maybe they could put together a Salacious Prince album ...and sell it to only those who can stomach it

homesquid said:

Forget about being "woke" or this #METOO thing. The rape lyrics in those songs are simply vile. Evil. Prince never released these versions. Prince would have never released them with those lyrics included. You know that. The man matured. Besides do you really want to witness Prince getting "canceled" by the mob?

Now...having said that. Would it have been better to simply edit out the bad bits and release them?Honestly, I think that would have been better.

[Edited 1/3/20 8:03am]

Yup I agree that the estate did the right thing omittted the songs even though I understand people's anger. Even Prince seemed to be ashame of those lyrics. And as I stated before we didn't need unnessary distraction from the media.

databank said:

Has anyone in this thread mentioned that apparently, Xtraloveable was intended for Vanity 6?

In the context of what V6 represented at the time before it was known Prince was behind every song, and still represents in the electronica community (a sexually provocative, emancipated female trio that inspired many an electroclash act such as Peaches or Avenue D.), the rape line in the mouth of a woman would suddenly take a strong feminist connotation that would have been in line with what V6 stood for, women who made fun of male objectification while assessing their independance.

Again, maybe not now given the Weinstein trial and the general context, but liner notes could also perfectly put this song in context on a future release.

Honestly? Every time I play Extraloveable all I can hear is Prince doing his "Vanity" voice and "Brenda" voice as if he's doing semi-scratch vocals; some parts of the song I think it's quite pronounced.

This part in particular sounds like it was intended for Brenda with Vanity moaning and screaming in the background:

I wanna rap a little bit...

I said my daddy might b dead but U know what he sees
Heaven knows I told him she's bad as she can b
Oh yeah
Yeah!
Extraloveable
Extraloveable
Yeah oh...

If the long-rumored Vanity 6 version of this song exists, that track will be like my white whale. Frankly, if it does exist, that's the version the Estate should release first, IMO, as that lyric won't be as controversial coming from Vanity, and then the Prince vocal could be released on an "Originals" sequel disc to avoid the controversy.

[Edited 1/9/20 22:15pm]

ladygirl99 said:

And as I stated before we didn't need unnessary distraction from the media.

.

You mean: reelasing these songs could attract media attention and that means publicity (good or bad) which is good for sales...

ladygirl99 said:

rednblue said:

BombSquad (thanks!) quoted a lyric that's been in my head throughout these discussions:

"I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die"

As an aside, Cash said something to the effect of wanting to portray a thought at the bottom of the moral barrel with this line. Also, that wasn't the first song released with a lyric about killing someone simply to watch the death.

Also wondering if people think these P songs have a place in the discussion. I'm not trying to equate these examples in the way of any quality or quantitiy. Also, apologies in advance, as the choice of examples is just a rough pull, and some surely feel there's no point in any posted here in the first place.

-- as others have noted, the story told on Bob George

-- "Every schoolboy's fantasy she was, that's why he had 2 wait"

-- "Here's a church, here's a steeple
Here's a muthafucka that I gotta blow away
Here's my chance 2 cure the ills of the people
But not until I make this muthafucka pay"

--And Purple Music, noted by a couple of others, including in this description ("...'coerced' into something by the person he is working for...") from OldFriends4Sale (thanks!):

"It's time 4 ur morning bath, sir
What would U like 2 bathe n this morning?
With all due respect sir, I think that it...
I think that it might...
Oh, oh no
I... don't wanna play anymore
I don't want 2 play anymore"

To answer OldFriends4Sale's question, the Purple Music lyrics are unedited on 1999 deluxe.

FWIW, I don't want lyrics edited when songs are released from the vault.

Also, when I hear the song, my nutty brain doesn’t necessarily envision “sir” as a separate person, or maybe doesn’t necessarily envision “sir” as a “person” at all, depending on view of things. But, as described by OldFriends4Sale, the scenario can readily be envisioned as involving a "person [someone] is working for."

