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Thread started 02/26/19 4:55pm

controversy99

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Prince rock songs

I was thinking about Prince’s rock output yesterday and realized there are actually fewer straight ahead rock songs than I remembered. I’m talking rock in contrast to R&B, funk, and pop which are where most of his songs land.
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Has anybody compiled a comprehensive list of his released straight up rock songs? I couldn’t find one, so here’s my best effort, chronologically:
.
For You
1. I’m Yours
.
Prince
2. Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?
3. Bambi
.
Dirty Mind
4. When You Were Mine
5. Sister
.
Controversy
6. Ronnie Talk to Russia
7. Jack U Off
.
199@
8. Little Red Corvette
9. Free
.
Purple Rain
10. Let’s Go Crazy
11. Purple Rain
.
Around the World in a Day
12 Paisley Park
.
None on Parade
.
Sign of the Times
13. Sign of the Times
14 Play in the Sunshine
15. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man
16. The Cross
.
None on Lovesexy
.
Batman
17. Electric Chair
.
Graffiti Bridge
18. Can’t Stop this Feeling I Got
19. Elephants & Flowers
.
Diamonds & Pearls
20. Live 4 Love
.
Love symbol
21. 3 Chains of Gold
.
The Hits 1, 2, and B-Sides
22. Peach
.
Come
23. Papa
.
I’ll have to finish this later. That’s only 23 songs across 16 albums, so about 1 to 2 songs average per album.
.
Did I miss any? Did you think there were more?
"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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Reply #1 posted 02/26/19 5:19pm

billymeade

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Dreamer, dude, it's his heaviest song. One of Us. All of Chaos and Disorder. Boom. Crimson and Clover. Funk n Roll. Wow. Tick Tick Bang. Thunder. Undertaker. Continental. Computer Blue. Tons more.
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Reply #2 posted 02/26/19 5:57pm

controversy99

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billymeade said:

Dreamer, dude, it's his heaviest song. One of Us. All of Chaos and Disorder. Boom. Crimson and Clover. Funk n Roll. Wow. Tick Tick Bang. Thunder. Undertaker. Continental. Computer Blue. Tons more.

Like I said, I’m going chronologically, and I gotta finish the list later.
.
I agree with most of your list. Good stuff. But is Tick Tick Bang rock? It doesn’t sound like it to me. I’m talking released version. And The Continental? That’s on the edge for me. I think it’s an aggressive pop song, but I can see the argument for rock with that guitar riff.
"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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Reply #3 posted 02/26/19 6:02pm

TrivialPursuit

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I don't think every song with a guitar solo is a rock song, so I've left out things like "I Hate U" or "Darling Nikki", or even "Purple Rain". But for whoever's list, they could be included. Also, I'm purposely not familiar with some of the NPGMC stuff (Chocolate Factory, Slaughterhouse) so someone else can fill in those blanks.



I'm Yours

Bambi

Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad

When You Were Mine

Sister

Ronnie, Talk 2 Russia

Jack U Off

Horny Toad

Little Red Corvette

Let's Go Crazy

Computer Blue

Temptation

America

Play In the Sunshine

ICNTTPOYM

The Cross

Electric Chair

Elephants & Flowers

Live 4 Love

3 Chains of God

The Morning Papers

Papa

Endorphinmachine

Dolphin

Gold

Chaos and Disorder

I Like It There

The Same December

Right The Wrong

Zanalee

Damned If I Do

Interactive

Da Bang

Calhoun Square

The Ride

5 Women

Sarah

So Far, So Pleased

Baby Knows

Cinnamon Girl

Fury

Guitar

The One U Wanna C

Crimson and Clover

Dreamer

Rock n Roll Love Affair

Screwdriver

Marz

FixUrLifeUp

AnotherLove

...to name a few.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #4 posted 02/26/19 7:48pm

purplepolitici
an

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^ Chocolate Invasion = Prince NPGMC effort, Chocolate Factory is a R. Kelly album, I do believe lol. Unless u got jokes, went over my head apparently eek.

