cosmicslop said:

The almighty Cosmic has weighed in. And as usual, always nailing it down. Nice one!

Having been a fan (of some degree, lol) since the age of 7, I wouldn't call him a "life coach" but his presence (as filtered through his music & image) has helped shape me.

His openness about sexuality helped widen my views (so to speak)...

His unwillingness to conform (in terms of image & musical genre) opened up an avenue often shunned as a teenager - you really don't have to be like everyone else to get along in this world...

The way he embraced so many musical influences opened my ears to sounds never played in my house. I have a lot more seeking to do, lol, but w/o that I might ONLY wanna hear R&B music right about now & there's so much more out there...

The droplets of faith sprinkled throughout his work has helped keep that question alive in me...

Of course all of this may have come to pass anyway but I think having grown up on the dude from a very impressionable age, his fingerprints are somewhere on my soul...





Anji, you better be playing about this being your last thread!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

This is it boys and girls. I hope I'll always be with Prince in spirit...

Anji said:

WHY, dadgummit!!

Say it isn't so Anjikins.

Nothinbutjoy said:

I'm afraid it is, NothingButJoyInsideMyTears.

(cue the music: Power Fantastic)

All I know is that his music inspired me through many dark times in my life. It was always there for me even when some of the people I've loved the most weren't.

To all my purple people,

An overwhelming number of you have orgnoted me as to why this is my last thread but unfortunately, I am unable to respond to each of you in person anymore (as I am out of orgnotes for the day). LOL! I 'guess' my answer is really as simple as me not having anything more inspiring to say with regards Prince. Also, I am very close to moving into a new chapter in my own life and I'll need to concentrate my efforts there.

I do have one final 'thing' that I want to express on this thread (and site) but I haven't quite worked out how I am going to yet. If I do, I will be orgnoting those who I'd especially like to know, for their thoughts. Surprisingly, this has been quite the emotional ride and I hope to find you all upon my return...

Anj

(cue the music: All The Critics Love U In New York)

:O

It's been limited, but it's been enjoyable, Anji... ..Fill me in on things if you feel comfortable doing so... to ya, in a very manly way that is... 8)

Anji, we will all miss u!!! You are very well read and versed when it comes to Prince, and other matters. In addition u r able to express yourself in a clear comprehensive manner(something I truly admire). Please do visit us again and again and again. Farewell, peace and be wild!

I wish you all the best on the continuing journey, and Prince's music does go beyond the words, so take it with you always...all the best to you Anji, and until your return, your threads will be missed!
[This message was edited Fri Apr 4 22:25:16 PST 2003 by Starmist7]

teller said:

Tell it! His passion is inspiring to me. His dedication to art, to artistry, to craft. . .it's just gorgeous.

I don't find myself in his music, so much as certain parts of me become more explicit and defined for me when I recognize them in his music. I knew who I was before I started listening to Prince. But Prince helped me to clarify the fuzzy edges. He still does, even if it's in a more negative way (ie. showing me what I'm not and don't want to be).

Best to you, Anji. Come back and tell us where your thoughts/adventures have taken you.

Anji said:

Now Jedimaster is your life coach.

In a way, I did get a lot out of Prince's music from 1988
up to about 1997. I honestly didn't listen to anybody else
during that period. Not seriously anyway, not like I did
with Prince music. He was the only artist of whom I owned
more than 1 album.

His discs were like a yearly letter from a far away friend
who'd drop you those songs every year to let you know what
he was up to and how he viewed things.

A lot of his music made me see that you can do things your
own way without having to bother about what other people
might think of you. It also made me non-judgmental since it
made me realise that everyone has their own problems and
the right to live their life the way they want to.

It certainly made me appreciate music for more than just
the sound. It made me listen more closely to what I was
hearing on the radio and to the ludicrous lyrics of most
modern day pop tunes.

Despite his overtly sexual lyrics -which everyone was
always going on about- he kind of made me aware that there
is a whole other side to things than just the fucking and
that it's much better if there's a real connection and a
certain sense of spirituality. If anything, it made me
wait a lot longer before getting kneedeep into sex instead
of promoting it. Which is another hinter that a lot of
people don't really listen to lyrics at all and only take
about 30% from them. In Prince's case most casual listeners
only take the sexual part and remain pretty much unaware of
the spiritual side of it.

People used to say that Lovesexy was a dirty sex record.

I mean, please. Lovesexy is the one record that got me thru
the most depressing stages of puberty. Whenever you'd feel
really down you'd just have to put the needle on Lovesexy
and before "Eye No" was halfway through I'd be grinning like
a Cheshire cat.

