November 17, 2008

"God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, 'Enough.'"

Said Prince, as told by Claire Hoffman in The New Yorker:
Prince padded into the kitchen, a small fifty-year-old man in yoga pants and a big sweater, wearing platform flip-flops over white socks, like a geisha....

Limping slightly, Prince set off on a walk around his new bachelor pad. Glass doors opened onto acres of back yard, and a hot tub bubbled in the sunlight. “I have a lot of parties,” he explained....

Seven years ago, he became a Jehovah’s Witness. He said that he had moved to L.A. so that he could understand the hearts and minds of the music moguls. “I wanted to be around people, connected to people, for work,” he said. “You know, it’s all about religion. That’s what unites people here. They all have the same religion, so I wanted to sit down with them, to understand the way they see things, how they read Scripture.”

Prince had his change of faith, he said, after a two-year-long debate with a musician friend, Larry Graham. “I don’t see it really as a conversion,” he said. “More, you know, it’s a realization. It’s like Morpheus and Neo in ‘The Matrix.’ ” He attends meetings at a local Kingdom Hall, and, like his fellow-witnesses, he leaves his gated community from time to time to knock on doors and proselytize. “Sometimes people act surprised, but mostly they’re really cool about it,” he said....

When asked about his perspective on social issues—gay marriage, abortion—Prince tapped his Bible and said, “God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough.’ ”
Back when Prince was much more popular, his music powerfully enticed us into what he now considers sin. If God is keeping score, Prince should be worried. I think he'd need to go door to door for millions of years to undo all that damage (if damage it is).

Via Gawker, which notes:
If Prince wants to get attention for his views, airing them amid nationwide demonstrations against the passage of a California anti-gay-marriage initiative will probably do the trick. What that does for the "celibate" musician's sales and popularity is another matter.
Celibate, eh?
Tonight, that mood of isolation permeates Prince's luxurious 30,000-square-foot Tuscan-style villa, perched high in a gated Beverly Hills enclave. The royal one, clad in a filmy white sweater over a black shirt and slacks with (shocker!) flip-flops, lives solo in the nine-bedroom home, where a cook is upstairs preparing food for a post-midnight gathering with friends and bandmates.

"I'm single, celibate and sexy," he says with a laugh. "I feel free."
No one promoted sex more than Prince, and now he's celibate. That's rich.

There's lots to talk about here, but don't overlook the assertion that the music moguls of L.A. "all have the same religion." I hope that means that commerce is a religion for business folk.

UPDATE: Prince retracts!

54 comments:

Triangle Man said...

If he is celibate and unmarried now, then Prince might just qualify to be a born-again virgin. No matter how much slutting around he's done, if he promises to save himself for marriage from now on he can re-purify his flesh.

Freeman Hunt said...

The caricature of Prince in the New Yorker is wonderful.

Ray said...

From sex idol to religious proselytizer, not so much of a stretch. Lots of people find morality/religion when they've got kids and/or they're on the backside of the slope and facing eternity. And one of the core tenets of Christianity is pretty much no one is past redemption if they repudiate their past works and feel remorse (see also, Paul, Saint).OTOH, unrepentant domestic terrorist to respected English professor and friend of a president. That's rich.

Oh yeah, I took it there.

Chris said...

Oh GAWD I'm tired of Prince, and I don't buy his little kicks for a second. He dons these personality transformations whenever he feels he needs to get back in the spotlight. If he's celibate, then Sarah Palin believes in the earth is round.

Ann Althouse said...

Prince's old music was also full of religion. He was mixing sex and religion all the time in the 80s.

Anonymous said...

on being celibate or a born again virgin.

It is temporary thing. It is like undergoing a food fast, cleanse and recovery. You get rid of the potato chips, and a bunch of other crappy junk food, go to a suana and sweat, exercise, firm your body and then come out clean. It needn't have anything to do with religion and needn't have anything to do with saving yourself for marriage.

I don't believe in marriage legalities. I am done having children.

you can entertain the thoughts of a million pr... wait ...guys trying to pick you up on the street and it has no affect even if they are fondling your breasts.

Sure people will call you names and think you are frigid. But you've been cleansed. You just wait for the right class of Amish milk cause you know in your mind exactly what it will be waiting for you and when you get it the wholesomeness is unbelievable.

I've performed

TMink said...

"If God is keeping score, Prince should be worried."

That is the wonderful thing about God's grace!

Trey

TMink said...

"If he's celibate, then Sarah Palin believes in the earth is round."

Priceless. And they call conservatives wingnuts.

Trey

Anonymous said...

on being celibate or a born again virgin.

It is temporary thing. It is like undergoing a food fast, cleanse and recovery. You get rid of the potato chips, and a bunch of other crappy junk food, go to a suana and sweat, exercise, firm your body and then come out clean. It needn't have anything to do with religion and needn't have anything to do with saving yourself for marriage.

I don't believe in marriage legalities. I am done having children.

you can entertain the thoughts of a million pr... wait ...guys trying to pick you up on the street and it has no affect even if they are fondling your breasts.

