http://www.theage.com.au/...97954.html

No sex please, prays Prince

May 8, 2004


Prince, now a practising Jehovah's Witness, refuses to perform his sexy songs any more, writes Phil Kloer.
Could any more contradictions be bundled into a smaller package than Prince? The business decisions both canny and bizarre, the never-ending peekaboo game with fame - and most important, the internal tension between the sexual and the sacred that's been present for years but is now front-and-centre.

Suddenly, Prince is as ubiquitous as he was 20 years ago, when the movie and soundtrack of Purple Rain were dual No.1s at the box office and on the charts. His new round of accessibility includes opening the Grammy Awards with Beyonce and releasing a new CD, Musicology, that has people paying attention again. Musicology sold 192,000 CDs in its first week, more than any CD he's released in years. (However, Prince is giving the CD away to everyone who attends his concerts, which bumps the sales figures somewhat.)

In his concerts, he jams and struts and sings like a man possessed for two hours. But because he's now a Jehovah's Witness (a faith he's been interested in for years), he's literally cleaned up his act. He doesn't perform some of his earlier, more sexually explicit songs such as Darling Nikki, Sister, Dirty Mind and Sexy MF, and he's been changing the lyrics of Purple Rain to "Say you can't make up your mind?/I think you better close it and open up the Bible".


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Last week, Prince told a US radio station why: "I've taken them out 'cause you've got children coming to the concert. For an artist not to be responsible and care about those children and how they first hear the music, that says a lot. Anybody missing those songs, you really want to ask yourself why you miss them, 'cause I think it says more about you than it does about me."

He gave Newsweek a slightly different explanation about dropping his provocative songs. "It's not me anymore," he said. "Don't follow me way back there. There's no more envelope to push. I pushed it off the table. It's on the floor."

In neither case did he mention his religion as a factor.

This battle - little devil on one shoulder, little angel on the other - runs through contemporary rock and soul. The tension runs through many of Prince's best-known songs, such as 1999 and Let's Go Crazy.

None of this should imply that Prince has taken a vow of chastity. He still performs Little Red Corvette, his car-as-girl metaphor.

Musicology still has plenty of smouldering desire ladled into its funk grooves. You can tell he still has sex on the brain - only now, he's 45 and married. When he spots a sexy woman in a concert crowd on the new song What Do U Want Me 2 Do?, he tells her: "Shame on U baby/can't U see this ring?" Whereas the old Prince would have told her, well, something else.

- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Musicology is out now.

The little fucker just judged me! Yea, I wanna hear Extraloveable! You prolly burned the master tapes, ya bastard. lol

EROTICCITYNPG said:

How do you pull this judgemental statement out of your ass? Just because someone likes a song from 10 - 20 years ago, and you wont perform them... doesn't make us stupid or less mature than you. Who gives a fuck if you cuss or not, but you know it sucks when the crowd sings along with you one way, and you sing completely different lyrics... now what does that say about you?

For someone who claims they want to unite people through his music, sure do have a funny way of showing it.

2freaky4church1 said:

LMAO

LovesexyIsThe1 said:

I thought the same thing when I read this thread.

psychodelicide said:

yep. me too. the statement says worlds about prince's new attitude that he would say something like this about his fanbase

That's for sure.

Larry Grahams fault!

All I Can say is I get Sexy Excited when I hear Ludicris saying all the Stuff he's gonna do to this Woman and she says MAKE LOVE TO ME.. I just think it's Such a Turn -On . I'm also Glad I'm an Adult cause Adults can Curse,Drink and have Sex.. Peace.

Speaking of Ludacris... i was wearing my prince symbol around my neck and one of my friends grabbed it on the dance floor at a club when ludacris came on with the lyrics "got a midget hanging from my necklace" i found it quite funny... anyhoo... about the original topic... its funny how every 1 always expects prince to be what he was... not as good as..... is as good as... will it live up 2... how does it compare... !! That shit really pisses me off...

I never see a rolling stones album compared to their previous success' or (industry) failures... No music that Prince has ever released has been a failure. I am definately not a Johovah Witness...but according to me Rainbow children was his best album ever...

Its a shame that ill never get an authorised version of extralovable but that's where respect comes into play. I love what Prince has done for me personally, musically and spiritually and i dont actively purchace or swap bootlegs out of respect.. but by no means am i out of the loop. I have friends that are fellow fams that thrive on bootlegs and either loving or disagreeing with the religious aspect that Prince has taken. As a fellow gemini... i try to see things 4 what he wants us to see ... and yes... because im a gemini, i know he can be a little shit... but that's what we love about him isnt it?

