Is how the woman was banished and the man got to get a new whore and live happily ever after. There is an obvious parallel to the story of Adam and Eve and I have always been disturbed that the woman got the shit end of the stick, banished for eternity, while the man went about his business, got a new woman and lived happily ever after.

At least in the original story everyone was fucked. I understand how some people considered that album misoginistic. That said, it's still a killer album, especially on the heels of Rave

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

That's me down to a tee.

TheFrogSpawn said:

misogynist!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

i actually have real trouble listening to a couple of songs in particular, because i find the lyrics offensive.

but i can't resist the music.

TheFrogSpawn said:

Me too. Musically it's absolutely brilliant. Especially when you consider how grand an opportunity was wasted with a title like Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic. With a title like that, that album should have been rockin.....

TheFrogSpawn said:

ditto!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Biblically Incorrect!!! I don't like it!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

This was the story of Adam and Eve??? Hmmm, well around this same time Mayte got a house in Spain and an annulment (something about the spelling of that word doesn't look right...) and Prince hooked up with Mani. It's only an observation, folks.

4 me is the darth vader voice through out the cd

I like some of the tracks on there. I have no clue what "family name" is about? Someone help me out on that? I can get most of it, but "family name" seems to be about jews (with the sirnames?) but surely Prince ain't making a anti-semetic thing on that song? I think I've got confused?

"last december" is one of those epic songs that is the reason why Prince is still a genius musically.

thesexofit said:

The entire album is the reason why Prince is still a genius musically. I've said this before, and it bears repeating: TRC is Prince's most cohesive and brilliant album of the last 17 years.

TheBigBang said:

I dont have time for it. Iam like that with music. I trully only dig disposable music. Plus, it's weird.

thesexofit said:

I think the biggest misconception about "Family Name" is that it's anti-semitic. It isn't.

The gist of the song is that Black people don't have their true family name. When Africans were brought to America to be slaves, they were stripped of their family names and given "slave" names (If you watched Roots, Kunta Kinte became Toby...you get the idea). The chorus of the song is a simple dialogue between a probably Jewish person and a Black person and it goes like this.

Mr. Rosenbloom: Hey, young black man, why are you so angry?

Young Black Man: Did you ask me why I'm angry?

Mr, Rosenbloom: Yes.

Young Black Man: I'm tired of inequality.

Mr. Rosenbloom: We've all dealt with inequality. Look at what happened to the Jews. Hello? Auschwitz, concentration camps, yadda yadda...

Young Black Man: What's your family name?

Mr. Rosenbloom: Rosenbloom. What's yours?

Young Black Man: O'Neal.

Mr. Rosenbloom: Say what?

Young Black Man: You heard me. You might say "What you mad about?" But you still got your family name. Please to meet you Mr. Rosenbloom, I'll be Shaquille O'Neal just the same.

Mr. Rosenbloom: Shouldn't your name be Simbuko or Mowgli or Riki-Tiki-Tavi or something?

Young Black Man: That's what I'm sayin'!


The song isn't Anti-Semetic at all. Am I spelling "Semetic" right, because I have a feeling I'm not.
[Edited 5/20/05 21:01pm]

I must be one of the happiest orger, because my english is not that goog, so I don't really get the lyrics. I undestand some parts bot not that much. And I love the music sooooo much

I also cannot believe that Prince intended to write an anti-semitic song.
But if the point of the comparison between Jews and Black in "Family name" is that Jews at least didn't have to change their names, I'm sorry but it does not make much sense because many Jews actually changed their name and often several time as they flew from country to country in order to avoid persecution. Have you ever wonder why most Jews living in Germany have German-sounding name, whereas those living in France have French-sounding name etc...

Anyway, I still love this song, makes me feel like Sly Stone has finally joined the Revolution!

julien said:

yes they change their own names. noone came up to them and told them hey boy now your name is jim brown, and atleast they could change their names and blend in. there is no way to get around being black.

TheBigBang said:

I disagree.

I think the song would be a lot less open to charges of being anti-semitic, if it didn't linger on Jewish surnames.

