I think it's up there. The ONA version is like a 4th of July fireworks show: explosive eruptions, soft walls of sound, sparklers, soaring rockets. Wow.

It's funny you'd pose this question. I heard "Adore" unexpectedly on the radio today, after not hearing it in ages seemingly, and it reminded me how great a song it is.

I was also thinking that it still stands as one of Prince's best vocal performances. When he screams near the end, "Without you, there is no sea, there is no shore, love is too weak to define how much I adore...", that's just plain beautiful!

ALLMACK said:

I think so. You can hear sincerity and love. And yes Call Me is there as well, but I think "Adore" is still on top

Although I love Adore, and I want it played at my wedding, Prince's voice sounds amazing in Extraordinary.

RazzBeret said:

I always thought "Extraordinary" was very underrated. It's a little by-the-numbers in terms of style, but very smooth and pleasing nevertheless. "Adore" still beats it though in terms of vocal performance.

spelling edit
[Edited 4/6/05 15:37pm]

sextonseven said:

People try 2 break us up
Valentines a little rough
But we survived cause we had a love...


I just love how that line flows.

DAMN U ... i think it's his best vocal track

Try SOLO.

I consider Adore a classic Prince track, it belongs in the top 20 of Prince songs for me.... when it comes to this singing on this song, the best part of it for me are the background vocals....near the end of the song, there is a bridge with harp playing and in the background you can hear him song "Adoooooreeeee Yooooouuuu" twice, and those two lines sound so BEAUTIFULL: a word i not often use when thinking of pop-music, but those two lines are pure magic...

Other great background vocals you can hear on Still waiting from his second, selftitled album. They sound very assured for a musican his age (at that moment, that is)

But apart from those, some songs with great lead vocals for me are:
- Purple Rain: I know, i must have heard this song like a thousands time, mostly on the radio even, but the way he sings this song is still touching. Considering this is a vocal-track recorded during a live-concert makes it even more exciting....
- The live version of I could never take the place of your man from the Sign of the Times Movie.....he sounds vivid, urgent and joyfull singing this.....assured and loose
- Power fantastic - a bit creepy sounding song, but nonetheless great singing
- I love you, but i dont trust you anymore: again a sparely arranged, acoustic ballad, for me Prince seems to excell on this kind of tracks vocally
- Probably my favourite: If i was your girlfried - the album version, alltough his voice is transformed into that of 'camille', you can hear the obsessivenes, the urgency in this vocals, the effect on his voice maybe even strengthens it...I especially Love the two 'cries' in this song: "sometimes i can trip on how happy we could be .....Pleeeeeaaaaassssseeeee" (calling that begging is an understatement) and "Lets go the movies and cryyyyy together", pure genious in my opinion. Much starker, and deeper then the version in the Sign of the movies, i think.

ALLMACK said:

The SOTT version is the eiptome of perfect layerd vocals. On a great system you can appreciate the backgrpound voices and harmonies. Oh god if they were mixed to the forefront as much as the main vocal it would be madness!! I urge everyone to re-listen to Adore and just listen to the background appregios and more at the ending coda of the song.

Youre right on spot with that, diamond girl!

Best song.....EVER!!

RazzBeret said:

There were times a little rough...

Jestyr said:

Don't blame me, blame the lyrical website!

The SOTT version is the eiptome of perfect layerd vocals. On a great system you can appreciate the backgrpound voices and harmonies. Oh god if they were mixed to the forefront as much as the main vocal it would be madness!! I urge everyone to re-listen to Adore and just listen to the background appregios and more at the ending coda of the song.

I agree, very well said.
On cassette I used to fix my headphone connection in a way so the background vocals are brought to the forefront. It was amazing.

RazzBeret said:

I know!

calin said:

exactly. As a song I prefer Adore, but Prince's falsetto on Solo is ridiculous.

Couldn't agree more!

Our first dance song at our wedding was Adore, and the DJ played Prince, the Time, Sheila E. for the rest of the evening...

yellagrey said:

My wedding song first dance was Adore followed by Damn U

No-one else in the room got it except me and my wife which makes it even better.

So far for my wedding, I know I want Adore and Call My Name. I'm sure there'll be a couple more hundred added to that list before it's over with.

Check it--in the last section of the song you can hear Prince wail in his own background "Ill be there for ya baby!." Oh man! Too soulful!

hope4thenew said:

Don't know if it is his best but I too think it is a contender - his voice sounds smoother on this than on many other ballads. Have to say that I think TMBGITW is also a great vocal, especially towards the end.

yellagrey said:

1st Dance at our wedding too!