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Reply #30 posted 05/09/15 2:03am

revolution75

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I gotta hear this!!!
minor keys and drugs don't make a rollerskate jam
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Reply #31 posted 05/09/15 4:17am

Revolution81

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Romeoblu said:

This and Crystal City Cry ( Ingrid Chavez) are pretty much the same song, same basic tracks.

I knew it sounded familiar, but couldnt place where i'd heard it. Thanks!

What's the use in half a story, half a dream
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Reply #32 posted 05/09/15 5:13am

starbuck

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Quite the elusive song... Very interested in hearing it.

How long is the song??

"Time is a train, makes the future the past"
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Reply #33 posted 05/09/15 5:26am

jjam

Very elusive, like the other "leaks"

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Reply #34 posted 05/09/15 5:27am

SchlomoThaHomo

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SoulAlive said:

I haven't heard it yet.To those of you who have....do you think it would have fit perfectly on Madonna's Like A Prayer album? Or did she make the right decision by not including it on her album?

No way. It's too much for her. And too weird. She made the right choice.

"That's when stars collide. When there's space for what u want, and ur heart is open wide."
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Reply #35 posted 05/09/15 5:29am

paulludvig

SchlomoThaHomo said:

SoulAlive said:

I haven't heard it yet.To those of you who have....do you think it would have fit perfectly on Madonna's Like A Prayer album? Or did she make the right decision by not including it on her album?

No way. It's too much for her. And too weird. She made the right choice.

Weird in a good way?

The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #36 posted 05/09/15 5:41am

EddieC

biggrin

biggrin

biggrin

[Edited 5/9/15 5:53am]

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Reply #37 posted 05/09/15 5:53am

SchlomoThaHomo

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paulludvig said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

No way. It's too much for her. And too weird. She made the right choice.

Weird in a good way?

If you're into weird, sure. I appreciate a song that keeps you guessing where it's going. But I can see some people not liking it because of the sing-songy cheesiness of the melody.

"That's when stars collide. When there's space for what u want, and ur heart is open wide."
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Reply #38 posted 05/09/15 6:00am

EddieC

That ecstasy trip really messed him up, didn't it? That is what this is about, right?--yes, there's some talk of suicide, but I think that's as a potential result of things going badly.

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Reply #39 posted 05/09/15 6:02am

paulludvig

Interesting song. The combination of sing-a-long melody, unorthodox instrumentation and enigmatic lyrics really works.

The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #40 posted 05/09/15 6:37am

love2thenines2
003

Don't put my hands on this one yet...humm

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Reply #41 posted 05/09/15 7:34am

love2thenines2
003

love2thenines2003 said:

Don't put my hands on this one yet...humm

Strange trax ...Unorthodox tune from Prince but i like it.....so different from what Prince does 2day like a predictable & POOR trax like BALTIMORE

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Reply #42 posted 05/09/15 8:34am

joyinrepetitio
n

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Haven't found it yet but it sounds like this could be like "Others Here With Us"! dying to hear this one.

__________________________________________________
2 words falling between the drops and the moans of his condition
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Reply #43 posted 05/09/15 9:00am

joyinrepetitio
n

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Finally heard it. Very Batman sounding and yes a little strange. I like how the ending gets all funky!

__________________________________________________
2 words falling between the drops and the moans of his condition
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Reply #44 posted 05/09/15 9:26am

2freaky4church
1

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Hasn't leaked where I drink from yet. lol. I hate not knowing shit. lol. You fucks. kisses

All you others say Hell Yea!! woot!
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Reply #45 posted 05/09/15 9:28am

2freaky4church
1

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What fucked up lyrics. He just does not do that no mo. His brain was jacked--by...

All you others say Hell Yea!! woot!
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Reply #46 posted 05/09/15 11:03am

JudasSmile

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Quirky and interesting - I like it.

U been bamboozled, hoodwinked, took.
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Reply #47 posted 05/09/15 11:21am

BartVanHemelen

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It's a bit "trying too hard", IMHO. More a bunch of ideas thrown together than an actual song. Almost like he tried to show Madonna "look how weird I am".

.

Also got a bit of a "must note this down and perhaps flesh some of this out later" vide from it.

© Bart Van Hemelen
This posting is provided AS IS with no warranties, and confers no rights.
It is not authorized by Prince or the NPG Music Club. You assume all risk for
your use. All rights reserved.
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Reply #48 posted 05/09/15 11:33am

Romeoblu

BartVanHemelen said:

It's a bit "trying too hard", IMHO. More a bunch of ideas thrown together than an actual song. Almost like he tried to show Madonna "look how weird I am".