So, now that I've undoubtedly managed to annoy people of any and all perspectives with my nutty examples/potential envisionings of songs, I'll blunder on and venture a question.

Do people who oppose release of (unedited) Lust U Always and Extralovable have qualms about release of Purple Music?

[Edited 1/10/20 6:22am]

Oh...and FWIW, I'm a woman...

and I've never seen Game of Thrones.

udo said:

ladygirl99 said:

And as I stated before we didn't need unnessary distraction from the media.

.

You mean: reelasing these songs could attract media attention and that means publicity (good or bad) which is good for sales...

No because those rape lyrics could cause the journalist focus on his flaws while he was alive instead.

Now it was omitted the focus on the articles that I saw was his great creative input.

Is that something wrong with that? With those songs that were left off cause it not to overshadow the rest of the album.

Another thing why are men on this board are the main ones upset over this? I listened to those songs and heck they made me uncomfortable.

ladygirl99 said:

ladygirl99 said:

udo said:

.

You mean: reelasing these songs could attract media attention and that means publicity (good or bad) which is good for sales...

No because those rape lyrics could cause the journalist focus on his flaws while he was alive instead.

.

Of cousre the current PC-media and such cannot comprehend that Prince was human.

And that he had human urges, desires, etc.

.

Now it was omitted the focus on the articles that I saw was his great creative input.

.

I.e.: the censorship caused to paint an incomplete picture.

.

Is that something wrong with that? With those songs that were left off cause it not to overshadow the rest of the album.

.

I wrote `censorship`.

.

Another thing why are men on this board are the main ones upset over this? I listened to those songs and heck they made me uncomfortable.

.

They are part of the history.

Part of where Prince was at at hat time.

If a box set tries to paint a picture of Prince in that era and omits (aka `censors`) those songs then the picture is incomplete.

ladygirl99 said:

Another thing why are men on this board are the main ones upset over this? I listened to those songs and heck they made me uncomfortable.

I can't speak for anyone else, but personally I like both songs. I have bootleg versions of both songs in my collection. I often listen to them amongst all the other unreleased Prince songs that I like. I'd like to hear them properly in fully mastered crystal clear sound quality.

I've been listening to gangster rap for over two decades. I've watched horror movies since I was in my teens. I've watched controversial films about violent crime, gangsters, war and taboo subjects. I've seen documentaries on real world tragedies. I grew up with the internet. Need I say more.

Simply put I am desensitised to the lyrics in EL and LUA. Not to the point where I wasn't a little surprised the first time I heard them. Not to the point where I didn't realise that they may upset other people, but they don't make me feel uncomfortable. Not in the slightest. The tracks are hot. They are classic Prince, and I love Prince.

I have a question for anyone who is in the camp that agree that these songs should not be released. Let's pretend that Prince never sung those offending lines. That they were substituted with something complete different and non-offensive, but other than that the songs remained the same?

Would you enjoy those songs then? Would you enjoy the pop anthem which is Prince's Extraloveable? Would you enjoy the funk groove that is Lust U Always? Would you happily see these tracks released if the controversial lines were removed outright?

If the answer is 'yes' then why can't you appreciate that other people find enjoyment in these tracks to? We just have a different threshold for what we find offensive. That's it! Nothing more.

[Edited 1/11/20 3:17am]

ladygirl99 said:

I listened to those songs and heck they made me uncomfortable.

And you have every right to choose not to listen to them, as it should be.

The question is, why would you care if those of us that are not uncomfortable with the lyrics listened to it or not? How does that affect you?

It doesn't.

I agree they did the right thing, mainly due to current climate of cancel culture where nuance and context is non-existent.

.

These aren't 'rape' songs, where a violent act is glorified or condoned, in both cases he's literally talking about lustful fantasies. Much like when angry someone might say "I could kill them!" - The literal act of murder is not being threatened, it's just hyperbole and heightened emotion and everyone knows it - that's what Prince is singing about here, "I'm so horny I could rip your clothes off right now" is basically what he's saying. This is the nuance and context of language that is being lost today unfortunately. The lyrics aren't evil (sheesh!), just immature.

