Delete the damn thing....

[Edited 4/15/18 11:38am]

HerecomethePurpleYoda said:

This Thing Called Life: Prince, Race, Sex, Religion, and Music

by Joseph Vogel

What were Prince's politics? What did he believe about God? And did he really forsake the subject-sex-that once made him the most subversive superstar of the Reagan era? In this illuminating thematic biography, Joseph Vogel explores the issues that made Prince one of the late 20th century's most unique, controversial, and fascinating artists.

Since his unexpected death in 2016, Prince has been recognized by peers, critics, and music fans alike. President Barack Obama described him as "one of the most gifted and prolific musicians of our time.†? Yet in spite of the influx of attention, much about Prince's creative life, work, and cultural impact remains thinly examined. This Thing Called Life fills this vacuum, delving deep into seven key topics-politics, sound, race, gender, sex, religion, and death-that allow us to see Prince in fresh, invigorating new ways. Accessible and timely, This Thing Called Life takes the reader on a journey through the catalog and creative revolution of one of America's most compelling and elusive icons.

ISBN-13: 9781501333996 Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Publication date: April 19, 2018
Sold by: Barnes & Noble Format: NOOK Book/Hardcover

Pages:

240

THis will be interesting..especially the Religion part for it will be written through the Lense of the Authours own Understanding and realizations..

On the whole I am glad to see these kind of books emerging...

There can never be enough of them as far as Im concerned MORE people

should be talking abot the impact he has had on Humanity as a whole

not just his music...

In my world I cant find many people in 3D with whom I can have a good conversation

with about Prince...it all happens in the etheric cyberspace.

Which Is fitting in one way since thats where Prince Now resides

but frustrating in another becasue its like trying to taste honey by licking the outside of the jar

Wonder if this will be released in Australia or online ?

His book on MJ is the bible for many Mike fans. Let's see if this one will have the same effect on P's fans. Interesting.

Interesting. I just wish we could have heard it straight from Prince's mouth instead (his memoirs).

Sounds interesting.

Regarding "delving deep into seven key topics-politics, sound, race, gender, sex, religion," it will be interesting to see what he adds to or says differently than McInnis' The Lyrics of Prince, which covers all those topics thoroughly.

cloveringold85 said:

Interesting. I just wish we could have heard it straight from Prince's mouth instead (his memoirs).

Well, I wish we could have had Prince's memoirs, too. These other books can be valuable in different ways, and while they would have been different if he had ever given lengthy statements of his own, any memoir or autobiography is still only part of a person's story. Prince and his work meant more in more different ways than the man himself was aware, and I like seeing different people's thoughts on that meaning. I'll probably check this one out.

EddieC said:

cloveringold85 said:

Interesting. I just wish we could have heard it straight from Prince's mouth instead (his memoirs).

Well, I wish we could have had Prince's memoirs, too. These other books can be valuable in different ways, and while they would have been different if he had ever given lengthy statements of his own, any memoir or autobiography is still only part of a person's story. Prince and his work meant more in more different ways than the man himself was aware, and I like seeing different people's thoughts on that meaning. I'll probably check this one out.

.

Yes, they can be.

CatB said:

His book on MJ is the bible for many Mike fans. Let's see if this one will have the same effect on P's fans. Interesting.

really? never heard of him or the book, maybe i'll look it up. oh ya, i do have that, recognized it was excellent but never read it end to end.

[Edited 2/25/18 13:19pm]

EddieC said:

cloveringold85 said:

Interesting. I just wish we could have heard it straight from Prince's mouth instead (his memoirs).

Well, I wish we could have had Prince's memoirs, too. These other books can be valuable in different ways, and while they would have been different if he had ever given lengthy statements of his own, any memoir or autobiography is still only part of a person's story. Prince and his work meant more in more different ways than the man himself was aware, and I like seeing different people's thoughts on that meaning. I'll probably check this one out.

most memoirs and autobios are pretty deceptive, I don't think we would have learned a whole lot from Prince's bio but it would have been worth the read for sure.

PeteSilas said:

EddieC said:

Well, I wish we could have had Prince's memoirs, too. These other books can be valuable in different ways, and while they would have been different if he had ever given lengthy statements of his own, any memoir or autobiography is still only part of a person's story. Prince and his work meant more in more different ways than the man himself was aware, and I like seeing different people's thoughts on that meaning. I'll probably check this one out.

most memoirs and autobios are pretty deceptive, I don't think we would have learned a whole lot from Prince's bio but it would have been worth the read for sure.

.