You don't choose "Rosenbloom", "Pearlman" and then make a 'joke' in very bad taste with 'Goldstruck' unless you're trying to make a point. Why choose those names, if you're not having a dig at Jews?

Here we go again! I didn't want to compare. I was just saying that taking Jews as an example for Family names is inaccurate and, to say the least, strange. I think it's dangerous to rank people's suffering and Prince should have known better: you always end up hurting someone! Jews and Blacks have experienced very different kind of oppression, and you can always find a point of view according to which one's fate has been worse. But in the end, all you do is making something horrendous more acceptable. ( e.g. "atleast they could change their names and blend in."...Great! and abandon a three-millennium old culture that links us to the origin of monotheism!).

julien said:

okay and what do you think happened to africans that came to america and to other countries. I am african american and we don't know a damn thing about our oringal people. just because you blend in to the outside world doesn't mean that in the privacy of your home you can't pass down you traditions that you know. people our african decent have had all of that taken from us.

julien said:

Monotheism didn't begin with the Jews you know. However, Prince did misstep because those were obvious rips at Jews. I don't believe he randomly chose those names. However, there is something to be said about these names in particular being associated with good things (pearls, roses, and gold) as opposed to negative names like Lynch and unappealing names like Clay. So there are potentially other meanings behind his use of them.

Again, I don't play down the fact that Afro-Americans have been cutoof from their roots. I was borned and raised in Western Africa, so I do appreciate the richness of African culture and completely agree that nobody should ever be separated from its origin. Still, I find it hard to conceive how "in the privacy of your home you can pass down you traditions." ...what about the celebrations, what about the synagogues, what about the rabbi...you can probably preserve something for a while, but after a few generations not much will last.

Very interesting. As far as I know there is some discussion about its birth under the reign of Akhenaten, but I doubt that you will find anyone perpetuating the cult of Aten today!

i dont like this album at all

and as for muse

TheBigBang said:

I don't see Family Name as anti-Semitic at all., though I do find it interesting that he used Jewish names. But I think what a lot of people -including P. when he worte this song -forget is that black people aren't the only group to have their names taken from them.

Take my name for example: Erin Victoria Newman-Renwick. Last time I checked, Irish, Latin, German, and Scottish aren't exactly part of the traditional Cree Native lexicon.

When Native groups were being assimilated into white society, they were given (or in rare cases, they were allowed to choose) new, Euro-centric names. My Native grandfather had a French name, Trotier.
[Edited 5/21/05 17:14pm]

Family Name

Welcome. U have just accessed the Akashic Records Genetic Information
Division. This program is required 4 those wishing 2 obtain a marriage
blessing from The Kingdom. When u wish 2 begin this program, place ur right
hand on the scanner and tightly clench up ur buttcheeks as u might feel a
slight electrical shock. Please select the race history u desire. U have
selected African-American. This is your history:

First of all, the term "black and white" is a fallacy. It simply is another
way of saying "this or that". Let's examine the term "this or that" in its
ultimate form which is: "this" means the truth or "that which is resistant 2
it. When a minority realizes its similarities on a higher level- not just
"black"- but PEOPLE OF COLOR, and higher still "INDIGENOUS", and even higher
still, "FROM THE TRIBE OF.", and yet higher- the "RAINBOW CHILDREN". When
this understanding comes, the so-called minority becomes a majority in the
wink of an eye. This action will cause a Reaction or Resistance. The source
of this Resistance must b banished as it is in direct conflict with the
initial action. It cannot be assimilated, 4 its very nature is resistance.
In other words, ONE CANNOT SERVE 2 MASTERS. U r either "this" or "that"
which is not "this".

End of part one. 2 continue, select the program Family Name and type in the
current government name u wish history on.

(London, England sometime in the early 1600s)

"We have the God-given right 2 run out of our colonies anyone who does not
bow down 2 our law. Hear, hear?"

"Come on, come on keep it moving here. What's your name boy?"
"Abu Cah"
"Well it ain't now; it's Tom Lynch."

Mirror, mirror what u see?Have I still got those dark clouds over me?
Or am I really feeling what I feel?The last days of the Devil's Deal
Mirror, what u see?

