I've come to realise if Prince was an author he'd strictly write fiction. Most of his songs are not personal, or don't appear to be, they're fantasy and not written from the heart or even about him. Does he have a lot to say? Most of his songs are fluff and not that deep or interesting. We ultimately don't know that much about him through his work, which i think is kind of a shame. Sure he's a great musician and performer, but writer?

Does he write enough from the heart for you, or is this a really big flaw in his game?

Tin hat is on.

[Edited 5/10/13 10:36am]

What is "not personal" about When Doves Cry? Purple Rain? How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? With You? Gotta Broken Heart Again? The Beautiful Ones? Condition Of The Heart? The Ladder? Strange Relationship? When 2 R In Love? The Question of U? Nothing Compares 2 U? Pink Cashmere? Another Lonely Xmas? The Most Beautiful Girl In The World? Right Back Here In My Arms? Let's Have A Baby? Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife? Last Heart? Goodbye? Comeback? The One? Wasted Kisses? Eye Love U, But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore? A Million Days? The Marrying Kind? On The Couch? Here? Better With Time? Eye Hate U? Somewhere Here On Earth? Forever In My Life?

Those all strike me as "personal" songs that were very clearly inspired by events in his life, or simply his mindstate at the time of writing. They are heartfelt, and sincere.

The way I see it, Prince writes about everything. He is so prolific that so called "personal" songs are simply one facet of many subjects that he writes about.

[Edited 5/10/13 9:41am]

Militant said:

What is "not personal" about When Doves Cry? Purple Rain? How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? With You? Gotta Broken Heart Again? The Beautiful Ones? Condition Of The Heart? The Ladder? Strange Relationship? When 2 R In Love? The Question of U? Nothing Compares 2 U? Pink Cashmere? Another Lonely Xmas? The Most Beautiful Girl In The World? Right Back Here In My Arms? Let's Have A Baby? Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife? Last Heart? Goodbye? Comeback? The One? Wasted Kisses? Eye Love U, But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore? A Million Days? The Marrying Kind? On The Couch? Here? Better With Time? Eye Hate U? Somewhere Here On Earth? Forever In My Life?

Those all strike me as "personal" songs that were very clearly inspired by events in his life, or simply his mindstate at the time of writing. They are heartfelt, and sincere.

The way I see it, Prince writes about everything. He is so prolific that so called "personal" songs are simply one facet of many subjects that he writes about.

[Edited 5/10/13 9:41am]

Really! I mean the original question is non-sensical. Are we only to believe he writing from his heart when He goes on storytellers and says "I wrote this about..."

old friends for sell

Hello

Comeback

there is lonely

Had u

Emancipation

Reflection

Family name

classic case of trolling. let's kill this thread now

No, he has tons of them. I think you need to listen more carefully to the lyrics! I personally think his lyrics have been underrated throughout his career, not only are they often deep but quite witty in places.

However to get the most intimate and personal songs you need to listen to the unreleased songs as they are much more heartfelt and touching than many of his commercially released songs, off the top of my head examples are 'Baby You're A Trip', 'Open Book', 'Me Touch Myself', 'Old Friends 4 Sale' (original version), 'I hear your voice', 'Allegiance', Poor Little Bastard'.

[Edited 5/10/13 9:59am]

What's up with all of the TROLLING? What is the point?

the threads here are getting stupider and stupider for some reason. They act like he hasn't been in the game for 35 years or that all of a sudden he is a weak intrumentalist who needs lessons and that he stole all his songs and didn't write them etc... pure fooloshness

Graycap23 said:

What's up with all of the TROLLING? What is the point?

Thank you!

Militant said:

What is "not personal" about When Doves Cry? Purple Rain? How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? With You? Gotta Broken Heart Again? The Beautiful Ones? Condition Of The Heart? The Ladder? Strange Relationship? When 2 R In Love? The Question of U? Nothing Compares 2 U? Pink Cashmere? Another Lonely Xmas? The Most Beautiful Girl In The World? Right Back Here In My Arms? Let's Have A Baby? Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife? Last Heart? Goodbye? Comeback? The One? Wasted Kisses? Eye Love U, But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore? A Million Days? The Marrying Kind? On The Couch? Here? Better With Time? Eye Hate U? Somewhere Here On Earth? Forever In My Life?

