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Thread started 06/12/04 10:43am

rialb

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Does anybody think Rainbow Children is not a masterpiece?

I know lots of folks love Rainbow Children but I just can't get into it. Am I alone? I love the last four tracks (She Loves Me 4 Me, Family Name, The Everlasting Now and Last December) but the rest is very hit or miss. And all the "weirdness" just kills the album for me.
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Reply #1 posted 06/12/04 11:33am

Thirdeye

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The Rainbow Children is music in the highest form but the lyrics piss me off
masterpiece dunno but a fantastic return 2 form imho
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Reply #2 posted 06/12/04 11:37am

SlayerNPG

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It has some ok stuff on it, nothing that could ever be considered a masterpiece though.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 6, 6...
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Reply #3 posted 06/12/04 11:41am

myloveis4ever

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she loves me , last december, muse 2 the , everlasting....

great songs rialb, masterpiece?? maybe,, but not for now .... it takes time sometimes
2 appreciate prince music..... peace:)
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Reply #4 posted 06/12/04 11:43am

fms

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not a masterpiece, but some seriously challenging music. prince listening 2 prince. the way it should be.
i like the album, wierdness and all. the four tracks u mention - the last 4 - are a mini-masterpiece, imo.
Stand at the crossroads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths...(Jeremiah 6:16) www.ancientfaithradio.com

dezinonac eb lliw noitulove ehT
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Reply #5 posted 06/12/04 11:47am

purpledoveuk

The Rainbow Children is Prince at his Worst and getting back towards his best - it is put together terribly with the stupid talking and some of the songs are "oooh look at me, what a hard deal I get (as a black person)" - Im sorry if people find that offensive but Prince has no idea what slavery is like or how hard life can be for those who don't have diva demands,drive sports cars,have their own tailor etc etc.

Having said that some of the songs are good/very good ie Last December.

If I have to compare what it means to me by putting it next to another album I would have to say it reminds me of the prince album....exciting at first but then you realise how disapointing it is,how much better it could be and then comes teh track skipping until you only listen to about 3 songs.

But thats just my opinion
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Reply #6 posted 06/12/04 11:52am

rialb

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Where are all the people who love Rainbow Children?
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Reply #7 posted 06/12/04 12:44pm

jfs

Right here.
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Reply #8 posted 06/12/04 1:51pm

TheBigBang

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It's now my favorite Prince album of all time after Sign o' the Times.

I can't say enough good things about it. It's such a passionate piece of work. Definitely Prince at his absolute best.

And, no, the Darth voice didn't bug me one bit.
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Reply #9 posted 06/12/04 2:06pm

Handclapsfinga
snapz

you're not alone. at best, i think that the album is so-so.
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Reply #10 posted 06/12/04 2:09pm

brianr54

I think its the best of the past decade, actually.

It has his strongest, most confident material since Lovesexy or SOTT. I know the voice pisses people off, but I simply ignore it and skip it when I can. For me, its not enough to turn it off.

Masterpiece might be too strong a word for it, but time will tell.
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Reply #11 posted 06/12/04 2:15pm

MrGeorge

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Prince is an artist and his only aim is to please. But sometimes he tries to please too much and comes out with Prince by Prince albums like Rave and Musicology.

The Rainbow Children (and to a certain extent, New Power Soul) are the only albums of recent years where Prince has done what he does best - be new.

TRC is a great Prince album, and I think Prince fans should take it on its own terms and not go searching for some magical SOTT part two, which they're never gonna get.
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Reply #12 posted 06/12/04 4:35pm

rando310

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jfs said:

Right here.


Count me in too..i absolutely love it..and i find it is best listening to the whole thing at once..i'm surprised he didn't one track it like a certain other Prince album we know...
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Reply #13 posted 06/12/04 4:38pm

croweonbranch

Masterpiece? No, but better than most of the albums he put out in the 90's.
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Reply #14 posted 06/12/04 4:40pm

shaomi

rialb said:

I know lots of folks love Rainbow Children but I just can't get into it. Am I alone? I love the last four tracks (She Loves Me 4 Me, Family Name, The Everlasting Now and Last December) but the rest is very hit or miss. And all the "weirdness" just kills the album for me.


Very good, but definitly not a masterpiece. Prince has done WAAAAY much better b4 & since.
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Reply #15 posted 06/12/04 5:07pm

muleFunk

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I remember in the summer of 2001 when Prince said that TRC would be a reflection of ones self.Many people heard the music and became offended and totally lost track of the whole message of the album.

TRC is to be listened to as a single record not just a song here or there.Do this on a long drive by yourself . A greater understanding of the album should be gained .If not a soul searching session is in session.

