Why does evryone seems to like this song. I just don't get it. It is the WORST song P has ever done IMO. He should never have released this as a single. Disc 2 of Emancipation was perfect until this songcame on.

Another song I don't like that everyone else does is Rasberry Baret--DAMN I HATE THIS SONG.

that's just personal taste man.

holy river is a beauty to me and so is raspberry.

larksanders said:[quote]Why does evryone seems to like this song. I just don't get it. It is the WORST song P has ever done IMO. He should never have released this as a single. Disc 2 of Emancipation was perfect until this songcame on.


---

I agree, it's the worst song ever , but my wife loves it and thinks it's the best song on Emancipation album.

But thats great that we all have are fav's and different taste's in music.

Basically I think if it connects with you on an emotional level or you can relate to the words then there's more chance you'll like it. There's probably other reasons too.

why do you think it's his worst song ever...how much of his music have you heard? i think it's interesting you should say that. i think it's one of his best ever. what makes you hate it so much?

IAM said:

I have just about heard all of it. I have alot of unreleased songs and bootlegs. Why I hate it so much it because it's just really cheesy kinda liek elevator music. It spoils the flow of the disc. I mean he follows up Joint 2 Joint with Holy River??? I love P's ballads but this one makes my ears bleed I have tried to sit through it but it makes me feel like I put on a Celine Dion track. Personally I like his funk stuff alot better than his pop stuff. But really all of it is good. I even think that The Rainbow Children was actually one of his best albums he has ever done. But Holy River is just so sappy, no depth whatsoever.
Also please don't question me as fan, obviously we all areo ne of we wouldn't be here.

'Holy River', very nice song, lyrics and all, just lovely...Rasberry Beret' is just adorable, have to love it also!

It happens, sometimes I don't feel like 'Kiss' sometimes, so there, and I know it's a great song, it's just a matter of whatever tickles your spots at times, and some songs grow on you too, so I really can't say not this song today, because it just might be that song tomorrow that you like and post again here tomorrow saying that now you like it...his MUSIC is amazing like that, at least from what happens to me......
[This message was edited Fri Apr 4 7:04:07 PST 2003 by Starmist7]

larksanders said:

no, unlike others here on this site that ridicule each other for their taste and preferences my question was serious and not a pun at you. i really did want to know why you didn't like it because i do enjoy it so much.
where in my question did you hear an attack?
anyway, serious question again, do you like any of springsteen's music? i think the reason i like the song so much is because it has that "bruce feel" to it in the way the verses flow.

not an attack. just a question bro. lighten up, IT"S FRIDAY MAN!!

I think it's one of his worst songs ever - It's so bland and insincere.
I don't know why you don't like "Raspberry Beret" - do you find it irritating?

just check out the lyrics...lets go down 2 the holy river... and if we drown then we'll be delivered...spendin ur time in all the wrong places lookin 4 love in all the wrong places...puttin ur faith in things that only make u cry...people say they love u and they wanna help...but how can they when u cant help ur self??? the more they say they love u the more u just wanna die...

when i heard that he wrote this album as he married mayte, i had 2 give it a listen... and afterward i realized that his name change was more than a publicity stunt and that whole 10 years from the symbol album 2 now he's been on a real soul search... i've always dug how he puts his life in his music cause it lead me 2 do the same as a poet and musician...

diamondpearl1 said:

yeah man...it's so personal.

The Holy River is 1 of the best inspirational songs Prince has ever written.
Yep, it sez it right here: "Prince does it yet again as far as inspiration goes"

IAM said:

LOL true it is Friday and I am glad the week is over with. I like some/very little of Springsteen. I mean it is whatever floats your boat. And with some P songs I can see how other people would like them, this one though I just can't do it. I can't sit and listen to it. i do however like the instrumental version.

Oh yeah and Rasberry Baret is just a plastic pop song IMO. It is the weakest track on ATWIAD, that along with The Latter and America. I personally think the best song off ATWIAD is TAMBORINE!---too damn funky.

And Joint 2 Joint & Soul Sactuary is the best off of Emamcipation
Noteable mentions:
In this bed eye scream
Curious Child
White Mansion
The love we Make
Sleep Around

this is truly a classic song. On every P album there is a song that makes you smile , a little sad and gives you that feeling in your stomach that reminds you just what his music has done for us all these years.

she loves me 4 me

I love you but I don't trust you anymore

wasted kisses

goodbye

shy

and the list goes on & on & on

I don't agree wit U...