NouveauDance said:

These aren't 'rape' songs, where a violent act is glorified or condoned, in both cases he's literally talking about lustful fantasies. Much like when angry someone might say "I could kill them!" - The literal act of murder is not being threatened, it's just hyperbole and heightened emotion and everyone knows it - that's what Prince is singing about here, "I'm so horny I could rip your clothes off right now" is basically what he's saying. This is the nuance and context of language that is being lost today unfortunately. The lyrics aren't evil (sheesh!), just immature.

I couldn't have put it any better. Thank you.

NouveauDance said:

I agree they did the right thing, mainly due to current climate of cancel culture where nuance and context is non-existent.

.

These aren't 'rape' songs, where a violent act is glorified or condoned, in both cases he's literally talking about lustful fantasies. Much like when angry someone might say "I could kill them!" - The literal act of murder is not being threatened, it's just hyperbole and heightened emotion and everyone knows it - that's what Prince is singing about here, "I'm so horny I could rip your clothes off right now" is basically what he's saying. This is the nuance and context of language that is being lost today unfortunately. The lyrics aren't evil (sheesh!), just immature.

.

.

So any complaints are immature as well...

And any estate 'decisions' (fake or otherwise, proof welcome) on these songs are delusional.

NouveauDance said:

I agree they did the right thing, mainly due to current climate of cancel culture where nuance and context is non-existent.

.

These aren't 'rape' songs, where a violent act is glorified or condoned, in both cases he's literally talking about lustful fantasies. Much like when angry someone might say "I could kill them!" - The literal act of murder is not being threatened, it's just hyperbole and heightened emotion and everyone knows it - that's what Prince is singing about here, "I'm so horny I could rip your clothes off right now" is basically what he's saying. This is the nuance and context of language that is being lost today unfortunately. The lyrics aren't evil (sheesh!), just immature.

I'm a 53-year-old woman. With the world in general, I'm concerned about things that might desensitize to violence. I brought this desensitization question up just last night in the course of hanging out with friends. Something came up in our conversation that moved me to raise the topic. It's a complicated subject for sure.

OK, enough about my demographics and conversational habits. I note all this to give a wee bit of background to the anecdote of how I react to these songs. I'm not very good with words, but my reaction is an awful lot like the bolded part of NouveauDance's response. Thank you for those bolded words!

Would also like to ask if people think that the following P quote from The Beautiful Ones has a place in this conversation?

"Cari was the 1st girl 2 expose a brotha 2 just straight-up animal lust. Where rational thought is overcome by the strength of physical attraction. This feeling will draw words from the pen that one doesn't even know exist."

[Edited 1/11/20 10:44am]

rednblue said:

NouveauDance said:

I agree they did the right thing, mainly due to current climate of cancel culture where nuance and context is non-existent.

.

These aren't 'rape' songs, where a violent act is glorified or condoned, in both cases he's literally talking about lustful fantasies. Much like when angry someone might say "I could kill them!" - The literal act of murder is not being threatened, it's just hyperbole and heightened emotion and everyone knows it - that's what Prince is singing about here, "I'm so horny I could rip your clothes off right now" is basically what he's saying. This is the nuance and context of language that is being lost today unfortunately. The lyrics aren't evil (sheesh!), just immature.

I'm a 53-year-old woman. With the world in general, I'm concerned about things that might desensitize to violence. I brought this desensitization question up just last night in the course of hanging out with friends. Something came up in our conversation that moved me to raise the topic. It's a complicated subject for sure.

OK, enough about my demographics and conversational habits. I note all this to give a wee bit of background to the anecdote of how I react to these songs. I'm not very good with words, but my reaction is an awful lot like NouveauDance's. Thank you for those (bolded above) words!

Would also like to ask if people think that the following P quote from The Beautiful Ones has a place in this conversation?

"Cari was the 1st girl 2 expose a brotha 2 just straight-up animal lust. Where rational thought is overcome by the strength of physical attraction. This feeling will draw words from the pen that one doesn't even know exist."