.


Also got a bit of a "must note this down and perhaps flesh some of this out later" vide from it.



Well he didn't flesh it out but reused it for Crystal City Cry.
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Reply #49 posted 05/09/15 11:40am

OnlyNDaUsa

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SchlomoThaHomo said:

Obsessed with the lyrics.


Is it far

This place that we're going 2?

Is it someplace that I

Want 2 go?

Do we get there alone

Or by alien means?

When I go

Will I ever return?

What makes a girl of 17

Look 4 comfort within suicide?

Does she get there alone

Or by alien means?

When she's dead

How will she ever know?

1100 flying children

Rave until they drop.

1100 more will 2

Until the flying stops.

Until alternative ways of action.

Equal airborne satisfaction.

13 year old lookouts

Layin 4 the cops.

Get ur hands off me, Sammy!

Alien...

Is there really joy in this place

That we're going 2?

Everlasting joy.

Does it last 4 3 hours or more?

Do we get there alone

Or by alien means?

Which one will U live 4?

Alien...

I'll try it.

Don't wanna go out by alien means. No.

Explore the interplanetary field inside ur mind.

But don't U go out, don't U go out

By alien means.

Serve it up, Frances.

[Edited 5/8/15 21:57pm]

see if the 2 BOLD changes are correct or not...

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #50 posted 05/09/15 12:23pm

SchlomoThaHomo

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OnlyNDaUsa said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Obsessed with the lyrics.


Is it far

This place that we're going 2?

Is it someplace that I

Want 2 go?

Do we get there alone

Or by alien means?

When I go

Will I ever return?

What makes a girl of 17

Look 4 comfort within suicide?

Does she get there alone

Or by alien means?

When she's dead

How will she ever know?

1100 flying children

Rave until they drop.

1100 more will 2

Until the flying stops.

Until alternative ways of action.

Equal airborne satisfaction.

13 year old lookouts

Layin 4 the cops.

Get ur hands off me, Sammy!

Alien...

Is there really joy in this place

That we're going 2?

Everlasting joy.

Does it last 4 3 hours or more?

Do we get there alone

Or by alien means?

Which one will U live 4?

Alien...

I'll try it.

Don't wanna go out by alien means. No.

Explore the interplanetary field inside ur mind.

But don't U go out, don't U go out

By alien means.

Serve it up, Frances.

[Edited 5/8/15 21:57pm]

see if the 2 BOLD changes are correct or not...

Yep, absolutely correct on both changes. Thanks!

"That's when stars collide. When there's space for what u want, and ur heart is open wide."
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Reply #51 posted 05/09/15 12:31pm

ThomasBjj

I like the lyrics. Looking forward to this one, it hasn't hit my neck of the woods yet. Aint seen the new Can I Play With U? lying around on the streets yet either.

Hope this river keeps on flowing. I'm getting old waiting for Prince to finally let this stuff out.

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Reply #52 posted 05/09/15 1:04pm

KingSausage

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Damn, I need to hear this. I've always been fascinated by the song title. I've wondered many times what it might sound like.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #53 posted 05/09/15 1:16pm

Revolution81

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SchlomoThaHomo said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

see if the 2 BOLD changes are correct or not...

Yep, absolutely correct on both changes. Thanks!

Isnt the last line "Serve it up Prince"? Like, how Madonna would have been supposed to sing it?

What's the use in half a story, half a dream
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Reply #54 posted 05/09/15 1:21pm

purplethunder3
121

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Boy, this needs Inspector Clouseau to track it down... lol

"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #55 posted 05/09/15 1:22pm

sulls

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Revolution81 said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Yep, absolutely correct on both changes. Thanks!

Isnt the last line "Serve it up Prince"? Like, how Madonna would have been supposed to sing it?

yep

"I like to watch."
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Reply #56 posted 05/09/15 1:27pm

SchlomoThaHomo

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Revolution81 said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Yep, absolutely correct on both changes. Thanks!

Isnt the last line "Serve it up Prince"? Like, how Madonna would have been supposed to sing it?

duh

"That's when stars collide. When there's space for what u want, and ur heart is open wide."
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Reply #57 posted 05/09/15 3:13pm

xpertluva

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I wonder how many of you are looking at this one through rose colored 80's glasses. It's just okay in my opinion.

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Reply #58 posted 05/09/15 5:22pm

paisleypark4

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xpertluva said:

I wonder how many of you are looking at this one through rose colored 80's glasses. It's just okay in my opinion.

They are because, compared to Baltimore out now..yeah not sure why this is getting rave reviews. This is alright, its slow and kinda cheesy then turns into his 90's chant stuff he started doing around that time.

