Most of you probably have chidren, some may be young, and not totally ready for the colourfulness of some of Prince's lyrics. I have started making a special non-offensive selection of Prince's tracks that are safe to play around my 7 year old daughter, and sadly, that doesn't leave me with that many to choose from and I can't include my favourite songs. What about you, how do you go about playing Prince's music while young children are around?

CherryMoon57 said:

RiotPaisley said:

I don't care. I'd rather she learned it off a Prince record than some of the other stuff out there. or some other kid even.

Most schools and place here in rural England are very strict about language and not many children are familiar with those words. It is a fact that they are not often used around here. If she then went to school and started singing some of the songs she heard at home (as she often does) then we could be in big trouble

There is an official "" edited version, if you like that record.

I bought it hoping that meant Tony M. had been removed from the record. Unfortunately, he was not.

There's also an edited version of "Emancipation."

I played The Gold Experience loud and continuously when it came out and my kid was young...and he turned out just fine. Probably got tired of me playing it so much...

I pick carefully still with my teens. I don't really know why since I was listening to it at 13 and they watch Game of Thrones.

I would say so long as the words are not obvious (not something they might start singing at school for example) then a 7 year old would not notice a lot of it.

Colyde said:

I have a 7 year old daughter also. She did happen to hear Darling Nikki and loved it. I was worried at first but the more I thought about it the stuff played on the radio is way worse than that song. There are definitely songs I won't let her listen to,but she gravitates more to the radio hits and the Purple Rain soundtrack. On a side note my 2 yr old son tears up the "I know, I know, I know" part from PR and it is fantastic!

I actually played all of PR the other day and I don't think DN was a problem as she probably didn't distinguish those words let alone understand them. I am more worried about her coming into school one day singing "You Sexy MF !". That would probably make me laugh but I don't think the school would appreciate.

sunset3121 said:

I pick carefully still with my teens. I don't really know why since I was listening to it at 13 and they watch Game of Thrones.

I would say so long as the words are not obvious (not something they might start singing at school for example) then a 7 year old would not notice a lot of it.

My thoughts too

suomynona said:

There is an official "" edited version, if you like that record.

I bought it hoping that meant Tony M. had been removed from the record. Unfortunately, he was not.

There's also an edited version of "Emancipation."

Yes I do like these albums. So do you mean that they've removed all the slang?

[Edited 5/21/16 17:26pm]

Any official studio recording from Musicology forward is pretty clean. P made it a point to stress his music and concerts from that point on were going to be family-friendly. Now theres plenty of innuendo still to be heard, but nothing in your face inappropriate. FYI, just the period from Musicology forward is a great amount of P music suitable for kids.

I think you have a wide selection of music. The word "sex" isn't a dirty word, so you can leave those songs in. But you do need to address children at an age appropriate level and be honest when they ask questions.

.

I'd leave Dirty Mind out of it for now, but everything on Controversy is good, except "jack u off". "1999" is good except "Let's Pretend We're Married". I'd think "Little Red Corvette" is a good teaching moment, if you wanna get all Dr. Phil on it.

.

There's always that one song on a Prince album, that you might wanna shelter from tender ears for a while. But I agree with other folks - kids are going to hear cuss words, and hear euphanisms, etc. As long as the kid knows there's an open line of communication with a parent, mostof those things will be just a thing they learn as they go along. Don't make it a big deal, it won't be a big deal.

I have a 7 year old daughter and a 14 year old daughter. Both have heard a lot of Prince's songs. My 7 year old likes "Raspberry Beret" and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World". Her favorite lyric is, "I think I love her." Then the other day, we were driving down to town and "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" came on Sirius XM, and the three of us were singing to the top of our lungs! My older daughter likes WDC (has not seen video), "Let's Go Crazy"and "1999". She asked me to put them on her iPod.

[Edited 5/21/16 19:41pm]

CherryMoon57 said:

Most of you probably have chidren, some may be young, and not totally ready for the colourfulness of some of Prince's lyrics. I have started making a special non-offensive selection of Prince's tracks that are safe to play around my 7 year old daughter, and sadly, that doesn't leave me with that many to choose from and I can't include my favourite songs. What about you, how do you go about playing Prince's music while young children are around?

they had a lullaby version of his classics somewhere on spotify, i thought it was a sick idea myself but someone pulled it off.

also, couple weeks ago, a lady i help around her house came in the room when I was playing the Emancipation album, her two little ones followed her, of course I shut the stuff off right away but she told me to turn it back on.

When my son was 11 I took him to Prince's Musicology concert with me...he enjoyed it and to this day West from N.E.W.S is his favorite song and he's 23 now. He loves the guitar solo. When he was 10 one day I heard him walking around the house singing LRC Secretly he became a fan cuz his mom is one and thats a beautiful thing. I think Prince loved that some of his fans brought their kids to see him...says alot about his talent.

nursev said:

When my son was 11 I took him to Prince's Musicology concert with me...he enjoyed it and to this day West from N.E.W.S is his favorite song and he's 23 now. He loves the guitar solo. When he was 10 one day I heard him walking around the house singing LRC Secretly he became a fan cuz his mom is one and thats a beautiful thing. I think Prince loved that some of his fans brought their kids to see him...says alot about his talent.

