KCOOLMUZIQ said:

‘It’s the clearest definition of creative freedom I have ever heard. I was 16 and went to see the film Under The Cherry Moon and fell in love. The soundtrack went from rock to computerized blues to jazz to pop and classical. I grew up listening to jazz and blues, to Ella Fitzgerald and Hendrix and, sure, I loved Bach and Mozart. But prince came along and amalgamated them all. The writing was so descriptive and colourful. I used to stay up and listen to the album over and over again on headphones. When everyone else was outside playing and running on a Saturday afternoon, I’d be locked in my bedroom or sat on my porch listening to the LP, and I’d be immediately transported away from all the problems in my neighbourhood to the French Riviera, where the film was set.

Prince uses so many different vocal tones and that was a real beginning for me. His voice would change to accommodate the story, the lyrics – something I choose to do with my music. Any poet, singer, writer wants to live in the moment of each and every song and this is the method by which to do it. He switches Anotherloverholenyohead to a song like Do U Lie (sings), ‘When I lie awake at night in my boudoir’ and automatically the sun comes out, the rays shine through the window, the room becomes light. The track Christopher Tracey’s Parade taught me a new sense of rhythm. Using a computer he created a different heart rhythm. You don’t listen to that song, you fall inside it and become it. He added car sounds – I mean, who did that in those days? And he sings like he never planned a thing, like they play the music and he’s not sure how it’s going to go he just opens his mouth and starts to sing. It doesn’t feel rehearsed but fresh, full of life.

It’s a classic album and lyrically an inspiration. He’s capable of being a very personal writer but he’s also very skilled. When you listen to the music the picture is always clear, the imagination is provoked – that’s the kind of writer I want to be. Like Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, he makes forever music.

The instrumentation is wonderful. He had a computer create the sound but didn’t falsify it by pretending it’s another instrument. He chose to play a computer as itself! His guitar – how he would go from being rock and out there and strong and immediately change the sound to sensitive and loving and soft – that is brilliance. I don’t know if the music was a genuine reflection of a part of his life or a fictional creation, but quite honestly I don’t care because I feel it regardless. I feel blessed just listening to this record.’

By

Jill Scott

Beautiful.

jayspud said:

PARADE (30th ANNIVERSARY REVIEW)

QUICK FACTS

- RELEASED: March 31, 1986
- NOTABLE CONTRIBUTORS: Wendy Melvoin (vocals/guitar), Lisa Coleman (vocals/keyboards), Clare Fischer (strings/arrangement), Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss (horns), Sheila E. (vocals/percussion), Jonathan Melvoin (drums), David Z. (arrangement), and Mazarati (vocals/songwriting)
- SINGLES: "Kiss," "Mountains," "Anotherloverholenyohead," "Girls & Boys"
- ESTIMATED COPIES SOLD: 4 million

TRACK-BY-TRACK ANALYSIS

1. Christopher Tracy's Parade: We start off with a bang on this Disneyland soundscape of drums, synths, and strings. The song's bridge takes flight (0:55-1:25) with Prince's vocals meshing with Wendy and Lisa's background harmonies wonderfully. Check the lyric change in the final verse (1:30); the demo initially said "Little girl Wendy's guitar" which rhymes with "evil car" in the next line, but Prince replaced it with "Christopher Tracy's piano" to match his film character most likely. Nevertheless, this album opener is catchy, colorful, and bridges AROUND THE WORLD IN A DAY and PARADE projects very well.

2. New Position: Although France is the geographical epicenter of the movie, "New Position" has a soft Caribbean flavor: its midtempo steel drums are accompanied by echoing handclaps and a bouncy bassline. Matching the diverse array of sounds are the tongue-in-cheek lyrics, which seems to contain a wink and a smile. "Honey, we can't last without a shot o' new spunk / Honey, forget your past, you got to try my new funk!" Could he be talking about sex or is he letting his audience know that he plans to go beyond the usual limits of pop music?

3. I Wonder U: With its eerie cackling and orchestral interlude, Wendy takes the lead vocally telling her love interest "I, dream of you, for all time… Though you are far, I wonder you; you're on my mind." Her delivery is lighthearted, but the melody creeps along like a lullaby from a music box, with its tumbling drums and dry handclaps.

4. Under the Cherry Moon: We slide swiftly from "I Wonder U" into the title track where Prince tells his love interest that he wants to "live life to the ultimate high," and that he might "die young like heroes die." It is here that Prince holds a mirror to the reckless lifestyle his character, Christopher Tracy, lives. From the hypnotic vocal delivery (a la "The Question of U") to the jazzy piano flourishes (2:02-2:17), "Under the Cherry Moon" is a disturbing yet fascinating ballad in the Prince canon.

