I can understand the meaning of this post very well. When I was fourteen or so, the very mention of his name on television or radio would make my heart beat faster. I'd immediately leap for any recording device near to hand.

He could do no wrong in my eyes (and nor could he in the eighties!). He influenced the way I danced, my mannerisms and even my clothes to some extent etc. I wanted to be as cool as him. There are definitely parallels in my behaviour then with religious fervour. I would have gone to great extremes to hear unheard tracks and I was beside myself at my first concert.

As time has passed he's revealed himself to be a flawed human being, and also a musician whose fire has dimmed. That's just ageing really, I can't blame him for that. The internet has made everyone more accessible, I can talk about Prince anytime I want to with numerous people. This makes any mention of him less special.

I still get goosebumps over old live footage or certain tracks of course, but this is all with the knowledge of who he was then and it's a very different musical being who presents himself to us now.

It seems that some people don't want to understand what the OP is conveying.

They rather choose the easy way and label him as crazy.

I understand that he means the word religeous as in dedicated and no tolerance for anybody being critical about the one who is admired.

It's like family.

I can bitch about my father as I like.

But nobody else can say anything negative about him

And yes, as a teenager, I also loved the idea that there was this guy who dressed, sang and behaved according his own standards. Not letting the narrowminded majority stop him.

But, I grew up.

And I love my father so much more than ever.

And I can see his flaws and mistakes without getting angry about it.

I don't want to change him anymore.

I love him just the way he is.

I respect him so much for still changing him self because he still wants to develop himself personally.

But that should be his choice, and not because he feels he has to meet a common standard.

And if somebody has a legit critical point about him, I can listen to it.

Just like Prince.

I can see how he's a flawed individual.

And I understand that is what makes him the person who he is.

And I can see the different phases he went through expressed in his music.

I'm very happy that he's sharing a lot with us nowadays.

I really like the latest strategy of getting music up for a reasonable price.

And it's up to you to like it or not, to buy it or not.

And people who can't accept the full picture of Prince;

so with both the good and the bad,

they get frustrated that he is not the way they want him to be.

And that is not true love.

That is wanting to world to adjust to your individual standards.

Like a toddler.

Fortunate, a lot of fans have grown out of their toddler phase.

There is not that much hatred going on here anymore.

It's more balanced presenting different tastes.

Some like a new song, some don't.

But it isn't the golden rule here that you have to hate Prince.

Those days are bygone.

Scotsman1999 said:

I can understand the meaning of this post very well. When I was fourteen or so, the very mention of his name on television or radio would make my heart beat faster. I'd immediately leap for any recording device near to hand.

He could do no wrong in my eyes (and nor could he in the eighties!). He influenced the way I danced, my mannerisms and even my clothes to some extent etc. I wanted to be as cool as him. There are definitely parallels in my behaviour then with religious fervour. I would have gone to great extremes to hear unheard tracks and I was beside myself at my first concert.

As time has passed he's revealed himself to be a flawed human being, and also a musician whose fire has dimmed. That's just ageing really, I can't blame him for that. The internet has made everyone more accessible, I can talk about Prince anytime I want to with numerous people. This makes any mention of him less special.

I still get goosebumps over old live footage or certain tracks of course, but this is all with the knowledge of who he was then and it's a very different musical being who presents himself to us now.

Exactly how i feel about Prince!

The only thing i would really go "Crazy" for right now would be a 100% totally honest autobiography.

But I truly don't think that will ever happen just by the nature of who he is.

Well, I still go crazy over his life performances!

Not the usual hit shows.

But his genuine, heartfelt, instant live music,

still is on top of my "things that make me happy" list.

EMPEROR101 said:

Scotsman1999 said:

I can understand the meaning of this post very well. When I was fourteen or so, the very mention of his name on television or radio would make my heart beat faster. I'd immediately leap for any recording device near to hand.

He could do no wrong in my eyes (and nor could he in the eighties!). He influenced the way I danced, my mannerisms and even my clothes to some extent etc. I wanted to be as cool as him. There are definitely parallels in my behaviour then with religious fervour. I would have gone to great extremes to hear unheard tracks and I was beside myself at my first concert.

