out if the one he loves loves him back

Lion Of Judah

Sitting on the floor of an all-white room
Feeling like the color blue
Thinkin' 'bout the words that I can use 2 get this through 2 U
A million mistakes and then some
I've made with the ones before I've probably passed my expiration date
But still I adore U... adore U...

Looking 4 the energy 2 take U there
The places that U wanna go
Knowing if I do, U're fully aware the press will turn it in2 a show (A show)
Everyone expected this outcome
But still they jump around with glee
I guess should be happy but I'm still not sure that U really love me
Love me... Love me... Love me... U love me...

CHORUS:
Like the Lion of Judah (Lion of Judah)
I strike my enemies down
As my God is living
Surely the trumpet will sound

There was one who would stand by my side
Through the good and the bad
Let that one stand with pride — the best that I've ever had

Yeah that is real confusing.

http://atheism.about.com/...nesses.htm

OldFriends4Sale said:

http://atheism.about.com/...nesses.htm

Prince and the Jehovah's Witnesses

By Austin Cline, About.com GuideApril 21, 2004

Prince has had an interesting career - but many may be unaware of the fact that he has recently converted to the Jehovah's Witnesses. Even fewer are probably aware of the fact that Prince's religious beliefs have begun to filter into his music, including his older music.

Four years ago the funkster converted reportedly to satisfy his mother’s dying wish, but since then Prince has gone so far as to add religious lyrics to his theme song “Purple Rain.” The new line in the song goes, “Say you can’t make up your mind? I think you better close it and open up the Bible.” Close your mind? Isn’t that like being “brainwashed”?

Prince may have even recast his old battles with record companies into something religious. “I can tell you who made the System,” he told Newsweek cryptically (April 12, 2004). The “System,” according to Prince apparently includes the music recording business that he says once “enslaved” him. But the word “System” has a darker connotation than slavery amongst Jehovah’s Witnesses. It encompasses everything “worldly” outside of the organization, which includes all world governments, businesses and any other religious organizations. And "who made the System” and essentially controls it today? According to the Witnesses its creator and guiding light is Satan.

Evidently, Prince proselytizes door- to-door just like other Witnesses - but unlike other Witnesses, he participates in the "System" in ways that would normally be shunned. When he does proselytize, according to Ross, he goes in a limo with four bodyguards and tailor-made suits. Pity that all Witnesses aren't given the same latitude - but they can't contribute millions to the cause like Prince can. You don't suppose that has anything to do with it, do you?

JW's may think he's going against code by even doing that - proselytizing within the confines of his limo with bodyguards in tow. He might be what you call a "liberal JW", like "liberal Christians" who preached about God but don't do it unless they have a bunch of riches to spoil like those evangelical Christians.

skywalker said:

Timmy84 said:

What's interesting is that Prince still uses sexual euphemisms in his concerts and still uses it in some form in his music. You think if he was as strongly devout as he claims, he would've left it alone 100% of the way. Why revive "Extraloveable" in 2012 if he was now strictly religious? I know, I know, he changed the lyrics somewhat but still...

Prince has NEVER stopped being sexual in lyrics or in performances. Just stopped swearing.

"This music is nasty, but it's not dirty," he said. "Theres no profanity. It isnt promoting promiscuity."

Maybe all of his music know if sung from the place of being married he can sing:If we cannot make babies, maybe we can make some time...

You know I've noticed most secular singers who feel strongly about their faith or at least understand the basics of it usually know to manage the two sides without sounding too preachy. Prince had no problem with that in the past.

I understand your confusion and mild frustration, but everybody draws a line in the sand and says, “Here is the point of right and wrong for me,” and, often, where that line is placed is based as much on one’s personal, subjective issues as much as it is based on some ideology. Usually, the placement of that line is based on a combination of subjective issues and the ideology by which one chooses to live, and the person often modifies and moves that line throughout the reminder of one’s life. And my response to the initial placement of that line and the subsequent movements of that line is as long as their line in the sand doesn’t affect what I want to do, then I don’t see it as a problem. So, for whatever reason, his placement of his religious line and subsequent modifications and movements have not kept me from enjoying his art (studio or live) probably because I allow for more moral latitude. No one is perfect, and I know that you are not suggesting that Prince or anyone be perfect. But, as the Bible states, we all sin and fall short, and Prince’s playing the snippets of what he has deemed as songs too “sinful” to play is just his way of trying to have his cake and eat it too (I never understood the literal translation of this phrase since I feel that I should be able to eat my cake, but you know what I mean.).