Yea, you're right -- I wonder how honest it would be, cuz U know how he L :luv:VED to mess with our heads, LOL

D

[Edited 4/15/18 11:39am]

HerecomethePurpleYoda said:

cloveringold85 said:

.

Yea, you're right -- I wonder how honest it would be, cuz U know how he L :luv:VED to mess with our heads, LOL

So... am I supposed to buy the Black Album, or not?

.

Given all the different books that have been written so far, would the people who read these books feel this way? I would like to hear from them.

"Yet in spite of the influx of attention, much about Prince's creative life, work, and cultural impact remains thinly examined."

Might be good. BUT, how would the Author know what Prince thought?

If it's good we might have to do a book club on it. Anyone interested in a book club?

rogifan said:

Did this guy know Prince or interview him? I have no interested in reading what someone else thinks Prince’s beliefs were or or tries to interpret him based on lyrics or other interviews.

That's what I'm wondering. Is this just going to be a collection of all the other stuff that's out there already stamped with a good marketing slogan.

Imagine an Audiobook by Prince....imagine listenting to his dreamy voice every night or while you drive to work or the grocery store!

.

Sorry, I just had to throw that in there!

rogifan said:

Did this guy know Prince or interview him? I have no interested in reading what someone else thinks Prince’s beliefs were or or tries to interpret him based on lyrics or other interviews.

i hear you but most of our best biographies on historic figures are probably by people who never met or even lived in the same time as their subject.

He's a scholar and researcher and his approach is to understand the artist through his music (at least that's what he did with MJ). He "dissects" the songs and analyzes the image(s). Some say he was hired to write the MJ book, so who knows about this one, and there are factual mistakes. Still, fans like his books and his poetic way of writing.

CatB said:

He's a scholar and researcher and his approach is to understand the artist through his music (at least that's what he did with MJ). He "dissects" the songs and analyzes the image(s). Some say he was hired to write the MJ book, so who knows about this one, and there are factual mistakes. Still, fans like his books and his poetic way of writing.

elvis had a guy who was probably more thourough than anyone ever, again, a guy he never met, who wrote books similar to the elvis studio sessions, it's nothing more than a lot of research, if you get that right, it's no problem.

PeteSilas said:

CatB said:

He's a scholar and researcher and his approach is to understand the artist through his music (at least that's what he did with MJ). He "dissects" the songs and analyzes the image(s). Some say he was hired to write the MJ book, so who knows about this one, and there are factual mistakes. Still, fans like his books and his poetic way of writing.

elvis had a guy who was probably more thourough than anyone ever, again, a guy he never met, who wrote books similar to the elvis studio sessions, it's nothing more than a lot of research, if you get that right, it's no problem.

I wasn't criticizing, just answering to the posters above

CatB said:

He's a scholar and researcher and his approach is to understand the artist through his music (at least that's what he did with MJ). He "dissects" the songs and analyzes the image(s). Some say he was hired to write the MJ book, so who knows about this one, and there are factual mistakes. Still, fans like his books and his poetic way of writing.

Well, to each his own.

rogifan said:

Did this guy know Prince or interview him? I have no interested in reading what someone else thinks Prince’s beliefs were or or tries to interpret him based on lyrics or other interviews.

Why do you feel that way? First, Prince is gone, his beliefs (whatever they were) were his own, and if they're not in the songs and the interviews and other things he left behind, then they aren't, anymore. His music, his films, his art--those things are still here. We can talk about them, interact with them--they're still alive. And they were already alive and separate from Prince while he was still around, but then his own beliefs could evolve, they could change--they could lead to new art, or he could recast his old art in a new way (or try to, as he did with The Cross or Gett Off or Sexuality). But that doesn't happen anymore.

I really don't get why whether or not a given person "knew Prince" (or, even less significantly, interviewed him--since nearly all of his interviews were either tightly controlled in scope or the interviewer was prohibited from recording or taking notes, thus making them unreliable) should determine whether that person can have anything worthwhile to say about him or his work. Knowing Prince personally doesn't mean someone would necessarily have any insight into anything beyond the relationship itself and whatever activities or interests that relationship revolved around. Certainly it wouldn't guarantee any extensive knowledge of his views on any given subject. And almost no one was close to him through the entirety of his life, so even if they knew his beliefs at one point, they wouldn't necessarily have much to say about the evolution of his thinking over the course of his life.

EddieC said:

rogifan said:

Did this guy know Prince or interview him? I have no interested in reading what someone else thinks Prince’s beliefs were or or tries to interpret him based on lyrics or other interviews.

