What was Prince thinking when he made Had U?

It still kicks ass, even after all these years! I just recently, 5 minutes ago, bought Chaos and Disorder for the second time.

I love the sound of it...so original for him.

Plus Into the Light, I Like It There, and Dinner with Delores...some of his finest work!

the best on the album imo, love at first ..eeuh...

But so shoooort, yet it tell the whole story. I'd love a long version as well but dont think there is any.

The way the lyrics develop towards the "Had U" line doesn't suggest there exists a very long version. The "jamming" during the fade suggests that the song might have been a little bit longer originally though.

It's a notable track in the sense that it's the only track he's used a Mellotron, or a sampled Mellotron, in such an audible way. I almost get the impression that he did the track specifically because he wanted to use those sounds on a song.

I want a box set from the vault with Prince's version of every song he wrote for other artists. The time, the family, vanity 6, sheila e, appolonia 6, nothing compares 2 U studio, all the one offs like celine dion (with this tear), etc, etc, etc, etc.

Nah, I think the album version is probably pretty much it for "Had U". It's a coda on the album, not a full on track. It's a quick "fuck you" on the way out of the proverbial doors at Warner. No reason for it to go on longer. It would be nice to hear just the instrumental of it though.

It's quite Beatle-esque. Love it.

He was telling us he was going to die - in 20 years.

Genesia said:

He was telling us he was going to die - in 20 years.

good i didnt have a coffee in my hands

Genesia said:

He was telling us he was going to die - in 20 years.

Strangely enough, there are 20 lines in Had U. Coincidence? I think so.

[Edited 5/9/17 15:06pm]

coldasice said:

It's a total copy of Eraser by NIN, but I still love it.

And it's not the first time NIN has been mentioned influencing Prince. (I think "Loose!" was the other? It was recent here on the org.)

coldasice said:

It's a total copy of Eraser by NIN, but I still love it.

wow good find. There's also just 1-2 years between them, no coinsidence imo

TheEnglishGent said:

Genesia said:

He was telling us he was going to die - in 20 years.

Strangely enough, there are 20 lines in Had U. Coincidence? I think so.

[Edited 5/9/17 15:06pm]

It gets even more weird. Before he recorded this, he ate 20 fries, fed to him whilst he was watching 20/20.

Eraser by Nine Inch Nails does NOT sound like Had U.

I don't know what kind of dope you guys are on!

williamb610 said:

Eraser by Nine Inch Nails does NOT sound like Had U.

I don't know what kind of dope you guys are on!

No one said it sounded the same. They said it was a copy. Obviously, they meant lyrically.

Prince:

Missed U
Called U
Found U
Begged U
Convinced U
Saw U
Held U
Kissed U
Fondled U
Tempt U
Undress U

Smelled U
Wanted U
Asked U
Thanked U
Minded U
Hurt U
Disappoint U
Fuck U
Had U

NIN:

Need you
Dream you
Find you
Taste you
Fuck you
Use you
Scar you
Break you
Lose me
Hate me
Smash me
Erase me
Kill me
Kill me
Kill me
Kill me
Kill me
Kill me
Kill me
Kill me

Someone mentioned the 20 lines in "Had U". There are also 20 lines in "Eraser". So yeah, I think Prince was moved by NIN's music, in a few ways. "Loose!" is an obvious influence by NIN as well.