I think at this point, EVERYONE in the world has been desensitized to violence. That argument is moot. The cat's long been out of the bag and it's like people are trying to put it back in.

[Edited 1/11/20 10:46am]

All I am going to say thank you Michael Howe/the estate for have common sense and left those pro rape songs off the album. Some people act like they can't get those songs elsewhere bootlegged.

sulls said:

rednblue said:

I'm a 53-year-old woman. With the world in general, I'm concerned about things that might desensitize to violence. I brought this desensitization question up just last night in the course of hanging out with friends. Something came up in our conversation that moved me to raise the topic. It's a complicated subject for sure.

OK, enough about my demographics and conversational habits. I note all this to give a wee bit of background to the anecdote of how I react to these songs. I'm not very good with words, but my reaction is an awful lot like NouveauDance's. Thank you for those (bolded above) words!

Would also like to ask if people think that the following P quote from The Beautiful Ones has a place in this conversation?

"Cari was the 1st girl 2 expose a brotha 2 just straight-up animal lust. Where rational thought is overcome by the strength of physical attraction. This feeling will draw words from the pen that one doesn't even know exist."

I think at this point, EVERYONE in the world has been desensitized to violence. That argument is moot. The cat's long been out of the bag and it's like people are trying to put it back in.

[Edited 1/11/20 10:46am]

Thanks for the response! I just saw it after editing my above response. Was editing due to realizing that the part of NouveauDance's response that I strongly identified with was the bolded, and I wasn't 'fessing up that I'm being a turkey and avoiding the entirety of the question that is the thread topic. Will say I'm absolutely against editing lyrics when releasing vault material.

Densensitization was brought to mind by VaultCurator's mention of it. VaultCurator said, "Simply put I am desensitised to the lyrics in EL and LUA."

I think I'm looking at this a little differently. That is because the song lyrics strike me personally in the way described by bolded-above part of NoveauDance's post. A description of being so drawn to, so almost unbearably hot for someone, isn't something I think about with concerns related to desensitization.

As for desensitization in general, I agree that for better or for worse, people have been exposed and desensitized to plenty.

But, to use that "binary" word yet again, I don't think desensitization is a binary thing. I do think there are qualities and degrees, and I don't think that everyone, everywhere is maxed out.

Also, I don't think that people have been referring to kids in any comments up to now. I will say that parenting can make for some decisions in this area that I don't think can be described as utterly simple. Getting back to the anecdote of me (sorry!) for just a moment, I think censorship is a lousy guiding principle. On the other hand, for one example, there are many violent games I'm not gonna sit and let my kid play. He doesn't need them for, and they shouldn't be, his entertainment.

I can only hope that when he's an adult, he'll have developed a good mind/heart to shape his choices and actions.

I think considering a child's age, maturity, etc. has to figure into parenting. As far as desensitization issues go, I think they are worthy of a parent's consideration.

VaultCurator said:

I have a question for anyone who is in the camp that agree that these songs should not be released. Let's pretend that Prince never sung those offending lines. That they were substituted with something complete different and non-offensive, but other than that the songs remained the same?

Would you enjoy those songs then? Would you enjoy the pop anthem which is Prince's Extraloveable? Would you enjoy the funk groove that is Lust U Always? Would you happily see these tracks released if the controversial lines were removed outright?

If the answer is 'yes' then why can't you appreciate that other people find enjoyment in these tracks to? We just have a different threshold for what we find offensive. That's it! Nothing more.

[Edited 1/11/20 3:17am]

I think the answer to this is pretty obvious: yes. And the songs would 100% stand on their own feet as classic masterpieces without the unnecessary, shock-for-the-sake-of-shock lyrics that add nothing to the song's artistic value. And I think most defenders of the tracks here would probably even enjoy such edits if they could get over their "This is fascism!!!" hysteria for two seconds.

My biggest issue isn't that people enjoy these songs in spite of the lyrics, but that people try to defend the rape lyrics as 'artistic' or 'a normal expression of lust'. No matter how much people try to argue otherwise, I'm not going to budge. There are countless ways to express sexuality and consentual sex without nosediving into sexual assault or "I couldn't help myself! You made me do this!" type narratives, and there's nothing in the lyrics to suggest that Prince was exploring the mind of a rapist or some kind of immoral character. He took an otherwise playful, sexy song and took a hard left turn into dark territory for no reason other than to shock the listener, and it's not amusing or enjoyable. I can't get onboard with anyone who finds joy in those particular lyrics, period.

Look, I'll concede that the original songs should be made available in some form at some point in time, for the sake of posterity, but with a disclaimer or trigger warning attached. I don't think it would have been smart to include them with a commercial release like 1999 Deluxe, though. Not at this point in time.

rednblue said:

sulls said:

I think at this point, EVERYONE in the world has been desensitized to violence. That argument is moot. The cat's long been out of the bag and it's like people are trying to put it back in.

[Edited 1/11/20 10:46am]

Thanks for the response! I just saw it after editing my above response. Was editing due to realizing that the part of NouveauDance's response that I strongly identified with was the bolded, and I wasn't 'fessing up that I'm being a turkey and avoiding the entirety of the question that is the thread topic. Will say I'm absolutely against editing lyrics when releasing vault material.

Densensitization was brought to mind by VaultCurator's mention of it. VaultCurator said, "Simply put I am desensitised to the lyrics in EL and LUA."

I think I'm looking at this a little differently. That is because the song lyrics strike me personally in the way described by bolded-above part of NoveauDance's post. A description of being so drawn to, so almost unbearably hot for someone, isn't something I think about with concerns related to desensitization.

As for desensitization in general, I agree that for better or for worse, people have been exposed and desensitized to plenty.

But, to use that "binary" word yet again, I don't think desensitization is a binary thing. I do think there are qualities and degrees, and I don't think that everyone, everywhere is maxed out.

Also, I don't think that people have been referring to kids in any comments up to now. I will say that parenting can make for some decisions in this area that I don't think can be described as utterly simple. Getting back to the anecdote of me (sorry!) for just a moment, I think censorship is a lousy guiding principle. On the other hand, for one example, there are many violent games I'm not gonna sit and let my kid play. He doesn't need them for, and they shouldn't be, his entertainment.

I can only hope that when he's an adult, he'll have developed a good mind/heart to shape his choices and actions.

I think considering a child's age, maturity, etc. has to figure into parenting. As far as desensitization issues go, I think they are worthy of a parent's consideration.

With regard to both of these songs, they're already widely available on the internet. We're only really concerned with sound quality. I've said this before, if they were to leak in full, studio quality, I could care less if the Estate every officially released them.

sulls said:

rednblue said:

Thanks for the response! I just saw it after editing my above response. Was editing due to realizing that the part of NouveauDance's response that I strongly identified with was the bolded, and I wasn't 'fessing up that I'm being a turkey and avoiding the entirety of the question that is the thread topic. Will say I'm absolutely against editing lyrics when releasing vault material.

Densensitization was brought to mind by VaultCurator's mention of it. VaultCurator said, "Simply put I am desensitised to the lyrics in EL and LUA."

I think I'm looking at this a little differently. That is because the song lyrics strike me personally in the way described by bolded-above part of NoveauDance's post. A description of being so drawn to, so almost unbearably hot for someone, isn't something I think about with concerns related to desensitization.

As for desensitization in general, I agree that for better or for worse, people have been exposed and desensitized to plenty.

But, to use that "binary" word yet again, I don't think desensitization is a binary thing. I do think there are qualities and degrees, and I don't think that everyone, everywhere is maxed out.

Also, I don't think that people have been referring to kids in any comments up to now. I will say that parenting can make for some decisions in this area that I don't think can be described as utterly simple. Getting back to the anecdote of me (sorry!) for just a moment, I think censorship is a lousy guiding principle. On the other hand, for one example, there are many violent games I'm not gonna sit and let my kid play. He doesn't need them for, and they shouldn't be, his entertainment.

I can only hope that when he's an adult, he'll have developed a good mind/heart to shape his choices and actions.

I think considering a child's age, maturity, etc. has to figure into parenting. As far as desensitization issues go, I think they are worthy of a parent's consideration.

With regard to both of these songs, they're already widely available on the internet. We're only really concerned with sound quality. I've said this before, if they were to leak in full, studio quality, I could care less if the Estate every officially released them.

This is my opinion as well.

"there's nothing in the lyrics to suggest that Prince was exploring the mind of a rapist or some kind of immoral character"

Hippie, don't stop the groove. Extralovable beat tells your body what to do.

How do you interpret that line?

The whole 1999 project he was exploring dark elements of the time. Horny Toad (I'm going to harass you until you let me in then finger you till you bleed and get off to your screams), the scream at the end of DSMR with the sex gang vibe that was going on in alot of movies of the era, the S&M vibe of Automatic, you can even make the claim that the beginning of 1999 is referencing him the time he lost his virginity from Carrie's perspective.

Horny Toad, ok. Vagina, ok. Purple Music, ok.

I think the saddest thing about Extraloveable and Lust U Always getting vaulted is that he literally explains his intent on using shocking terminology in them.

"But that's what purple music's all about
Mean, it ain't rude, if U're n the mood"

That implies that the woman is interested. Extralovable says call me up. Lust U Always says touch me at your own risk. Bringing up rape is meant to be jarring. Like "hey quit teasing me into the red or I'm going to snap"

Of course, that isn't acceptable today but in the era it was created things were different. Sanitizing part of history doesn't change it. It only makes people ignorant of what was going on.

And again Warner Bros has more respect for the people that purchase problematic children's cartoons than they do for you, a grown adult. You don't get to choose. The Warner Bros corporation made the decision for you. Why would anybody be happy about that?

[Edited 1/11/20 13:55pm]

sexton said:

sulls said:

With regard to both of these songs, they're already widely available on the internet. We're only really concerned with sound quality. I've said this before, if they were to leak in full, studio quality, I could care less if the Estate every officially released them.

This is my opinion as well.

Thanks! Any other 1999-era high-quality leaks that either of you would especially appreciate?

Strive said:

"there's nothing in the lyrics to suggest that Prince was exploring the mind of a rapist or some kind of immoral character"

Hippie, don't stop the groove. Extralovable beat tells your body what to do.

How do you interpret that line?

The whole 1999 project he was exploring dark elements of the time. Horny Toad (I'm going to harass you until you let me in then finger you till you bleed and get off to your screams), the scream at the end of DSMR with the sex gang vibe that was going on in alot of movies of the era, the S&M vibe of Automatic, you can even make the claim that the beginning of 1999 is referencing him the time he lost his virginity from Carrie's perspective.

Horny Toad, ok. Vagina, ok. Purple Music, ok.

I think the saddest thing about Extraloveable and Lust U Always getting vaulted is that he literally explains his intent on using shocking terminology in them.

"But that's what purple music's all about
Mean, it ain't rude, if U're n the mood"

That implies that the woman is interested. Extralovable says call me up. Lust U Always says touch me at your own risk. Bringing up rape is meant to be jarring. Like "hey quit teasing me into the red or I'm going to snap"

Of course, that isn't acceptable today but in the era it was created things were different. Sanitizing part of history doesn't change it. It only makes people ignorant of what was going on.

And again Warner Bros has more respect for the people that purchase problematic children's cartoons than they do for you, a grown adult. You don't get to choose. The Warner Bros corporation made the decision for you. Why would anybody be happy about that?

[Edited 1/11/20 13:55pm]

Yeah, I've been wondering what people with concerns have to say about scenarios/words in some of the 1999-era songs released both recently and long ago.

Bit surprised that you listed Vagina along with Horny Toad. I'm good at being dense, though. Where do you hear Vagina lyrics as particularly dark? Anything to do with the part about wanting a little fame and getting what U wanted?