At that time I also became more interested in the music
that Prince had been inspired by and started listening to
Miles, Jimmi, Funkadelic, Joni Mitchell, Parliament etc.

It certainly broadened my musical horizon. I think I was
the only kid in our class at 17 whom knew those acts and
wasn't hysterical over NewKidsOnTheBlock or HollyJohnson
and such.

After 1996/1997 I discovered a lot of other artists whom
translated my own personal feelings into songs and words
a bit better than Prince. Tori Amos, Nick Cave, Radiohead,
Mainly because they sang about life in a different way
from Prince. They sing about every day life but they kind
of acknowledge the hurt, despair and bleakness that comes
with it. Whereas Prince usually has more uplifting and
joyous messages to his songs.

But since 1997's "The Truth", that's kind of leveled itself
out and he does write more songs about hurt and isolation
now. I kind of almost lost interest in his music after the
whole Emancipation thing but "The Truth" is the main thing
that kept me interested.

Now with "One Nite Alone", "The Rainbow Children", and
"Xpectation", "C-Note" and a bunch of the npgmc songs, I
enjoy his music more than ever. It seems more serious this
time 'round. I've seen people complain a lot over here
about his changed views and his rather radical choices but
in return, his music has grown up tremendously over the
last decade. It's not about pop songs or showing off like
it used to be. It's more introverted and reflective and
that's something I really enjoy listening to.

The best example of that 'turning point' is RAVE for me.
About half of that album still has those uplifting joy
hipper than thou songs and they simply suck. But a song
like "I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore" just cuts
through all that. It sounds real. Just like most of the
tracks on ONA and TRC.

And that's what keeps me so interested in his work right
now. The fact that he changed his style again. The new
organic sound and the deeper lyrics [although still a
tad silly at times] are exactly what I wanted from him.
He's done enough pop music. This time it really does
feel like he's making music for himself.

I'm sure that I'll still be listening to Prince 10 or
20 years from now, perhaps not to the o(+> album, but
certainly to "The Truth" and "One Nite Alone".

Ehm, I completely forgot what I started out talking about
so I'll better end this babble right now.

Suffice to say that I'm glad I discovered Prince's music
when I did since it certainly helped me out a lot of
times and some of my best memories are interconnected with
his songs or albums.

Anji,

You are one of the reasons I venture beyond the homepage. And I suppose it’s no great coincidence that many of the other reasons have also gathered on this thread.

You will be missed.

In regards to the topic at hand I fall more into the RDHULL School. I’ve never used art to get me through tough times or as a personal guide, at least not directly. Art is just something that adds balance and joy to my life. When I’m going through a particular tough time I don’t even play music. I tend to close down and try to solve the problem myself. Once I get through the tough times the CD player spins again.

But in a general sense all the art that I consume and everything that I read, hear and experience becomes part of who I am, and I use all that information as a tool for constant change and improvement. And since Prince is the artist whose work I consume the most, obviously he’s going to have a bigger slice of my thoughts. But I’m about as independent as they get, which is quite different from being a non-conformist. Non-conformity is just another extreme that’s often shaped and informed by conformity itself. I try to judge each topic on its own merit given everything I know, rather than concern myself with what’s popular so that I can either embrace or rebel against it.

I have no idea of your situation, but if you attack all subjects with the same kind of objectivity and passion that you have here you’ll be a winner in every realm that you choose to enter. You’ll also end up being a part of a tiny, “weird” minority.

Embrace your “weirdness” and you’ll end up the wisest.

Brendan

--
[This message was edited Sat Apr 5 2:35:38 PST 2003 by Brendan]

You're leaving us..

I hope you find your way back...I wish you luck and love in everything you do...





I hope that you go away
To a place where your dreams can play
Wipe all the tears from your eyes
There is a sky of blue
This is your time of truth


[This message was edited Sat Apr 5 3:19:59 PST 2003 by Lleena]

Anji said:

Promise this IS your last thread, and I'll resist the urge to ask you why!

Princes' music is an art form. I don't necessarily find myself through it, but I find myself relating to Prince as a human being, because of it.

I recognize similarities of emotional content evident in his music, as well as in myself.

I already know how I feel.
It's nice to know someone else felt that way as well, and bothered to put it down in words.
Music is just Poetry dancing...Princes' poetry is motion, if that makes any sense.

He always asks or wonders, Can u relate?
not to him, but to the music, but the music is him, and if you relate, the question has double meaning, though he wants you to think otherwise.

Then he becomes the Artist, no longer playing the music, but painting a picture in your mind with the color of his sound.
A pied piper as it were.

