I really dig this song... one of his best Ant-Political songs. Much better than Sign 'O' The Times and (shudder) Ronnie, Talk 2 Russia.

I love the horns and That guitar solo! OMG!

I wish he would do more songs like this.

What are your thoughts?

thisbediscream said:

You "shudder" to the sound of Sign O' the Times???? Not that we all must think alike but it does go a long way to tell me about the quality of your taste.

skywalker said:

I think he was shuddering at ronnie talk to russia, but yeah ranking Dear Mr. Man above a classic like Sign O' The Times is a little strange. It's a good song but like the whole musicology album really, it's nothing prince hadn't done better before

Too short. It starts fading too abruptly

thisbediscream said:

I agree it's a great song and one of the best on the album, and certainly better than Ronnie Talk 2 Russia...

...but it ain't got shit on SOTT.

jacktheimprovident said:

Thank U. That shudder was at Ronnie....but the reason I rank it above Sign is because there's more goin' on in the song. I'm really not a big fan of his "Just a drum machine and Guitar" songs. Now...the Live version of SOTT... THAT kicked some major Azz! Wish I could hear a live version of Mr. Man.

to me ... "ask an expert" .... i think the song is Prince tryin too hard to be Marvin Gaye ....

MisterMan38 said:

That is a major compliment to Prince! Why not be more like Marvin Gaye? Some of the best Soul songs came from that man... but, just take a listen to that guitar solo in the middle!

thisbediscream said:

You can -- a live version was released on the Cinnamon Girl maxi single. Used to be available at the club, but you can still find it on eBay (and probably elsewhere) --

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eB...eName=WDVW

Doozer said:

Thanks... I'll check that out!

thisbediscream said:

I think it sounds a little sly-ish too. It has a little too much of a contrived, self-consciously immitating one's influence's/lenny kravitzesque quality to it.

do NOT get me wrong ... i like the song ... AND it was the first song on the album .. that i gravitated to ....

i think one review i read ... went somethin like "Dear Mr Man appears to be a political song with a deep message .... and the only answer Prince offers is "maybe you can write a letter" ...

Dear Mr.Man/Money Don't Matter 2Night


2 sides of the same coin.

I'm afraid, in my book, this song is only just about ok

Its far away from the best social/political commentary he's done (SOTT, Dance On!, Controversy etc). I mean, the issues raised and the intentions are right, but its just poorly executed. The lyrics are as ham-fisted as the tune is pedestrian. I know the groove is supposed to set a "tired" tone, in keeping with the unwilling resignation Prince has to the current state of things, but it ends up sounding like not a lot of effort was put in to it. I listen to Refection and it sounds like he really put his heart and soul in to it, depite the lyrics being wistful and care-free and about nothing more than him musing and reminiscing. Here, we have a song that is ostensibly making important sociopolitical statements and, yet, I don't feel that the same sort of creative energy was poured in to it.

Listen to some of Ani DiFranco's rallies against the man and the system, or Frank Zappa for that matter, and Mr. Man will dwindle to a mere shadow.

thisbediscream said:

to be frank, all of prince's attempts at social commentary are pretty much pants.

I don't really like it
music-wise its uninteresting and plain
lyric-wise its too whinny and complacent

my best friend however (who doesnt like P) loves this song
so hey different strokes, right?

I am crazy about this song. I downloaded from the internet a concert version that is like 10 minutes long and it phenomenal!!!!! I love Prince´s funky music!!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

This song is not a social commentary - it is a spiritual commentary.

thisbediscream said:

I think it's turgid, predictable boring crap ... and don't get me started on those idiotic lyrics.

dag said:

Ew, where did you download it from, if I may ask?

I love to sing along in my truck with the windows down & the music cranked up. I think it is FUNKY!!

I would love to hear a longer version. I did not get to go to the concert. I could still cry thinking about missing it.
I hope I have the $ to go see him next time.

Shapeshifter said:

Yes, I guess the TRUTH can be turgid??....

OK. I really like the song. It has a slow mellow funky mood to it. But P did irritate me with the lyrics. The man who used to straight up piss folks off is talking about writing a frickin letter? Definitely a WTF moment. Yet I continued to bob my head to it. Mr. Man is not one of his greatest social commentaries but, Cinnamon Girl has the kind of styling that I'm used to from him. He still has hope.

Money Don't Matter 2Night is his best attack at political society.

I love Money Don't Matter 2Nite. I caught me when I first heard it and when I saw the video. It was so real.

thisbediscream said:

I don't care what some of you all say. That was one of the few songs that I dig and could stand on the album b/c it was tight. The lyrics and the musical arrangements were on the one. I glad that Prince got millitant on this jam and spoke his mind. More power to you Prince.

RazzBeret said:

Oh my RazzBeret, your avatar scares me....

That was SOOOOO 2004

Hotlegs said:

"maybe we could write a letter" yeah, so militant!!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

SOTT is one of the best in my opinion. Uptown, too, in a way.
[Edited 3/22/05 14:42pm]

POLITICALLY its very naive and nerdy