Sure people will call you names and think you are frigid. But you've been cleansed. You just wait for the right class of Amish milk cause you know in your mind exactly what it will be waiting for you and when you get it the wholesomeness is unbelievable.

I've performed my own experiments.

George M. Spencer said...

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.

But Peter Schiff found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

These are the generations of Schiff: Schiff was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Schiff walked with God."

Unknown said...

Thankfully my religion does not require me to make up, with works, for my many sins. I'm glad, Prince can be forgiven, not that I can or should judge whether he is or not. That's for God to do, I just need to work on me.

I'm Full of Soup said...

It's much easier staying celibate when you have guests over for post-midnight parties in LA?

Paddy O said...

A modern day Ecclesiastes?

I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure.

My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor.

Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun...

Then I realized that it is good and proper for a man to eat and drink, and to find satisfaction in his toilsome labor under the sun during the few days of life God has given him—for this is his lot.

Moreover, when God gives any man wealth and possessions, and enables him to enjoy them, to accept his lot and be happy in his work—this is a gift of God. He seldom reflects on the days of his life, because God keeps him occupied with gladness of heart.

Freeman Hunt said...

In the living room, he’d installed purple thrones on either side of a fireplace, and, nearby, along a hallway, he had hung photographs of himself, in a Moroccan villa, in various states of undress.

Hilarious.

Trooper York said...

I used to enjoy his spaghetti when Ronzoni got too starchy in the early eighties. But it declined and now I only use Barilla or Guido pasta. Both superior products.

Anonymous said...

Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1899.

DaLawGiver said...

But it declined and now I only use Barilla or Guido pasta.

For some reason I also have gravitated to Barilla. I don't salt my water but I do add some olive oil just before it starts to boil. Is there really a right way to do it? Do you rinse your pasta with cool water before serving?

How bout them cowboys? In the spirit of Obama's national unity drive I suggest we rename America's team the National Obamaboys of Texas.

Ron said...

Trooper, I gave up on Barilla when he briefly changed his name to that bizarre glyph. He had it shaped into a pasta that somehow always stayed al dente enough to break a tooth!

Guido...we go way back.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

God came to earth and saw people sticking it wherever and doing it with whatever, and he just cleared it all out. He was, like, ‘Enough’

Including needles with life saving blood?

I'm Full of Soup said...

Barilla for me Trooper. Never heard of "Guido" brand- did you make that up?

Ron said...

Hell, I remember when this guy was just The Little Prince and worked for some French guy! Still sexy as hell! He gave a great Super Bowl half time show, what, last year?

Let's have today's theme on Althouse be "Let's Go Crazy!"

Meade said...

Let's have today's theme on Althouse be "Let's Go Crazy!"

...and then repent before it's too late now that we're middle-aged and probably can no longer balance more than one or two plates of spagetti on our erect penises... (in fact, put me down for only one... with a good red sauce... like Germano's... extra garlic for full priapic effect).

Meade said...

Did I say down? I meant up.

Darcy said...

Mmm. Barilla. I made a garlic basil cream sauce over mini penne with roasted asparagus, yellow squash and red pepper last night.

That sauce sounds delicious, Meade.

Prince...he's crazy. But whenever I've seen him perform I can't take my eyes off of him. He's had a lot of tragedy too, hasn't he?

MadisonMan said...

So Prince has gone all Old Testament on us.

Addicted to drugs, addicted to sex, addicted to religion. They're all feeding the same need in him, to be addicted to something, is my opinion.

knox said...

At least he chose a religion where he takes a somewhat humble role. Most celebrities choose some bogus cult where they can take center stage, so to speak, in the religious hierarchy.

That said, his revelation reminds me of all the moguls a la Gates and Buffet, whose M.O. their entire career is utter ruthlessness--but then become big teddy bears once they've amassed so much wealth they are virtually untouchable. Hearing Prince talk about chastity is like hearing Bill Gates advocate for the estate tax.

Zachary Sire said...

This is the same guy who did a cover of Radiohead's "Creep" at Coachella, and then demanded that the fan clips of it on You Tube be pulled, claiming copyright violation. An idiot of epic proportions, who hasn't been relevant or sold an album since the 80s. He's not even worthy of a profile in The Watchtower.

Darcy said...

And thanks for the link, Meade. There is a Kroger right near the tournament I attend every year in Mason. I'm going to look for this sauce!

Meade said...

Darcy, Highly recommended. Germano's restaurant is exactly halfway between Mason and my house. Call me when you're in town (ATP?) and I'll meet you for lunch. We can gossip about all these crazy Althouse commenters and swap Prince bootlegs.

Trooper York said...

Yes, Guido is a real pasta that is sold in the Northeast. It is often on sale for about 59cents a lb which is a great price and I stock up on it.

I always wash off the starch with cold water but I always make my pasta very al dente. Then I put a little sauce in a pan and slowly add the pasta to cook for about a minute or two. It leads to flavorfull pasta that a add a big dollop of sauce on top with cheese and the appropriate garnishment.