5. Girls & Boys: The momentum of the album picks back up with this synth-funk groove including Eric Leeds on horns, finger cymbals, and a lengthy chicken grease guitar riff behind some saucy French dialogue (3:04-3:36). Lyrically, Prince speaks about his chemistry with his love interest, donning French phrases such as "vous etes tres belle" which means "you are very beautiful." "Girls & Boys" peaked at No. 11 on the UK charts but, oddly, never received airplay on American radio stations.

6. Life Can Be So Nice: This monster groove is a radical experiment that merges '60s-era pop with '80s new wave funk. Sheila E's tapping away on cowbell and gets a sweet drum solo after the song's bridge (1:52); Wendy and Lisa deliver a quick rap while Prince sings background at a slower rhythm similar to "Let's Pretend We're Married" (2:00-2:16). Although it wasn't a single, "Life Can Be So Nice" captures the essence of what PARADE is all about: fun and beautiful with a splash of danger.

7. Venus de Milo: After the feverish funk of "Life Can Be So Nice" comes the vintage-sounding '40s jazz of "Venus de Milo." Originally existing as an untitled interlude before PARADE came to be, Prince gives us a gorgeous piano-saxophone duet with Clare Fischer's orchestration. It may be short by design but "Venus de Milo" proved that Prince, at just 28 years old, was a real artist and not just a run-of-the-mill pop star.

8. Mountains: A marching snare drum slowly builds into a freshly minted wall of sound: echoing handclaps, swelling synths, bright horns (Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss), and the barely-there twitches of guitars and maracas. Wendy and Lisa composed the music and brought it to Prince, who took sole ownership of the song once he wrote the lyrics. Lyrically, it focuses on the Christian motif of overcoming adversity; reminding you that your troubles are "only mountains and the sea / Love [God] will conquer if you just believe." "Mountains" reached No. 23 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1986, and is a smooth fusion of soul/pop music.

9. Do U Lie: This light midtempo ballad draws inspiration from cabaret and jazz with its combination of Clare Fischer's strings, Frank Marocco's accordion, and Jonathan Melvoin's drums. Prince twists and contorts his vocals like an acrobat when he sings, "I don't lie to you when I say I'm in love, mama" and "Do you really mean it when you cry?" Wendy and Lisa's background harmonies glide effortlessly over shimmering strings while Prince pleads for needing "another human's touch" (1:49-2:06). The masses often overlook "Do U Lie," but it's just as brilliant as his popular material.

10. Kiss: A wicked funk masterpiece with the lean production of "When Doves Cry" and the swagger of "Dirty Mind." The song was originally an acoustic demo given to protégé band Mazarati and then snatched back by Prince after hearing their new arrangement. Smart move by Prince seeing how it's loaded with great one-liners such as "I know how to undress me," "Women, not girls, rule my world," and "You don't have to watch 'Dynasty' to have an attitude." With an immaculate falsetto and a guitar lick (borrowed from James Brown's "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag") at the end of each chorus, "Kiss" rocketed up the charts to No. 1, faster than any Warner Bros. single in history.

11. Anotherloverholenyohead: Despite it stalling at No. 63 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Anotherloverholenyohead" is a strong contender for the best song on the album. Lyrically, this is an extension of "New Position" but sung with a greater sense of urgency. "We were brothers and sisters united all for love / Now all of a sudden you try to fight it and say you've had enough." Prince understands the feelings that he has for his love interest and will do whatever it takes to convince her that he's serious, even if that means swallowing his pride and begging her "down on [his] knee." Musically, it harks back to Sly and the Family Stone at their apex with the stacked harmonies and popping slap-bass (2:18-2:36). If the album edit leaves you wanting more, the 12" version will indeed fulfill your funk cravings.

12. Sometimes It Snows in April: The album comes to a close with a ballad where, for the first 90 seconds, Prince is humming on top of Lisa's twinkling piano and Wendy's acoustic guitar plucks. The trio (singing from the perspective of Mary Sharon) give a heartfelt goodbye to Christopher Tracy and looks forward to seeing him in Heaven. "All good things they say never last," they sing in unison. "And love, it isn't love until it's past." Wendy remembers this session being one of her favorites: "It was written on the spot and recorded in a couple of hours. A beautiful moment, hanging out for a while, recording at Sunset Sound."

FINAL THOUGHTS

In what would be Prince's final collaboration with the Revolution, PARADE shows the band in complete control of their game; tackling genres from R&B and pop to funk and classical. It isn't without its flaws, though. Some of the album's gorgeous details are barely audible due to reverb; if given a remaster, listeners would have a greater appreciation when those elements rise to the surface. Culturally, PARADE didn't tilt the music world off its axis like PURPLE RAIN, but this is a magnificent soundtrack that proudly colors outside the lines of standard pop music.

