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There's another thread here discussing "Rainbow Children," but that one has both positive and negative responses. I want this one to be for the fans who do enjoy the album...but I only want the responses to be in regards to this one specific question:

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How exactly did you come to enjoy the album?

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By that I mean, let's be real, that album first time played was a "Huh?" moment. I will find it impossible to believe that any fan loved it instantly. So my question is what was the breaking point? What did you see in the album, hear in the album that got you hooked?

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My answer is the song "1+1+1=3." I was thrown by that album upon first listenings. But I noted one tune was very good -- "1+1+1=3." So I would cue up that song and many times I would let the rest of the album play out. So I got to listening to much of the album because of "1+1." That song was the breakthrough I needed to get into "Rainbow Children."

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How exactly did you come to enjoy this very non-traditional Prince album?

Cloreen said:

...but that one has both positive and negative responses. I want this one to be for the fans who do enjoy the album...

Good luck with that.

Revolution said:

The musicianship on this album is stellar. Prince was focused! I took my sis to this concert. She is a casual fan, knowing most of the hits. When we left, she said that we looked like a cult. Lmao.

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Anyways for me, I wasn't sure what to make of it at first...but after taking the time to listen to the entire album I started to really love it. While Prince put his heart and soul into every album, I've always felt he put a bit extra into this album. 'Last December' is that perfect epic closing song, along the same lines as Purple Rain and Gold.

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Also a 1+ on the musicianship.

despite the messages within the songs whether you agree or disagree with them.. this was musically one of his best albums in a long time during that period. I also think it was his best because he was passionate about getting those messages out to his fans, so he wasnt neccessarily going through the motions

Cloreen said:

.

There's another thread here discussing "Rainbow Children," but that one has both positive and negative responses. I want this one to be for the fans who do enjoy the album...but I only want the responses to be in regards to this one specific question:

.

How exactly did you come to enjoy the album?

.

By that I mean, let's be real, that album first time played was a "Huh?" moment. I will find it impossible to believe that any fan loved it instantly. So my question is what was the breaking point? What did you see in the album, hear in the album that got you hooked?

.

My answer is the song "1+1+1=3." I was thrown by that album upon first listenings. But I noted one tune was very good -- "1+1+1=3." So I would cue up that song and many times I would let the rest of the album play out. So I got to listening to much of the album because of "1+1." That song was the breakthrough I needed to get into "Rainbow Children."

.

How exactly did you come to enjoy this very non-traditional Prince album?

Took me about four listens to get into it. It was one of a handful of CD's i took on my summer holiday. It got trapped on my portable CD player, By the time i saw the ONA tour i was fully into it. The title track was something else live.

I treat it like a fantasy/concept album in a lot of ways. I'm not a religious man at all, but can still get with a great song like 'Last December'.

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it was a great listen from the very first note. after the blandness of emancipation and rave it was a joy to hear prince playing real music again. a joy i tell ya.

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what i like about prince was he sounded different. when he started to sound like the rest of the blandness out there i lost interest. so, naturally, when i first listened to this album my interest level rose.

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can't quite understand why anyone would not like this album.

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I've been putting "the message" behind the songs on the backburner for decades. Why not do it for Rainbow Children which is a fucking killer album?

It took me a couple of years, worked my way through it with the lighter song such as 'She Loves Me 4 Me' and 'The Work'. Now I'm jamming to 'The Rainbow Childen', 'Digital Garden', 'Everywhere' and 'Last December' like there's no tomorrow. I adore the artwork, this also helps.

The fact that the album is pretty much impossible to fully comprehend makes it fresh even today. Other more straightforward albums like 3121 I still enjoy, but lost that freshness.

Today TRC is firmlt setteld in my top3.

1) Parade

2) The Rainbow Children

3) Lovesexy

And again, muscially it is superb.

[Edited 6/18/16 18:00pm]

Cloreen said:

.

There's another thread here discussing "Rainbow Children," but that one has both positive and negative responses. I want this one to be for the fans who do enjoy the album...but I only want the responses to be in regards to this one specific question:

.

How exactly did you come to enjoy the album?

.

By that I mean, let's be real, that album first time played was a "Huh?" moment. I will find it impossible to believe that any fan loved it instantly. So my question is what was the breaking point? What did you see in the album, hear in the album that got you hooked?

.

My answer is the song "1+1+1=3." I was thrown by that album upon first listenings. But I noted one tune was very good -- "1+1+1=3." So I would cue up that song and many times I would let the rest of the album play out. So I got to listening to much of the album because of "1+1." That song was the breakthrough I needed to get into "Rainbow Children."

.

How exactly did you come to enjoy this very non-traditional Prince album?