For all time I am with you, you are with me.
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Reply #5 posted 02/26/19 9:12pm

controversy99

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TrivialPursuit said:

I don't think every song with a guitar solo is a rock song, so I've left out things like "I Hate U" or "Darling Nikki", or even "Purple Rain". But for whoever's list, they could be included. Also, I'm purposely not familiar with some of the NPGMC stuff (Chocolate Factory, Slaughterhouse) so someone else can fill in those blanks.




I'm Yours


Bambi


Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad


When You Were Mine


Sister


Ronnie, Talk 2 Russia


Jack U Off


Horny Toad


Little Red Corvette


Let's Go Crazy


Computer Blue


Temptation


America


Play In the Sunshine


ICNTTPOYM


The Cross


Electric Chair


Elephants & Flowers


Live 4 Love


3 Chains of God


The Morning Papers


Papa


Endorphinmachine


Dolphin


Gold


Chaos and Disorder


I Like It There


The Same December


Right The Wrong


Zanalee


Damned If I Do


Interactive


Da Bang


Calhoun Square


The Ride


5 Women


Sarah


So Far, So Pleased


Baby Knows


Cinnamon Girl


Fury


Guitar


The One U Wanna C


Crimson and Clover


Dreamer


Rock n Roll Love Affair


Screwdriver


Marz


FixUrLifeUp


AnotherLove

...to name a few.


Nice list!
"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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Reply #6 posted 02/26/19 9:12pm

TrivialPursuit

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purplepolitician said:

^ Chocolate Invasion = Prince NPGMC effort, Chocolate Factory is a R. Kelly album, I do believe lol. Unless u got jokes, went over my head apparently eek.


Nope, you are correct. I was on a bit of a sugar rush earlier, but I should have typed Invasion. I knew Factory was wrong when I typed it.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #7 posted 02/27/19 12:30am

tump

TrivialPursuit said:


Endorphinmachine



First song that came to my mind.

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Reply #8 posted 02/27/19 12:33am

thebanishedone

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sO Darling Nikki is not a rock song? its dirty rock punkish song with cool riffin and solo by Prince and its maybe one of his most famous rock songs

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Reply #9 posted 02/27/19 12:48am

dodger

A few to add to Trivial's list:

.

Strays Of The World

Rock & Roll Is Alive (And It Lives In MPLS)

The Undertaker (album)

Boom

Colonized Mind

Wall Of Berlin

Wow

Pretzelbodylogic

.

And as Trivial says quite a few others could be debatable like Empty Room, I Hate U, Planet Earth...

[Edited 2/27/19 0:49am]

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Reply #10 posted 02/27/19 5:13am

evdas

Hardrocklover

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Reply #11 posted 02/27/19 8:24am

namepeace

TrivialPursuit said:

Chaos and Disorder

I Like It There


These are two of his best post-90's rock songs, especially "I Like It There," which had he not been going through the SymbolDrama, could have been a significant hit.

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 #12 posted 02/27/19 10:27am

billymeade

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controversy99 said:

Like I said, I’m going chronologically, and I gotta finish the list later. . I agree with most of your list. Good stuff. But is Tick Tick Bang rock? It doesn’t sound like it to me. I’m talking released version. And The Continental? That’s on the edge for me. I think it’s an aggressive pop song, but I can see the argument for rock with that guitar riff.

What is your criteria for a "rock song"? If "Continental" doesn't fit, then neither does "Electric Chair".

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Reply #13 posted 02/27/19 3:29pm

thisisreece

TrivialPursuit said:

I don't think every song with a guitar solo is a rock song, so I've left out things like "I Hate U" or "Darling Nikki", or even "Purple Rain". But for whoever's list, they could be included. Also, I'm purposely not familiar with some of the NPGMC stuff (Chocolate Factory, Slaughterhouse) so someone else can fill in those blanks.


Darling Nikki is one of the heaviest rock songs he's ever done, seems crazy to leave it off this list. Same with Computer Blue. I would even say The Beautiful Ones is more rock than R&B.

The whole Undertaker album.

With that said, there are surprisingly few rock songs in total.

Hundalasiliah!
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Reply #14 posted 02/27/19 4:34pm

purplemajesty2
3

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Could Delirous and Irresistable Bitch be considered slightly rock?