Those all strike me as "personal" songs that were very clearly inspired by events in his life, or simply his mindstate at the time of writing. They are heartfelt, and sincere.

The way I see it, Prince writes about everything. He is so prolific that so called "personal" songs are simply one facet of many subjects that he writes about.

[Edited 5/10/13 9:41am]

That's quite a list, but do you really believe they're all about him? i could go yes, no or maybe to a fair few of them. A lot of those tell me nothing about him. They're as much story songs as a 'Raspberry Beret'.

Where are his political songs, his world view songs. Songs with meaningful content? 'Condition Of The Heart'? (beautiful song, yes) But it's not about him really is it?

Maybe there's a deeper meaning that i just don't see anymore, i used to see more in his work. Maybe it's my age and i'm jaded. Prince is like a fictional character to me these days.

I don't think i believe in him that much now.

[Edited 5/10/13 10:13am]

Graycap23 said:

What's up with all of the TROLLING? What is the point?

I'm honestly not. I was listening to 'Laydown' (which i may need to!) and just thought WTF is this? shuffled to 'Chocolate box' and yep, same thought.

In that massive canon, there's too many of those and just not enough 'IIWYG' or 'SOTT'.

[Edited 5/10/13 10:24am]

lwr001 said:

Marrk said:

Militant said:

What is "not personal" about When Doves Cry? Purple Rain? How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? With You? Gotta Broken Heart Again? The Beautiful Ones? Condition Of The Heart? The Ladder? Strange Relationship? When 2 R In Love? The Question of U? Nothing Compares 2 U? Pink Cashmere? Another Lonely Xmas? The Most Beautiful Girl In The World? Right Back Here In My Arms? Let's Have A Baby? Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife? Last Heart? Goodbye? Comeback? The One? Wasted Kisses? Eye Love U, But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore? A Million Days? The Marrying Kind? On The Couch? Here? Better With Time? Eye Hate U? Somewhere Here On Earth? Forever In My Life?

Those all strike me as "personal" songs that were very clearly inspired by events in his life, or simply his mindstate at the time of writing. They are heartfelt, and sincere.

The way I see it, Prince writes about everything. He is so prolific that so called "personal" songs are simply one facet of many subjects that he writes about.

[Edited 5/10/13 9:41am]

That's quite a list, but do you really believe they're all about him? i could go yes, no or maybe to a fair few of them. A lot of those tell me nothing about him. They're as much story songs as a 'Raspberry Beret'.

Where are his political songs, his world view songs. Songs with meaningful content? 'Condition Of The Heart'? (beautiful song, yes) But it's not about him really is it?

Maybe there's a deeper meaning that i just don't see anymore, i used to see more in his work. Maybe it's my age and i'm jaded. Prince is like a fictional character to me these days.

I don't think i believe in him that much now.

[Edited 5/10/13 10:13am]

Prince is not that political a person though. He doesn't even vote from what i remember. He has made some good political songs like sign o the times, but largely, he isn't a very political person.

hhhhdmt said:

Marrk said:

That's quite a list, but do you really believe they're all about him? i could go yes, no or maybe to a fair few of them. A lot of those tell me nothing about him. They're as much story songs as a 'Raspberry Beret'.

Where are his political songs, his world view songs. Songs with meaningful content? 'Condition Of The Heart'? (beautiful song, yes) But it's not about him really is it?

Maybe there's a deeper meaning that i just don't see anymore, i used to see more in his work. Maybe it's my age and i'm jaded. Prince is like a fictional character to me these days.

I don't think i believe in him that much now.

[Edited 5/10/13 10:13am]

Prince is not that political a person though. He doesn't even vote from what i remember. He has made some good political songs like sign o the times, but largely, he isn't a very political person.

In that case, at this point in time think i want something from him he's incapable of then.

'Fix Ur Life Up' aint it.