Why do you feel that way? First, Prince is gone, his beliefs (whatever they were) were his own, and if they're not in the songs and the interviews and other things he left behind, then they aren't, anymore. His music, his films, his art--those things are still here. We can talk about them, interact with them--they're still alive. And they were already alive and separate from Prince while he was still around, but then his own beliefs could evolve, they could change--they could lead to new art, or he could recast his old art in a new way (or try to, as he did with The Cross or Gett Off or Sexuality). But that doesn't happen anymore.

I really don't get why whether or not a given person "knew Prince" (or, even less significantly, interviewed him--since nearly all of his interviews were either tightly controlled in scope or the interviewer was prohibited from recording or taking notes, thus making them unreliable) should determine whether that person can have anything worthwhile to say about him or his work. Knowing Prince personally doesn't mean someone would necessarily have any insight into anything beyond the relationship itself and whatever activities or interests that relationship revolved around. Certainly it wouldn't guarantee any extensive knowledge of his views on any given subject. And almost no one was close to him through the entirety of his life, so even if they knew his beliefs at one point, they wouldn't necessarily have much to say about the evolution of his thinking over the course of his life.

One would think since it is being touted as a biography that the author at least met him and talked with him. Otherwise it is just what the author thinks Prince thought...

PennyPurple said:

EddieC said:

Why do you feel that way? First, Prince is gone, his beliefs (whatever they were) were his own, and if they're not in the songs and the interviews and other things he left behind, then they aren't, anymore. His music, his films, his art--those things are still here. We can talk about them, interact with them--they're still alive. And they were already alive and separate from Prince while he was still around, but then his own beliefs could evolve, they could change--they could lead to new art, or he could recast his old art in a new way (or try to, as he did with The Cross or Gett Off or Sexuality). But that doesn't happen anymore.

I really don't get why whether or not a given person "knew Prince" (or, even less significantly, interviewed him--since nearly all of his interviews were either tightly controlled in scope or the interviewer was prohibited from recording or taking notes, thus making them unreliable) should determine whether that person can have anything worthwhile to say about him or his work. Knowing Prince personally doesn't mean someone would necessarily have any insight into anything beyond the relationship itself and whatever activities or interests that relationship revolved around. Certainly it wouldn't guarantee any extensive knowledge of his views on any given subject. And almost no one was close to him through the entirety of his life, so even if they knew his beliefs at one point, they wouldn't necessarily have much to say about the evolution of his thinking over the course of his life.

One would think since it is being touted as a biography that the author at least met him and talked with him. Otherwise it is just what the author thinks Prince thought...

This "one" certainly wouldn't think that, because that just isn't how things work. Biographies (good ones, bad ones, indifferent ones) are often written by people with little or no direct access to their subjects--in fact, the authors who have the most access often get that access by accepting restrictions to what they write. That's why "authorized" biographies are rarely seen as "definitive" ones. This book won't be either of those, of course. But what on earth do you think the book would have been if he had interviewed him? It still would have been "just what the author thinks Prince thought"--just more directly influenced by Prince telling him what he wanted the author to think.

EddieC said:

PennyPurple said:

One would think since it is being touted as a biography that the author at least met him and talked with him. Otherwise it is just what the author thinks Prince thought...

This "one" certainly wouldn't think that, because that just isn't how things work. Biographies (good ones, bad ones, indifferent ones) are often written by people with little or no direct access to their subjects--in fact, the authors who have the most access often get that access by accepting restrictions to what they write. That's why "authorized" biographies are rarely seen as "definitive" ones. This book won't be either of those, of course. But what on earth do you think the book would have been if he had interviewed him? It still would have been "just what the author thinks Prince thought"--just more directly influenced by Prince telling him what he wanted the author to think.

So do you think it would be a good book to have?

EddieC said:

CatB said:

I requested (and got) an advance copy of the book from the publisher. It's well presented and well researched; I enjoyed it. It's not as essential as Per Nilsen's books or Duane Tudahl's book, but it does offer some interesting insights.
.
Seven chapters, with each chapter devoted to a single theme within Prince's work. The chapters are non-linear, and can be read out of order as seven scholarly essays. The author does offer his own opinions and analyses, but in my opinion, his tone is fair and balanced, and he doesn't come off as snobbish or pretentious at all.

.

My only complaint is, the chapters feel a bit rushed; in reality, each chapter could be expanded into its own book quite easily. But for a broad "crash course" on the themes of Prince, it does the job well. I read the whole book in about four hours, but I am a fast reader, for what it's worth. I'll probably buy it when it comes out, but as I said, I don't feel it's a "must-have" for every Prince fan.

.

I'll be posting a review soon on my blog, and also doing a podcast with the author. Be on the lookout for those.