"and now eye got u, and now u mine"...

Life coach? no.

Prince doesn't ask one to follow, he just knows you will, the reason he never looks back? he knows you are there...n more ways than 7.

that was 4u Anji

Hmmm... Prince has served a number of purposes to me. I can't say I definitively find myself through him, but he has absolutely been a primary catalyst and reference point in my doing so. Certainly what he's offered to my personal makeup ranks up there with my formal education, religious experiences, personal relationships with family and friends, etc.

Prince is a fellow human, so of course there are aspects of his being and his personal path that I've frowned upon for incorporation in my own life. But being a fellow midwestern, post-Baby Boom, eccentric, young black American male with similar sensibilities about so much of life, much of what he represents -- charisma, exploration, inspiration, productivity, reconciliation of the dark and light sides of oneself, and refusal to own others' limiting definitions -- has colored my journey, and of the thousands of celebrated souls over time I can imagine having shared a lifetime with, Prince would honestly be among the favored top 5.
[This message was edited Sat Apr 5 7:54:14 PST 2003 by Lammastide]

Anji,

You leaving the org is like losing a kindred spirit. Thank you so much for your contributions here, and do return soon.

Godspeed!

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you. I only want you to have some fun..."

To anyone that ‘knows’ the feeling of our Artist during the period of ’82-’83, this is where I am right now. Coincidentally, I’ve recently turned 25.

Last night I experienced the closest I’ve probably ever come to my ‘dark night of the soul.’ I’m reflecting on my experience rather amusingly right now but I can completely understand how, for example - The Black Album, was never intended for public consumption after a certain point in time. I imagine that Mo must have shared a very special relationship with our Artist. To be quite honest, I have an embarrassingly high number of my own ‘skeletons’ residing here in terms of both the threads and posts I have offered. I’m not sure I would want any of these ‘ideas’ to be scrutinised without my input now. To draw an analogy, as much as we might want to experience all The Vault has to offer, I can safely say that most of our Artist’s ‘skeletons’ are where they belong. Actually, I should qualify this - my statement primarily applies to the 90’s body of hidden work. Anyway, last night I listened to Moonbeam Levels a number of times on repeat. For the record, I wasn’t even thinking about 'a better place to die' but rather a better place to live. I have spent considerable time, especially since the New Year, contemplating what this better place to live actually means to me.

To give you some background, my first 'proper' job was performing as a Human Performance consultant for what I still consider to be the best management consultancy in the marketplace. While I was content at the best of times, I was also struggling to position my better self. Occasionally, I found myself performing at what was considered an outstanding level. Most other times, I knew I required improvement and it was imprinted upon me how I should aim to make consistent my better self. This is where I met my first set of business coaches, one of whom I am very fortunate to still be in touch with. I'll affectionately refer to him as Mr. T. To suggest that Mr. T was a source of inspiration to me, would be an understatement of the highest order. Our relationship was kept within a tight matrix of professional conduct but he was second to none in that company as far I was concerned. I honestly felt he believed in me and that sense comes from a place that probably can’t be taught; after all, professional training can only give us tools, I needed soul and he provided it. During our somewhat intense 'mentoring' relationship, it came as a major shock to me when I found out that he left the company without first telling me. In spite of reaching out to a number of other professionals at the time, I never quite ‘found myself’ in that company again and it’s no surprise to me that I am no longer there. As to my current profession, if I were to tell you what I was doing I would be risking my livelihood and that’s a price I am not prepared to pay right now. Nevertheless, I am both excited and nervous at what my future holds. I love this feeling and often find myself both experiencing and sharing it with others. That said, I've never before done so in such a 'virtual' fashion but I guess there's a first for everything.

Interestingly, I’ve always somehow known that I had the potential to be great and I think that must stem from my upbringing. My dad is a cross between Yoda and Mr. Miyagi while my mum is the life of the party. Primarily, I’ve always found myself in the curious predicament of being asked to be that 'life of the party’ wherever I go; something which I love doing but usually only when I’m in the mood. Increasingly, however, I’ve found myself being asked to ‘help’ people, something I’ve never thought I had a particular fondness for but something that I’ve curiously excelled at. Whilst I own some hilarious stories of my experiences being that social animal, there are equally some shocking ones of burning the midnight oil as the social recluse. Strangely, it’s during these 'down' times when I’ve most often been called by almost all my friends to help them in some way or another. I’ve always found this rather weird because I thought I was the one that needed help, not them. Anyway, whilst I've usually obliged playing the 'life coach,' I must admit that all I thought I really wanted to do during my 'down' times was listen to what our Artist had to say. What’s even weirder is my virtual experience here...