I'm struggling with Prince at the moment.

I'm sorry guys.

[Edited 5/10/13 10:30am]

Marrk said:

Militant said:

What is "not personal" about When Doves Cry? Purple Rain? How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? With You? Gotta Broken Heart Again? The Beautiful Ones? Condition Of The Heart? The Ladder? Strange Relationship? When 2 R In Love? The Question of U? Nothing Compares 2 U? Pink Cashmere? Another Lonely Xmas? The Most Beautiful Girl In The World? Right Back Here In My Arms? Let's Have A Baby? Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother/Wife? Last Heart? Goodbye? Comeback? The One? Wasted Kisses? Eye Love U, But Eye Don't Trust U Anymore? A Million Days? The Marrying Kind? On The Couch? Here? Better With Time? Eye Hate U? Somewhere Here On Earth? Forever In My Life?

Those all strike me as "personal" songs that were very clearly inspired by events in his life, or simply his mindstate at the time of writing. They are heartfelt, and sincere.

The way I see it, Prince writes about everything. He is so prolific that so called "personal" songs are simply one facet of many subjects that he writes about.

[Edited 5/10/13 9:41am]

That's quite a list, but do you really believe they're all about him? i could go yes, no or maybe to a fair few of them. A lot of those tell me nothing about him. They're as much story songs as a 'Raspberry Beret'.

Where are his political songs, his world view songs. Songs with meaningful content? 'Condition Of The Heart'? (beautiful song, yes) But it's not about him really is it?

Maybe there's a deeper meaning that i just don't see anymore, i used to see more in his work. Maybe it's my age and i'm jaded. Prince is like a fictional character to me these days.

I don't think i believe in him that much now.

[Edited 5/10/13 10:13am]

1999

dreamer

colonized mind

ronnie talk to russia

dr mister man

family name

avalanche

dance on

sott

cinnomon girl

money don't matter tonite

the war

live for love

planet earth

days of wild

I think Prince's songwriting was most interesting when his life was most interesting... when he HAD a personal life with people who put him through the same kind of (e)motions that people in our lives do to us.

He just seems (or at least his songs these days just seem) as if he's incredibly emotionally isolated, disconnected, protective, and closed off. I don't hear the vulnerability, the hurt, the overcoming the fear of rejection, the joy of winning someone's love, etc., that I used to hear in his best songwriting.

I don't know how involved he was in writing Andy Allo's lyrics--but her album contained that kind of songwriting.

These days what I hear from Prince is bullshit triumphalism, braggadocio, and pride. He is entitled for sure...we all need to feel that way sometimes. But without the balance, it just doesn't connect.

NuPwrSoul said:

I think Prince's songwriting was most interesting when his life was most interesting... when he HAD a personal life with people who put him through the same kind of (e)motions that people in our lives do to us.

He just seems (or at least his songs these days just seem) as if he's incredibly emotionally isolated, disconnected, protective, and closed off. I don't hear the vulnerability, the hurt, the overcoming the fear of rejection, the joy of winning someone's love, etc., that I used to hear in his best songwriting.

I don't know how involved he was in writing Andy Allo's lyrics--but her album contained that kind of songwriting.

These days what I hear from Prince is bullshit triumphalism, braggadocio, and pride. He is entitled for sure...we all need to feel that way sometimes. But without the balance, it just doesn't connect.

This is utter bullshit. Take his last 3 cds and there is a lot more there than just pride and bragging.

NuPwrSoul said:

I think Prince's songwriting was most interesting when his life was most interesting... when he HAD a personal life with people who put him through the same kind of (e)motions that people in our lives do to us.

He just seems (or at least his songs these days just seem) as if he's incredibly emotionally isolated, disconnected, protective, and closed off. I don't hear the vulnerability, the hurt, the overcoming the fear of rejection, the joy of winning someone's love, etc., that I used to hear in his best songwriting.

I don't know how involved he was in writing Andy Allo's lyrics--but her album contained that kind of songwriting.

These days what I hear from Prince is bullshit triumphalism, braggadocio, and pride. He is entitled for sure...we all need to feel that way sometimes. But without the balance, it just doesn't connect.

