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Forums > Prince: Music and More > Was no traditional bass line in WDC a big deal to you?
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Reply #30 posted 07/23/18 2:04pm

darkroman

I would imagine no one noticed. After all it's not exactly an issue really is it.

After all there are loads of tracks that don't have a bass but there are more songs that don't use a triangle or glockenspiel.

... or is this the most amazing thing ever?

neutral

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Reply #31 posted 07/23/18 2:18pm

PeteSilas

darkroman said:

I would imagine no one noticed. After all it's not exactly an issue really is it.

After all there are loads of tracks that don't have a bass but there are more songs that don't use a triangle or glockenspiel.

... or is this the most amazing thing ever?

neutral

people have said that on here but I'm not aware of any that have the bass missing, unless your counting stuff where a bass isn't suppossed to be there like maybe a piano ballad or a folk song. It would be more accurate though to say that the bass has generally been the most ignored part of music anyways.

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Reply #32 posted 07/23/18 2:39pm

joyinrepetitio
n

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We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.
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Reply #33 posted 07/23/18 2:39pm

joyinrepetitio
n

avatar

We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.
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Reply #34 posted 07/23/18 2:40pm

RodeoSchro

darkroman said:

I would imagine no one noticed. After all it's not exactly an issue really is it.

After all there are loads of tracks that don't have a bass but there are more songs that don't use a triangle or glockenspiel.

... or is this the most amazing thing ever?

neutral




It depends on how old you were in 1984. If you're an Old like me (59), then this was the first - or at least the first memorable - pop/rock hit without a bass line. (I hope nobody wastes their time and finds some song without a bass from 1962 that hit #73 on the Hot 100 and says YOU WRONG, OLD MAN!)

On the other hand, if you're, say, 45 years old or younger then the novelty of the bassless "When Doves Cry" was probably not something you picked up on or understood. And the younger you are now, the more that applies.


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Reply #35 posted 07/23/18 3:16pm

ThatWhiteDude

avatar

PeteSilas said:

ThatWhiteDude said:

Thanks for posting that poem Pete. Never read it before, it really is awesome. Prince was a very giftet writer.

it's so prince, funny, wierd, deep, mysterious, loopy;Prince.

yes

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Reply #36 posted 07/23/18 5:17pm

PeteSilas

joyinrepetition said:

We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.

and what a funky bassline it is, one of his best in my opinion, In fact, i stole it for one of my songs. don't see how anyone could not notice it, it's outstanding.

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Reply #37 posted 07/23/18 7:30pm

rdhull

avatar

joyinrepetition said:

We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.

Yes, but we're talking about the studio version.

"Climb in my fur."
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Reply #38 posted 07/23/18 7:32pm

rdhull

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..and that shit written isnt 'poem' ...lol gawd

"Climb in my fur."
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Reply #39 posted 07/23/18 7:49pm

PeteSilas

rdhull said:

..and that shit written isnt 'poem' ...lol gawd

well, what is it laueritis mf?

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Reply #40 posted 07/24/18 5:07am

OldFriends4Sal
e



I did not notice, until it was talked about.
But when BrownMark did come in with the bass on the Parade tour rendition, it KILLED it.
So I would love to hear what Prince did with the bass on the song before he removed it.

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Reply #41 posted 07/24/18 7:10am

darkroman

RodeoSchro said:

darkroman said:

I would imagine no one noticed. After all it's not exactly an issue really is it.

After all there are loads of tracks that don't have a bass but there are more songs that don't use a triangle or glockenspiel.

... or is this the most amazing thing ever?

neutral




It depends on how old you were in 1984. If you're an Old like me (59), then this was the first - or at least the first memorable - pop/rock hit without a bass line. (I hope nobody wastes their time and finds some song without a bass from 1962 that hit #73 on the Hot 100 and says YOU WRONG, OLD MAN!)

On the other hand, if you're, say, 45 years old or younger then the novelty of the bassless "When Doves Cry" was probably not something you picked up on or understood. And the younger you are now, the more that applies.




LOL, that made me chuckle, but you do have a good point.