*

I'm not trying to be adversarial, but what I've bolded in your question is the number one problem with Prince.org. (Undercurrent racism is the next issue, but I'll leave that issue for another thread.) The fact that you "find it impossible to believe that any fan loved it instantly" means that you are so subjective in your own tastes that you can't imagine that anyone would like something that you don't or didn't immediately like. However, as a Prince fan since 1980 (I liked the first two albums, but Dirty Mind hooked me.), The Rainbow Children is everything I love about Prince: his eff the world attitude, its raw funky, rocking, soulful music mixed into a sound that is ultimate Prince, and lyrics that show him continuing to search for his own truth even if no one wants to follow. So, obviously, my response can't count because, again, I loved it from the moment I first heard it. I'll also add that, since I perceive a song like "Race" as enjoyable but historically and culturally myopic, it was also nice to see Prince engage racism by addressing issues specific to the plight of African Americans. As such, the music and the lyrics seem to be perfectly Prince, especially since it's my contention that, since Prince had always been working within the Judeo-Christian framework, TRC merely continues that walk or journey down that path. There was nothing about TRC that contradicted what I already loved about Prince. In fact, the evolving music, colorful imagery of the lyrics, and contemplative subject matter merely affirmed that Prince was still at the top of his game. The album has classically emotive soulful grooves and heavy-handed funk jams with guitar playing that ranges from gritty chicken grease to straight rock. How could I not love it? My first thought when hearing it was "The dude that created Dirty Mind still has his mojo working." Once, again, Prince was acting as a prism for all that I love from Marvin Gaye to Smokey Robinson to James Brown to Jimi Hendrix to Led Zeppelin. TRC has all of these sounds. So, yeah, from the first song to the last, I loved it immediately. But, again, you find it impossible to believe that so I guess that my response may not fit this thread.

DiscoBallz said:

I've been putting "the message" behind the songs on the backburner for decades. Why not do it for Rainbow Children which is a fucking killer album?

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eh. I'm not a fan of Rainbow Children but I want to respond to this: because it has all the subtlety and grace of an elephant. I can ignore the messages of music - not just Prince's but in general - as long as that message isn't so "loud" that it drowns out everything else.

masterpiece

Family Name grabbed me first, it's just SICK!!!! Mellow is nice, & The Everlasting Now is pretty cool. Liked all 3 of those on first listen, & so on...

Count me in as a fan who loved it at first listen. 1+1+1=3 and Last December are my favorites. I love the guitar on Last December. It reminded me of a Santana riff which is why I thought very cool that Santana played it as a tribute.

Still love it.

CalhounSq said:

"Everywhere" was the track that got me hooked. So positive and bright! I just adore it, I wish it went for longer.

Lette said:

"Everywhere" was the track that got me hooked. So positive and bright! I just adore it, I wish it went for longer.

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great song.

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1725topp said:

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yeah, from the first song to the last, I loved it immediately. But, again, you find it impossible to believe that.

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Yes, that's right, I don't believe you. Here's why:

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You say you loved it immediately. That's impossible. A serious work of art can not be loved instantly. It is not a piece of candy. It is not a Three Musketeers bar. If you say you loved "Rainbow Children" instantly what you are really saying is that you were attracted to the boldness, the new direction that Prince took. That whetted your appetite. Then upon further listenings you grew to love it.

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Once again, a work of art takes time to truly savour and appreciate. A Tootsie Roll does not. Unwrap, put it in your mouth and instant gratification. Art is not like that. And great art is even further from that.

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You didn't love it on first listen. You were intrigued by it on first listen.

BT11 said:

It took me a couple of years, worked my way through it with the lighter song such as 'She Loves Me 4 Me' and 'The Work'. Now I'm jamming to 'The Rainbow Childen', 'Digital Garden', 'Everywhere' and 'Last December' like there's no tomorrow. I adore the artwork, this also helps.

The fact that the album is pretty much impossible to fully comprehend makes it fresh even today. Other more straightforward albums like 3121 I still enjoy, but lost that freshness.

Today TRC is firmlt setteld in my top3.

1) Parade

2) The Rainbow Children

3) Lovesexy

And again, muscially it is superb.

[Edited 6/18/16 18:00pm]

I agree, it is superb. Didn't take me as long as you to get into it though, I've always loved its experimental aspect, the visionnary fusion of jazz and soul... and yes great artwork too. As for the cryptic talk that put some people off... I don't really mind, it simply gives it a higher dimension. the whole thing is a timeless work of art imo. Nice avatar btw!

The album bowled me over with the musicality.

I could not understand the deep voice which was probably why I let the music sunk in like it did. When i did read the narration, I was not thrilled. However, u can't deny the greatness and simplicity of the She Loves Me 4 Me ode to Manuela or the anthemic and emotional The Last December. The man was on fire.

I was concerned by his conservative direction but then i heard Underneath The Cream and was relieved to hear him go back (quietly) to his nasty self

Cloreen said:

twist it anway u want...it was just another release to absorb

Sorry if you won't believe me, but I liked most of the music right away, especially after three or four rather plastic records. While the religion on it turned me off, the music itself was a welcome return to a more organic sound. If you had the experience of the previous releases, it's not so hard to believe.