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I quite like the new song. It's funky | |
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"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato
https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0 | |
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Interesting that so many folks thought the tune was homophobic. I guess I can see that, though I actually took it the opposite way. Considering the term "beard" is usually applied to a woman being used by a homosexual man to appear straight, I thought Prince was just flipping that. In this case, he has discovered himself to be the "beard", and she the one wearing it. If anything, I thought he was calling her out for not being honest to begin with, thus the line referring to him thinking she'd left the "dirty world" behind. Oh well, I guess it can be interpreted that way. Who knows, P is nuts either way, so the answer is locked inside his crazed brain. Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones. (Ecclesiastes 7:9) | |
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Here's what I see--he's mad, he's been made a fool of, he has been (as you point out) her beard, but he thought he was something more, and now he feels used ("only good for a rainy day")--yes, he refers to "the dirty world," possibly in part because he's disapproving of the same-sex aspect, but probably also because of the hooking up with anyone outside of the monogamous model of sexuality he's been pushing for several years now. Also, I get the sense he saw this happening out in public, like maybe in a club. The fact that it's another woman he catches her with makes it a bit more interesting (at least, I assume he thought it did when he was writing the song), but I doubt he really meant this song to turn out as a serious statement of any social view. That doesn't mean he hasn't made such statements elsewhere, but I don't think it's what he meant to do here. It was probably supposed to add a bit of spice into the song, a little bit of extra naughtiness that her getting with another man wouldn't have--but because he's made some homophobic comments in the recent past, he can't really avoid that coming into people's responses.
But I still can't make any sense at all of the lines about "da Bourgeoisie"--what doesn't replace what memories, and while I know there's a chance those "slippery lips" is a sexual reference, how's that fit with "da Bourgeoisie" and I guess their judgmental selves "stepping up to see" (and is the man part of what they're coming to see, or do they just want to gawk at the women getting it on). Normally (from the good old days) I'd expect Prince to be separating himself, and his uptown, paisley, bohemian from the middle-class, "tourist", moralists I expect the bourgeoisie to refer to, but here it's the title, and I still can't tell what I'm supposed to feel about this part of the song. Is it about the prurience exhibited by those who condemn others' behavior even while they get their vicarious thrills from those who trespass conservative morals? Does Prince just want all the gossip-consumers to mind their own business? What's he talking about here?
Now, I think the song's probably just a bit of an unfinished mess, particularly when it comes to the lyrics--I think he had part of a re-hashed idea, didn't think it out fully, threw in some ridiculous mis-pronounced French as a joke (though whether that was before or after the title line, who knows), thought the whole "cabaret Charles" thing was way more clever than it was ("seriously" indeed--one time was pushing it, but to repeat it several times?). The song didn't deserve as much attention as it got from anyone lyrically (including from me, obviously). If you disagree with Prince's opinions on gay issues, good. They seem to be nuts. Complain about what he's said, if you feel it makes any difference. Be annoyed that his approach to interviews makes it impossible to really hold him accountable for anything he might have said in one, since he doesn't allow any real record to exist of his comments. If the attitudes he holds (as near as we can tell from reports) bother you enough, don't support him. But this song isn't finished enough or well-structuredto make a cause out of attacking it.
And the horns are terrible. | |
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I do not agree with most of the interpretations given of 'Da Bourgeoisie'. When you do not immediately understand all the terms used, it's a good idea to do a little study on what they mean. Bourgeoisie is a French term used for the old (French) upper and upper middle class, infamous for many reasons, among these their love for cabaret. Cabarets were usually nightclubs or theaters for the entertainment and such of the rich and wealthy. Some of those cabarets turned into outright freakshows for "entertainment". To be shocked by, or laugh at abnormal looking people with (severe) abnormalities, deformities or diseases for example. Including at Bearded ladies who actually exist for real* and have nothing to do with "lesbians" or homosexuality. But everything with "freaks" at the "cabaret"/nightclub for the upperclass.
You can never expect true love from such a girl - a nightclub freak - "nothing like you ever lasts for eternity" (*Some bearded women like Clementine Delait were married and made their living by exploiting their abnormality.) ..