For fucks sake... this is his road... his experiences, his life, his journey and his amazing music! we can buy it or buy something else. Simple. Lets enjoy the gifts he gives us while he does... I thank God that this, as the album that he has done his so called come back with, is not a sell out. Its great quality and its True Prince... what more can we ask 4 really?

See I dig on Prince so Much.. Honestly but ya Know I just love the way the Rappers talk all Hot ya Know it's so Arousing. I Miss That with Prince . I like the Dirty Come On Stuff ya know. It Get's me So EXCITED. Talk about SCREAMING.

EROTICCITYNPG said:

This is funny, haha...but even still, you know he wants that girl at the concert he talks about in the song!!! It's all over the song and lyrics, so subtle, but it's there & all that stuff people want, (although it does not matter to me), is present in his songs, even if it's not so explicit, one way or another...well, I guess that's what they were saying in some other words...
[This message was edited Fri May 7 21:18:29 2004 by Starmist7]

He should've just converted to Buddhism. His life would be so much better and he wouldn't have to worry about sex.

EROTICCITYNPG said:

Nah..da old Prince woulda taken her 2 his house-yeah. But he'd read da bible 2 her.

He doesn't want to go on record as saying that he is a JW. Therefore, he uses all these excuses (kids at concerts, the envelope is on the floor, it's not me anymore, etc) as to why he no longer swears; instead he should be owning up to the restrictions placed upon him through he new found faith.

Definitely Buddism. Plus,reading the Bible is Great but Sex between two lovers well that is what God Wants .Multply and be Fruitful Right? So the Bible says Have Sex. Plus there is NOTHING FILTHY about THE HUMAN BODY. If Ya GOT a GREAT BODY SHOW IT!!!

:hmm whatever, prince needs to be a Raelian.....why does one have to censor their life in order to live? thats some shit, he needs to evaluate his religion. Dont get me started on this religious bullshit-

oh ya, Larry- u suck

Listen, there are Issues here for sure. Alot of Stuff just Doesn't Make sense. I'm Very Sceptical about Stuff and I Know I am Right! Mayte Broke his Heart but That was his True love. Mani was a Good Friend who Listened and was Consoling to him. She helped him and she as I understand did Alot of work for him.
[This message was edited Fri May 7 23:37:31 2004 by Zelaira]

ronnie said:

That doesn't jibe with the fact that he HAS said that he is a Jehova's Witness on national television.

Some of you go off on the deep end over assumptions that don't amount to a hill of beans.

Well fam, like i told some of u b4, get used 2 the new Prince. This is what happens when u become a baptized Jehovah's Witness. A Tragic Comedy.....

And if he EVER veers from his new life (ie: perform/ sell x-rated tunes like the ones he is now ironically filthy rich on!!!), JW regulations stipulate he will be publically banished from the congregation 4 a period of time, like any other JW. This will never happen, u know how heavy Daddy Pop is now.

Most artists are remembered 4 a snapshot in time, their "creative peak". But we all know P is not most artists. He's still a strong enough celebrity 2 take his famously "bold tongue" funk 2 dizzying heights.....alas, but no. What a risk he is taking. It shows how little regard P has 4 the rare position of succcess WE the fams put him in!

Ungrateful? I dunno...whoever said a rock star should be grateful?

Prince, now a practising Jehovah's Witness, refuses to perform his sexy songs any more.

Last week, Prince told a US radio station why: "I've taken them out 'cause you've got children coming to the concert. For an artist not to be responsible and care about those children and how they first hear the music, that says a lot. Anybody missing those songs, you really want to ask yourself why you miss them, 'cause I think it says more about you than it does about me."

CONSTANTLY .ORGERS ARE REALATING TO PRINCE'S PAST SELF AS TODAY'S.
SURE, ALL HIS MUSIC IS STILL IN THE 'NOW', AS IT EXISTS.GETTING STUCK YOURSELVES
IN THE PAST AINT WHAT THE 'MAN' IS ABOUT.I SUGGEST ( AND WHO AM I 2 SAY THIS!)
SO LET'S HAVE HIM DO IT; " Anybody missing those songs, you really want to ask yourself why you miss them, 'cause I think it says more about you than it does about me."
I personally don't know what the fuck that statement means!
I'M GOING OUT ON A LIMB NOW, BUT I DONT THINK JUDGING PRINCE IS RIGHT, & I DONT FEEL HE SHOULD BE JUDGING US EITHER! IT'S ALL A LITTLE STUPID
YOU CAN STILL LISTEN 2 HIS MUSIC THAT TURNS U ON. WHAT THE FUCK IS ALL THIS CRAP IT AINT THE SAME DEAL .IF YOU'VE PUBLISHED & PERFORMED A SONG, THAT'S THAT I WOULD'VE THOUGHT.