Yes! Thank you for expressing that so well, i only wish i could have done that in the first place. i kind of did, but yeah, this was waaay better.

tricky99 said:

NuPwrSoul said:

I think Prince's songwriting was most interesting when his life was most interesting... when he HAD a personal life with people who put him through the same kind of (e)motions that people in our lives do to us.

He just seems (or at least his songs these days just seem) as if he's incredibly emotionally isolated, disconnected, protective, and closed off. I don't hear the vulnerability, the hurt, the overcoming the fear of rejection, the joy of winning someone's love, etc., that I used to hear in his best songwriting.

I don't know how involved he was in writing Andy Allo's lyrics--but her album contained that kind of songwriting.

These days what I hear from Prince is bullshit triumphalism, braggadocio, and pride. He is entitled for sure...we all need to feel that way sometimes. But without the balance, it just doesn't connect.

This is utter bullshit. Take his last 3 cds and there is a lot more there than just pride and bragging.

Of course there is. There is also preaching

But seriously, I'd like to ask you what you find to be the most emotive/personal/introspective songs from 2010, the Lotusflower set, and Planet Earth. Songs that convey: "vulnerability, the hurt, the overcoming the fear of rejection, the joy of winning someone's love."

This is an honest question... maybe you'll help me hear something different or remind me of a song I've forgotten. But don't bother answering if "utter bullshit" is as thoughtful as you are going to be.

NuPwrSoul said:

tricky99 said:

This is utter bullshit. Take his last 3 cds and there is a lot more there than just pride and bragging.

Of course there is. There is also preaching

But seriously, I'd like to ask you what you find to be the most emotive/personal/introspective songs from 2010, the Lotusflower set, and Planet Earth. Songs that convey: "vulnerability, the hurt, the overcoming the fear of rejection, the joy of winning someone's love."

This is an honest question... maybe you'll help me hear something different or remind me of a song I've forgotten. But don't bother answering if "utter bullshit" is as thoughtful as you are going to be.

Somewhere Here On Earth, maybe?

NuPwrSoul,

I understand where you're coming from and I would suggest that the balance has undoubtedly moved toward surface, rather than deep, but I would guess that might as much be a reaction to his disconnect with the "value" of creating studio output. A case in point, and regardless of what anyone might think of his live shows over this past decade, he has been significantly more concerned as an independent artist with his live performance and shows. That said, I would consider the following songs as indicative of his more reflective, vulnerable, developing and spiritual self: Lion of Judah, Somewhere Here On Earth, All The Midnights In The World, Future Baby Mama, Boom, Love Like Jazz, 4ever, Everytime, Kept Women, Immersion, Better With Time, Here, No More Candy 4 U, Dreamer, Walk In Sand, Future Soul Song, Lavaux, Beginning Endlessly and Sea of Everything. Of course, not everyone will agree, but I think by the same token his production aesthetic can sometimes detract from the sensibility and sensitivity of his actual and true emotions, which is a shame. However, there were promising signs of his connecting the two more seamlessly with his work on the Superconductor album.

Spirit

[Edited 5/10/13 12:45pm]

SuperSoulFighter said:

Uhhh... Listen 2 Down... Now if that's not being "vulnerable" I don't know what is.

Yes but it's not an official release.

Marrk said:

Militant said:

[Edited 5/10/13 9:41am]

That's quite a list, but do you really believe they're all about him? i could go yes, no or maybe to a fair few of them. A lot of those tell me nothing about him. They're as much story songs as a 'Raspberry Beret'.

Where are his political songs, his world view songs. Songs with meaningful content? 'Condition Of The Heart'? (beautiful song, yes) But it's not about him really is it?

Maybe there's a deeper meaning that i just don't see anymore, i used to see more in his work. Maybe it's my age and i'm jaded. Prince is like a fictional character to me these days.

I don't think i believe in him that much now.