I'm wondering if some of this could be down to what people expect. For example, I am no expert but I'd imagine lots of funk and soul music from the 70s and early 80s probably had a bass at it's core - but I'm surmising.

Now take for example, electronic music from the very early 80s. Depeche Mode and Yazoo don't have a bass in their tracks.

So when WDC was released, it may have appeared unusual from a funk perspective but not from a synth pop perspective.

Interestingly Prince spanned both of these sounds in WDC so maybe that is the answer!

smile smile


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Reply #42 posted 07/24/18 10:11am

ufoclub

avatar

rdhull said:

Lovejunky said:

No..I didnt even notice until people started talking about it.

In other words

When Doves Cry lacks nothing..

My sentiments exactly.

There is a sense of bass from the Linn toms and kick.

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Reply #43 posted 07/24/18 10:15am

khill95

ThatWhiteDude said:

SkipperLove said:

When I was a kid, I noticed the lyrics more than anything. Am I alone in thinking that WDC has some of his best lyrics. Even as an adolescent, I thought they were profound.

Nah, you're not alone I love the lyrics.

Same. The first stanza alone is amazing and so vivid with imagery. "Animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat between me and you." AMAZING. TBH, in my opinion the drums are so unique and instantly recognizable on the song, that it takes away any thought of "Where's the bass", as well.

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Reply #44 posted 07/24/18 12:21pm

PeteSilas

khill95 said:

ThatWhiteDude said:

Nah, you're not alone I love the lyrics.

Same. The first stanza alone is amazing and so vivid with imagery. "Animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat between me and you." AMAZING. TBH, in my opinion the drums are so unique and instantly recognizable on the song, that it takes away any thought of "Where's the bass", as well.

it is vivid, as if HE REALLY DID IT and was recalling things that he would have not just imagined for a song.

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Reply #45 posted 07/24/18 6:21pm

steakfinger

joyinrepetition said:

We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.

Exactly. It's an incredibly lame and pointless bassline and he right to not use it.

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Reply #46 posted 07/24/18 6:51pm

PeteSilas

steakfinger said:

joyinrepetition said:

We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.

Exactly. It's an incredibly lame and pointless bassline and he right to not use it.

is it the same one that he played live? it's one of my favorites.

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Reply #47 posted 07/24/18 7:01pm

rdhull

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That June 1984 birthday show performance of it with the bass is badas. I dont know what some of you are saying its bad (bad meaning no good not bad meaning good -Run/DMC).

"Climb in my fur."
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Reply #48 posted 07/25/18 11:33am

namepeace

In hindsight, yes, because the song was so hypnotic I never bothered to notice before I was told.

Good night, sweet Prince | 7 June 1958 - 21 April 2016

Props will be withheld until the showing and proving has commenced. -- Aaron McGruder
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Reply #49 posted 07/25/18 1:27pm

Genesia

avatar

I loved When Doves Cry's spare, minimalist sound - but it did not register for me as a lack of bass. shrug

We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #50 posted 07/25/18 2:04pm

PliablyPurple

Nope, a great song is a great song. If you use sticks and twigs, I'm cool with that. What did stand out to me was that early vocal sound that has P sounding like a bee. A king bee, baby, buzzin' 'round your house. That sound fascinated me to no end. For a guy who likes strange sounds, that brief presentation was monumental. I can't tell you how many times I impersonated that sound in an attempt to perfect it razz.

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Reply #51 posted 07/26/18 3:18pm

purplefam99

Someone said it up top. Tribal!! And the screams throughout
My heart beating thru it all was the bassline so I never
Noticed it wasn’t there.
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Reply #52 posted 07/26/18 8:18pm

khill95

PeteSilas said:

khill95 said:

Same. The first stanza alone is amazing and so vivid with imagery. "Animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat between me and you." AMAZING. TBH, in my opinion the drums are so unique and instantly recognizable on the song, that it takes away any thought of "Where's the bass", as well.

it is vivid, as if HE REALLY DID IT and was recalling things that he would have not just imagined for a song.

