Listening to this music, it really makes you realise that happiness is one of the rarest things in life...Prince totally lost himself when he lost his baby, which resulted in losing what he felt was his true love, his wife, Mayte. It appears to me that Prince had always been looking for a true father figure in his life. I think he thought he found solace a number of times, but the one person that was there for him with no ulterior motive, other than being a good soul, was Larry Graham. I sincerely wish Prince, and all of you, the best in life.

Interesting perspecive. I think he was screwed up long before that, but maybe I'm Freudian. I do think that the break up with Mayte and the death of his child could have made him vunerable enough to dive into Larry's open arms, but if he hadn't been raised a 7th Day Adventest to begin with what Larry said to him would have been as ascine as what it sounds like to the rest of us. I think that this was fated to happen, one way or another.

As an outsider looking in...I agree. For someone
who seems to have found what he wants spiritually, his
life sure seems 'empty' to me. He's surrounded himself
with 'yes'-men, and in so doing, has lost some
perspective. He's married, and I wish them all the
happiness in the world, but the reality is, his wife
is 20 yrs younger than him, they would seem to be in
different points in their lifes. IMHO.

Prince has sacrificed so much for his musical success.
Although it's been great for us...I just TRULY wish
him happiness.

Prince always had issues unfortunately...just like the next person

U PRINCE

Anji said:

as i wish u the best,

i must say life is about

ups and downs

if u never experience

the downs, u can't

appreciate the highs

prince has led a

remarkable life

yes, he has known loss

but i don't think he

is the kind of man

who allows disappointment

2 define him

he has overcome before

and he will overcome

again

sumtymes said:

Why on earth not? It's fine speaking from your own perspective, but it's arrogant in the extreme to presume other people don't value life as much because they haven't experienced it the way you have.

Anji said:

Believe it or not WE ALL share in similiar tradgedies with prince, in one way or another...Thats why we can relate so well to his music, that one can assume is being sung about "his" experiences, however, IMO, he sings about other ppl's lives as well, not only pertaining 2 him alone. He has witnessed tradgedy as well as having gone through it. Not ALL his music tells HIS story!
[This message was edited Mon Aug 11 23:35:14 PDT 2003 by grandebelle]

Anji said:

Believe it or not WE ALL share in similiar tradgedies with prince, in one way or another...Thats why we can relate so well to his music, that one can assume is being sung about "his" experiences, however, IMO, he sings about other ppl's lives as well, not only pertaining 2 him alone. He has witnessed tradgedy as well as having gone through it. Not ALL his music tells HIS story!

is there anyone here who thinks he might be at his happiest point in life now?

I know I'll be in the minority here, but I think he is probably very happy right now. I may not agree with his new religious views. I may not be the happiest Ive been with his musical output. I like NEWS and other recent releases, but I used to connect so personally with his music and lyrics.
Anyway, if someone who has always reached for his spirituality finds what he percieves as the REAL truth, I would think that person would be truly happy. I feel that maybe this is one time in Prince's life that music is not the most important thing. He seems truly dedicated to his beliefs. And anytime I've believed in something hole-heartedly (and often that thing was Prince's music) I've been truly happy.
So, I don't know if it's his happiest point, but think he IS happy.

creepycornerman said:

Revolution said:

What did Prince sacrafice that he didn't want to? I'm not sure I agree with this point of view.

langebleu said:

grandebelle said:

I think I disagree but I'm not sure, grandbelle. I think the vast majority of his music tells a story as seen through his own eyes. I don't think he makes music, as Prince, about anyone else's experiences other than his own; perhaps, his own interpretation of their story e.g. Sly Stone in the Everlasting Now. The fact that we may connect is neither here nor there.

matchufalls said:

I agree!

I feel for the brother recently too. Lost both parents within a few months of eachother. Harsh man

cynicalbastard said:

---

I think he may be happy now. Let's face it he was on a spirutal quest and now it looks like he found what he was looking for.

In addition, money and power cannot buy happiness. Let's face it on the surfact it looks like all this guy did was chase woman, play music and run over people. Those actions always put people on the road to unhappiness.

Anji said:

Anji, I agree with U that the VAST MAJORITY of his music tells of HIS life experiences, BUT there R songs I believe he sings about that he JUST witnessed in someone elses stories. I was enlightened to this theory by a friend of mine, who believes this & I think she's right AFTER I gave the songs alot of thought. However, we could only think of a select "few". But yes, it definately IS HIS OWN interpretation of their circumstances/story.