As time has passed he's revealed himself to be a flawed human being, and also a musician whose fire has dimmed. That's just ageing really, I can't blame him for that. The internet has made everyone more accessible, I can talk about Prince anytime I want to with numerous people. This makes any mention of him less special.

I still get goosebumps over old live footage or certain tracks of course, but this is all with the knowledge of who he was then and it's a very different musical being who presents himself to us now.

Exactly how i feel about Prince!

The only thing i would really go "Crazy" for right now would be a 100% totally honest autobiography.

But I truly don't think that will ever happen just by the nature of who he is.

Superconductor said:

I don't idolise Prince or any other artist or celebrity. I am not looking for answers about life and the universe from him. His music touches me and makes me happy and I simply enjoy listening to it. His musicianship, prolific output and work ethic are inspiring.

I have never had expectations of Prince and believe that whatever he wants to do musically or business-wise is ok because he is an artist and he needs to do what he needs to do. I don't take it personally and I like what I like and don't worry about the rest.

Other than that, I see him as fellow complex human being who is liberated by his prodigious talent but also enslaved by it and this affects all aspects of his life. What we see is the brand "Prince", the show business, and not the person Prince.

This.

Militant said:

mzspongebob said:

dont go there oh and in case you forgot michael is dead...dont worry thats coming from a huge fan. those who worship artist are weaker than people who go wacky over religion in my personal opinion. hey lets keep it on the music man.

That's funny, because at least the people I look up to actually exist.

The people who go wacky about religion can't say the same.

existed....existed. and lets be frank you will never shake michaels hand and probably will never sit down and have a convo with prince so he is just as far away to you as a religious deity is to others. and whether they actually exist or not is a whole diff subject prob left best for the religion forum i believe. Even when i was stanning for MJ when i was 14/15 i never saw him as a god or my religion because it was never that serious to me but i do see how others can. thats it, interesting thread i will admit.

He's incredibly talented, I will give you that. But Prince himself is not a God. God has definitely blessed Prince with a lot of talent (and good looks) though.

Genesia said:

Superconductor said:

I don't idolise Prince or any other artist or celebrity. I am not looking for answers about life and the universe from him. His music touches me and makes me happy and I simply enjoy listening to it. His musicianship, prolific output and work ethic are inspiring.

I have never had expectations of Prince and believe that whatever he wants to do musically or business-wise is ok because he is an artist and he needs to do what he needs to do. I don't take it personally and I like what I like and don't worry about the rest.

Other than that, I see him as fellow complex human being who is liberated by his prodigious talent but also enslaved by it and this affects all aspects of his life. What we see is the brand "Prince", the show business, and not the person Prince.

This.

Yes.

dJJ said:

1725topp said:

When I read this thread and others like it, I have a better understanding of why so many people have been pissed at Prince since 2000. First, let me say that Prince has been my favorite artist since I was ten, but being raised in the Mississippi Delta during the seventies, I was also a lover of blues, funk, rock-n-roll, and gospel. So while I probably listen to Prince fifty percent of the time that I'm listening to music, the other fifty percent is filled with artists from a range of genres. And even though

a lot of my own ideas, ideology, have been affirmed (not developed) by his work,

the core foundation of my ideas. ideology, were developed by my parents, teachers, and books that I read so Prince was never the be all and end all of how I viewed/understood the world. But, he was highly influential in some (about half) of it. Yet, ultimately, he was just a great artist who moved me, made me think and feel, and he still does. As I've stated before, Around the World in a Day is the album that gave me clarity with my fandom. While I immediately loved it when it was released, it was so different than what I was expecting that I realized that there will be a great chance that one day this dude is going to go in a direction or make music that will not move me. And while that has never happened,

I never thought of it as strange or as somehow a betrayal by Prince to journey in a direction that would be different than a direction I would be walking. That's life.

So, the great anger and distain that so many on this site have for Prince over his post-2000 work is because they don't seem to understand that no artist will do what you want them to do or what you like forever. I'm not saying that you are asserting this, but by understanding that Prince is just a very talented dude who happens to share a good deal of the same ideals that I do keeps me from losing my mind when he does something that does not move me. In fact, every time he embraces house music, I realize just how human he is and how flawed a human can be.

