There is no doubt about it, The Rainbow Children is Prince's 'Controversy' these days. Musically, both albums are very similar; funk, soul and electric, with The Rainbow Children lending also to some jazz influences. Both title tracks are live showcase funk jams and feature Prince heavy on that funky, scorching guitar. Interestingly, the anthemic Rainbow Children features a notable call back to his sexuality agenda of old, as can be heard in the Camille-like phrasings. Talk about lyrics...

"Reproduction of the new breed leader
Stand up and organize!

The Agreement - with every birth, we keep it so
Never changing one piece of it
In fear of what would unfold

Rise, Rise, rise...
Rise, Rainbow Children, rise"

There are so many great songs here, this album really needs to be listened to loud! Muse 2 The Pharoah is as addictive in the art of seduction as the concert favourite, Do Me, Baby. The Work pt. 1 redefines the very nature of 'work,' initially featured in the early 80's classic, 'Let's Work.' Family Name owes a very bass heavy, experimental nod to the likes of Annie Christian and in parts, Lady Cab Driver. Of course, with this Prince record there are so many influences, not least of all from his own vast back catalogue. A Sly Stone inspired The Everlasting Now will leave you euphoric, before the beautiful Santana-esque closing, Last December.

The Rainbow Children is rich in what made Prince's 80's records so classic. It has a keen sense of shocking you, leaving you confused and before even knowing what's really hit you, you're compelled to hit repeat. While some may contend the album's self professed 'controversial' nature, mainly due to the lack of overt sexual commentary, there is little doubt that this record will stir strong emotions and heated debate amongst Prince's hardcore fans. It's a shame that Prince sold his legacy to the masses through sex to such an extent, that even some of his most ardent followers will not see through those games to find the real truth in this record. Prince is burning high on wax but I doubt many will notice.


[This message was edited Thu Mar 13 19:30:26 PST 2003 by Anji]

Sorry, but I'm not fond of either of these albums. Both have good songs but are horrendously inconsistant. Still, no-one gets it right all the time!

Cloudbuster said:

The Rainbow Children is very consistent. That's why it spend so much time in my CD player. With lots of Prince albums I absolutely love some tracks and really hate others for their appalling cheesiness. I think nearly all of TRC is of a pretty high standard and some of it is excellent.

Not sure I agree with the comparison of Controversy to TRC. Don't see that at all.

Controversy is kind of sparse electronic funk and catchy pop.

TRC is meticulously produced jazz-funk, soul and pop.

sawatdiikhrap said:

Fair enough. We'll agree to disagree.

hardly...

He's too wussy in TRC

Controvery he says it all loud and clear, not hidden and in the background.

"The sin on one within becomes the sin of one and all"
This is one of the greatest lines to me.
I was thinking about this just yesterday, wondering if each one of us is just a small fraction of a greater being. In that I just might be bold enough to say that I Am Another Yourself. I see me in you, and learn through all of OUR mistakes. And cirtainly if the 100 monkey study is true, than one might believe that
the LOVE of ONE within becomes the LOVE of ONE and ALL?
I love this concept!
Oh and I love you Rainbow Children!

I like TRC as a record, and I have no problem with listening to the lyrics, although I don't agree with them.

Prince is a dork, and he should not try to push things on people.

The theocratic order stuff, and a brief hint that homosexuality is wrong is what peturbs me the most.

I think it's funny that when you get a "point of view" people think it's being pushy.

Prince has always had a philsophy in his music. Either agreed or disagreed. Because he's older, it just maybe be more defined.

"ain't no room for disagree".

I don't think you could get any more closed minded.

Prince comes off as a jerk on that record.

I love TRC, best record since IMO, but he should lay off the preaching.
[This message was edited Thu Mar 13 7:47:38 PST 2003 by MiaBocca]

MiaBocca said:

We only call it "preaching" because it has to do with religion...if it has to do with sex, we don't consider it preaching...if it has to do with war ("Partyup"), we don't consider it preaching...if it has to do with politics ("America"), we don't consider it preaching...Gotta agree, Prince has been "preaching" and "forcing" his views on shitloads of topics throughout his entire career...

Oh, and as for the topic (lol), I see more differences between TRC and Controversy than I do similarities...

wellbeyond said:

Same here, and I wrote the article.

sawatdiikhrap said:

There are similarities, there are also significant differences.