[Edited 12/16/13 14:31pm] | |
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Tremolina--
Thank you for your post--I had originally understood the "bearded lady in the cabaret" bit as meaning pretty much what you said--I took it as another way of saying she was still a freak, even though he'd fooled himself into thinking that she wasn't (God knows why). But I got caught up in the arguments relating to beards as fake heterosexual partners, and, well, accepted that what I originally thought couldn't really be what he was saying, since no one else seemed to understand it that way.
I'm still not sold on the idea that Prince is really thinking much about the actual historical French bourgeoisie--I still have the feeling that it's more the way it's used in calling a system of values bourgeois, referring to a certain middle-class, materialist, conventionality: the exact same group he referred to as tourists in "Sexuality." That's what bourgeois calls to mind immediately to most Americans, I think--even when we know the history. It's an insulting term, the desperate consumerist strivers that neither the upper-class nor the working class really respect, and that politicians can't stand but also can't afford to offend. Cabaret, to me at least, more a decadence--possibly a sophisticated slumming decadence, but maybe just plain seediness.
Still think the lyrics are too incomplete to be considered much more than a rough draft or even an outline--don't like the horns--but mostly like the music. | |
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I just heard this song. My first thought was Prince ain't been this mad at a bi chick since Bambi. My second thought was "Is this about Andy?" My third thought came after the second (and last) listen) and I pretty much came to the same (though less eloquent) conclusion as Tremolina explained and figured that Prince is just playing the double entender card as usual and its just to get the fans talking. | |
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This lends a lot of insight into the tune. I initially thought the song was, like EddieC noted, rather half-baked in the lyrics department. Maybe it's a bit more intricate than I thought!
Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones. (Ecclesiastes 7:9) | |
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I tried to get on the 3rdEyeGirl site, to buy the official song, but somehow, the site is uploading 4ever.
99% of my posts are ironic. Maybe this post sides with the other 1%. | |
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Jammmmmm! You gave quiet a insight! Even with a bearded women link, lol! | |
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Could this song be about Bria and/or Andy? 99% of my posts are ironic. Maybe this post sides with the other 1%. | |
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^ Just press reload/ refresh the page.. that should fix ur problem. Prince 4Ever. | |
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This made me laugh out loud! Thanks for the laugh! | |
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Interesting interpretations by various people.
Initially I also didn't hear the homophobia either and thought more along the lines of Tremolina or JediMaster, but I took a break from Prince for a month and having re-listened to this song now after over a month later, it sounded not just homophobic but what struck me most was how revolted he sounds. That spitting tops it off.
So, if this is about being played by a freak or a woman who cheated on him or some social commentary on the bourgeoisie, or just trying to be clever and nutty then why couch it in such strong anti-lesbian terms??? [Edited 1/5/14 14:22pm] ...every night another symphony... | |
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You should take another look at Tremolina's post. I think she has really dug down into what the song is about. I definitely don't think it's homophobic after reading her examination.
Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones. (Ecclesiastes 7:9) | |
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Absolutely mind-blowing how some people don't hear the homophobia in the lyrics. Some of y'all treat him like a god. | |
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JediMaster said:
You should take another look at Tremolina's post. I think she has really dug down into what the song is about. I definitely don't think it's homophobic after reading her examination.
Did you actually read my post?? ...every night another symphony... | |
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Absolutely mind-blowing how some people hear homophobia in the lyrics. Some of y'all just look to be offended. Liberty > Authority | |
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Absolutely mind-blowing how some people don't bother to read comments properly and just shoot from the hip.
...every night another symphony... | |
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Oh, I read them. I just don't interpret the lyrics as being homophobic or offensive in any way. I happen to think that those that do find the lyrics offensive are reading to much into them and/or are looking for things to be offended about. That, and my comment was not directed at you nor was it in reply to anything you said, they were directed at jojolion. So, it wouldn't have mattered if I'd read your comments or not as they are irrelevant to me and to the point I was making. [Edited 1/22/14 18:26pm] Liberty > Authority | |
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Oh ok fair enough ...every night another symphony... | |
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Cool!
Liberty > Authority | |
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