- I relate to his lyrics because it's similar to my own ideas. That is what I like about them.

- I prefer to have relationships with people based on mutual respect for eachothers choices, needs and decisions.

I don't belief that love can be forced by wanting the other person to behave according to my standards. That goes for friends, family, but also artist and fans. If it's not a volunteer, mutual respectful and kind contact, than it's not real love.

- And yes, the fact that you can't understand house or techno as good music, is a sign on the wall of how flawed a human can be.

LOL! Okay, I guess I deserved that one, but both house and techno really hurt my flawed ears.

thedance said:

I looked up to Prince almost as if he was my religion, like Prince was the new God. Nono, he actually was my religion - back then,

That's the problem.

Tremolina said:

thedance said:

I looked up to Prince almost as if he was my religion, like Prince was the new God. Nono, he actually was my religion - back then,

That's the problem.

Javi said:

Tremolina said:

That's the problem.

I think some of you haven't read carefully thedance's first post and what he means by "Prince as religion".

No I have. It's clear now why theDance sometimes raves like the hardest of the hardcore on here, but just as easily trashes prince whenever something is not according to his "religion".

^ isn't that "opinion"..?

do you really love every thing Prince is putting out?

thedance said:

^ isn't that "opinion"..?

do you really love every thing Prince is putting out?

Yes it is and you are absolutely free to have it and express it. But that's not the point. The point is that your opinion had formed into sort of a "religion" (your own words). But that's idolatry and that can lead to nothing else but your heor falling from his pedastle. Which explains your extreme negativity once he does.

in 1988 or maybe 1989 i put Lovesexy as my religion on my Army dog tags... some jerk ACTUALLY told on me! I was forced to get new ones...actualy FORCED! I could have fought it but as some of you will be SHOCKED to learn... i had a bit of an edgy personality and was on the edge of being in big trouble often so i let it go!

thedance:

I totally understand where you are coming from and I even admire your courage to even bring up such a thing. Who would even admit such a thing on the Org, where people wait to ridicule others? I can guarantee you that many others have felt the way you do.

As a teenager, I felt that Prince's music was an escape. He references to God in his music led me to find out more about God. Lovesexy was a gospel album to me and filled me with all kinds of joy.

In a way, Prince was indeed a religion to me.

But, like Tremolina has stated, when you put someone on such a high pedestal, it leads to a fall, a hard fall from grace. In the days when I didn't have internet, I was a bigger fan of Prince. And now, I feel as if I know too much about him. Things I don't want to know. Things that prevent me from enjoying the music as much. My cross to bear, so to speak. I made him what he is in my own mind.

Thank you for sharing this.

^^ thank you very much,

.

both, Stymie and SuperSoulFighter.. so very kind.

Superconductor said:

I don't idolise Prince or any other artist or celebrity. I am not looking for answers about life and the universe from him. His music touches me and makes me happy and I simply enjoy listening to it. His musicianship, prolific output and work ethic are inspiring.

I have never had expectations of Prince and believe that whatever he wants to do musically or business-wise is ok because he is an artist and he needs to do what he needs to do. I don't take it personally and I like what I like and don't worry about the rest.

Other than that, I see him as fellow complex human being who is liberated by his prodigious talent but also enslaved by it and this affects all aspects of his life. What we see is the brand "Prince", the show business, and not the person Prince.

This x100

However, when creating art whether based on real or fictitious situations some of the real person behind the artist comes through.

mzspongebob said:

Militant said:

That's funny, because at least the people I look up to actually exist.

The people who go wacky about religion can't say the same.

existed....existed. and lets be frank you will never shake michaels hand and probably will never sit down and have a convo with prince so he is just as far away to you as a religious deity is to others. and whether they actually exist or not is a whole diff subject prob left best for the religion forum i believe. Even when i was stanning for MJ when i was 14/15 i never saw him as a god or my religion because it was never that serious to me but i do see how others can. thats it, interesting thread i will admit.

I actually have had a conversation with Prince, although we were standing, not sitting down.