One of her favourite albums is N.E.W.S actually and she usually likes listening to it before bedtime. She doesn't normally like other stuff on the radio but when Prince's songs come on she will always ask me to turn the volume up. You are so lucky to have been able to take your soon to a Prince concert, it really saddens me to think she will never see him play live.

TrivialPursuit said:

I think you have a wide selection of music. The word "sex" isn't a dirty word, so you can leave those songs in. But you do need to address children at an age appropriate level and be honest when they ask questions.

.

I'd leave Dirty Mind out of it for now, but everything on Controversy is good, except "jack u off". "1999" is good except "Let's Pretend We're Married". I'd think "Little Red Corvette" is a good teaching moment, if you wanna get all Dr. Phil on it.

.

There's always that one song on a Prince album, that you might wanna shelter from tender ears for a while. But I agree with other folks - kids are going to hear cuss words, and hear euphanisms, etc. As long as the kid knows there's an open line of communication with a parent, mostof those things will be just a thing they learn as they go along. Don't make it a big deal, it won't be a big deal.

Thanks, I really appreciate your advice. An I agree that communication is essential with children. We're a relatively laid back household and we do talk a lot about pretty much everything with her - using language that is appropriate for her level, and she can discern between what's appropriate or not depending on the situation. But it is true that Prince's music can still surprise some innocent ears when they least expect it. An interesting anecdote, I played controversy the other day and she - being a cat lover - thought the chorus said "Come here pussy"

Thank you for all the stories. This made me think that someone should write a brochure or booklet for the children of Prince fans, here's a little draft...

So Daddy/Mommy is a HUGE Prince Fan

A guide to make the most of the situation

Being the child of a Prince fanatic does not have to be unpleasant. Sure, some of the songs you'll have to hear over and over can be annoying, especially the ones with screams, endless noodling, extra-long guitar solos, Tony M. or JW doctrine. But you do have at your disposal a powerful way of influencing your Prince-crazed dad or mom, or even a Paisley-mad uncle or aunt. Cheer up!

Chapter 1: How to get what you want

In the hours before you make that request for a new bike, those expensive sneakers or perhaps mom's car keys, pretend to accidentally make Prince references like "I was playing outside near the five and dime" and watch mama/papa's eyes light up as they ask "Was your boss Mr. Magee?"

Pick a Prince song and say it's your favorite. Don't like Prince's voice? Pick an instrumental piece like Venus de Milo or anything on NEWS. Sit comfortably as your Prince obsessed parent goes through all the shelves to find the CD or LP -- be prepared as they'll insist on playing other tunes they feel are just as good. Whatever you do, do not cringe!

Before you make your request, bring up a related aspect in Prince's life. Want a new bike? Find that clip of him riding his bike in Minneapolis and make sure to discuss it. A drawing of Prince on his bike might be a nice touch -- leave it on the diner table. For new sneakers, it's even easier, Prince is famous for his footwear and your obsessed parent will want to discuss everything from high heels, platform shoes to sneakers with little lights in them.

[Edited 5/22/16 4:06am]

make a massive prince playlist, most of his work will be suitable I think (like over 50% !) and then have this on when ever the kids are up.
my nearly 6 year old daughter *loves* Prince, MJ and P.M. Dawn but she is taking to Prince the fastest,remembering choruses and how videos play out and requesting those.

She likes Thieves in the Temple, Why you wanna treat me so bad, If I was your girlfriend, Gold,The Most Beautiful Girl in the World, Raspberry Beret, I wish U Heaven, Nothing Compares 2 U, I Would Die 4 U above all others at the moment and has them loaded on an ancient ipod we still had in a desk drawer.

great thing about Prince is you can whittle down his official releases by criteria like this and still have a massive list of brilliant songs

BanishedBrian said:

I recently started introducing my 6 year old daughter to Prince's music, but I've been careful with which lyrics she hears. A funny story though... my wife and I started listening a few weeks ago to the Sirius tribute channel in our car. Meanwhile, our daughter just started to learn to read. A couple weeks ago, my wife turns on the car one day with the volume off, and our daughter looks at the words on the radio and says: "Mom, what's a Billy Jack Bitch?"

I'd be interested to hear what your answer was... ?

CherryMoon57 said:

BanishedBrian said:

I recently started introducing my 6 year old daughter to Prince's music, but I've been careful with which lyrics she hears. A funny story though... my wife and I started listening a few weeks ago to the Sirius tribute channel in our car. Meanwhile, our daughter just started to learn to read. A couple weeks ago, my wife turns on the car one day with the volume off, and our daughter looks at the words on the radio and says: "Mom, what's a Billy Jack Bitch?"

I'd be interested to hear what your answer was... ?

Kids are so funny.

CherryMoon57 said:

BanishedBrian said:

I recently started introducing my 6 year old daughter to Prince's music, but I've been careful with which lyrics she hears. A funny story though... my wife and I started listening a few weeks ago to the Sirius tribute channel in our car. Meanwhile, our daughter just started to learn to read. A couple weeks ago, my wife turns on the car one day with the volume off, and our daughter looks at the words on the radio and says: "Mom, what's a Billy Jack Bitch?"

I'd be interested to hear what your answer was... ?

She quickly changed the subject: "Hey, anybody feel like going to Chuck E Cheese's right now?!?"

CherryMoon57 said: