From Billboard, October 23, 1999:



HOT 100 - #96

HOT 100 SALES - #23 (16,000 units scanned)



Hot R&B Singles & Tracks - #53 (HOT SHOT DEBUT)

R&B Singles Sales - #17



From the New to the Hot 100 column:



Closing out the Arista artist parade this issue is the return of The
Artist Formerly Known As Prince at No. 96 with his first new entry on the
Hot 100 in almost four years. "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" scans
16,000 units and debuts at No. 23 on the sales chart. In its first full
week at radio, "Romance" picks up 69 stations, with a No. 1 rank from WJUC,
Toledo, Ohio and Top 30 rankings at Top 40 WWZZ Washington, D.C., and R&B
WJTT Chattanooga, Tennessee.



"Romance", which is produced by Prince (how did The Artist ever get
him to sign on?) is from the album "Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic" which will
hit retail Nov. 9.

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The Artist Formerly Known As Prince

The Greatest Romance Ever Sold

Producer: Prince

Writer: The Artist

Published by Emancipated Music, ASCAP

Arista 3746 (CD Promo)



Arista is rolling out the purple carpet for The Artist's return to a major
label with this quirky, brand-new track that encompasses variables as
diverse as hip-hop, classic soul, and Middle Eastern vibes. No doubt, this
downtempo jam resembles nothing else on the air, forging a novel path for
the ever unpredictable artist. He sounds like he's having a good ol' time
here, loosely flexing his vocal across verse lines as if he's sung the song
hundreds of times. The chorus is layered to full effect, offering the full
range of The Artist's voice, from that deep rumble to his chilling
falsetto. How entirely satisfying to hear one of the great artists of our
day return with a track that will not only ignite the airwaves today but
stand the test of time -- especially given that it is, after all, 1999, his
signature year. From the album "Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic" due Nov. 9.

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Finally, a review of the Billboard Airplay Awards from P. 89 in the October
23, 1999 issue of Billboard:



Sat. 11:02 pm. As Arista's newly signed The Artist Formerly Known As
Prince parties like it's 1999 with the opening song of a fiery 90-minute
set, much of the lyric content consists of "get down" and "uh-huh". One
country music director leans over with a quintessential country comment,
quipping, "These lyrics are so relatable. It's like he's singing about my
life."