GRADE: A-

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

My favorite Prince record is the Under the Cherry Moon soundtrack! I listened to the record for four years straight…just about everyday. I think musically it’s still superior to anything I’ve ever heard—from the vocals to the music. Sonically, I haven’t heard anything quite like it. I play the album from top to bottom. I consider it a mAsTeRpIeCe.

Jill Scott 2015

PHOTO FROM GETTY iMAGES

I love her expression. Definately in flow with how many Prince fans who love Parade feel.

QueenofPurplePalace said:

Am I the only one who has to shake my ass violently for Girls and Boys. That song is simply irresistible

^ thanks, for the Girls & Boys mention..

Indeed a wonderful song, I love this funky pop-song a lot (as well, like you do..).

My favorite .. it starts the list.

Then the symbol album

ARTD

GE

Come

Contro

Rave

Sign

[Edited 4/6/16 11:15am]

I'm having these 2 images, the Bside album art, the Parade cover/backside/album credit/inner sleave collage, and 2 black n white pictures of Prince 1 with the black cloud and other with the white cloud, and 2 images from the end of the Girls & Boys video blown up 20 x 16 and mounted on wood

OldFriends4Sale said:

4 Me

1. Around the World in a Day

2. Parade
3. Purple Rain

4. 1999

5. Controversy

6. Dirty Mind

7. Lovesexy
8. Prince

9. Sign o the Times

10. Black album

and these are all right close

What Time Is It?

the Family

the Glamorous Life

Madhouse 8

Vanity 6

fit in there too

Parade had the BEST videos, the art of the era was perfection. And in many ways the Parade era was very similar to Purple Rain, just chic in place of Purple Rains punk.

My new video, I discuss some influences and things about what made Parade, with special reference to the Family album, Clare Fischer and Prince's output back them, make music, promote music and then move on.

.

What do you make of this very popular Prince album?
Would you liked to have seen some other tracks e.g. Love or Money included?
Do you rate it as highly as others do?
Were you a Prince fan at the time?
What did you make of Prince's comments about the album and his initial negative reaction to it?

.

PARADE is an EXCELLENT Prince album. beautifully orchestrated. playful. funky. wistful. redeeming. the colors are all over the place in this "black and white" album. Prince was easily & clearly at the top of his game with PARADE.

.

would have been nice to have other tracks - e.g. "love or money" or "old friends 4 sale" or similar..

but to me the album is basically PERFECT as is.

.

to me, the only album better than PARADE - during Prince's "unbelievably awsome years" of 1978-87 - is DIRTY MIND. DIRTY MIND was the album that "allowed" Prince to make everything he did after that album - including PARADE.

.

I was definitely, totally, completely a DIE-HARD HARD-CORE Prince fan in 1986. back then - when he used to release 1 brilliant album after another (every year) - each album release really was an event. I would have skipped school that day to go out & buy this album - but I was already working in a record store then (yes.. I just "showed my age" with that comment.. back when there used to actually be record stores that sold vinyl records.. and cassette tapes!)

like I always say & still believe - the best output of Prince material was from 1978 through 1987.

no 1 could touch Prince back then. he was very focused. he took chances musically. he set trends that many tried to copy. I feel a little sorry for people who got into him anytime during the last 20 years. of course he's still talented, he's still a true musician.. but there is absolutely no comparison between the quality of music he makes today and the music he made 78-87.

.

I don't know of or recall any negative statements he may have made about PARADE. further, I'm surprised that he would make any such statements. prince seems to like all of the music he puts out. if he didn't, I don't think he'd release that music.

.

to summarize - in my opinion the PARADE album MUST be in the top 5 of any real/serious fan of his music. to use those tried & true pro sports clichés:

PARADE is

an 80-yard touchdown bomb..

it's 40 points, 20 rebounds 15 assists & 10 blocked shots in 1 game..

it's a grand-slam home run with a full count & bases loaded in game 7 of the World Series..

it's winning the tennis "grand slam" in a calendar year WITHOUT losing a single game or even a single serve..

ALL OF THESE ROLLED INTO ONE.

PLUS

the game-winning shot that kid made in the Villanova-UNC NCAA title game last week.

& saying all this about PARADE doesn't do justice to this album..

SPYZFAN1 said:

I think that is her. They look nosey.

:love:

iZsaZsa said:

[img:$uid]http://i67.tinypic.com/2h8cvmt.jpg[/img:$uid]

My facebook post on one of the Fan pages I am a member of.

.

Believe me I celebrated it.