The song "3121" is funky and crazy, but for me it's not a great album opener like the classics "Controversy", "1999", "Let's Go Crazy", "Sign O'The Times" or even "The Rainbow Children" and "Musicology".

My TOP 10 album openers are:

1.) "1999"
2.) "Let's Go Crazy"
3.) "Sign O'The Times"
4.) "Controversy"
5.) "I Wanna Be Your Lover"
6.) "Jam Of The Year"
7.) "Musicology"
8.) "Dity Mind"
9.) "Rainbow Children"
10) "Crystal Ball"

What R yours TOP 5 or TOP 10?

I think it rocks/funks hard - It's my favorite Prince opener in a long, long time. Anyway, I'll toss in my Top 5 album openers:

1) Let's Go Crazy
2) The Future
3) Come
4) Christopher Tracy's Parade
5) Dirty Mind

3121 would probably clock in at 6th.

And this song absolutely stomps TRC or Musicology as far as title tracks go, as well as the vast majority of his '90s openers, in my estimation.

Sadly, I need a new copy of Crystal Ball, as I can't remember that title track well enough to rank it.
[Edited 3/23/06 1:24am]

it's a brilliant opener.

Pussy Control
Let's Go Crazy
My Name is Prince
Thunder
New Power Soul
Chaos and Disorder
Dirty Mind
Sign O' the Times
Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic
3121

1. "For You" / For You -- it's a great career opener
2. "Let's Go Crazy" / Purple Rain
3. "Around the World in a Day" / Around the World...
4. "Christopher Tracy's Parade" / Parade
5. "Eye No" / Lovesexy

those 5 above all else, and in that order even

I think it's a great opener... MONSTER infact.

1999
Controversy
Lets Go Crazy
C&D
Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
Know
Thunder
Dirty Mind
SOTT
3121

soulsurfer05 said:

Jam Of The Year?? Musicology? Your list is flawed right there!!

The 5 worst album openers:

- New Power Soul
- Thunder
- Around The World In A Day
- Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
- Come

soulsurfer05 said:

- P Control instead of Come

I will also have to disagree with you. 3121 is a BRILLIANT opening track!

wash yo mouth out with soap! its a freekin great opener. If i hadn't already heard the album beofre it was out, i would be like..... ! its the black album part 2!!!!!

paulcfc said:

I totally agree...'3121' is a great opener...the moment I heard it, I got really excited. The voice overlapping reminds me of 'Black'...

VANITYSprisonBYTCH said:

Top openers, not in any order: 3121, Eye No, PControl, ATWIAD, & 1999

3121 is a brilliant opener, I would love an extended jam version of it..!

I think it's a perfect opener....can't get enough of the song!!!!!

3121 is a fantastic opener. Classic Prince. I can't stop grinning as soon as I hear it.

All the whiners who want "the old Prince" back. This track is it.

1. 1999.
2. Let's go crazy.
3. Eye no.
4. 3121
5. North.

It is not just one of the best openers on any one of his albums - it is sonically one of the best pieces of music he has created in a long time.

The lyrics are not all that interesting to me - but muscially, it is a deep groove stuttering funk angular noisy mess of brilliance.

I rather wish there was less of "love", "incense and candles", indeed anything with Tamar on it, and much more of this sort of thing on the album.

But, you can't please everyone now, can you?

3121 is the Prince I became a fan of. He has returned home. This is what he does better than anyone else.

1. 1999
2. SOTT
3. Dirty Mind
4. My Name is Prince
5. Controversy

How the hell is "Eye NO" not on that list

I think its a GREAT opener. Wash out those ears!! One of the best in awhile.

Top for me?

Lets Go Crazy
1999
Controversy
Sign o The Times
Crystal Ball
3121

3121 is THE opnener..the second i heard it i was like shit..this is what its all about

anything from 1978-84 plus sott and batman

soulsurfer05 said:

Thats a pretty good list.
Try listening to those 5 songs in a row.
Painful. Its very painful.
Makes you question why you are a fan.

thedoorkeeper said:

I have to agree, almost all of those are absolutely abysmal tunes - But why the hate for Come?! That track is the one exception in there. Easily one of my favorite openers.

dawntreader said:

I agree that 3121 is an AMAZING opener as well. It's in my top 3..

Top 7 Prince openers:

1. "Dearly Beloved..." from Let's Go Crazy //Purple Rain
2. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you..." (fukkin brilliant!) from 1999//1999
3. 3121 ..with all it's weird effects & lazy infectious funk from 3121
4. Controversy from Controvery
5. "I've seen the Future and it will be..." from The Future//Batman soundtrack
6. "Expert lover, my babe...ever had a Crystal Ball" -- Crystal Ball collection
7. Tie ...Thunder from Diamonds and Pearls & Rave from Rave Unto the Joy fantastic

organgrinder said:

Right, right ...me too.

I was totally floored.

soulsurfer05 said:

Whaaattt!!?? When I popped this CD into my car CD player and heard 3121 I was like, this is some funky, freaky, loopy, doopy shit and I love it!!! I think it's a great opener. To each it's own I guess.