Devil, devil what u know?/U been here since 1914, but now u got 2 go
U been hidin' behind corporate eyes
U wanna war, but u can't fight/Devil, u got 2 go

U might say, "what u mad about?"/But u still got ur Family Name
Pleased 2 meet u, Mr. Rosenbloom/I'll b John Blackwell just the same
What's ur Family Name?

Teacher, teacher what u say?/Did we really come over in a boat?
Did it really go down that way?/Or did I arrive b4 and ruin Thanksgiving Day?
Teacher, what u say?

Preacher, preacher is it true?/That Jesus wants me 2 give my money 2 the likes of u?
Ride around in ur Lexus Coupe/Drive us 2 the cleaners in a pinstripe suit
Preacher, that ain't truth!

U might say, "what u mad about?/But u still got ur Family Name
Pleased 2 meet u, Mr. Pearlman/U can call me Clay. can I play?

People, people what's ur name?/Maybe we should start all over
Let everybody get in the game/Put up a one-gloved fist
Make a sound, Violet Brown

U might say "what u mad about?"/But u still got ur Family name
Pleased 2 meet u Mr. Goldstruck.

We found this tape in the Akashic records. This is Thomas Jefferson:

"My fellow Americans, if there is a just God, we're gonna pay 4 this!"

"Black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics will b able 2 join hands in the words of the old Negro spiritual: "free at last, free at last, thank God almighty we are free at last!"
[Edited 5/22/05 14:14pm]

Yeah, the album sucks on all levels actually.

EvilWhiteMale said:

You are wrong.

julien said:

traditions & Beliefs get passed down, yet r often distorted from their origins~TRC seems 2 contain many of Prince's own distortions & interpretations of his own "truth"; perhaps what many perceive is his imbalance N this regard....personally, the lyrics & music have Been conflicting message 4 quite some time...on TRC, i might have had more appreciation 4 the music if it was not so overShadowed by that most disturbing 'voice' which narrates throughout....may Friends didn't have the patience 2 muddle through the lyrical content & that 'Lucifer'sounding voice 2 give it a chance @ all...truly B could rant over several of the cuts yet what is done is done....

as 4 the reign of Akhenaten, surely the very astute know that Prince did study & refer 2 this ancient Egpytian Being the purveyer of monothesim 2 his people, familiar with the 'Song to Aton'....

...its always interesting when people speak of the Gensis story~it speaks of Adam falling N2 a deep sleep...no where throughout the story does it ever speak of him waking up....guess that's 4 THE FUTURE

TheBigBang said:

Am not.

It's based on a biblical allegory.

God's people were first Israel, and the Bible compares her to an unfaithful bride, because the people went off to worship idols. God's new bride, the new Jerusalem (composed of all tribes, peoples and tongues) is faithful.

The true whore is the one called Babylon the Great, who claims to worship God but in fact spends her life sucking up to political and commercial powers...

Voila, for what it's worth.

to whomever said that jews weren't given their names, they chose their own:

you (and prince) are wrong, i'm afraid. a lot of jews coming to america were given new names by the port authorities. and a lot of jewish surnames in the New World are actually insults, despite the fact that they sound appealing. 'goldwater', for example, was meant to imply 'urine', and let me tell you - no one would choose that as a surname for him- or herself!

i find prince's harking on about jewish surnames in 'family name' to be dangerous and ill-informed. it feeds into the distorted idea sometimes espoused by certain religious groups that there is a 'jewish conspiracy' running the world with pockets lined with gold... oh, it's tiresome and screwed-up stuff, i just can't believe prince bought into it for TRC. but despite the quote which ends the song (talking about a brotherhood of man and including the jews), i believe this is exactly what he's done. he's never been more ignorant or boringly wrong than on that song, imo. seems to me that prince was working overtime to absorb an entire body of religious thought and scripture at this particular moment in his career, and as he didn't have the time to reflect on or think about all this stuff, he just threw it in wholesale. never has prince sounded so much NOT his own man. give me 'lovesexy' anyday for a truly personal, inclusive and uplifting spirituality born of imagination and conviction. forget TRC, it's a mess.