Ron said...

mmmm...Meade, extra sauce please! Let's have the Althouse-less met up...

Trooper York said...

Of course like Titus I think the proper garnishment is two meatballs and a sausage.

But these were cooked in the sauce
not what he means at all.

Not that theres anything wrong with that.

Darcy said...

Sounds fantastic! And yes, the ATP tourney.

DaLawGiver said...

An idiot of epic proportions, who hasn't been relevant or sold an album since the 80s.

Sort of like you, but you've never been relevant or sold an album have you? But he can play the hell out of a guitar!

Meade said...

Come on down, Ron. I'll reserve the entire restaurant. Everyone's invited!

Meade said...

August 17th - August 23rd -- peak southern Ohio heat and humidity (and tomato season).

Darcy said...

Yeah, the heat/humidity is pretty brutal. I'll be there, melting in it from the 21st-23rd.

I'll definitely see you guys at Germano's if it pans out. Thanks!

knox said...

Cincinnati??

I AM THERE

Darcy, I used to go to the ATP as a kid. My family were big tennis players. I haven't really been since high school, but it's one of the most fun sports to watch, I think.

Meade, seriously, please keep us updated if you plan on doing this next yr.! Yay

Ann Althouse said...

"This is the same guy who did a cover of Radiohead's "Creep" at Coachella, and then demanded that the fan clips of it on You Tube be pulled, claiming copyright violation."

Huh? Copyright law doesn't forbid covering songs. You just have to pay for the rights. And he owns the rights to his performance of it.

sonicfrog said...

Let's have today's theme on Althouse be "Let's Go Crazy!"

Yeah! THIS IS GREAT!!!....

Oh, crap, my hip....

Darcy said...

It's a great tourney, knox! I'm, uh...slightly into tennis. :)

Wince said...

If God is keeping score, Prince should be worried. I think he'd need to go door to door for millions of years to undo all that damage (if damage it is).

It's all relative, Ann.

Just remember back when Prince was considered the "freak" and Michael Jackson was the "sweet boy."

Meade said...

Sounds like fun, Knox. Let's do it! Maybe we can even hire Darcy to give us a tennis lesson.

Jen Bradford said...

Prince's old music was also full of religion. He was mixing sex and religion all the time in the 80s.

Didn't he always say he had a cock in one hand and a Bible in the other? Best show ever - I got to see him in Paris 20 yrs ago, and the audience lost its collective mind. Fantastic. I really don't care whether or not he's getting any, though.

KCFleming said...

At least he didn't go all Scientology on us.

I don't think my little mind could manage one more celebrity getting their thetans stroked.

If you believe in forever,
Then life is just a one-night stand.
If there's a celebrity Hades,
Well you know they've got full DC8s, yeah, yeeaaaaah..

Anonymous said...

Darcy said...Prince...he's crazy. But whenever I've seen him perform I can't take my eyes off of him.

Some eye candy for you Darcy .

Shawn Levasseur said...

I'll give Prince this much, he doesn't go trumpeting his faith in the media.... In fact he doesn't really do much in the media. He just puts the music out there for the most part.

Everyone else is gossiping about his personal life.

I suspect he's more amused by celebrity than let it go to his head. To whatever extent he interacts with the press, one suspects he's having fine sport with the press and his public image. Deliberately stirring the pot a little to be amused how the world reacts. Sort of like an internet troll, but with style and creativitiy.

So long as I can still play his earlier music about sexual excesses. I have no problem with his choice of toning it down in the present.

Not that he's THAT toned down, anyway.

knox said...

OK, Meade sounds great.

###

If anyone ever wondered how totally lame and stupid Rolling Stone is, they shunned Prince on their 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time list recently.

Meade said...

If only I had a nickel for every time a beautiful woman has come up to me, asked me to sign a photo of Prince, and then, upon my signing it and handing it back, said, "Meade? You mean you're not Prince?" I'd have enough nickels to hire an underling to sign all my damn autographs for me.

blake said...

Huh? Copyright law doesn't forbid covering songs. You just have to pay for the rights. And he owns the rights to his performance of it.

YouTube is rife with unrecompensed covers of tunes.

Mostly, musicians just roll with it.

The vital information about the modern incarnation of Prince can be found in "An Evening with Kevin Smith". Here's Part 1. Part 2 is on the sidebar.

Meade said...

She said Prince retracts. heheheh.

Meade said...

Blake, that was interesting. No gratitude.

JAL said...

Hearing Prince talk about chastity is like hearing Bill Gates advocate for the estate tax.

Digression Warning

Read somewhere recently that both Gates and Buffet are pro estate tax.

Rationale something like people should not just inherit wealth.

But also probably because they have so much money they can put it away in all kind of trusts and gifts (Buffet gave the Gates Foundation a gazillion of his dollars).

Meanwhile, the guy that has a million dollars in his thousand acre farm and equipment has his kids clobbered when he dies ... because he's "rich." And then the farm goes under....

Wonder if the prez elect knows where his food comes from?

JAL said...

I see we have someone who thinks ridiculing Sarah Palin is cute.

That's so last month.