Continuing my series of highlighting P deep tracks, I'll highlight the first track from 20TEN that I heard when it leaked online (oh ok, posted on YouTube) and I really really liked this. I love the funky grove, the melody, chorus, and I even like how angry and fustrated P sounds on it with his lyrics and vocal work.

Justin Draper in his book claimed the song proved P was divorced from reality because he referenced Saddam Hussein, who of course died of amputation above the neck several years before 20TEN came out. Total rubbish if you ask me. Maybe he originally worked on it years before when Saddam was still alive and not sporting a crazy hobo beard, but by the time he decided to release it in '10, I suppose he figured that line rhymed good and you know what? The whole point of that lyric (if I remember it accurately) "Tax dollars build a plane drop a bomb / Supposedly to keep us all safe from Saddam" isn't that he's talking directly about Mr. Hussein, but that we America have one bloated as hell military budget, a domestic agenda ignored because we're (supposedly) scared to death by these 3rd world dictators. It could apply to Iran or North Korea or whoever.

To be fair his 2nd set of lyrics refering apparently to himself having to give up half of a million to the bank, it does make him sound petty for comparing his "plight" to that of people evicted from their homes by evil bankers and the defense complaint above. Then again what you expected from someone who wrote SLAVE on their cheek because of a multi-million dollar record contract dispute? Poor baby.

Otherwise, I really liked this track. I'm surprised when I find people who loathe it. Easily best track on 20TEN, better even than "Laydown" which was a darn fun as hell track itself.

the only thing i dislike about this track is that it is way too short.

it should go on for at least another 2/3 minutes.

like a couple more tracks on the 20Ten album. those grooves on

there would lend themselves very well to extended versions.

He did not play it live with the original music yet.

IstenSzek said:

the only thing i dislike about this track is that it is way too short.

it should go on for at least another 2/3 minutes.

like a couple more tracks on the 20Ten album. those grooves on

there would lend themselves very well to extended versions.

This! Still a pity that Deluxe version never materialised...

Love it. The song grabs you right from the beginning like few songs do.

IstenSzek said:

the only thing i dislike about this track is that it is way too short.

it should go on for at least another 2/3 minutes.

like a couple more tracks on the 20Ten album. those grooves on

there would lend themselves very well to extended versions.

I couldn't agree more... "Act Of God" just begs for an extended version.

A few folks here misunderstood the lyrics, and interpreted it as Prince preaching, when, in fact, the message is clear... People commit heinous acts, and do so in God's name. "Call it what you want, except an act of God".

I cannot understand why some have an issue with him referencing Saddam. "Tax dollars, build a plane, drop a bomb... supposedly to keep us all safe from Saddam."

Isn't that what happened? So what if it happened in the past. Can't recent history be discussed?

LOVE this song so much, and it's my favourite on that album by a long shot.

~G

.

[Edited 1/4/13 11:21am]

Giovanni777 said:

IstenSzek said:

the only thing i dislike about this track is that it is way too short.

it should go on for at least another 2/3 minutes.

like a couple more tracks on the 20Ten album. those grooves on

there would lend themselves very well to extended versions.

I couldn't agree more... "Act Of God" just begs for an extended version.

A few folks here misunderstood the lyrics, and interpreted it as Prince preaching, when, in fact, the message is clear... People commit heinous acts, and do so in God's name. "Call it what you want, except an act of God".

I cannot understand why some have an issue with him referencing Saddam. "Tax dollars, build a plane, drop a bomb... supposedly to keep us all safe from Saddam."

Isn't that what happened? So what if it happened in the past. Ca't recent history be discussed?

LOVE this song so much, and it's my favourite on that album by a long shot.

~G

yeah, that's what i was thinking. besides, it's not like saddam is a political historic reference

that will mean nothing to people in 10 years time.

about the whole "call it what you want, except an act of god", i don't think it is so much about

people commiting heinous acts 'and do so in god's name'.

it's directly inspired by the top responsible figures for the banks collapsing who threw up their

arms and in several instances actually said "it was an act of god", as if they had nothing to do

with it at all and it was unavoidable from the start.