I Have 2 admit that hearing my 10 year old son funking around the house singing " Funky Mother Fucker shakin' that Arse" isn't what i would have wished! But Prince put it this way; say everthing & anything ! Now that 'EVERYONE' in the business has caught on to the fact of being diverse, or socially out spoken is gonna make ' em "Rich & Famous" it's a farcical situation.I'm sure at the time Prince just wanted Artistic freedom. Plus i just gotta talk 2 my boy about social behaviour a little earlier than my parents did 2 me! Or am i meant to re:record my Prince CD's with the expletives taken out. What a can of worms. All u can do is laugh!
[This message was edited Sun May 9 9:21:40 2004 by FLUX]

Why should Anyone Force Prince to do what he doesn't want to do? I Love him and all but ya know he's gotta do what he FEELS like doing. How can ya Force him to stop being a Jehovah or Divorce or start Swearing? The only thing that matters is Prince's Happiness and as fans Real Fans we just have to Respect his wishes and ya know I Honestly Love the new Music and I don't Miss all that much cause I think Prince is Still doing real cool stuff. Just cause Prince doesn't do this or that though doesn't mean That I am Gonna change 100% because if someone is your Friend well they Accept You AS Is and Don't Try to Change you. People can help you but Change you into Someone else is Wrong. I Don't wanna Change . I was Happy before and I will be Happy Still. I just Refuse to hang with JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE. Let God Judge Us All! I will Not Be Lectured to by Anyone ..That is BORING and OLD! I wanna have Fun as a Young Person should and I don't wanna hear any Crap from anyone. I think most Young People do want justthat. Fun with no Strings or Consequences.

Zelaira said:[quote]Why should Anyone Force Prince to do what he doesn't want to do? I Love him and all but ya know he's gotta do what he FEELS like doing. How can ya Force him to stop being a Jehovah or Divorce or start Swearing? The only thing that matters is Prince's Happiness and as fans Real Fans we just have to Respect his wishes and ya know I Honestly Love the new Music and I don't Miss all that much cause I think Prince is Still doing real cool stuff. Just cause Prince doesn't do this or that though doesn't mean That I am Gonna change 100% because if someone is your Friend well they Accept You AS Is and Don't Try to Change you. People can help you but Change you into Someone else is Wrong. I Don't wanna Change . I was Happy before and I will be Happy Still. I just Refuse to hang with JUDGEMENTAL PEOPLE. Let God Judge Us All! I will Not Be Lectured to by Anyone ..That is BORING and OLD! I wanna have Fun as a Young Person should and I don't wanna hear any Crap from anyone. I think most Young People do want justthat. Fun with no Strings or Consequences. I'm gonna Start Dating again. I am growing Whiskers on my Pussy already...Meow!!!!

Zelaira said:

Z , ya kinda lost me halfway thru...R u happy with JW Prince or not. Either way, I think what some of us were trying 2 express was alienation some of us fams are feeling and it seems like other fams wanna shout us down for it with immature BOSSY BOLDFACE TYPE BARKING. I think it's healthy 4 fams to debate this important topic on Prince, cuz no doubt it will affect the future of the funk of our fav music man. Geez.....Excuse us sinners 4 livin.

I for one do Not Want Prince to be My Dad. I want him as my Lover and Nothing else. I don't wanna be a Stepford Woman Ever. That would be a Real Sucky Existence. Ya gotta be Real and Emotional. Not Plastic and False. Ya Gotta be Who U Are not some Charicature. Prince is who he is. As Fans ya either Love him or ya Leave.

Zelaira said:

There you go again! You wanna be his lover right? Sorry, JW's don't cheat..so now what

MamaLisa said:

That is funny.

What about the lyric in Prince's song, "Sleep on the Couch" where he sings "I wanna go down South" and "Let me unzip your dress". He doesn't realize that his fans know that those are sexually suggestive lyrics?? Who does he think he's kidding anyway??

I remember when he sang "Sleep on the Couch" in concert when he came to my city a few weeks back. When he sang the lyrics "I wanna go down South", all the the ladies in the house started screaming. Prince gave us all a look as if to say, "Get yo mind out the guttah!", then he said "To Atlanta!". It was a very funny moment, but truth is, I think Prince still has got a little bit of that sexual naughtiness still in him.

psychodelicide said:

yes i think he does too, it's his nature, along with his sometimes sly sense of humor. but his faith now requires him to deny his sexual nature, or any overt display of it so this should make for some interestingly conflicted lyrics in the future