ABSTRACT
When Prince made this declaration to USA Today in 2008, in reply to questions about his commitment to the Jehovah’s Witness faith, the public response was perhaps unexpected. Instead of prompting concerns that the 50-year-old star was losing his legendary sex appeal, it heralded fervent support that he was now, actually, even sexier than ever. To his fans, it has never been in doubt that sex is at the heart of Prince’s oeuvre, even if he says he has given up practising what he preaches. Prince’s melding of sexuality with spirituality has been at the forefront of his work since the early 1980s when he felt sufficiently accepted and established to push the boundaries. His alignment of sexual expression with access to higher powers has situated him as a uniquely provocative and confrontational artist. So extreme has this been that Prince’s fusion of sexiness and godliness was denounced as blasphemous by the notorious Parents Resource Music Center censorship group in the Us. However, his missionary zeal has not dampened the affection and support of his non-believer fans, who enthusiastically sing along to his live renditions of ‘The Cross’ or ‘The Ladder’.