This is one of my favorite songs of his career.

Omey said:

This is one of my favorite songs of his career.

i'm one of those who has a problem with the lyrics of the song.

i just find them hard to embrace.

He starts off well with the family who loses their house to a bank...and then relates it to his own plight of getting a million dollars to sing, and having to pay taxes on it???

I mean, ok, taxes and taxes, i get it, but please don't relate the problem of not quite making a million dollars to sing w/ people who lose their homes. It's just not the same.

And then "Freedom's not free / they'll lock you in a cell if you try to be".

It's a song by a millionaire who doesn't want to pay his taxes.

But I want millionaires to pay their taxes~!

Also "didn't the founding fathers hollar bout the same thing?" i mean...no. Tea and stamps were used by poor people, the taxes were levied by a king 3,000 miles away, people had no say in what their government was doing...it's not the same as Prince making a million dollars to sing songs, and having to give up half for taxes.

False equivalency.

I mean, just sing more songs the next night...ouila! You made a million dollars. These are not problems i relate to.

But other than half of the lyrics, it's a pretty good beat, and a good use of Shelby.

Mintchip said:

i'm one of those who has a problem with the lyrics of the song.

i just find them hard to embrace.

He starts off well with the family who loses their house to a bank...and then relates it to his own plight of getting a million dollars to sing, and having to pay taxes on it???

I mean, ok, taxes and taxes, i get it, but please don't relate the problem of not quite making a million dollars to sing w/ people who lose their homes. It's just not the same.

And then "Freedom's not free / they'll lock you in a cell if you try to be".

It's a song by a millionaire who doesn't want to pay his taxes.

But I want millionaires to pay their taxes~!

Also "didn't the founding fathers hollar bout the same thing?" i mean...no. Tea and stamps were used by poor people, the taxes were levied by a king 3,000 miles away, people had no say in what their government was doing...it's not the same as Prince making a million dollars to sing songs, and having to give up half for taxes.

False equivalency.

I mean, just sing more songs the next night...ouila! You made a million dollars. These are not problems i relate to.

But other than half of the lyrics, it's a pretty good beat, and a good use of Shelby.

i think it was more directed toward the bankers who filled their pockets and just raised their

hands up shouting "it was an act of god"

he sings

get a million dollar, people hear me sing

gotta give the BANKER half of everything

which is, imo, a roundabout way of coming back to the same argument, he's not saying he

has to pay half a mill in tax to the government, but that the tax he pays indirectly lines the

pockets of the bankers again as they rake in their half billion dollar bonus ect etc.

when he adresses the taxes directly, it is about the way they are spent. spent on the things

prince considers to be wrong causes. instead of using the tax money to build bombs or fund

a war, he'd rather see the money put toward a redistribution of wealth or reinvested in the

local economy.

that way, i don't mind the lyrics at all

but maybe i'm just deluding myself so that i can enjoy the song more, who knows

Love how this song makes people mad because they dont understand it

I got news for you

Freedom aint free

They will lock you in a cell if you try to be

The ones who say no make history

Call it an act of God

Can't wait till Prince unleashes the "MasterPiece" xtended version......

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Can't wait till Prince unleashes the "MasterPiece" xtended version......

paisleypark4 said:

Love how this song makes people mad because they dont understand it

The people taht get mad are still in the matrix.

They need to wake up, see the real world.

See the issues, see the problems, understand the solutions.

Turn off the TV.

Check some 'alternative' news media for comparisons.

udo said:

paisleypark4 said:

Love how this song makes people mad because they dont understand it

The people taht get mad are still in the matrix.

They need to wake up, see the real world.

See the issues, see the problems, understand the solutions.

Turn off the TV.

Check some 'alternative' news media for comparisons.