I guess the name of this post is misleading because I don't need to 're'appreciate Tamborine from ATWIAD, as I already LOVE it and always have. What I don't get is why so many people deride it as a throwaway track that shouldve been discarded. Some even say it's his worst.

I couldn't disagree more.

The syncopated beat, the bonkers, psychedelic vocals and the whole paranoid and freaked out feel of it I just love. And how the whole track is a metaphor for masturbation is just pure Prince. LOVE IT.

Anyone else think this song hasn't gotten the credit it deserves??

DesperatelySeekingSusan said:

I guess the name of this post is misleading because I don't need to 're'appreciate Tamborine from ATWIAD, as I already LOVE it and always have. What I don't get is why so many people deride it as a throwaway track that shouldve been discarded. Some even say it's his worst.

I couldn't disagree more.

The syncopated beat, the bonkers, psychedelic vocals and the whole paranoid and freaked out feel of it I just love. And how the whole track is a metaphor for masturbation is just pure Prince. LOVE IT.

Anyone else think this song hasn't gotten the credit it deserves??

tamborine is one of my favorite. Not in ATWIAD, in ALL prince's cds

I'll be honest, I was pretty dismissive of it when I first started listening to the album. It took a while before it clicked with me. I then went through a period of playing it every day: the mad beat, the funky bass, the wacky vocals and the whistles. I love it when he loses it at the end while his backing vocals are either sympathising with or mocking himself.

Long days, lonely nights
2 bad we're not allowed 2 scream (yeah, yeah, too bad)
Guess that I'll stay at home
All alone and play my tamborine (aww)

airth said:

I'll be honest, I was pretty dismissive of it when I first started listening to the album. It took a while before it clicked with me. I then went through a period of playing it every day: the mad beat, the funky bass, the wacky vocals and the whistles. I love it when he loses it at the end while his backing vocals are either sympathising with or mocking himself.

Long days, lonely nights
2 bad we're not allowed 2 scream (yeah, yeah, too bad)
Guess that I'll stay at home
All alone and play my tamborine (aww)

Yes, yes exactly!! This is Prince at his most experimental, challenging his audience. Production-wise, I hear similarities to Irrisitable Bitch, which I also love.

Thanks for the responses people. Keep 'em coming!

This song is a throwaway.He should have put the excellent "She's Always In My Hair" on the album instead.

SoulAlive said:

SoulAlive said:

This song is a throwaway.He should have put the excellent "She's Always In My Hair" on the album instead.

You need to clean your ears my Brother. This is one Prince funkiest tunes EVER!!!! The drums, the vocals, the bass, all on point.

airth said:

I loved it then and I love it now.

It was often singled out for criticism when the album came out. but I think it was because it was seen as a sexploitation track in a period where they were making a big deal about the fact he was "maturing". RS or some other magazine mentionned the sound -- they did that for She's Always in My Hair too.

In 2000, I met someone completely random and he asked me what I was listening to. Probably some outtake but anyway, after learning I was listening to Prince he immediately mentionned Tamborine -- that was the one song that proved his genius according to him.

I disagree but this goes to show...

Tamborine was one of the only 2 tracks I enjoyed on ATWIAD — even after 20+ listening sessions (Temptation being the other), until I learned to appreciate the groove of that whole album.

I just imagine Prince on drums on tracks like Tamborine, Dance On, Life Can Be So Nice, and Marz — with his perm soaked and wrecked — working up a Black Sweat.

This and Raspberry Beret are the stand-outs on a so-so album.

Always really enjoyed this bonkers, little song - always will - taut mad funk, claustrophobic and sweaty. Love it when Prince goes off-piste.

Pentacle said:

I've always found Pop Life boring - also: verse and chorus melody are the same,

also the case with Paisley Park (and an alarming lot of other Prince songs; sometimes

it works gloriously of course, as with When Doves Cry)

America: nice jam (especially live), but a little ruined for me when I learnt the lyrics were serious.

Condition: great intro, then ruined by over-singing.

I don't mind the end of Temptation, it's a silly song and a fitting end to a rather silly,

sort of branching-out album.

SoulAlive said:

Pentacle said:

I've always found Pop Life boring - also: verse and chorus melody are the same,

also the case with Paisley Park (and an alarming lot of other Prince songs; sometimes

it works gloriously of course, as with When Doves Cry)

America: nice jam (especially live), but a little ruined for me when I learnt the lyrics were serious.

Condition: great intro, then ruined by over-singing.

I don't mind the end of Temptation, it's a silly song and a fitting end to a rather silly,

sort of branching-out album.

But you do like Parade? What do you think is the major difference between those two albums?

V10LETBLUES said:

The drum and groove gloriousness of it. This track is the blood brother of Life Can Be So Nice. The clanging and crashing and pounding on the drums are perfect caffeinated funk head bangers.

Good point!

Always loved this track. P's drumming on this cut is hittin'.

paulludvig said:

Pentacle said:

I've always found Pop Life boring - also: verse and chorus melody are the same,

also the case with Paisley Park (and an alarming lot of other Prince songs; sometimes

it works gloriously of course, as with When Doves Cry)

America: nice jam (especially live), but a little ruined for me when I learnt the lyrics were serious.

Condition: great intro, then ruined by over-singing.

I don't mind the end of Temptation, it's a silly song and a fitting end to a rather silly,

sort of branching-out album.

But you do like Parade? What do you think is the major difference between those two albums?

I love Parade, though I usually skip the first track (all the separate elements are great, but all together it's just a cacophony).

Hard to name the difference, maybe it's 'just' the songs: better songs, better melodies, better arrangements. Most of it very stripped, just like the black-and-white cover. It sounds inspired, and Around... does not.

It's admirable that he didn't put out PR2 (although there are many similarities between the albums, of course), but the album/songs itself doesn't/don't really work.