Family Name ..." You might say ,'What you mad about ?', but you still got your family name.
That's deep as the oceans.

Then Prince ends the song with Dr. King's I Have A Dream . It's like Prince is saying "We might be mad but this is what we need to be focused on."

Everlasting Now is saying .....

"Don't let nobody bring you down"

Last December just tears me up period.


All this during 9/11
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Reply #16 posted 06/12/04 5:14pm

Scrapluv

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his best album since the 80's imo
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Reply #17 posted 06/12/04 5:23pm

namepeace

shaomi said:[quote]

rialb said:

IVery good, but definitly not a masterpiece. Prince has done WAAAAY much better b4 & since.


I'd agree. I am glad that others have embraced this album so, as Prince has obviously spoken to them on this album. But as I see it, it has the effect of marginalizing the listener. In my view, TRC is inferior to some of his work in the 1990's, including The Gold Experience, and should never be mentioned in the same breath as any album released between 1980 and 1988.
[This message was edited Sun Jun 13 21:48:23 2004 by namepeace]
Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #18 posted 06/12/04 6:10pm

madhouseman

I thought this was a joke thread at first. TRC is an average album, at best. It wouldn't be on my list of top 5 or even top 10 albums and it doesn't hold a candle to anything that Prince came out with from 1982 -1987. This is my opinion, but there are obviously others who share it.
The expanded version of my book PRINCE and The Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions 1983-1984 was released in November 2018. (www.amazon.com/gp/product/1538114623/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i0) or www.facebook.com/groups/1...104195943/
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Reply #19 posted 06/12/04 6:44pm

TheBigBang

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muleFunk said:

TRC is to be listened to as a single record not just a song here or there.Do this on a long drive by yourself . A greater understanding of the album should be gained .If not a soul searching session is in session.


That's exactly the way I think it should be listened to, as well. I don't think I've ever put it in to just single out one or two tracks. I always listen to it from beginning to end. Whenever I would go to the Oakland airport from Santa Rosa, I always brought TRC with me, because I knew I would be able to listen to it, uninterrupted.

It's an awesome experience, this album, and it's too bad there are so many so-called Prince fans that just didn't "get it."

TRC is Prince, 100 percent.
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Reply #20 posted 06/12/04 6:49pm

purplecam

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I was one of those people who was ranting and raving about how brilliant The Rainbow Children was when it came out but then before I knew it, I stopped listening to it. Then it hit me that it wasn't the album that I thought it was. It's a very good album and I can ignore the darth vader voice but I don't agree with some of the lyrics and that is what keeps me from calling it a masterpiece, but I agree with those that say that it was a return to form. Without TRC, we wouldn't have gotten Musicology.
I'm not a fan of "old Prince". I'm not a fan of "new Prince". I'm just a fan of Prince. Simple as that
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Reply #21 posted 06/12/04 7:18pm

Revolution

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nod A MASTERPIECE! Definately!
Thanks for the laughs, arguments and overall enjoyment for the last umpteen years. It's time for me to retire from Prince.org and engage in the real world...lol. Above all, I appreciated the talent Prince. You were one of a kind.
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Reply #22 posted 06/12/04 7:28pm

mrdespues

I love TRC! It's probably going to be considered a masterpiece when he is gone!


.
[This message was edited Sat Jun 12 19:28:42 2004 by mrdespues]
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Reply #23 posted 06/12/04 7:33pm

infinitetrio

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Masterpiece is defined as either: the most outstanding achievement of a creative artist or craftsman or an outstanding achievement by a creative artist or craftsman.