Defenitley not Like A Prayer material. It started off strong but he kinda took it off course, and sounds unfinished. More so Ingrid Chavez like. I can defenitley see why it was turned down and unreleased but nice to hear it anyway love Always liked the title.

Straight Jacket Funk Affair
Album plays and love for vinyl records.
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Reply #59 posted 05/09/15 9:04pm

imprimis

paisleypark4 said:

xpertluva said:

I wonder how many of you are looking at this one through rose colored 80's glasses. It's just okay in my opinion.

They are because, compared to Baltimore out now..yeah not sure why this is getting rave reviews. This is alright, its slow and kinda cheesy then turns into his 90's chant stuff he started doing around that time.

Defenitley not Like A Prayer material. It started off strong but he kinda took it off course, and sounds unfinished. More so Ingrid Chavez like. I can defenitley see why it was turned down and unreleased but nice to hear it anyway love Always liked the title.

.

.

This appears to be a jumble, or sketch, of musical and lyrical ideas, some of them individually strong (but brief and never completely realized), superimposed onto the structure and some of the backing tracks of an even earlier (possibly ~late 1987) outtake. The transition to a 'funk workout' towards the end is not unlike parts of 'It's a Wonderful Day' (or its instrumental excerpt in UTCM).

.

The song concludes with an ever-so-important late-1980s 'public service announcement'-worthy message (here, an admonition against teenage suicide, and, perhaps, the circumstances behind adolescent drug abuse). Is this Prince's 'Close My Eyes Forever'?

.

Did he think this track could serve Madonna as a Lovesexified positive, constructive, redemptive, uncritical campaign for youth, providing edge without risking controversy like the previous album's 'Papa Don't Preach'?

.

Alhough one would expect a far more conventional pop track of a collaboration between two of the largest recording artists in the world, it seems well intended if misguided.

.

While this is clearly a demo, I imagine P would have considered this to be close to being a finished track. What it is lacking cannot be made up by production alone, which is why the track is branded as bizarre and doesn't work in the end.

.

I believe Prince revamped this specifically for Madonna, rather than simply offering her an existing, pre-configured outtake from the Vault.

.

He may even be loosely attempting to stay within the limits of her vocal range and styling on the 'sing-songy' (guide?) vocals.

.

It appears to be envisioned as a duet, with some sections as individual solos, some parts together-- back and forth.

.

I believe [0:01 - 0:43] are meant to be sung by Madonna alone, [0:50 - 1:30] Madonna and Prince, breakdown at [1:38 - 2:19] Prince alone, etc., the 'rap' delivered at the end Prince with some interplay with Madonna ('Serve It Up, Prince').

.

The initial 43 seconds are to me the most interesting part. Treading in similar territory to 'Others Here With Us', enigmatic and macabre, even vaguely sinister.

.

The opening 43 seconds have been arranged to, or at least happen to mirror, the organ-backed (or in this case moody strings in their place) 'confessional', extended-narrative introduction approach of the 'Like a Prayer' (the song). [I do not mean to suggest this song is at the production standard of that massively successful track]

.

He may have already heard demo versions of, or made his studio contributions to, the 'Like A Prayer' tracks by the time he resolved to put this one together.

.

'By Alien Means' actually is not entirely far removed in spirit from the 'Oh, Father', 'Act of Contrition', 'Supernatural' and 'Promise to Try'-artsy and introspective pretentious elements of the 'Like a Prayer' album and era, but filtered through the weirdness of Prince's Lovesexy/Rave/Batman-era sensibilities.

.

I wouldn't fully rule out the [remote] possibility that Madonna recorded some vocal tracks for this song, even though it had virtually no chance of making the album.

.

The existence of 'By Alien Means' seems to have been very well documented in the Madonna community, from at least the early 1990s, before perhaps even most Prince elite collectors and traders were aware, for a track it is said she simply really didn't like and nixed. Is the suggestion that the song was simply so bad (or weird) that its name was remembered even years later by her behind-the-scenes people? It is not at all incompatible with Madonna's own penchant for pretention and quizzicalness during this phase of her career.

.

She did, after all, record the [not very much better from a standpoint of commercial or critical achievement] 'Love Song'.

.

A song like this wouldn't be an entirely unwelcome addition to the 'Graffiti Bridge' film or soundtrack, after failing to beat the appreciable odds against it as a Madonna-Prince effort on 'Like a Prayer'.

.

.

[Edited 5/9/15 23:40pm]

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Forums > Prince: Music and More > "By Alien Means" (1988) has leaked