Shorty said:

Awwww...didn't mean 2 hurt ur feelings

just that i don't like that sack of shit of a song

LadyB0yCabDriver said:

oh I think you DID mean to hurt people's feelings.

no way! really? you don't like Solo? why didn't you just say so?

Shorty said:

The song sucks...it's 2 self indulgent & 'look at me I can sing high notes' like 'God' (vocal version cos the instrumental version rocks) and would make even the most 'loyal' prince geek cringe with nausea.

You must be completely missing the point. Read the lyrics quickly:

Solo

So low, the curb looks like a skyscraper
So high, the stars are under me
So quiet, I can hear the blood rushin' through my veins
So low, I feel like I'm goin' insane
The angels, they watch in wonder
When U made love 2 me
Through the rain and the thunder
U cried in ecstacy
U were so kind
I felt sorry 4 all creation be
Cuz at the time, no one was lucky
No one was lucky, no one was lucky as me
And now U're gone and I just wanna be still
So silent, I'll just let my senses sleep
It's gonna be so hard 2 hear my voice
If I ever learn once more 2 speak
I'm so lost, no one can find me
And I've been looking 4 so long
But now I'm done
I'm so low, so low, my name is "No One"

The song is about being on your own after a relationship. The arrangement on the song is simple and haunting, like the feeling one has when they are recently left alone. This song captures this perfectly. I always felt that’s what the song was about before knowing what all the lyrics were. Add to it the sound effects of the tumultuous storm that is in the background and you get the mood the song is going for.

It’s a testament to the varied sound that Prince can put on wax. He’s a true artist who can cover many facets, this one being one of them. Now, as for the flow on the album, many say it doesn’t flow well with the rest of the album. I disagree. Most of the album is dark. Even the cover has dark overtones. This goes perfectly with that motif. About the only “sore thumb” to the album would be maybe Orgasm, but that’s another story for another day…
[Edited 8/17/05 11:54am]

LadyB0yCabDriver said:

-----
It would only make you cringe if you don't appreciate decent singing. Which appears to be the case now a days.

1nonly said:

It is a haunting song, one that gripped me immediately upon hearing it for the first time. I was such a departure from anything else on the album which is already pretty sprawling imho. In fact there was almost nothing in his repitoire that had the same sort of otherworldly quality to it. ("There's Others Here With Us" being the only other that I could remember.) After listening to it for a while I began to recognize the vocal style that P was borrowing for this piece and it blew me away when I it came to me that my man was employing his own take of the legendary gospel great "Mahalia Jackson" in his vocal delivery. If you don't believe or know who she is, do a search and check it out. That boy really knows his stuff.

Yeshua4all said:

Co-sign. It reminds me of the style of those really, really old negro sprituals they used to call slave songs. Outstanding!

babynoz said:

No eway man...if Prince ever started singing that shit again Kunta kinte would run away on his good foot and Uncle Tom would hide his ass in his Cabin

babynoz said:

No eway man...if Prince ever started singing that shit again Kunta kinte would run away on his good foot and Uncle Tom would hide his ass in his Cabin

To 1nonly,

Your description of Solo from Come was perfect.

That song is incredible to listen to. From the lyrics to the harp sounds to the thunder in the background - this song is bizarre and very haunting. It fits so perfectly on that dark, lonely record.

I remember reading around the time of release for Come, a review here in Toronto said something to this effect: even though Come is considered a Prince throw away record, most artists' best work isn't as solid as this.

I still believe the record is incredible - from the musicianship, Prince's vocals, the songs, the segues, the horns, the song selection, the lyrical content, to the drum and synth programming, to the album artwork - it's all so dark and dreary.

I love it... One of my favourite Prince records. And, I don't think it was as much a throwaway as it has been described to be. Prince had an agenda and vision with that record and the music along with the lyrics plus the artwork are all reflective of this.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Exactly (I knew you'd be the one pointing this out ).
I'm not saying it's the most brilliant tune ever, but perhaps some of you are so disgusted by it because you're not used to hearing someone just let go and pour their feelings and emotions into a record. I think P was very sincere and maybe a bit sad when he recorded this. This song can be taken many ways, just like "Had U" from Chaos and Disorder. Both songs are kinda "letting us in", if we listen closely.

At first I was like "WTF!" but later I have learned to appreciate Solo. , you have to be in the right mood to appreciate it.

OdysseyMiles said:

I think that Prince may look back and conclude that it was embarrassingly honest. Rarely does he let his slip hang on wax in such a way that reveals his most vulnerable moments. Inciteful post.

funkaholic1972 said:

Yeah, just like Anal Sex!

Yeshua4all said:

As I keep saying, the lyrics were written by David Henry Hwang. Vocally, it is a very emotional performance - but I don't see how he can be pouring his heart out lyrically when someone else wrote it.