This might have been brought up before but which of these 2 melodically similar songs do you prefer and why? For me, it's the question of u by a landslide as the guitar solo is moving.

I far prefer "The Question Of U". It's genuinely beautiful and who wouldn't love the guitar solo (or, rather, the verse played on guitar). I also like the keyboard parts after the solo and even that weird, sloppy hand clap that sounds like it's just the result of bad editing.

I feel that "Under The Cherry Moon" is one of the weakest tracks of his 1980s period, although it does serve its function on Parade (as one type of a pastiche or a mood piece). I almost wish he had included an instrumental version of the song on the record itself. I like the live "Spanish Harem" rendition of it.

Both are pretty kitschy songs if you want to put it that way.

UTCM

TQOU seems self aware if a song can be that and if ya feel what I mean

Nice comparison, both songs definately sound influenced by one another. Under The Cherry Moon came first, so i'll give it props for that, but I prefer Question of U, it's longer, has one of Prince's best guitar solo's, and has some pretty nice harpsichord playing. Under The Cherry Moon is real nice aswell, but it's not as thought out and just too damn short!

[Edited 11/12/12 15:31pm]

Both.

Why choose between either? They're both released songs I'm sure we all own here.

Tittypants said:

Both.

Why choose between either? They're both released songs I'm sure we all own here.

Because someday. sooner or later. the rain will come down and you WILL have to choose.

One is sweet and warm, and the other is farken smokin!!

The latter gets my vote.

novabrkr said:

I far prefer "The Question Of U". It's genuinely beautiful and who wouldn't love the guitar solo (or, rather, the verse played on guitar). I also like the keyboard parts after the solo and even that weird, sloppy hand clap that sounds like it's just the result of bad editing.

Are you talking about that one specific hand-clap on the second 16th note? At about 2:30? If yes, well, that's a perfectly executed and "normal" rhythmic pattern.

rdhull said:

Tittypants said:

Both.

Why choose between either? They're both released songs I'm sure we all own here.

Because someday. sooner or later. the rain will come down and you WILL have to choose.

Dave1992 said:

novabrkr said:

I far prefer "The Question Of U". It's genuinely beautiful and who wouldn't love the guitar solo (or, rather, the verse played on guitar). I also like the keyboard parts after the solo and even that weird, sloppy hand clap that sounds like it's just the result of bad editing.

Are you talking about that one specific hand-clap on the second 16th note? At about 2:30? If yes, well, that's a perfectly executed and "normal" rhythmic pattern.

The claps at around 2:30, yes. It just provides a sentiment of discontinuity.

I don't know if it's intentional or not, but I suppose Prince was satisfied enough about the way it sounded. However, I really like that type of things on the older Prince records. "Partyman" has a similar moment on it as well.

novabrkr said:

Dave1992 said:

Are you talking about that one specific hand-clap on the second 16th note? At about 2:30? If yes, well, that's a perfectly executed and "normal" rhythmic pattern.

The claps at around 2:30, yes. It just provides a sentiment of discontinuity.

I don't know if it's intentional or not, but I suppose Prince was satisfied enough about the way it sounded. However, I really like that type of things on the older Prince records. "Partyman" has a similar moment on it as well.

I don't have any inside knowledge or quotes to back it up, but from my personal musical knowledge and experience I can say that I am very, very sure this was completely intentional and not one of those famous "I actually like it better this way"-fuck-ups (as in FIML, for instance).

It does provide a sentiment of discontinuity, but, taken out of context, this is a very random rhythmic pattern which is often used.

And, yeah, things like that are typical of 80s Prince. They can be found here and there on newer records, but most of the time they are buried so deep in the mix and made so "slick sounding", that much of the original "quirky appeal" gets lost in translation, so to speak...

The Q of U, yeah because of the guitar & claps. But both songs remind me of each other & Alicia Keys' Fallen.

SuperSoulFighter said:

I always found the studio version of The Question of U a little too much kitsch. Live, it was a different story. It was my first ever Prince concert, Rotterdam 1990 and the very first concert of the Nude Tour, so no one had heared the song before, but as soon as that boom...boomboom-beat started, the whole stadium flashed their lighters on the beat. Such a wonderful sight, I can still picture it. Highlight of the show, thanx to the Dutch audience! That's why I love this song. But Under the Cherry Moon is also nice.

i was at that gig too and i totally agree. went to many gigs in the 90s and was thoroughly entertained but that was the last time prince truly made my jaw drop. i remember the steam rising off the torrential rainfall as he performed it, the bass drum making the field vibrate, his vocals brought tears to my eyes (and i'm a hard bastard me).

when i heard it on graffiti wank i was a bit disappointed. it lacked the volume and power of the live version. still a great tune though.

but i'm gonna plump for UTCM, it's so reflective and downbeat. love it!

Dave1992 said:

novabrkr said:

I far prefer "The Question Of U". It's genuinely beautiful and who wouldn't love the guitar solo (or, rather, the verse played on guitar). I also like the keyboard parts after the solo and even that weird, sloppy hand clap that sounds like it's just the result of bad editing.

Are you talking about that one specific hand-clap on the second 16th note? At about 2:30? If yes, well, that's a perfectly executed and "normal" rhythmic pattern.

I know... I was like what???