Purple Music is my drug and I'm jonesin!!!!!
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Reply #15 posted 02/27/19 7:49pm

TrivialPursuit

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purplemajesty23 said:

Could Delirous and Irresistable Bitch be considered slightly rock?


"Delirious" is rockabilly. He's addressed that genre as a rock song with "Horny Toad", but something like "Delirious" comes across with more synths, so it's like rockabilly pop, not rock-ish. "Jack U Off" comes across somewhere in the middle, which is why I included it in my list.

"Irresistible Bitch" is a bop, but for me, it's rooted in an acoustic funk groove.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #16 posted 02/27/19 8:35pm

purplemajesty2
3

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TrivialPursuit said:

purplemajesty23 said:

Could Delirous and Irresistable Bitch be considered slightly rock?


"Delirious" is rockabilly. He's addressed that genre as a rock song with "Horny Toad", but something like "Delirious" comes across with more synths, so it's like rockabilly pop, not rock-ish. "Jack U Off" comes across somewhere in the middle, which is why I included it in my list.

"Irresistible Bitch" is a bop, but for me, it's rooted in an acoustic funk groove.

So from what I read Rockabilly is a mix between rock and country; rock and bluegrass; rock and R&B; and rock and Swing? I know it technically means hillbilly rock but still rock right? Sorry I'm confused lol.

Purple Music is my drug and I'm jonesin!!!!!
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Reply #17 posted 02/27/19 9:09pm

thebanishedone

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irrisistible bitch is a piure funk song nothing bop or rock about it

u people have no clue

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Reply #18 posted 02/27/19 9:41pm

TrivialPursuit

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purplemajesty23 said:

So from what I read Rockabilly is a mix between rock and country; rock and bluegrass; rock and R&B; and rock and Swing? I know it technically means hillbilly rock but still rock right? Sorry I'm confused lol.


You can find rockabilly songs on YouTube for examples. But Prince's takes on it are "Horny Toad", "Jack U Off", "Delirious", that I remember off hand. Some would add "Ronne Talk To Russia" and "Sister" to that list, but personally, I wouldn't add the latter for a rockabilly list.

Rockabilly is found a lot in the 50's. Classic songs like "Rock Around The Clock" by Bill Haley are good examples. There's a playlist on Spotify with good examples.

Search "Prince Rockabilly" on the Org. Lots there, too.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #19 posted 02/28/19 12:59am

databank

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controversy99 said:

I was thinking about Prince’s rock output yesterday and realized there are actually fewer straight ahead rock songs than I remembered. I’m talking rock in contrast to R&B, funk, and pop which are where most of his songs land. . Has anybody compiled a comprehensive list of his released straight up rock songs? I couldn’t find one, so here’s my best effort, chronologically: . For You 1. I’m Yours . Prince 2. Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? 3. Bambi . Dirty Mind 4. When You Were Mine 5. Sister . Controversy 6. Ronnie Talk to Russia 7. Jack U Off . 199@ 8. Little Red Corvette 9. Free . Purple Rain 10. Let’s Go Crazy 11. Purple Rain . Around the World in a Day 12 Paisley Park . None on Parade . Sign of the Times 13. Sign of the Times 14 Play in the Sunshine 15. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man 16. The Cross . None on Lovesexy . Batman 17. Electric Chair . Graffiti Bridge 18. Can’t Stop this Feeling I Got 19. Elephants & Flowers . Diamonds & Pearls 20. Live 4 Love . Love symbol 21. 3 Chains of Gold . The Hits 1, 2, and B-Sides 22. Peach . Come 23. Papa . I’ll have to finish this later. That’s only 23 songs across 16 albums, so about 1 to 2 songs average per album. . Did I miss any? Did you think there were more?

eek eek eek

A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
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Reply #20 posted 02/28/19 6:30am

jraw

Cream

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Reply #21 posted 02/28/19 7:58am

ForbiddenFruit

One of his best rock songs ever is the live version of anotherloverholenyohead (21 nights in london)...

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Reply #22 posted 02/28/19 8:08am

namepeace

databank said:

controversy99 said:

I14 Play in the Sunshine

eek eek eek


The film version rocks.

