It's because he's dead.

His overtly political lyrics are fascinating on a lot of levels. Rare pop superstar critiques of capitalism, consumerism, racism, privilege, social media, American culture/history from an American musical treasure. It hits all the buttons at a unique point in political history at one of the most apolitical musical periods. Can u imagine the media attention if Taylor Swift released a song like W2A TODAY? And the fact that he wrote this and shelved it during Prez Obama's tenure is also thought provoking.

On the W2A Official Podcast #2, Dr Cornell West says he and P discussed issues surrounding Obama's election. While P was middling about the election (not seeing it as a massive change), he also did not want to sound critical of Obama at a groundbreaking time.

THAT is the best explanation, to me, of why W2A was shelved at that time.

You can listen to this one here:
https://podcasts.google.c...YCegQIARAF

nope .. darling nikki gotta lotta tention

laytonian said:

On the W2A Official Podcast #2, Dr Cornell West says he and P discussed issues surrounding Obama's election. While P was middling about the election (not seeing it as a massive change), he also did not want to sound critical of Obama at a groundbreaking time.

THAT is the best explanation, to me, of why W2A was shelved at that time.

You can listen to this one here:
https://podcasts.google.c...YCegQIARAF

This theory makes sense...Prince wudve been cognizant of the historical moment and power of Obama's representation. He prolly did not want to detract from the climate that was full of pride for the first Black President.

jfenster said:

Promotion is pulling all stops to see if they can generate excessive sales...why u think all these bias reviews

the biggest problem with this totally over the top promo, is if the general public buy into this ridiculously overhyped album and purchase it, they will be massively disappointed, and probably never buy another P album again.. i swear, at this point, the estates biggest enemy is itself

[Edited 7/29/21 21:12pm]

Did they not listen to Baltimore??

[no, they did not]

FunkyStrange said:

jfenster said:

Promotion is pulling all stops to see if they can generate excessive sales...why u think all these bias reviews

the biggest problem with this totally over the top promo, is if the general public buy into this ridiculously overhyped album and purchase it, they will be massively disappointed, and probably never buy another P album again.. i swear, at this point, the estates biggest enemy is itself

[Edited 7/29/21 21:12pm]

i wonder this too

but its not the estate or label that are making this out to be amazing

they are just promoting the timeliness, the political content, etc

its critics who are hyping it up as they are eating that up

1p1p1i3 said:

Did they not listen to Baltimore??

[no, they did not]

probably cos like w2a, it says the right things, but is just not an esp great song.

TrevorAyer said:

nope .. darling nikki gotta lotta tention

Came here to post this. Christ, it helped get a reaction of congress so I'd say it got more attention.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

FunkyStrange said:

the biggest problem with this totally over the top promo, is if the general public buy into this ridiculously overhyped album and purchase it, they will be massively disappointed, and probably never buy another P album again.. i swear, at this point, the estates biggest enemy is itself

[Edited 7/29/21 21:12pm]

i wonder this too

but its not the estate or label that are making this out to be amazing

they are just promoting the timeliness, the political content, etc

its critics who are hyping it up as they are eating that up

but it's the estate/label who are pushing the promo, and most likely pushing everyone to review it, it just makes me wonder what all these 'reporters' are getting out of it, they're not doing this for free

They're promoting it that way. Also Darlin' Nikki says hi.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

I should have said NON SEXUAL lyrics

well then...maybe SIgn o The Times?

Near as I can tell, he was the first mainstream artist to address AIDS. And on a lead single to boot.

What we're seeing now is people writing about Prince and trying to pretend like they always liked him. It's easier to project ideas and opinions on him now and also "cool" to like him. These same critics barely gave him the time of the day as he went about doing what he did and he wrote a LOT of stuff as provacative/political as this. They're giving him attention now because he's passed.

And he wrote W2A a DECADE ago.

Why gripe about the attention the album is getting? Some of you would just prefer that Prince be forgotten about which makes absolutely no sense. Be happy that his music is still relevant and that he hasn't disappeared from the public eye.

I don't think anyone is griping.

A couple of years ago there was a big to-do if Prince was political or not. I'm thinking right now that certain mod who swore up and down that Prince didn't have a political bone in his body, is 2nd guessing himself now.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

I dont think much of the song w2a,musically, but I can see why the lyrics alone would make it seem important and prescient etc etc This album seems to have gotten prince more lyric quotes in reviews than any other I can think of Kind of unusual Or is it just that critics are easy to please when it comes to political songs - the subject is more important than how it is being written about.

No. In the Netherlands anyway much more attenton was paid to his politica lyrics: in 1985 America (as opposed to Born In The USA by Bruce Springsteen .

In 1987 the lyrics of Sign O The Times and The Cross were praised. In 1988 the lyrics of Dance On and Positivity, , also referring back to Annie Christian, Controversy, Sexuality and Free.

In 1989 it was about The Future, in 1992 about Money Don't Matter Tonight and Live 4 Love

Cinnamon Girl got some attention for the lyrics, so did Dreamer. Baitmore got an article in a newspaper here in the Netherlands back in 2014/2015.

But I don't know about other countries...