It's quite common that sometimes a songwriter writes from the third person perspective, even when using the pronoun "I" sometimes.

Playwrights
Screenwriters
Songwriters...they all do it.

Anji said:

langebleu said:

Without the possibility of Death, we would value nothing.

I wouldn't go as fas as to say that Prince's life is "a really sad story".

By most standards, Prince has lived a very privileged lifestyle; the man was given a break during a period in history when the music business was less concerned with making a quick buck and were more prepared to give talented musicians a break. Prince was in the right place at the right time and benefited from the tutelage of very accommodating individuals such as Owen Husney and Chris Moon, not to mention Lenny Waronker and Mo Ostin. Father figures in themselves.
Consequently, Prince made his fortune and fame doing something he really enjoys, making music and being an entertainer. The truth is most of us would be lucky to earn a crust doing something based on the merits of our talents alone.

As for his upbringing and his yearning to discover a "father figure" this may in fact have worked to Prince's advantage. Many key historical figures - and even many more who are not - have lacked a "father figure" in their lives and yet the vast majority have turned out to be incredibly driven, tenacious individuals who felt they had something to prove and ended up succeeding on their own terms.

.

Anji said:

Given the fact that Prince had made such a huge emotional investment upon both the happy outcome of his baby's birth and the release of the 'Emancipation' album (rather unwisely, perhaps, in view of what was to come) he decided both events were symbolic of his rebirth as a newly-invigorated artist, not to mention symbolic of someone who now felt "complete" as a human being functioning within the parameters of a normal family unit, something he had lacked throughout most of his life. But the untimely and tragic circunstances surrounding his baby's birth may have sunk Prince into such an unhealthy state of confusion and despair that at the time he may have felt unable to successfully process the resulting feelings of pain, frustration and utter despair.This was evidenced by the fact that Prince appeared to be in denial that anything untoward had in fact happened, the tell-tale symptoms of shock.

As a result, he was famously pillored by an unforgiving media and fans alike, ironically, for not reacting like a "normal" human being in the face of such adversity, not to mention his apparent lack of sincerity during the interviews he gave afterwards, most notably on Oprah Winfreys's show.
But this might have happened without any contrived attempt on his part to play games with anybody, the way most people perceived. More likely,this may have been Prince's only way to deal with the loss and frustration at that time.

Prince may have indeed "totally lost himself" when he realised his dreams of family life lay in tatters, but I do not think he lost his focus or felt maladjusted for too long afterwards.

.

giotto said:

That's a great point, G.

Anji said:

Yes, that is the sentiment that tends to spring from most of his work, most notably 'Purple Rain'(when he snatches success from the jaws of defeat, so to speak), 'Parade'(where it costs him his life to find the real meaning of true love), and 'Graffiti Bridge' (success through the power of surrender, mirrored by his more recent work on 'One Nite Alone...Live')

At the end of the day, we musn't forget that we are commenting from a position of observers (and having some fun whilst we are doing so). But I believe we are justified in considering that such matters have such tremendous universal value that they are also a relevant part of what makes us all tick and of how we will all hopefully develop as human beings.

.

giotto said:

Excellent insight, G! I would like to, however, entirely dispute your last point. I would think his refocusing and readjusting are very difficult traits to observe based on his public displays of emotion, as proved by your former points.

teller said:

Suddenly, the skeleton in your avatar looks kinda scary LOL!

Supernova said:

And where's your soul, Babynova? You promised it but you have yet to deliver.

Anji said:

Excellent insight, G! I would like to, however, entirely dispute your last point. I would think his refocusing and readjusting are very difficult traits to observe based on his public displays of emotion, as proved by your former points.[/quote]

My last point was a hopeful comment mostly designed to end my post on a high note, lol!

As far as "focusing and readjusting" are concerned, let's just say I'm glad that to this day P has remained a prolific entertainer with a measure of integrity, and did not choose to take the easy way out and end his sorrows (or his days) in a haze of barbiturates and cheap wine in the same way we nearly did during our last little rendezvous...


.

Giotto said:

Taking your own life is hardly an easy route out though? Regardless, I sincerely hope Prince dies a peaceful and natural death. And at a point where he found his happiness.