[Edited 1/11/20 17:54pm]

rednblue said:

ladygirl99 said:

All I am going to say thank you Michael Howe/the estate for have common sense and left those pro rape songs off the album. Some people act like they can't get those songs elsewhere bootlegged.

Extralovable & Lust U Always are NOT "pro rape songs".

If you really believe Prince was "pro rape" (he was NOT), then you should not listen to him at all.

rednblue said:

mbdtyler said:

VaultCurator said:

I have a question for anyone who is in the camp that agree that these songs should not be released. Let's pretend that Prince never sung those offending lines. That they were substituted with something complete different and non-offensive, but other than that the songs remained the same?

Would you enjoy those songs then? Would you enjoy the pop anthem which is Prince's Extraloveable? Would you enjoy the funk groove that is Lust U Always? Would you happily see these tracks released if the controversial lines were removed outright?

If the answer is 'yes' then why can't you appreciate that other people find enjoyment in these tracks to? We just have a different threshold for what we find offensive. That's it! Nothing more.

[Edited 1/11/20 3:17am]

I think the answer to this is pretty obvious: yes. And the songs would 100% stand on their own feet as classic masterpieces without the unnecessary, shock-for-the-sake-of-shock lyrics that add nothing to the song's artistic value. And I think most defenders of the tracks here would probably even enjoy such edits if they could get over their "This is fascism!!!" hysteria for two seconds.

My biggest issue isn't that people enjoy these songs in spite of the lyrics, but that people try to defend the rape lyrics as 'artistic' or 'a normal expression of lust'. No matter how much people try to argue otherwise, I'm not going to budge. There are countless ways to express sexuality and consentual sex without nosediving into sexual assault or "I couldn't help myself! You made me do this!" type narratives, and there's nothing in the lyrics to suggest that Prince was exploring the mind of a rapist or some kind of immoral character. He took an otherwise playful, sexy song and took a hard left turn into dark territory for no reason other than to shock the listener, and it's not amusing or enjoyable. I can't get onboard with anyone who finds joy in those particular lyrics, period.

Look, I'll concede that the original songs should be made available in some form at some point in time, for the sake of posterity, but with a disclaimer or trigger warning attached. I don't think it would have been smart to include them with a commercial release like 1999 Deluxe, though. Not at this point in time.

Hi Mbdtyler.

I’m really pleased that you feel this way. We may not see eye to eye on every detail, but that’s cool. I’m glad that we’ve found some common ground here. Enjoy the rest of your weekend. All the best.

djThunderfunk said:

ladygirl99 said:

All I am going to say thank you Michael Howe/the estate for have common sense and left those pro rape songs off the album. Some people act like they can't get those songs elsewhere bootlegged.

Extralovable & Lust U Always are NOT "pro rape songs".

If you really believe Prince was "pro rape" (he was NOT), then you should not listen to him at all.

She knows. She's just lashing out.

Galaxy said:

rednblue said:

Yeah, I've been wondering what people with concerns have to say about scenarios/words in some of the 1999-era songs released both recently and long ago.

Bit surprised that you listed Vagina along with Horny Toad. I'm good at being dense, though. Where do you hear Vagina lyrics as particularly dark? Anything to do with the part about wanting a little fame and getting what U wanted?

[Edited 1/11/20 17:54pm]

Imagine Vagina playing in a coffee shop what would the response be. Lol

LOL, indeed. Fun to imagine.

Just one consideration is the anatomical term that titles and peppers this song. No doubt it's far from the only anatomical term that can bring the coffee-shop effect.

But I was instead wondering about people hearing darkness in the song.

Plenty of Prince songs (unreleased/released long ago/released recently) from this and other eras have coffee-shop-effect potential.

But I don't know that I can hear much darkness in this song. As songs go, it feels strongly light and positive to me. So I'm curious. Where do people hear Vagina lyrics as particularly dark?

[Edited 1/12/20 10:41am]