funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

skywalker said:

Here's a question or two or three:

Are artists obligated to be politically correct, polite, inoffensive, or well spoken in their art?

-

Is an artist work a representation of the "actual person" like a personal manifesto? Or is the work a creation? A piece of fiction?

-

Are there rules/limits to art and what/how it should be created and communicated?

the answer is no, artists can say what they like.

equally, the listener is allowed to point flaws out in what they make as they see fit.

just because an artist makes music, doesnt mean that it cant be critiqued or questioned.

also, just because an artist creates something, doesnt mean that it is a personal statement of their beliefs, but equally, if it reveals something of their beliefs and thoughts, then we are allowed to hold that work, if not the artist, to task.

Exactly. Prince sometimes said that music (art) is like a mirror. Whatever you say about it says a lot more about you/your interpretation than it does about the artists or the art.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

Genesia said:

Where is Elaine Benes when you need her?

Just when I think you're the shallowest man I've ever met, you somehow manage to drain a little more out of the pool.

I knew if I poked around long enough I'd find one of these threads. It did not disappoint... eh, I mean....

I guess no-one should mention the 'Even Ray Charles can see (Stevie Wonder can too)' line from Hit'N'Run 2's 'Look At Me, Look At You', then, huh?

He's not making fun of blind people in the song, no. You like the music though? huh.

Cerebus said:

Genesia said:

Where is Elaine Benes when you need her?

Just when I think you're the shallowest man I've ever met, you somehow manage to drain a little more out of the pool.

I knew if I poked around long enough I'd find one of these threads. It did not disappoint... eh, I mean....

Cerebus!!!!

Rimshottbob said:

I guess no-one should mention the 'Even Ray Charles can see (Stevie Wonder can too)' line from Hit'N'Run 2's 'Look At Me, Look At You', then, huh?

Oh no, I was about to bring that up. Prince had a thing MAKING FUN OF THE BLIND.

ha hah ha.

prince shouldve been a comedian! hilarious guy. great SOH.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

prince shouldve been a comedian! hilarious guy. great SOH.

I think that's what it said in his personal dating profile.

[Edited 2/5/21 10:04am]

In Look At Me, Look At U he talks about how Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder could see.

.

"All other women just roll their eyes
But even Ray Charles can see you
Stevie Wonder can too
Thoughts well up and wonder
Thinking about me and you"

.

Its whatever, I don't think its derogatory towards folks with disabilities. Just wordplay.

EDIT: just saw ya'll brought it up

[Edited 2/5/21 11:59am]

"..caberet, -ray CHARLES!!!"

remember that one?

Genesia said:

Cerebus said:

I knew if I poked around long enough I'd find one of these threads. It did not disappoint... eh, I mean....

Cerebus!!!!

Hallo

I believe so, P has a history of insulting them, such as with '5 Women'. When the deaf heard that song and the blind read the lyrics, both were equally offended.

spacedolphin said:

I believe so, P has a history of insulting them, such as with '5 Women'. When the deaf heard that song and the blind read the lyrics, both were equally offended.

What about the dumb people? What did they have to say about it?

Is this another cancel culture expression?

The same man who went out of his way with the Revolution and had concerts for disabled students and people?

just cos you disagree with something an artist does, doesnt mean you want them cancelled.

I think the TicTacToe line is lazy and embarrassing, but I can't see how it's making fun of blind people. I mean, unless one is using some sort of raised/Braile playing surface the inability to see does make it pretty hard to know where the x's and o's are in the game. I don't like the line, it's might be insensitive, but it's not "making fun" of anyone. There's no joke. Blindfold wouldn't help with the insensitivity, because I've seen that word objected to in and of itself. Maybe "people in the dark" might work, without the possible offense--because even though I don't see it as offensive, clearly some people can.

I am uncomfortable with the Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles line in Look At Me, Look At You. But since he'd already been so joyful with the Caba-Ray Charles stuff, all I could do was shake my head.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

just cos you disagree with something an artist does, doesnt mean you want them cancelled.

I know, I don't think anyone on this website is cancelling Prince.

Prince's references to Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles in other songs just show he wasn't very PC about the blind.

RJOrion said:

the tired ass, played out catchphrase "politically correct" didnt even exist when Prince was making these songs... that concept (PC) has been brought on by a generation (and culture) of weak, spineless, oversensitive people, who practice victimization at every opportunity, whether warranted or not..

aww.. sound like someone is butthurt.

ufoclub said:

RJOrion said:

the tired ass, played out catchphrase "politically correct" didnt even exist when Prince was making these songs... that concept (PC) has been brought on by a generation (and culture) of weak, spineless, oversensitive people, who practice victimization at every opportunity, whether warranted or not..

This is just a ridiculous comment. All the songs in question come from the last few years of Prince's life, well after "political correctness" was a common phrase. And it's a right-wing catchphrase, used by people saying exactly what you're saying about the practice of being conscious of the oppressive power of language. If you don't like the phrase--don't use it. Nobody else had.

EddieC said:

RJOrion said:

EddieC said:

This is just a ridiculous comment. All the songs in question come from the last few years of Prince's life, well after "political correctness" was a common phrase. And it's a right-wing catchphrase, used by people saying exactly what you're saying about the practice of being conscious of the oppressive power of language. If you don't like the phrase--don't use it. Nobody else had.

the term is right in the comment above mine...how can you be so blind and still read and type??... amazing trick [Edited 2/6/21 12:54pm]

Why, so it was. Clever how you managed to bring "blind" into your rebuke of me. I sure missed the term, even with my visual scan and using the "find on page" function.

However, my error only has to do with the final two sentences of my comment anyway. PC was still a catchphrase long before Prince wrote these songs, and it's still an almost useless phrase. And if you really don't like it, you still don't have to use it. Even if it had been in every single comment in this thread.

But clearly you believe it's a valid phrase, you believe in the existence of the phenomenon it supposedly describes, and you are free to do you. I disagree. I think complaints about "politcal correctness" are almost always insincere or mistaken, and I find the self-congratulatory posturing of people who make being actively "politically incorrect" a part of their public persona to be really boring. But our whole conversation is probably boring everyone else.

Sorry for rising to the bait, folks.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

Musically I love this song But the lyric... I'm not sure about it. 'like a bunch of blind people playing tic tac toe'? Idk prince. .

He's making fun of Jesus Christ. Isn't it obvious?

jfenster said:

And u wonder why prince fans get no respect....

Respect from whom, and why should Prince fans care about getting respect from anyone? I know I don't.

RJOrion said:

ufoclub said:

aww.. sound like someone is butthurt.

"butthurt" is a word used by juvenile minded 12 year olds, or people that put things in their butts... youre not 12, are you

It's actually the first time I've ever used the expression, inspired by the mentality of your posts. turn your gauge around to your own mind, lol.

nayroo2002 said: