The song was OK. I think we take less these days because we are starved.

Sound wise, It sounds like the early 90s (18 and over), tune wise, its fairly lacking.

I think it works as a simple funk groove, but its hardly creative.

Alexandernvrmind said:

I like the song better just listening to it instead of watching it with the video.

It's a pretty catchy song, but it's probably not going to be on my Greatest Hits list.

Some of you are so hard to please. He can do no right.

Nikki23 said:

You're damn right. Some of you are very depressing hahaha. So bored with everything. I think many old fans need to move on.

FanofDaFascist said:

He played it live in 1988 and it was recorded in 1988...
[Edited 2/3/06 6:49am]

herb4 said:

Layers? Could u elaborate on that? Cuz I don't hear 'em... (I like the song very much)...

Prince never really got Rave/NPS/High out of his system. I had hoped that the success of Musicology might have sated his commercial ambition, that he might tick the box with an utterly by-the-numbers pop record and return to the rich experimental vein of TRC and One Nite Alone. Now it seems that the Rainbow era was a false promise.

"Black Sweat" has some pristine funk falsetto, a few moments of hip-shaking bump n grind and the irresistible "I gotta brand new dance". But it's also a forty-something musical genius playing some pretty old tricks, a rampant sexuality that should be years behind him and which was always more satisfying when backed by an entire social vision. "Black Sweat" will be fun at the clubs, it's minimalist, it has the Linn Drum and all that, but it's also only one pace removed from the sort of disposable fluff that had me losing interest in the late '90s. He's certainly getting better at doing the "new single from Prince on MTV" thing, but the horizons are so limited it's depressing.

fairmoan said:

this shares part of my feelings of why i'm not digging the track.

I like it

I think it's ok... Not enough of a melody for me.

Looks like it's doing well on vh1.com's video chart

this song is a repeat grower, I'm telling you that little bass synth boogie noise that comes in here and there is making me feel crazee.
[Edited 2/3/06 8:37am]

Universaluv said:

Mediocre... i need to give it a few more listens though.

I absolutely LOVE it, and I haven't even heard it yet!

fairmoan said:

- Agree

coolcat said:

- Exactly the same problem I have..."Kiss" and `When doves cry" were very danceable, but they had melody...

I think people here care too much about what everyone else thinks...and I think peoeple here care too much about making sure everyone eles knows what they think...lol ...wild how our mindset changes with technology.

Had the internet and message board sites like this one existed 20 years ago when "Kiss" first came out, I imagine the split among fans who loved/hated the song was intially released would have been similar to what it is now for "Black Sweat": most of us liking it, some of us not getting into it at all, at least not initially...I, for one, was underwhelmed when I first heard "Kiss", and a bit disappointed. I'd imagine the "haters" (...I hate that term) back then may have commented on things like saying Prince's falsetto is too irritating for the entire length of a single, and how much better it would have been had he sung it in his "normal" voice...that the rhythm guitar is "ok" but pales when compared to what he threw down on "Let's Go Crazy" and "Temptation"...that lines like "Act your age/Not your shoe size" are immature and weak compared to the poetry of "When Does Cry"...and that his Donald-Duck-On Helium screetching at the end of the song is just a step above fingernails on a chalkboard.

I know we all like to pretend we could spot and appreciate Prince's classic singles the very first time we heard them, that we just "knew" this one was different than the rest...and we also tend to convince ourselves that the number of years we've been a fan somehow gives us otherworldly insight into how long Prince spent creating a song, whether or not he had fun doing so, his mindset at the time of creation, whether or not the song will be a Top 40 hit, and especially whether or not he'll ever again be able to create anything worthy of the label "Genius"...and this goes for both sides of the fence, both pro and con, good and bad, "Love it" and "Hate it". I chalk it up to nothing more than how the internet has shaped our perceptions of our opinions, as well as how it has shaped our perceptions of everyone else's...lol

I sometimes wish we could turn back the clock to a time where a new Prince song could exist on its own, and I could listen to it and either like it or be bored with it without the background noise of a million anonymous opinions trying to convince me I should feel differently. I suppose I could just not come here when a new song is released...but my mindset I think has been forever changed by 6+ years of message board experience of all shapes and colors. Unlike in 1986, I now want to know what "everyone" thinks all the time...and it's almost subconscious at this point.

I'm still in shock 4 the MTV endorsement!
Guess it'll be the new "Hung Up"

For the record, I love the song...although the first listen left me going "Eh, it's ok I suppose..nice beat". As Aerogram said, though, it has a deceptively catchy melody, so deceptive that many here seem to think it doesn't even exist...lol ...I'll say this much about it, though: I can easily sing the melody of "Black Sweat" in my mind without fail...but for the life of me I can't remember how the melody of "Te Amo Corleone" goes...

JellyJam said:

I agreed. I thought i was the only one who thought of that. I think this is a perfect summer jam and I have this feeling that this song is not going to get a great buzz but also it is going to be a summer hit.

Byron said:

excellent post

Byron said:

That's essence of a perfect pop record...It tattoo's it's melody and lyrics on your psyche!

The only reason this song has caused such a storm is because it's the first remotely listenable thing he's released since Crystal Ball (*puts on flack jacket*).

Musicology wasted away pretty damn fast, and I remember a lot of people claiming to find it boring only a week or so after release (obviously, others didn't and started releasing cyber-doves amongst other crazed-fam acts on a par with MJ loonies).

I personally think Black Sweat is so commercial it sucks. Fucking unoriginal bollocks...far too similar to the black eyed peas releases of late. Where's the funk? This is RnB. It ain't funky, but it's much more listenable than the recent Prince, which has got my hopes up..I must admit.

SquirrelMeat said:

Not true! As for me it's either I like the song or not. Most of us trust our ears when comes listening to some good music. And a lot of people like the song but yes there always going to be the few who won't think highly of the song and that's cool yet hey that's reality. Okay, this song isn't groundbreaking or happen to be my favorite Prince song. And Prince might have create this song while he is asleep rather than sit down and trying to be more innovative. but still majority of us like the song the way it is and also many agreed that those two singles are the best he put out in 10 plus years. And I couldn't agreed more with the last sentence.

Novabreaker said:

Well, let us know what you think when you did, will ya?

calldapplwondery83 said:

Well since the lyrics show additional lyrics at the end of the song, I assume this is the radio edit we're listening to.


[Edited 2/3/06 9:03am]

Anx said: