This is usually not the kind of threads I would create, but I haven't seen anybody mention that The Rainbow Children was released 20 years (and a few days, now) ago, on October 16, 2001, for NPG Music Club subscribers. I remember having some difficulties downloading the album, because of technical problems. This was something very common with Prince's online ventures...

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Being a non-native English speaker, I've never really cared for Prince lyrics, so The Rainbow Children was, for me, an excellent release. Fun times.

[Edited 10/18/21 23:11pm]

Like I always say: it´s in my Top 5. Too bad the Estate didnt mention it, like they did with Diamonds and Pearls and Controversy.

[Edited 10/18/21 12:43pm]

This album really brought me into prince.org.

There was a huge discussion about it online with many pages when it was released. I wish I can find that original post.

I guess it's a cliché to say that that the lyrical content means nothing to me, and the music and overall production are great, but this is how I felt about this album then, and still do to this day.

A bold release and I'm grateful for it.

Romeoblu said:

Been a Prince fan for over 40 years, think rbc is his best work skill wise. I mean listen to the digital garden, so much going on in there, its so many genres. Never ever heard an album like that, its unique and alien like lyrics and sounds. I like muse 2 the Pharaoh, starts of as a beautful ballad then turns into an angry and intense ending. Family name teachs us things out side the box. Work of a genius and best prodution arrangement i ever heard.

Top 5 Prince joint.

https://www.princevault.c...w_Children

luv4u said:

https://www.princevault.c...w_Children

It was released worldwide in November 2001

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I know, but many people discovered that album when it was released via NPGMC, myself included.

GustavoRibas said:

Like I always say: it´s in my Top 5. Too bad the Estate didnt mention it, like they did with Diamonds and Pearls and Controversy.

[Edited 10/18/21 12:43pm]

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Well then... for some strange sane reason The Estate somehow is capable of knowing the importance in difference of making a good choice.

So they seem to understand the need of promoting the fantastic underrated 40y old 'Controversy',

rather than (the final stretch of Prince's post-eighties stardom through) ''D&P'' (impo of course).

Nor the lyrically skewed mumbo-jumbo JH shite of ''The Rainbow Children'', though musically a fantastic album!

Either 20 years old seems too young in Prince's catalogue to celebrate then.

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Hamad said:

One of my fave albums from him (one of all all times fave “headphone” albums of any genre) and one of his best musically. It was also the first new release I anticipated from him since I became a fan which was a year earlier. There should be a documentary about the album’s theme and it’s aftermath during the Celebrations, it would make for an interesting dialog.

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Oh, i agree on that !

It's just that the lyrics ache my ears and brains so much, but we (have to) turn a blind eye.

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Vannormal said:

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Well, It's been a year full of choices of celebrations :

like :

40 years of Controversy

40 years of The Time's first album (why not)

35 years of Parade, thus also

35 years of Under The Cherry Moon

30 years of Diamonds & Pearls

25 years of Chaos and Disorder

20 years of The Rainbow Children

20 years of the NPG Ahdio Shows

15 years of 3121

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Let's take it even further;

30 years of Mazarati (i know, not important)

30 years of songs released on albums by the likes of:

Eric Leeds, Jevetta Steele, Mica Paris, Paula Abdul, T.C. Ellis, Martika, Ingrid Chavez,

Patti Labelle, Joe Cocker, Tevin Compbell...

All these songs alone could've made an 'Originals II' on it's own... (not that i'm wild about that).

Just sayin'

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sambluedolphin said:

Been a Prince fan for over 40 years, think rbc is his best work skill wise. I mean listen to the digital garden, so much going on in there, its so many genres. Never ever heard an album like that, its unique and alien like lyrics and sounds. I like muse 2 the Pharaoh, starts of as a beautful ballad then turns into an angry and intense ending. Family name teachs us things out side the box. Work of a genius and best prodution arrangement i ever heard.

Digital garden is beautiful and serene...then takes a sharp turn to tell the story of the banished ones.

It is such a ride.

The Banished Ones approaching the palace shouted obscenities.

They tried 2confuse the Rainbow Children and dethron their king.

Using the lies promoted by the whosepapers, hellavisions, and scagazines-

The Banished Ones constructed a Digital Garden around the palace that extended throughout the
world. Furthermore they demanded compensation 4 their time spent in the
palace b4 the exile.

This was noise! "So be it," said the Wise One, and gladly obliged with an INVISIBLE DEED. The Banished Ones accepted and returned to their place of birth in MendaCity. As 4 the Rainbow Children,
they began deconstructing the Digital Garden.

Door to door they went in search of those willing to do The Work

[Edited 10/19/21 6:51am]

Hamad said:

One of my fave albums from him (one of all all times fave “headphone” albums of any genre) and one of his best musically. It was also the first new release I anticipated from him since I became a fan which was a year earlier. There should be a documentary about the album’s theme and it’s aftermath during the Celebrations, it would make for an interesting dialog.

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- Same here. TRC is so good that I almost dont listen to it. I only want to listen with headphones, and paying full attention to it. I never listen to it as background while doing other stuff.

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I will never forget the first time I listened to it. I was losing interest in Prince - something I never thought will happen - after all those plastic Kirky J years, and somebody here at the org said I would love this one, that John Blackwell was amazing. So, when it arrived, I turned off the lights and listened with earphones. What a music experience! I literally couldnt sleep for some hours (and sleeping is very easy for me).

GustavoRibas said:

Hamad said:

One of my fave albums from him (one of all all times fave “headphone” albums of any genre) and one of his best musically. It was also the first new release I anticipated from him since I became a fan which was a year earlier. There should be a documentary about the album’s theme and it’s aftermath during the Celebrations, it would make for an interesting dialog.

.

- Same here. TRC is so good that I almost dont listen to it. I only want to listen with headphones, and paying full attention to it. I never listen to it as background while doing other stuff.

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I will never forget the first time I listened to it. I was losing interest in Prince - something I never thought will happen - after all those plastic Kirky J years, and somebody here at the org said I would love this one, that John Blackwell was amazing. So, when it arrived, I turned off the lights and listened with earphones. What a music experience! I literally couldnt sleep for some hours (and sleeping is very easy for me).

Thank you, Gustavo, for your story.

I remember that I had exactly the same experience at the first listen of TRC, initially approaching the album with disillusion before pressing play... But after, religiously immerged in the darkness of my bedroom, every single note was a new sonic revelation to me that would further enlight the artistic vision of my beloved Prince.

And, even to this day, I consider this opera one of the most unique, weird and beautiful ever created, by anyone.

Upon first listen from NPGNC, my reaction was, "PRINCE IS BACK!!!"

i could feel his motivation pouring over into the production.

i didn't see through any gimmicks, it was purely a master's musical output with purpose.

...and it has aged very well

nayroo2002 said:

Upon first listen from NPGNC, my reaction was, "PRINCE IS BACK!!!"

i could feel his motivation pouring over into the production.

i didn't see through any gimmicks, it was purely a master's musical output with purpose.

...and it has aged very well

Yes, still sounds fresh as it did 20 years ago. Funny because Rave a year before that is half unlistenable today.

paisleypark4 said:

nayroo2002 said:

Upon first listen from NPGNC, my reaction was, "PRINCE IS BACK!!!"

i could feel his motivation pouring over into the production.

i didn't see through any gimmicks, it was purely a master's musical output with purpose.

...and it has aged very well

Yes, still sounds fresh as it did 20 years ago. Funny because Rave a year before that is half unlistenable today.

Thought the exact same thing. I was sort of depressed after Rave thinking Prince might be done. But then heard this and the music was so fresh. I agree that it has aged very well.

Yes! I didn't discover TRC until less than two years ago; in fact I made a thread about it at the time (https://prince.org/msg/7/462638). Back then I said that 'it's too soon to say how things'll stand when the dust settles, in the sense that it all sounds too new and fresh for me to make a balanced judgment, but my current instinct is that this is probably one of Prince's finest post-80s works'. Today I stand by what I said, and go further still: I think TRC is one of Prince's finest works, period.

The only objectionable thing about the album is the implicit anti-semitism in Family Name, and I'm willing to mostly overlook it because a). it doesn't come from an affirmation of white supremacy but is rather a relativisation of Jews' subaltern status in relation to black people's, and b). it didn't turn out to be the start of an anti-semitic streak in Prince's work, but was rather a one-off that never led him to darker places. A blip, if you will.

Good album and great instrumentation. I remember finding it by accident at Tower Records in NYC (Nov 2001). Didn't even know it was released....The cover reminded me of the "I Want You" album by Marvin Gaye....I thought it was a much better move (style/music/maturity-wise) than that previous trendy "paint by numbers/please the MTV Carson Daly crowd" album he did for Clive Davis. My nickname for that album is "Controversy Part Two"..I remember the sh*tstorm that album caused on the org back in the "purple and black" days.

^^I'm talking about the controversy of "TRC", not "Rave".

olb99 said:

luv4u said:

https://www.princevault.c...w_Children

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I know, but many people discovered that album when it was released via NPGMC, myself included.

until AOA (well a good half of it), id say this was the last time he was truly inspired in this century.

From Family Name

Welcome. U have just accessed the Akashic Records Genetic Information Division. This program is required 4 those wishing 2 obtain a marriage blessing from The Kingdom. When u wish 2 begin this program, place ur right hand on the scanner and tightly clench up ur buttcheeks as u might feel a slight electrical shock. Please select the race history u desire. U have selected African-American. This is your history:


First of all, the term "black and white" is a fallacy. It simply is another way of saying "this or that".
Let's examine the term "this or that" in its ultimate form which is: "this" means the truth or "that which is resistant 2 it. When a minority realizes its similarities on a higher level- not just "black"- but PEOPLE OF COLOR, and higher still "INDIGENOUS", and even higher still, "FROM THE TRIBE OF.", and yet higher- the "RAINBOW CHILDREN".

When this understanding comes, the so-called minority becomes a majority in the wink of an eye. This action will cause a Reaction or Resistance. The source of this Resistance must b banished as it is in direct conflict with the initial action. It cannot be assimilated, 4 its very nature is resistance. In other words, ONE CANNOT SERVE 2 MASTERS. U r either "this" or "that" which is not "this".

This opening of Family Name helped me read Conversations With God, as I went to the library to discover what the Akashic Records were.
It took me on a whole journey that inspires me to this day. I believe he has read this book as well. I wish I still had the list of other books he recommended.

The second part that is interesting is Prince explains minorites resistance to the majority (particulalrly African American persons), due to the nature of which they learn about their historical standings in America - reaction and resistance. There is powerful amount of sadness and confusion once you learn what has happened before and can halt the Universal Law of man, that is to be treated equally as others. Prince is saying here "You might say what you mad about...but you still got your family name"...one still has attatchment to his slave masteres name that is. So one cannot really be "freed" of the ties that bind when your name still directly connects you to such generational trauma.

"The source of this Resistance must b banished as it is in direct conflict with the initial action".


A powerful statement and a powerful tune.

[Edited 10/20/21 7:25am]