*

I think, if I understand you correctly, you are most frustrated by his contradiction, and you see that contradiction as hypocrisy. I guess it doesn’t bother me as much because he has always been, on some level, contradictory. And, of course, his embracing a stricter adherence to Christianity doesn’t bother me as much, even if he contracts that as well. Again, dude is batshit crazy! I guess, for me, at the end of the day, there are enough songs that I love that him choosing not perform some doesn’t bother me. And, the changes that he makes in certain songs don’t destroy the meaning of feeling of the song for me.

*

As for not taking him seriously due to the “mix of Egyptology and JW ideas, and biblical stories of the Fall of man ect mixed in strongly with stories of the Banished Ones Digital Gardens and such,” I guess I’m just used to the manner in which all religions and ideologies intersect or overlap in some way. For instance, in my world literature class, my students must write a paper examining the significance of the similarities between “The Hymn to the Aton” and “Psalm 104.” They do not tell me that they are similar. We know that they are similar. I want them to explore and tell me what does it tells about life, humanity, art, or religion that two men living almost eight hundred years apart from different cultures and religions envision God and his power in an almost identical manner. Noah’s flood is found in “The Epic of Gilgamesh.” Cultural exchange has existed as long has humans have been on this planet so, again, I don’t find his mixing of items or narratives that relate to his ultimate narrative that unusual.

*

Finally, the only difference that I see between “Automatic” and “Mellow” is that I am assuming that the sex in “Mellow” represents sex under the umbrella of marriage. Of course, I am making this leap simply because TRC is supposed to reflect his JW beliefs. The Bible says no sex before marriage, but it also encourages deeply satisfying sex once married, as one scripture states, “A wife’s breasts are to be pleasing to a husband.” Amen! I may be splitting hairs or making an illogical connection or jump, but in this manner “Mellow” seems no more out of place or contradictory to me than Song of Solomon being in the Bible, and this is some sexually intense reading.

OldFriends4Sale said:

the part of him playing those snippets is not ego but it is that part of him that wants to play that music and it's him being mischievous, like at the Super B press conference when he asks 4 questions and when someone proceeds to ask he rips with his guitar into AnotherLoverH...

In bring his 'religious' ideals to this, playing snippets, if the song is so wrong why play with it. Like if you're not supposed to have sex out of marriage then why the heavy petting, or sextexting, phonesex I would think in the context of a denomination that will excommunicate and individual those latter things are just as wrong

But he did still play some of the song at his website preview party, I think he want to play those songs.

Prince really did a lot of cursing way more during his post 1980's music. I don't mind a 'dirty word' when placed just right, in a song or a joke, but just using it just to use it is like scratching on a chalkboard

Remember Prince made changes to his music and what he would/wouldn't perform way before his 50's. Him also considering the effect that his work has on others, is why the Black album was aborted.

I think a lot of people felt the same you did(in the bolded part) I never looked at the sex parts in the 1980's music as being 'in your face or over the top' it was just parts of life story, I didn't see his music as a focus on sex, but living. Doesn't he still perform Dance Music Sex Romance? I think that was what a lot of his music & proteges were about telling stories of rendevous and inner struggles, fantasies and such

Like many others I do see a difference in his pre 1990's music presentation of God-heaven/hell spiritual/religious ideals vs the latter, going to point of changing (yes its his music) but changing the Cross 2 the Christ, Sexuality 2 Spirituality and such. Just leave it alone. Don't use the bible in business agreements to make sure others do right by you, then not make sure people who did work 4 u get paid so they have 2 take u to court.

Overall I love the Rainbow Children album, I know there are probably lines that are not PC and offensive, but with the mix of Egyptology and JW ideas, and biblical stories of the Fall of man ect mixed in strongly with stories of the Banished Ones Digital Gardens and such, I still can't take it serious as being a testament of Jehovahs Witness doctrinal beliefs.

