Prince: Phallic or Religious?
I can not believe a controversy has erupted over the phallic symbolism of Rio headliner Prince's guitar solo during his Super Bowl Halfime show. There is an AP article outlining the controversy. Let me let you in on a more likely subtle message Prince put into his performance: an explicit nod to his reported Jehovah's Witness faith. Remember the Dylan cover I mentioned yesterday in writing about the halftime show. I neglected to mention the song Prince chose: "All Along the Watchtower." Dylan put that song on John Wesley Harding an acoustic disc thick in religious imagery(the song before it on the disc is "I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine"). Jimi Hendrix famously heard Dylan's song and decided to record it, and that is the version most people know.
The Hendrix version essentially rewrites the song as an electric explosion capitalizing on but not changing the apocalyptic religious lyrics. I am not exactly an expert on the Jehovah's Witnesses faith, so forgive any error, but that group's official publication is a magazine called The Watchtower. The magazine's publishing statement reads in part "It (The Watchtower) keeps watch on world events as these fulfill bible prophecy." Prince, by the way, did not sing all of "All Along the Watchtower." Revealingly, in his performance at the Super Bowl, Prince ignored the first two verses of the song Dylan wrote (which don't mention the watchtower anyway) instead coming in with words near the very end of the song: "All along the watchtower, Princes kept the view." Okay, I capitalized "prince." Still, it seems as likely as creating a secret phallic image with his guitar, Prince was instead offering a sly plug acknowledging his spiritual views in front of 90 million people.
Thanks for the link Richard; I read it...Good Lord, what a LEAP :(
Some people need a life...
Posted by: LadyPhoenix | February 07, 2007 at 04:21 PM
Whether phallic or religous, it was a damn fine performance. Prince is underrated as a guitarist. Millions truly saw his ability to shred... so what if he stroked a little while behind a curtain while doing so...
-n.l.
Posted by: n.l. belardes | February 07, 2007 at 04:57 PM
All I can say is, so what? It's a guitar. Religious or phallic, it's rock and roll--get over it.
Posted by: JD | February 08, 2007 at 10:27 AM
I have seen Prince live 3 times.. He is awesome and always puts on one of the best live shows you will ever be priveledged to see.
I am sick of the prudish opinions and people need to lighten up. Besides.. Prince dedicates every show to "Jesus Christ" and anyone who knows about his current beliefs knows that he will no longer swear or perform songs like "Darling Nikki"..etc.. you uptight people need to stop trying to push your morals on everyone; its rude...how about keeping it to yourself instead of proselytizing your beliefs..btw i am a jewish white guy who loves Prince and his music. His concerts are in my top ten of greatest live shows ever..btw i have a degree in music from Syracuse , am religious, and currently tour in a band.. so i think i know what i am talking about. I thought the superbowl performance was terrific..and didn't notice any phallic nothing.. stop trying to read this stuff into an innocent show..this is sickening how uptight people are becoming..
Posted by: Scott Cohen | February 08, 2007 at 04:30 PM
Prince is awesome!!! What difference does it make what his religious beliefs are? I've been listening to him since the late 70's......I love Prince and could care less about his personal life. Why do people always see something into everything? good gosh!
Rock on "Prince"
Posted by: Linda Kay Gibbs | February 09, 2007 at 08:33 AM
Prince is HOT!!! what he believes and practices is his business and if he wants to proclaim it, let him. we all have our beliefs and practices and if we wanted to advertise it, we could. the man CAN entertain! leave him alone.
Posted by: chingpea | February 09, 2007 at 10:20 AM
Prince's performance was outstanding. And that behind the curtain thing was sexy as hell. His guitar looked sooo big. And he's never looked taller. The only thing I don't like about his newfound religion is he stopped performing his most sensual songs of which some were my favorite. At least Purple Rain made the cut. That's a classic! And damn.. the man can shred with the best of them.
Posted by: norma | February 09, 2007 at 07:28 PM
SUMMARIES OF OVER 550 JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES LAWSUITS & COURT CASES
The following website summarizes over 250 lawsuits filed by Jehovah's Witnesses against their Employers, and/or incidents involving problem JW Employees:
EMPLOYMENT ISSUES UNIQUE TO JEHOVAH'S WITNESS EMPLOYEES
http://jwemployees.bravehost.com
The following website summarizes 300 U.S. court cases and lawsuits affecting children of Jehovah's Witness Parents, including 100+ cases where the JW Parents refused to consent to life-saving blood transfusions for their dying children:
DIVORCE, BLOOD TRANSFUSIONS, AND OTHER LEGAL ISSUES AFFECTING CHILDREN OF JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES
http://jwdivorces.bravehost.com
Posted by: James | August 04, 2007 at 09:14 AM
Who are Jehovah's Witnesses?
Up close and personal Jehovah's Witnesses can be wolves in sheep's clothing.
Think about this-When the devil comes knocking on your door he may not have the 'dark goth look'.They could be smartly dressed and wielding the Christian Bible.
The central core dogma of the Watchtower is Jesus second coming (invisibly) in 1914 and is a lie.Jehovah's Witnesses are a spin-off of the man made Millerite movement of 1840.
A destructive cult of false teachings, that frequently result in spiritual and psychological abuse, as well as needless deaths (bogus blood transfusion ban).
Yes,you can 'check out anytime you want but you can never leave',because they can and will hold your family hostage.
The Watchtower is a truly Orwellian world.
----
Danny Haszard Jehovah's Witness X 33 years and 3rd generation http://www.freeminds.org
Posted by: DannyHaszard | December 15, 2007 at 07:01 AM
yes i love prince also but his busniness is his i just know he can party and rock out what his beleave is his business but when we leave here to be with god he is the true god and judge of wherewepeople need to respect go prince is still the purple man and the man.P/S people need to respect prince and his music and personal life.thank you.mssylvia
Posted by: sylvia | April 07, 2008 at 01:59 PM
I LOVE PRINCE, HIS RELIGION IS THE TRUTH, PEOPLE CAN,T EXCEPT IT BECAUSE THEY WOULD HAVE TO LIVE UP TO GOD,S REAL STANDARDS OF LIVING AND COULD,T PRACTISE SINNING CONTINUALLY.THEY REALLY FOLLOW THE BIBLE AS DOES PRINCE!!!!
Posted by: MARIE | September 19, 2008 at 12:55 PM
I have looked into the theology & history of the Watchtower & am thoroughly convinced without a doubt it's a counterfeit Christian cult.
1. Bases many beliefs on numerology
2. corrupt translation of the bible (NWT)
3. Founders were into demonic occult teachings
4. Doctrines have changed over time
5.1914 Jesus *invisible* return
6. only 144,000 go to heaven
7. two classes of saved Christians
8. *whole* blood and autologous transfusions a sin,but okay to use fractions donated by Red Cross blood donors
9. genocide of 6 billion plus men women children at Watchtower Armageddon
etc.....
Posted by: TrubluU | August 24, 2009 at 12:37 PM