So

no .... not even close.
never gave the sacred values ​​in relation to my favorite artists.
Prince is one of the most talented musicians of the 20th century, I think he is great artist and I love him .. but that about it.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

in 1988 or maybe 1989 i put Lovesexy as my religion on my Army dog tags... some jerk ACTUALLY told on me! I was forced to get new ones...actualy FORCED! I could have fought it but as some of you will be SHOCKED to learn... i had a bit of an edgy personality and was on the edge of being in big trouble often so i let it go!

Hmmm, putting Lovesexy on your dogtags is a bit extreme and fanatical. I don't think you could've fought it though, since it's not a registered religion. You could've just put non-denomination Christian.

.

They don't care what religion you are while you're alive. The dogtags are meant for instructions when you can't give the instructions yourself . . . blood type for accidents, # for identification, religion for when you die.

Se7en said:

Hmmm, putting Lovesexy on your dogtags is a bit extreme and fanatical.

It was more of a joke, I should have mentioned that.

I don't think you could've fought it though, since it's not a registered religion. You could've just put non-denomination Christian.

I could have. But i choose not to. Who's concern it is what I put on them? I read the Regs and it did not say it had to be "registered." There was a "Such as..." list which was used.

They don't care what religion you are while you're alive. The dogtags are meant for instructions when you can't give the instructions yourself . . . blood type for accidents, # for identification, religion for when you die.

I am aware of the reason. And again it was not the business at all of anyone else.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

Se7en said:

Hmmm, putting Lovesexy on your dogtags is a bit extreme and fanatical.

It was more of a joke, I should have mentioned that.

I don't think you could've fought it though, since it's not a registered religion. You could've just put non-denomination Christian.

I could have. But i choose not to. Who's concern it is what I put on them? I read the Regs and it did not say it had to be "registered." There was a "Such as..." list which was used.

They don't care what religion you are while you're alive. The dogtags are meant for instructions when you can't give the instructions yourself . . . blood type for accidents, # for identification, religion for when you die.

I am aware of the reason. And again it was not the business at all of anyone else.

I guess if Jedi can be considered a religion (it's out there, I'm not making it up) then anything can!

Militant said:

mzspongebob said:

existed....existed. and lets be frank you will never shake michaels hand and probably will never sit down and have a convo with prince so he is just as far away to you as a religious deity is to others. and whether they actually exist or not is a whole diff subject prob left best for the religion forum i believe. Even when i was stanning for MJ when i was 14/15 i never saw him as a god or my religion because it was never that serious to me but i do see how others can. thats it, interesting thread i will admit.

I actually have had a conversation with Prince, although we were standing, not sitting down.

So

we dont believe you

mzspongebob said:

Militant said:

I actually have had a conversation with Prince, although we were standing, not sitting down.

So

we dont believe you

There are multiple threads where I described our encounter in detail. August 14th, 2007 at the Indigo2.

Plenty of people on this site have had conversations with P, it's hardly unique.

kewlschool said:

Scotsman1999 said:

I can understand the meaning of this post very well. When I was fourteen or so, the very mention of his name on television or radio would make my heart beat faster. I'd immediately leap for any recording device near to hand.

He could do no wrong in my eyes (and nor could he in the eighties!). He influenced the way I danced, my mannerisms and even my clothes to some extent etc. I wanted to be as cool as him. There are definitely parallels in my behaviour then with religious fervour. I would have gone to great extremes to hear unheard tracks and I was beside myself at my first concert.

As time has passed he's revealed himself to be a flawed human being, and also a musician whose fire has dimmed. That's just ageing really, I can't blame him for that. The internet has made everyone more accessible, I can talk about Prince anytime I want to with numerous people. This makes any mention of him less special.

I still get goosebumps over old live footage or certain tracks of course, but this is all with the knowledge of who he was then and it's a very different musical being who presents himself to us now.

What did you expect? That Prince would invent a whole new musical alphabet? Did you think was going to come up with the scale of K# and turn the whole world upside down? No, of course not. When he did Purple Rain he, me, you and everyone knew that was it and he would just keep trying to top that. Did you expect him to walk on water with a cloud guitar and sing to the world in harmony? He is not any different than he was back then so don't say that. What do you want him to do? Please tell me.