During our infamous exodus to the neighbouring ‘fam’ site, I was somewhat accosted by a rather curious girl to whom I think I had made one direct comment towards. After quite a while of laughing hilariously at the most redundant conversations taking place there, our own conversations curiously developed a more serious tone. Although not of my own making, I began advising her on a relationship she was experiencing at the time. At first, I was bewildered because I didn’t 'know' this person and she didn’t 'know' me. I just couldn't understand why she was trusting me with some of the complexities of her relationship but she kept reassuring me that she knew it would be safe in my hands. I trusted she understood what she was doing and I somehow knew I could help, so I offered my thoughts. I won’t say it was an easy situation for either of us because for quite some time she didn’t really want to hear what I was saying (in spite of her telling me that she knew I was right). Naturally, I questioned myself every now and again as to whether my instincts were quite 'there.' Nevertheless, we worked together for just over a month and one day things started 'sinking in' for her. It wasn’t too long before I sensed she wasn’t looking back anymore but rather looking forward to what her life had in store for her. I'm really happy to say that she has found herself again on a number of levels and although she rarely visits this site anymore, we are still in touch and she’s remarkably about to send me my first 'penfriend' letter. This has been my most moving experience here and one that has shaped me in a different way than any of the impressive schooling I’ve been priviledged to receive by many of you on our Artist. Unfortunately, this special girl doesn’t relate to our Artist anymore and hasn’t done so for a very long time. Affectionately, I call her Babooney...

So, what’s my take on how any of this relates to our Artist? After all, I don’t 'know' him and he sure as hell doesn’t 'know' me. Or so I’ve always believed...

(cue the music: Moonbeam Levels)

Anji said:

Selah, Anji

NuPwrSoul said:

NuPwrSoul said:

Ditto!! i couldn't have said it better. Listen when NuPwrSoul speaks.

Anj is gonna look for the ladder.

Yesterday I tried 2 write a novel
But I didn't know where 2 begin
So I laid down in the grass tryin' 2 feel the world turn
Boy loses girl in a rain storm, nuclear World War III
All that's left is pain and sorrow
As far as he's concerned

He says, please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die

Maybe he's lookin' 4 a different world
Maybe he's lookin' 4 a brand new high
Maybe he would like a nice condo
Overlookin' the rings of Saturn
Maybe he wants affection instead of a plastic life
Maybe he doesn't know what he wants at all

He says, please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die

A newborn child knows nothing of destruction
Nothing of love and hate
What happens in between is a mystery
Because we don't give a damn about his fate

He said he'll never keep diaries 2 learn from his mistakes
Instead he'll just repeat all the good things that he's done
Fight 4 perfect love until it's perfect love he makes
When he's happy then his battle will be won

He says, please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die



Once upon a time in the land of Sinaplenty
There lived a king who didn't deserve 2 be
He knew not where he came from, nor where he was going
He never once said thank U, never please

Now this king he had a subject named Elektra
Who loved him with a passion, uncontested
4 him each day she had a smile, but it didn't matter
The king was looking 4 the ladder

Everybody's looking 4 the ladder
Everybody wants salvation of the soul
The steps U take are no easy road
But the reward is great 4 those who want 2 go

A feeling of self-worth will caress U
The size of the whole wide world will decrease
The love of God's creation will undress U
And time spent alone my friend, will cease

Everybody's looking 4 the answers
How the story started and how it will end
What's the use of half a story, halsf of a dream
U have 2 climb all the steps in between

Everybody's looking 4 the ladder
Everybody wants salvation of the soul
The steps U take are no easy road
But the reward is great 4 those who want 2 go

I wouldn't go as far as to say Prince has been a life coach, but he has certainly provided me with a great score (Life: the motion picture soundtrack).

More than any other artist in my (unnessesarily expansive) record collection, Prince's music has always resonated on a difficult to define musical level, that doesn't nessesarily rely on purely it's lyrical content. A true embodiment of the spirit of 'music', that doesn't accept genres or recognise boundaries. I suppose it's the difference between someone who asks 'why?', and someone who asks 'why not?'.

Anji said:

Very sad to hear one of me homeboys is going Word! Bigitup etc

I can't even paprap its that sad

Good luck in whatever you are up 2

Hope to catch you again someday



Janey X

prince's music has had no influence on my life whatsoever...apart from giving me pleasure
if you split Anji... take care

Maybe
once.

But
these
days
Prince
couldn't
coach
a
lil-league
team