Is there anyone out there who listens to Creed. I keep seeing this thing on VH1 about their band. They have a spiritual message and they are wildly popular. Why can't Prince do the same?

I see a possible problem:

Prince began as a "earthy" personality and maybe folks don't want him to change. But everybody matures at some point. Yes?

So why isn't it working better for him?

I've never purchased a Creed CD. I only know what I hear on the radio. Please, someone who knows - Why is Creed's message easier to accept. (I'm serious here.)

Simply because Prince is old news and plays music in a style that doesn't fit the popular format, and because Prince doesn't play to record company or radio politics.

Also, Creed's stuff is merely borderline spiritual. Interviews with their lead singer have shown that he hardly takes spirituality all that seriously, and he plays down the whole spiritual thing, probably because he thinks it's cool to do so.

Creed is a joke. They have about the most unoriginal sound of any band out there right now.

This is just MY opinion, but...

1. Creed claims to be so spiritual, but they really aren't. Apparently, it's some marketing ploy.

2. The people I know who like Creed, don't give a rat's ass about how spiritual the band is.

3. Creed appears to be so "wildly popular" because they are just giving the public the same old shit loads of other bands before them have produced - that easy to swallow, borderline pop, completely uncreative, commercialistic crap. They are only a few well choreographed dance moves away from being the next NSYNC.

In case you can't tell, I can't even stand the sight of Creed, let alone stand to listen to that trash they are passing off as music.

I also just realized that Creed's spirituality comes into an easy-to-swallow format. They don't really follow a set religion or anything. Prince's spirituality is clearly more defined. The only way spirituality flys in music is if it's promoted as "Christian rock" music, and as such, I don't think Prince would ever be taken seriously to the Christian rock lovers...

..the less prince has in common with creed the better...

teacherlady88 said:

Because you're comparing apples and oranges.

jtgillia said:

Listen to Jtgillia.

Prince does not dilute or alter his art to satisfy radio formats or a 'popular'commercial audience.

Prince's religious interests are being conveyed because he is truly expressing himself and because he honestly believes in them. They are not part of a cynical marketing ploy.

Madonna has had several spiritual images, most recently budhism and new age philosophy on 'Ray of Light' (incidentally these disappeared by 'Music'), but these were merely 'fashionable' and superficial image changes.

People will have a problem with Prince's faith, because he has chosen a christian group which does not belong to mainstream christendom. We are now witnessing exactly the same situation with Lauryn Hill.
[This message was edited Sun Jun 16 13:07:03 PDT 2002 by Antony7]

rio said:

I have to agree with Rio, Creed sucks.

Creed's spirituality is simply a farse and they use it as a marketing ploy. Prince's spirituality (like it or not) is sincere and the masses aren't ready for that. Furthermore, Prince's commerical ship sank long ago, so not many are interested in hearing his music, spiritual or not.

rio said:

AMEN!

Creed is on their third album, and already people are sick of them. The songs ALL sound the same, and the "spiritual" lyrics are forced and tired.

I agree, Moonbeam . . . it's not that people don't want to hear about Prince's new religious beliefs, they don't want to hear him PERIOD now.

Yikes! Looks like I don't need to consider this band's CDs. I'll save my money. Thanks for the info and the insight.

jessyMD32781 said:

100% agreement!

Why is Creed always soaked in water in every video?

rio said:

a-fucking-men



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rio said:

Agreed!

don't b swayed by the opinions of others, teacherlady, u have a mnd of ur own, don't u?

Creed is deep, and 'can u take me higher', will.

Prince, and Creed r apples and Oranges, but they r both dlicious fruit.

choose variety.

LikeItWasWhenWe1rstMet said:

Yes, truly, I think for myself. But I enjoy intellectual input. Where I have little knowledge, I look to those who know before making an informed choice. Thanks for giving me another point of view.

And, I agree. Without variety, life is dreadful.

Doozer said:

LOL!! Just from a literary viewpoint, water is often seen as baptism or rebirth. Perhaps it's an extension of their religious theme, or maybe they just like being wet.

Water can be read as sexual, but I think the above is proablly closer to the truth.

I think it is important to note that Prince didn't just start singing about spirituality recently. Prince has always had spiritual tunes, and even had a hit with one of them (7). I think the thing that turns people off to his spiritual tunes now, is that they specifically refer to JW doctrine. When the message was only "Love is God, God is Love" alot more people could relate to it. People of many different denominations could apply those spiritual messages to their own belief systems. Nowadays, Prince is singing about things that only a small group of people can identify with personally. I'm not saying this is a bad thing, since it is the right of the artist to express themselves, just that it was easier for a wider audience to connect with his message before.

A band like Creed, who has a general Christian message, will find more people to identify with. Their message isn't tailored to one specific denomination or sect, so they're bound to have more people finding something in common with them.

Ultimately, the spirituality of the musician is really not what draws the majority of listeners in. Creed has a major label promoting them, getting them radio airplay. If Prince had this, you would probably hear him on the radio as well. Musically, there is absolutely no comparison. Creed's albums are generic rock, while Prince runs the musical spectrum. The religion of the artist is really not a factor.

JediMaster - Very nicely stated.

I'll cop to it in a minute.
I get a strong vibe off those CREED vids.
I've come close to buying a cd of theirs, but still nothng.
Not sure at all what this means in relation to Pince and not sure it really matters.
Why do we have to choose?


On the imagery.
Water is seen as a cleansing agent of rebirth as Teach says. Also notice how they are always breaking thru a wall or up from the earth or some sort of confinement. In order to be reborn one must devoid himself of previous more profane effects. LOL I got a bunch of "born again" buddies that gave up their FUNKADELIC collections when they were reborn.



I'm playing the shit out of Jimi Hazel 21stCenturySouthBronxRockStar. Y'all should catch the vibe.

www.jimihazel.com
[This message was edited Thu Jun 20 10:46:02 PDT 2002 by PFunkjazz]

Prince is old and played out. He doesn't want to sign with a major label, he's differernt in a crazy kind of way and his music is out dated, he can't make a successful comeback like MJ and Madonna unless he's willing to put his crazy ideas and beliefs behind him. silly fool.

PFunkjazz said:

Actually, I hadn't noticed that! I'll look for this the next time one of their videos comes on. Doorways, portals, caves, any kind of opening is a gateway to a new life.

klhk said:

Try to be constructive in your criticisms. He's gettin' paid without a major label deal. He's calling his own shots. He's got folks trekking out to Minneapolis for God's sake! If that's what you call a silly fool, where do I sign up? In 20 years, things that this man is starting now will be considered standard operational procedure. He's cutting edge.

Because Creed sucks. And popular = sucktitude these days.

Creed's "spirituality" is posturing. Prince's expression of it has become "talkin' shop". The more specific your message, the more specific your audience. Don't you think? Creed's lyrics are pretty vague, and with Prince, you know damn well what he's saying - or at least, what he wants you to think he's saying.

Yeah, it's apples and oranges. The difference between K-Mart and a specialty shop.

Creed is just shit left over from Pearl Jam. Fuck Creed!

EvilWhiteMale said:

All Hail.. EvilWhiteMale... It takes a genius like him to have the insight to see that! YES, YES, YESSS!!! FUCK CREED, FUCK CREED, FUCK CREED!!! EVILWHITEMALE, YOUR MY HERO!

hmmm,
evil white male, and a female