TRC is one of those no? It is an outstanding achievment. I totally agree, it is an album to be heard all the way through for total mind blowing enjoyment, and I really like listening to it on headphones, the stereo imaging is great and real. Even though this album was recorded on tape and then transferred and then edited to ProTools, it suffers none of the indecisiveness that other early ProTools albums (of other artists) did. The technology did not get in the way. The double speed guitar on 1+1+1=3 is a stroke of genius alone, commenting and kind o' taking the mickey out of the vocal thread. Get's me every time, from the first time I heard TRC until now, probably a hundreds of listenings, I'm listening again as I write this. On a few occassions I've chosen one track to listen to on its own, but doing that seems to decontextualise the music. It really works as an album. It is a concept album (oh boy! that's a dirty term nowadays huh?) Prince pulls it off. Wedding Feast is a joke... that's the point and a welcome foil. Each song has a fresh and unique sonic platform, I love the 'space' around all the sounds. And despite the signal processing available in the digital audio domain, there is no feeling of trickery for its own sake. TRC is a very contextualised album, perhaps some of the difficulty some people have with this arise from a basic disagreement with the messages of the album. No one has to like every Prince album, and TRC will have it's ditractors, I can see that. As I'm a musician, I've played it to a lot of colleagues, because I love it, I've been surprised by some of the reactions. TRC is not a background album, it doesn't sit well in the background. But then I really don't like the placement of music in the background anyway, so perhaps this is another factor. I know some people just don't listen with attention to detail. To do so one has to work, are you ready to do the work? It's message to me is very clear, Prince seems to be engaged and up against a load of important issues in TRC. I find it quite a political album, in the best possible way. If music can change peoples' lives, TRC is up there is a source for change. I really hope he returns to this level of seriousness again. Suits me. Yeah overt pop is great, but don't you love it when someone with the genius of Prince has got something to say and can articulate with such a high degree of craft. I'll never get tired of TRC... it is a masterpiece. Oh yes.
It's music, we don't have to like it, but man, I love it. Oh.... and it turned me back on to Prince totally. Gold, Rave and Emancipation I liked and respected but TRC was the one. It's quality has kind of spoilt my appreciation of Musicology, but then I favour music which tries out new stuff, has a feeling of experimenting with new ideas, but then I love Lovesexy too.

NAMASTE!
...on the one
------------------------------------------------
if the music's good... all else will follow
------------------------------------------------
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Reply #24 posted 06/12/04 8:11pm

Revolution

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infinitetrio said:

Masterpiece is defined as either: the most outstanding achievement of a creative artist or craftsman or an outstanding achievement by a creative artist or craftsman.

TRC is one of those no? It is an outstanding achievment. I totally agree, it is an album to be heard all the way through for total mind blowing enjoyment, and I really like listening to it on headphones, the stereo imaging is great and real. Even though this album was recorded on tape and then transferred and then edited to ProTools, it suffers none of the indecisiveness that other early ProTools albums (of other artists) did. The technology did not get in the way. The double speed guitar on 1+1+1=3 is a stroke of genius alone, commenting and kind o' taking the mickey out of the vocal thread. Get's me every time, from the first time I heard TRC until now, probably a hundreds of listenings, I'm listening again as I write this. On a few occassions I've chosen one track to listen to on its own, but doing that seems to decontextualise the music. It really works as an album. It is a concept album (oh boy! that's a dirty term nowadays huh?) Prince pulls it off. Wedding Feast is a joke... that's the point and a welcome foil. Each song has a fresh and unique sonic platform, I love the 'space' around all the sounds. And despite the signal processing available in the digital audio domain, there is no feeling of trickery for its own sake. TRC is a very contextualised album, perhaps some of the difficulty some people have with this arise from a basic disagreement with the messages of the album. No one has to like every Prince album, and TRC will have it's ditractors, I can see that. As I'm a musician, I've played it to a lot of colleagues, because I love it, I've been surprised by some of the reactions. TRC is not a background album, it doesn't sit well in the background. But then I really don't like the placement of music in the background anyway, so perhaps this is another factor. I know some people just don't listen with attention to detail. To do so one has to work, are you ready to do the work? It's message to me is very clear, Prince seems to be engaged and up against a load of important issues in TRC. I find it quite a political album, in the best possible way. If music can change peoples' lives, TRC is up there is a source for change. I really hope he returns to this level of seriousness again. Suits me. Yeah overt pop is great, but don't you love it when someone with the genius of Prince has got something to say and can articulate with such a high degree of craft. I'll never get tired of TRC... it is a masterpiece. Oh yes.
It's music, we don't have to like it, but man, I love it. Oh.... and it turned me back on to Prince totally. Gold, Rave and Emancipation I liked and respected but TRC was the one. It's quality has kind of spoilt my appreciation of Musicology, but then I favour music which tries out new stuff, has a feeling of experimenting with new ideas, but then I love Lovesexy too.

NAMASTE!
[color=violet:e95d656cff]...on the one[/color]


Chris Rock: He speaks so well...

"speaks so well ain't no compliment...it's what you say about a retarded child"

Sorry folks...it struck me as funny...nicely worded Infinitetrio...I agree 100%! thumbs up!
Thanks for the laughs, arguments and overall enjoyment for the last umpteen years. It's time for me to retire from Prince.org and engage in the real world...lol. Above all, I appreciated the talent Prince. You were one of a kind.
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Reply #25 posted 06/12/04 11:19pm

luv4u

Moderator

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moderator

I love 1+1+1 is 3 song music
canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #26 posted 06/12/04 11:27pm

whodknee

infinitetrio said:

Masterpiece is defined as either: the most outstanding achievement of a creative artist or craftsman or an outstanding achievement by a creative artist or craftsman.