LMAO. "Animals strike curious poses." I'm imagining a cat giving him the death stare while making out with some chick on the couch lol lol lol

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Reply #53 posted 07/26/18 8:34pm

purplefam99

khill95 said:



PeteSilas said:




khill95 said:



Same. The first stanza alone is amazing and so vivid with imagery. "Animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat between me and you." AMAZING. TBH, in my opinion the drums are so unique and instantly recognizable on the song, that it takes away any thought of "Where's the bass", as well.



it is vivid, as if HE REALLY DID IT and was recalling things that he would have not just imagined for a song.



LMAO. "Animals strike curious poses." I'm imagining a cat giving him the death stare while making out with some chick on the couch lol lol lol



Yes!!! Khill, you know it went down something like that!!!
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Reply #54 posted 07/27/18 12:05am

TheFreakerFant
astic

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Never thought of it until someone pointed it out!

However, I think it would also be very funky with one too, although not as distinctive.

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Reply #55 posted 07/27/18 4:16am

callmynameH87

PeteSilas said:

also, i think it was a whole lot more than "no bass line" the opening with those wierd animalistic noises, the scattery guitar sounds that mimic the confusion our narrator feels, the simple vintage minneapolis keyboard riff, Prince's screams, lots of stuff special about the song. ad in the video and alot of us alienated, lonely teens found our kindred spirit.


What an exceptionally-worded post.πŸ’œ
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Reply #56 posted 07/27/18 4:38am

love2thenines2
003

callmynameH87 said:

PeteSilas said:

also, i think it was a whole lot more than "no bass line" the opening with those wierd animalistic noises, the scattery guitar sounds that mimic the confusion our narrator feels, the simple vintage minneapolis keyboard riff, Prince's screams, lots of stuff special about the song. ad in the video and alot of us alienated, lonely teens found our kindred spirit.

What an exceptionally-worded post.πŸ’œ

I can say as easy as that.....this is the BEST SONG EVER RECORDED IN MODERN HISTORY OF MUSIC....a WEIRD & ATYPICAL THING ...FULLY INVENTIVE...PURE GENIUS....A GIFT OF GOD....this is the ONLY ONE SONG I TAKE WITH ME IN THE AFTER WORLD & THIS ONE 2 !!

MY LOVE 4 IT...EVER&EVER

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Reply #57 posted 07/27/18 7:43am

rdhull

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love2thenines2003 said:

callmynameH87 said:

PeteSilas said: What an exceptionally-worded post.πŸ’œ

I can say as easy as that.....this is the BEST SONG EVER RECORDED IN MODERN HISTORY OF MUSIC....a WEIRD & ATYPICAL THING ...FULLY INVENTIVE...PURE GENIUS....A GIFT OF GOD....this is the ONLY ONE SONG I TAKE WITH ME IN THE AFTER WORLD & THIS ONE 2 !!

MY LOVE 4 IT...EVER&EVER

calm down..geeze

"Climb in my fur."
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Reply #58 posted 07/27/18 4:27pm

EddieC

love2thenines2003 said:

callmynameH87 said:

PeteSilas said: What an exceptionally-worded post.πŸ’œ

I can say as easy as that.....this is the BEST SONG EVER RECORDED IN MODERN HISTORY OF MUSIC....a WEIRD & ATYPICAL THING ...FULLY INVENTIVE...PURE GENIUS....A GIFT OF GOD....this is the ONLY ONE SONG I TAKE WITH ME IN THE AFTER WORLD & THIS ONE 2 !!

MY LOVE 4 IT...EVER&EVER

So you like it, huh? A little bit? lol

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Reply #59 posted 07/27/18 4:31pm

rdhull

avatar

EddieC said:

love2thenines2003 said:

I can say as easy as that.....this is the BEST SONG EVER RECORDED IN MODERN HISTORY OF MUSIC....a WEIRD & ATYPICAL THING ...FULLY INVENTIVE...PURE GENIUS....A GIFT OF GOD....this is the ONLY ONE SONG I TAKE WITH ME IN THE AFTER WORLD & THIS ONE 2 !!

MY LOVE 4 IT...EVER&EVER

So you like it, huh? A little bit? lol

lol

"Climb in my fur."
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