Article from Palm Beach Post:
"Diamonds and Pearls, Prince: Right now, it's good to be Prince. But I'd like to go back to 1991, when his Royal Badness released this tepid, lazily written ditty of lurve. Can you explain why the genius who penned the brilliant line "I guess I should have known from the way you parked your car sideways that it wouldn't last" was reduced to pap like "If I gave you diamonds and pearls, would you be a happy boy or a girl"? Ugh! It makes me cranky!"

http://www.palmbeachpost...._0704.html

I am in complete agreement. I was just talking to someone about what a crappy song it is this past weekend.

funny, a few years back everyone was yelling that prince should hire outside producers, should reconnect with the mainstream-pop-audience, should be more mtv-accessible...yet when he tries it in 1991, and succeeded you didn't like it. curious.

greetz
Kev1n
[This message was edited Wed Jul 7 8:17:57 2004 by kev1n]
[This message was edited Wed Jul 7 8:18:10 2004 by kev1n]

i said on a thread couple days ago that in my view this is the weakest song on the album (and i'd even include jughead on that).

yeah, that's right.

i said i'd include JUGHEAD.

This song's corny as hell but I still really like it.

PurpleKnight said:

Somewhat sappy lyrics, but a great melody.

Some of these I really agree with ("You Are Not Alone," not Michael's finest moment to be sure), but others? "Ego Tripping Out"? Are they serious?

Ego Tripping Out, Marvin Gaye: The anti-Let's Get It On. On this disco-era track, the troubled soulman brags about being the "greatest in the bed" in a drawn-out, seven-minute schizophrenic duet with his spiritual side. At least the title is truthful.

Completely misses the point of this great song.

The song is beautiful.

soory troops i disagree , i love this song and album , but hey who listens to me ? i'm the guy who loves emancipation !!!

i especially love the real short live version "singalong with the fans"' on.... one nite alone live ! , awsome !

crikey i used the L word 3 times last post , i'm gettin old or soppy or something !

I like the song. But half the songs on the album are crap.

They're havin' a laugh, aren't they?!! What about Ronnie Talk To Russia, Arms of Orion or 3 Chains Of Gold? Diamonds and Pearls is great! As usual, people like to talk complete turd about the misunderstood purple dwarf!

yeah, there are too problems with this song

1. it is TOO beautiful

2. it is TOO good

c'mon, prince. tone it down. make it crappier so we can like it more.

Speaking of Diamonds and Pearls: has anyone noticed how the verse melody from "Romance 1600" sounds like a seeded up "Diamonds and Pearls" melody?

Take a listen to both and tell me what ya'll think.

WTF!!!
Diamonds and Pearls is a great song!
Simple loving lyrics, powerful melody, Prince's deep sultry voice matched
with Rosie's intense vocals
I love this song
Its my favorite. Well I guess diff strokes diff folks?

HiinEnkelte said:

c'mon, hiin. the only reason why u tolerate this song is cuz shannon likes it. c'mon admit it. if there's 1 thing the lord loves...it's the Truth.

Something in the Way, Nirvana: There's nothing stellar about Kurt Cobain's lyrics, unless, of course, you're a fan of having the title of the song drilled into your head over and over again. Or unless you're fond of Kurt's musings about eating fish and living under a tarp.

Something In The Way is a great song, for fuck's sake.




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[This message was edited Wed Jul 7 10:17:40 2004 by EvilWhiteMale]

It's a beautiful song. It's not lowdown and dirty like some of us like it but really pretty.


No I don't crank it up myself but it's another piece of his versatitlity.

I remember reading a review of ONA Live that listed the brief performance of "Diamond and Pearls" as the highlight of the box set.

You know, it's just that I can't stand Rosie Gaines' voice!!!
When I hear it, the song (whatever song) is over!
Gimme Miss Boyer ANYtime.

EvilWhiteMale said:

Agreed! The reviewer obviously didn't get it, since the whole point seems to fly over his head!

Man, so many of those songs are great! "Angie"? A fucking classic!! "Lets Get It On"? You gotta be fucking kidding me! What kinda crack was this idiot smoking? Hell, for that matter D&P is nowhere near Prince's worst song. I'd take it anyday over any of the crap on NPS.

Personally, I love the song. Prince and Rosie sound great together and the lyrics are very beautiful

I personally love this song, but never understood the chorus's line either. "Would you be a happy boy or a girl?" WTF? Doesn't this song apply to whomever Prince was talking to?

2freaky4church1 said:

right! and what about the line " Am I the weaker man because I understand that love must be the master plan? I don't care what anyone says, Diamonds and Pearls is a gem!

okaypimpn said:

i think in a way this song applies not only to a lover but also a friend and even his fans. Think about it no matter what Prince gives he can never please everyone and then listen to that line again If I gave you Diamonds and Pearls. Also, remember the children in the video?

adorable2 said:

I love this song for it's simplicity. This song truly solidified Prince's successful run in 1991. And for all those who did not think it was brilliant... it went to #3 and helped the LP sell 7mill, got Prince a est. $100mil offer, etc. The song was POP at it's POPPIEST I think that is what he was aiming for

kev1n said:

1. screw MTV;
2. he's reconnected and then some this year, this time on his own terms and with lots more class and integrity;
3. if i ever want prince to work with an outside producer, it would be so someone could pull more experimentation and color outta the little dude. i don't think he needs it right now, though i think there was a time not too long ago when he was hurtin' for some collaboration.

that said, i really think D&P is a corny, overblown, garish song - all i can think of is tommy barbarella doing hairflips behind a ballet troupe - but something about it keeps me from full-on hating it. i mean, this is classic frilly purple-paisley twirley-fartsy high-heeled mascara-wearin' PRANCE at his perfumed and powdered finest. at least he's giving 100%, even if i think it's 100% TACKY!

Second stupid list I've read today...


(why do I bother reading these damn lists? )

it is a pretty stupid list, isn't it? anyone who thinks "something in the way" is a notably sucky song just...i dunno...lacks a soul or a heart or sumfin'.

JediMaster said:

Hey i'm with ya on that 1! If u think about it the best ballads are a little sappy bcuz think about the way people act that r in love. SAPPY!