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 #23 posted 03/02/19 5:08am

controversy99

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databank said:



controversy99 said:


I was thinking about Prince’s rock output yesterday and realized there are actually fewer straight ahead rock songs than I remembered. I’m talking rock in contrast to R&B, funk, and pop which are where most of his songs land. . Has anybody compiled a comprehensive list of his released straight up rock songs? I couldn’t find one, so here’s my best effort, chronologically: . For You 1. I’m Yours . Prince 2. Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad? 3. Bambi . Dirty Mind 4. When You Were Mine 5. Sister . Controversy 6. Ronnie Talk to Russia 7. Jack U Off . 199@ 8. Little Red Corvette 9. Free . Purple Rain 10. Let’s Go Crazy 11. Purple Rain . Around the World in a Day 12 Paisley Park . None on Parade . Sign of the Times 13. Sign of the Times 14 Play in the Sunshine 15. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man 16. The Cross . None on Lovesexy . Batman 17. Electric Chair . Graffiti Bridge 18. Can’t Stop this Feeling I Got 19. Elephants & Flowers . Diamonds & Pearls 20. Live 4 Love . Love symbol 21. 3 Chains of Gold . The Hits 1, 2, and B-Sides 22. Peach . Come 23. Papa . I’ll have to finish this later. That’s only 23 songs across 16 albums, so about 1 to 2 songs average per album. . Did I miss any? Did you think there were more?

eek eek eek


Wait, are you questioning if those 3 are rock songs? I’m surprised. The rhythm, the riffs, the singing ... it seems pretty clear to me. They all sound like pop-oriented rock songs, imo. What kind of songs do you consider them be?
"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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Reply #24 posted 03/03/19 9:57pm

206Michelle

Endorphinmachine
I Like It There
Darling Nikki
Bambi
I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man
Live 4 Love ~ Love is God, God is love, Girls and boys love God above
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Reply #25 posted 03/08/19 7:11am

wilmer

I've boiled my own list down to what I consider the purest of his rock songs. In this day and age, it's almost impossible to find an artist that does a pure genre without other influences bleeding into it and least of all Prince whose music is informed by so many genres. These are the ones that sound to me decidedly like rock songs.

1. I'm yours
2. Bambi
3. Computer Blue
4. The Cross
5. Electric Chair
6. Gold
7. One of Us
8. Cinammon Girl
9. My Guitar
10. Crimson and Clover
11. Peach
12. Honky Tonk Woman( Rolling Stone cover)
13. Creep ( Radiohead cover)
14. Endorphinemachine
15. Dolphin
[quote]bunch of double-drags who teach their kids that love is bad
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Reply #26 posted 03/08/19 12:53pm

Astasheiks

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How many of you would go see him Perform if he was still here and did Rock The Whole night? smile

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Reply #27 posted 03/09/19 12:32am

thebanishedone

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Astasheiks said:

How many of you would go see him Perform if he was still here and did Rock The Whole night? smile

he had done only rock many times in his career

paisley park 1999

power trio 2007 aftershow londond(his best guitar playing ever

and 3rd eye concerts were mostly rock

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Reply #28 posted 03/14/19 5:16pm

controversy99

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Astasheiks said:

How many of you would go see him Perform if he was still here and did Rock The Whole night? smile

His rock performances were some of his best. But personally, I like at least a little funk mixed in there, too.

"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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Reply #29 posted 03/14/19 5:26pm

controversy99

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billymeade said:

controversy99 said:

Like I said, I’m going chronologically, and I gotta finish the list later. . I agree with most of your list. Good stuff. But is Tick Tick Bang rock? It doesn’t sound like it to me. I’m talking released version. And The Continental? That’s on the edge for me. I think it’s an aggressive pop song, but I can see the argument for rock with that guitar riff.

What is your criteria for a "rock song"? If "Continental" doesn't fit, then neither does "Electric Chair".

Driving 4-4 beat, typically most of the instrumentation is live, crunchy cords if it's guitar rock or aggressive piano if it's not, guitar solo helps but not required, a blues chord progression often. The definition is a little loose, but those are some characteristics.

"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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