And singing of going down on a woman whether it's in Automatic 1982

I'll go down on U all night long
It's automatic (U will?) (Yes I will, babe)

or masturbation in Mellow 2001

Can I sing 2 U while U bring yourself 2 joy?
I'll go slow at first, while U quench your thirst
Wet circles around the toy
While U bring yourself 2 joy

is the same to me, how is singing Erotic City such a bad thing. If you can change Sexuality 2 Spirituality the change Fuck 2 Funk or Love but you want to play the song.

Automatic just went off Nasty Girls just came on ...

once u eat ur cake its gone u cant have it anymore ..

prince isn't crazy .. he is trying to be something he is not .. he tries to be jw but he isn't really .. he tries to rap but he's no rapper .. he tries to play jazz be he is no jazz cat .. for whatever reasons he is trying to impress someone with his lack of cursing .. what the duck? .. that sums it up .. he doesn't even believe in it .. everyone that hears prince sing what the duck? now thinking of the word fuck in their head .. period .. prince knows it .. he thinks he is being cute PANDERING to whomever in his private circle has something he wants .. be it hero idolization or some spiritual insecurity .. but the fact is .. prince is simply selling out .. as he has done for decades .. maybe it's some cult worship thing .. likely its .. "we wanna bring our kids to your shows prince" or "u aint playing our big paying festival unless u family friendly" ..

where in the bible does it say women should be fucked by machines .. i mean really prince .. u supposed to be a mac daddy and u need to buy some plastic crap anybody can use .. then u sing about it in a song??!?!?!? .. just so fucking lame .. but then again .. vibrator .. the old song .. totally works .. its much more playful .. only prince would attempt to work a vibrator into some spiritual textbook of an album .. its just .. prince has jumped the shark ladies and gentlemen ..

ps .. 1275topp do u know what jump the shark means?

TrevorAyer said:

once u eat ur cake its gone u cant have it anymore ..

prince isn't crazy .. he is trying to be something he is not .. he tries to be jw but he isn't really .. he tries to rap but he's no rapper .. he tries to play jazz be he is no jazz cat .. for whatever reasons he is trying to impress someone with his lack of cursing .. what the duck? .. that sums it up .. he doesn't even believe in it .. everyone that hears prince sing what the duck? now thinking of the word fuck in their head .. period .. prince knows it .. he thinks he is being cute PANDERING to whomever in his private circle has something he wants .. be it hero idolization or some spiritual insecurity .. but the fact is .. prince is simply selling out .. as he has done for decades .. maybe it's some cult worship thing .. likely its .. "we wanna bring our kids to your shows prince" or "u aint playing our big paying festival unless u family friendly" ..

where in the bible does it say women should be fucked by machines .. i mean really prince .. u supposed to be a mac daddy and u need to buy some plastic crap anybody can use .. then u sing about it in a song??!?!?!? .. just so fucking lame .. but then again .. vibrator .. the old song .. totally works .. its much more playful .. only prince would attempt to work a vibrator into some spiritual textbook of an album .. its just .. prince has jumped the shark ladies and gentlemen ..

ps .. 1275topp do u know what jump the shark means?

Yes, I know what "jump the shark" means, and I don't think it applies to Prince. The real deal is that you and I are looking at the same portrait and seeing a different picture. For instance, where does it say in the Bible that two married people can't explore their sexuality in various ways? And before you answer, make sure you are not confusing St. Augustine's words with the Bible. The notion that some Christians are spewing about you can only have sex one type of way and it must lead to conception or it's a sin is not from the Bible; that's from St. Augustine. And please don't quote the passage, "don't spill your seed on the ground," because that story/lesson is about a man who is punished not for spilling his semen on the ground but for disobeying God. As for everything else you said about what Prince is pretending to me, I don't know how you can be so sure that you know what's happening in somebody else's mind, but I'm willing to bet that the moment I begin psychoanalyzing your above rant you would not appreciate it at all. So, all I can do, man, is say that I disagree with what you say and leave it at that. Prince has decided that he wants to live his life a certain way and have it reflected in his art. If you don’t like what he’s doing or think that he’s being a hypocrite, then just walk away. If you think that Prince has “jumped the shark,” then there is nothing more to say. Either enjoy the older work, ignore what you don’t like, or find an artist who gives you want you no longer get from Prince, and save yourself the stress and aggravation of constantly lamenting that he has “jumped the shark.”