This is sort of a bump from two years ago when I expressed my love for "Love 2 The 9's". I still find it mesmerizing. I'll copy paste my thoughts I had back then.

Great to be part of the org finally. Long time reader first time poster. So I was reading the "Best 3 vocal performance" thread and felt that I had to bring up this song, because who would even mention Love 2 The 9's in the categori as say "Adore". Well, I felt that we would do our best to shine some light on this masterpiece.I listened to the Peach & Black podcast about the album.

What struck me is the word one guy said about the song "Arrangement, arrangement,

arrangement". I felt exactly the same way the first time I heard it (together with the video actually. That hairdo, perfectly trimmed beard and Mayte=Perfection. Has the guy ever looked so good before or after. Watch closely at the 0.39 mark when he's sitting at the table. D&P is the closest I guess.). That guitar lick right in the beginning to start up the song, the "clapping" drumsticks , that piano(!!!), those horns(!!!) and Prince's silky smooth vocals. All combined in a unmatched fusion that makes this track undoubtedly one of the standouts on this album and may I even say this whole era (and 90's). Yes, that's right. Love 2 the 9's has always been in my top 5, if not my top 3 since the first time I heard it.

Of course we have to mention "that" part in the song. Personally I never really liked the first piece with Prince rapping. But hear me out. In the middle part THAT is how you use Tony M. No rapping rather just talking. And I find the part with Mayte great. After it all switches up in the first part later it combines some of the elements from the very beginning of the song. With the horns definitely forefront. For instance:

"Tony:Name

Mayte:Arabia (Horns:duh-duh-duuuuuh)

Tony:Occupation if any

Mayte:Sex symbol but I really got a beautiful mind (duh-duh-duuuuuuh)
.......

Last but not least. Why haven't I yet read someone even discussing the part from 4.35 into the song. Whenever a friend or a new fan are interested about his mythical falsetto THIS is the part I play to them. 1.10 of pure perfection. To dig even deeper, let's say part "Wanna' be yeah...for all time!!!" (4.49) "Ohhh wiiiieeehaha!!!" (4.55). And the best part from 5.05 which cannot be explained in text, you just have to hear it to believe it. He sounds like a screaming b*tch alá Carey only better 'cause you know... He's a guy! So what are your thoughts on this song?

[Edited 2/27/16 10:03am]

i really like this song except the awful ending, i have an edit without it which i play quite alot

gem

bigd74 said:

i really like this song except the awful ending, i have an edit without it which i play quite alot

Please do not ever share it online, there are enough fakes and fan edits doing the rounds as it is

databank said:

One of the rare early 90s tracks where the hip hop element didnt absolutely ruin the song. I almost hate to admit it, but I love 'Love 2 the 9s' as well

Wolfie87 said:

bigd74 said:

i really like this song except the awful ending, i have an edit without it which i play quite alot

Seriously? The ending, for me, is just magnificent. This song had me hooked first time hearing it way back in the day. Always loved it, and thought it was a fabulous opener and stand-out on a great, great album. Though I'm a bit luke-warm on the Tony/Mayte rap (is that Mayte or Carmen? I never quite know for sure.), but I like the drums and horns during that segment of the song. But the crescendo of music at the end is icing on the cake. Like a sonic 4th of July. Splendid, splendid song!

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You stay classy San Diego.

great track!

Bluu said:

RJOrion said:

iZsaZsa said:

Princevault says Mayte is spoken dialogue.

Thanks for lookin' that up 4 me, iZsa

Bluu said:

dodger said:

jdcxc said:

I can't believe he played this song in Oakland! He MUST lurk the Org.

Could be coincidence but he hasn't played that since the Act II tour!

If someone is checking here for him I hope he brings And God Created Woman into the set-list

dodger said:

RJOrion said:

dodger said:

Could be coincidence but he hasn't played that since the Act II tour!

If someone is checking here for him I hope he brings And God Created Woman into the set-list

"And God Created Woman"...smh...that song touches my soul...by the time it ends, i might even have a tear or two built up...i always related so personally to the songs where he deifies women (or his woman)...

Totally. And God Created Woman is one of my favourite songs of his. Love his vocals, ad-libs (the 'my my my my my come on now' gets me every time) and the live feel to it. Timeless perfection.