The point I was trying to make, is that there are some very basic ingredients still in the mix, and can be dated back to his Controversy days. Fans, however, may refuse to tune into them, for reasons outside the music.
[This message was edited Thu Mar 13 9:00:52 PST 2003 by Anji]

Anji said:

I'm learning that about you...

wellbeyond said:

MiaBocca said:

Where is that brief hint?

Cloudbuster said:

True. Maybe, you'll learn to see their brilliance in time.

wellbeyond said:

The definition of preaching:

preach (SPEAK IN CHURCH)
verb
(esp. of a priest in a church) to give (a religious speech)
A bishop preached to the assembled mourners. [I]
Our local priest preached a sermon on the need for forgiveness. [T]

So yes, we are right to use it in a relgious context, the man is PREACHING.

I like the fact that he speaks his mind, but when he says "it's my way, or the highway" - I'll take the highway thanks very much!

Anji said:

"The Wise One's love 4 God, assimilated the woman first and only"

Like I said it's a brief hint - take it as you like, but I took that as to mean that relationships under God are accepted only as male/female - with the woman in subjection to the man, and the man in subjection to God.

MiaBocca said:

I took a more general definition of "preaching"...lol which is how most mean it when they complain about it occuring on TRC...Prince's "my way or the highway" has been in existence for 25 years, too...too many examples to list, but we all know the lyrics and lines which Prince has yelped out over his career which left no wiggle room...true, they have primarily fallen within the arena of sex and politics, but his spiritual views have often been sung/worded in a way which makes it sound like more than just theory (except in "Gold", in which he actually DOES say "It's a theory..."...lol)

Savannah said:

Please explain, I really don't understand that. On which album has he been more open with what he thinks. I think TRC is what Prince believes in... totally uncensored and unaltered.

Savannah said:

I would hardly call The Rainbow Children being 'wussy,' as you put it. Can you sense how many of his own fans he is alientating? If anything, it's a brave move to put your true beliefs on record, knowing this will segregate your audience.

We need 2 come 2gether
Come 2gether as ONE

wellbeyond said:

Hmmm, dunno about that - he has always had strong believes but there is a huge gap between the lyrics of Uptown and The Rainbow Children.

TRC sees Prince overtly stating that anyone who disagrees with him is wrong.

That is a VERY foolish statement to make in my opinion.

MiaBocca said:

Prince's career has been littered with foolish statements. It's a shame, this one's getting you down.

MiaBocca said:

"I'm in love with God, He's the only way...cuz you and I know we gotta die someday" (saying God's the "only way" doesn't leave too much wiggle room)

"You're gonna have to fight your own damn war, cuz we don't wanna fight no more..." (I don't detect Prince trying to say that those who believe in the necessity of war might be right as well...lol)

"They made him pledge allegiance, Jimmy say it wasn't cool...nothing made Jimmy proud...now Jimmy live on a mushroom cloud" (You think Prince isn't saying here that "Jimmy" was "wrong"??...and by default, anyone who thinks along those same lines??)

"Save me, Jesus, I've been a fool...how could I forget that you are the rule" (Not "you are my rule" or "you are a possible rule", but "you are THE rule"...he's not exactly giving equal validity to differing opinions on Jesus and God here...lol)

Etc, etc...


...even this edit statement is trying to tell me I'm wrong!!
[This message was edited Thu Mar 13 9:29:57 PST 2003 by wellbeyond]

It doesn't get me down as such, I love TRC, and I can sing along to the lyrics without giving them a second thought - I'm often caught doing a James Brown dance in the kitchen singing "do you know about the theocratic order".

I just brought it up because of the discussion here.

wellbeyond said:

None of these statements explicitly state that "if you don't agree with me, you are wrong" - like TRC does.

When you listen to ONA shows, he says (in the same concerts) that "if that's not your cup of tea it's alright with [him]" and then "sooner or later we'll have to agree on how God wants to be worshipped".

I don't take the whole thing to serious. I like it that he's saying what he thinks. Not too many do that.

MiaBocca said:

This is definitely very true, however...I think the overall theme of TRC is what bothers most (that, plus the huge discussion on boards like this one about Prince's JW leanings and what they now mean)...if it were one song "preaching" stuck in the middle of 12 other songs, it would be overlooked...

MiaBocca said:

Hmmm...well, I think if Prince said "They made him pray to Jesus, Jimmy say it wasn't cool...earthly things served Jimmy well...now Jimmy's doomed to eternity in Hell", we would say Prince is being pretty damn explicit...lol