I think i am one of thew on here who actually likes Graffiti Bridge, the song, of course, its unusual style for him: musical, but in its genre i find it strong song. And, YES, i enjoy listening to it,

Indeed, the lyrics are cheesy, Its has a splendid melody line, the way the instrumentation and arrangement builds up is fabolous, some great guitar work during the final also....

When the record Graffiti Bridge came out there were 3 songs i was playing over and over again: The Question of You, Still Would stand all time and yes, Graffiti Bridge.

I dont remember much of Strays of the World, because i dont own the Crystal Ball box, but that song sounded fractured, not fuelly realised to me, no memomarable melody whatsoever....

Oh, defending another 'corny' song (not in my words): Dolphin. One of his best pop/rock melodies of the nineties, greatly performed (the drumming!), good guitarsolo...the lyrics may sound corny to some of you, but saying: "If i came back as a dolphin, would you listen to me then, would you let me be your friend, would you let me in".. He is saying that loves goes deeper then loving a person or a body, but love is about connection of souls... Its a song about reincarnation inspired by a bestselling book he read during the recording of the Gold Experience (i dont remember the title, i guess it is in the liner notes of the Gold Experience).
By the way Prince has often said (in different ways) in his lyrics that love goes deeper then carnal or personal love (Love isnt love, untill its past.... the lyrics on Lovesexy)

Okay, to make a long story short, in my ears Princes has done way cornier / cheesier (and more uninspired) songs in the forms of these:
- Almost all the bland R&B ballads on Rave, New Power Soul and Emanicapation
- Some empty track like Hot with you (it sure sounds pathetic when a 40 your old guy who made brilliant records as Parade, Sign and Lovesexy, fakes street credibility and sings: let me get you underneath the cream and whoooo.....)
- The Arms of Orion (maybe Barbara Streisand and Bary Gibb could have done something better with this song....)
- Life of the Party (come on: Funky beat....where? inspired lyrics...Nope... bland production....Yep..... ouch)....erm...Jughead is a masterpiece compared to this song
- The most beautifull girl in the world - and THAT's his only top 10 hit in the last 10 years???? wtf

Riverpoet31 said:

Well, the shit was corny to me. Period. I don't care what book his ass was readin', he shoulda put it down Oh, and "Love, it isn't love, until it's past" wasn't on Lovesexy, that was from "Sometimes It Snows In April"