[Edited 5/10/13 10:13am]

What's this idea that personal = deep?

tricky99 said:

1999

dreamer

colonized mind

ronnie talk to russia

dr mister man

family name

avalanche

dance on

sott

cinnomon girl

money don't matter tonite

the war

live for love

planet earth

days of wild

*

Thank you for this list because clearly Marrk is hearing just what he wants to hear, which is cool because we all listen subjectively, myself included. But, and I'm not trying to offend Marrk, the question seems a bit ironic if not hypocritical because whenever Prince does write about his political and religious views he gets called racists or stupid or a hatemonger by those who disagree with his views or positions, especially his post 2000 views and positions. So, I don't know how one can say that Prince doesn't have a "huge" catalogue of "personal songs” when he's spent the last thirteen years being bashed by his so-called core fans for his views.

*

Secondly, and I think this topic somewhat began with the whole Sting comparison about Sting writing about his family life and whatnot, but, as I have stated before, I'd rather have the type of allegorical songs that Prince creates rather than sucky songs that people like just because they are overtly about his personal life. For instance, a lot of people like the spoken word artist Stacyann Chinn, but I find her work flat and unimaginative and think that she is only popular because of her gay rights activism. (Okay, so that’s a bit harsh. She is talented, but I think she is “overrated”.) Thus, people applaud her poetry--if we can call it that--because they agree with her message not because her poems--if we can call them that--are well crafted. On the other hand, James Baldwin--who was gay and an activist--wrote well-crafted novels that just happened to address issues of homosexuality. So, when I’m reading Baldwin I’m reading a well-crafted novel of which I enjoy his mastery of language (literary devices) and not just his subject matter.

*

Thirdly, as a poet and fiction writer, I like the way that Prince combines fiction and real life to create his own world. We know that "Dream Factory" and "Old Friends 4 Sale" are "personal" songs, but Prince is more concerned with presenting the allegory rather than his personal issue because some writers think that the allegorical nature of a story is more impactful (didactic) than the personal nature of a story. (We know that in both songs Prince is personally pissed at two close friends, but his goal was to write songs that try to teach a lesson about the issue or circumstance rather than just blasting people. But, I must add that while on tour, Jerome, Wally, and Brooks did chant, “Paul, punk of the month.” But, at least on record, Prince kept it a cautionary tale.) And, I'm not saying that a story can't have both the personal and the allegorical, because they often do. I'm just saying that I'm one who doesn't need to know if the story is a personal experience of the author to be moved by it as long as it is well-crafted. The Rainbow Children is clearly a "personal" treaty or mission statement by Prince even though it is written in allegorical form. Yet, clearly it is emotive based on the many debates we've had on this site so it touches people on various levels, either to please some of us or piss off others.

*

Let me finally say that I don't mean to be dismissive or Marrk's desire for more "specifically personal" work by Prince. Some people want to make that personal connection with the artists they love. I, however, have never had that need. But, I also guess that's why I tend to read more poetry and fiction and less autobiographies and memoirs. I don't care about the author’s life; I just want the art. And, yes, if knowing something about the artist's life can help me better understand the art, then that's cool. But, as long as the art is well-crafted enough to make me feel and think about various issues, then I'm satisfied. And, Prince has continued to produce songs that make me feel and think.

^^ If "personal" means "vulnerable," then I agree with OP - Prince doesn't have a whole lot of (released) songs in which he is vulnerable. If any, they are in the vault or he destroyed them.

I don't think we'll ever really know. Unless he writes a bio and tells us one day. There are probably songs that many of us think are personal songs that aren't, and others that we don't think are personal songs that to him are very personal.

toejam said:

I don't think we'll ever really know. Unless he writes a bio and tells us one day. There are probably songs that many of us think are personal songs that aren't, and others that we don't think are personal songs that to him are very personal.

artist76 said:

^^ If "personal" means "vulnerable," then I agree with OP - Prince doesn't have a whole lot of (released) songs in which he is vulnerable. If any, they are in the vault or he destroyed them.

I have to disagree. He has a lot of very personal songs. Listen to Empty Room, Papa, Wasted Kisses, One of your tears, comeback, etc.....

I think you just don't really LISTEN to the lyrics.