TRC is one of those no? It is an outstanding achievment. I totally agree, it is an album to be heard all the way through for total mind blowing enjoyment, and I really like listening to it on headphones, the stereo imaging is great and real. Even though this album was recorded on tape and then transferred and then edited to ProTools, it suffers none of the indecisiveness that other early ProTools albums (of other artists) did. The technology did not get in the way. The double speed guitar on 1+1+1=3 is a stroke of genius alone, commenting and kind o' taking the mickey out of the vocal thread. Get's me every time, from the first time I heard TRC until now, probably a hundreds of listenings, I'm listening again as I write this. On a few occassions I've chosen one track to listen to on its own, but doing that seems to decontextualise the music. It really works as an album. It is a concept album (oh boy! that's a dirty term nowadays huh?) Prince pulls it off. Wedding Feast is a joke... that's the point and a welcome foil. Each song has a fresh and unique sonic platform, I love the 'space' around all the sounds. And despite the signal processing available in the digital audio domain, there is no feeling of trickery for its own sake. TRC is a very contextualised album, perhaps some of the difficulty some people have with this arise from a basic disagreement with the messages of the album. No one has to like every Prince album, and TRC will have it's ditractors, I can see that. As I'm a musician, I've played it to a lot of colleagues, because I love it, I've been surprised by some of the reactions. TRC is not a background album, it doesn't sit well in the background. But then I really don't like the placement of music in the background anyway, so perhaps this is another factor. I know some people just don't listen with attention to detail. To do so one has to work, are you ready to do the work? It's message to me is very clear, Prince seems to be engaged and up against a load of important issues in TRC. I find it quite a political album, in the best possible way. If music can change peoples' lives, TRC is up there is a source for change. I really hope he returns to this level of seriousness again. Suits me. Yeah overt pop is great, but don't you love it when someone with the genius of Prince has got something to say and can articulate with such a high degree of craft. I'll never get tired of TRC... it is a masterpiece. Oh yes.
It's music, we don't have to like it, but man, I love it. Oh.... and it turned me back on to Prince totally. Gold, Rave and Emancipation I liked and respected but TRC was the one. It's quality has kind of spoilt my appreciation of Musicology, but then I favour music which tries out new stuff, has a feeling of experimenting with new ideas, but then I love Lovesexy too.

NAMASTE!
[color=violet:e95d656cff]...on the one[/color]
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Reply #27 posted 06/13/04 12:17am

whodknee

It's undeniably a masterpiece. It's got everything you'd want: great music, a story, edge, and it's unique to the point no other human being could have made it. The telling point is that there is a great divide amongst the fans. There are strong reactions to it rather than indifference.

This album isn't about catchy little pop tunes you can whistle in your car or enjoy while you're riding your stationary bike. Prince surprised folks with that-- this is how I feel, this is what real music sounds like-- approach he hadn't taken since probably Purple Rain. TRC was his true comeback and just as with 1999, the music world is an album late in taking notice (instrumentals don't count razz ).
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Reply #28 posted 06/13/04 3:31am

MrGeorge

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whodknee said:

TRC was his true comeback and just as with 1999, the music world is an album late in taking notice.



I agree. I think TRC will be recognised eventually. It will last. All good things last.
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Reply #29 posted 06/13/04 7:13am

rialb

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TheBigBang said:

muleFunk said:

TRC is to be listened to as a single record not just a song here or there.Do this on a long drive by yourself . A greater understanding of the album should be gained .If not a soul searching session is in session.


That's exactly the way I think it should be listened to, as well. I don't think I've ever put it in to just single out one or two tracks. I always listen to it from beginning to end. Whenever I would go to the Oakland airport from Santa Rosa, I always brought TRC with me, because I knew I would be able to listen to it, uninterrupted.

It's an awesome experience, this album, and it's too bad there are so many so-called Prince fans that just didn't "get it."

TRC is Prince, 100 percent.


Whoa, slow down there fella. If I don't like Rainbow Children it makes me a "so-called" Prince fan? What's up with that? Does that mean that if you don't like Rainbow Children you aren't a "true fan"? If that's what you mean I got to strongly disagree. I've listened to the album many times and I just don't "get it". But that doesn't mean I'm not a "real" fan of Prince.

But I do agree with you that the album is best experienced all the way through, no interruptions.

As I said in my original post, there are some great songs on Rainbow Children. But I don't think it's his most consistently great album. I did get some insights into why people like it so much so maybe next time I hear it I will hear things I've never heard before.
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