It's one of his best songs EVER...

I have to say, the Holy River has some decent lyrics and some cool guitar work at the end, but I agree that it's very bland for a P song. It's just four chords decending down a scale, a minimal unexciting melody, and some cheesy choir "ahs" from a synthesizer. It's very weak musically by Prince standards, in my opinion. Thus, I don't see why it gets so much praise either...

This song is nice especially when I am skinny dipping in a lake or a river with a boom box mounted on top of my car playing it...

I really like it. And I almost never listen to "Emancipation" because I hate most of it. "The Holy River" always touches me. The video is cool, too. I love the image of Prince falling-down-drunk and having to be dragged from the bar!

It's probably a matter of taste, opinion, and mood. And also emotions/feelings and relating something in the lyrics to our own lives/experiences. I don't know about his sincerity or insincerity when Prince recorded it, but I really like The Holy River song. These lyrics hit the nail on the head for me:

U surrounded yourself with all the wrong faces
Spending your time in all the wrong places
Puttin' your faith in things that only make U cry
People say they love U when they wanna help
But how can they when U can't help yourself?
The more they say they love U, the more U just wanna die

It's like a guy(hurting and lonely in the midst of a crowd) searching for spiritual understanding; the "why am I here" question about life; a relationship with God or deeper understanding about that relationship, and then wanting and needing to connect with a soul mate in life too. Maybe at the time he wrote it he was thinking he'd found rest in Mayte but it was not to be. Hopefully Prince has found a soul mate in Mani.


OK, I'll admit it. After I listened to this song a few times and listened closer, it brought me to tears. I think it's a simple, beautiful gem. I can't think of any other Prince song that has brought me to tears like that, and I don't know why. I would have thought that more of his songs would have touched me emotionally.

This SONG is BEAUTIFUL...GO BEYOND YOUR MIND and FEEL with the heart...READ THE FOLLOWING and TAKE IT N2 U...
THE LYRICS EXPLAIN THE SONG...TO A "T"

Let's Go Down to the Holy River
The act of surrendering unto the father in heaven who GAVE you the GIFT OF LIFE pure love divinely
with all of heaven watching

If we drown then we'll be delivered
Upon consummation of spiritual holy fire... resurrection from death


You can still see the picture upon the wall


The one Eye staring at nothing at all


The other one trying to focus thru all your tears


You can try and try but there's nothing to hide


You can't run from yourself and what's inside


You got to find the answers to the questions that you most fear


So over and over you ask your soul why'de you come down to a world so cold


The voice inside said tonight the truth will be told


Surrounded yourself with all the wrong faces


Spending your time in all the wrong places


Puttin your faith in things that only make you cry


People say they love you when they wanna help


But how can they when you can't help yourself


The more they say they love you the more you just wanna die


And there you are you think your hot can't ask your self cuz you only lie


If you had a dollar for every time you try


And then it hit you like a fist on a wall


Who gave you life at all when there was none at all


Who gave you some permission to rise up everyday

If you ask GOD to love you longer every breath you take will make you stronger

Keeping you happy PROUD TO CALL HIS NAME JESUS

Over and over you ask your soul
Why you come down to a world so COLD

The VOICE Inside said tonight the truth will be told
(this time i was listening)


The words of the song say what it is EXACTLY what SPIRIT is.

With Respect
SingMia

I like the song and he was excellent on the Rosie O'Donnell Show when he played it live(horrible interview). But not everyone is going to like every Prince song. Personally I do not like Pop Life-- never have and never will.

Definitely NOT his worst song, but I never was crazy about it. It's nice (just like Sweet Baby & I Wish U Heaven are nice) but "nice" don't always do it for me...

s-u-x.

I always thought that the bubble-gum happy feel behind the music was interesting juxtaposed against the lyrics. The words are kind of like a biographical account of a depressed person finding something beyond themself to believe in.
I don't know, I kind of think it's a cool song.

mistermcgee said:

Exactly. For somebody to say it's the worst song he's made tells me one of two things: either you haven't heard many of his songs or you're afraid to let it touch you.

larksanders said:

you suck!




you double-suck!

I think the basic song is very very good. Nice lyrics and
the melody is sincerely cool. However, once again -like
with the rest of emancipation- the production sucks. It
sounds like a children's song. I can never make my mind
up wether it's brilliant or just corny. Same thing with
the external guitarsolo, it walks that very fine line
between cool and kitsch.