With the release of 3121, I thought I'd compare it to some of the Prince i loved in my childhood, and Graffiti Bridge is one of the first.

The film...is okay It's silly and cheesey, but the album (with the exception of a few songs like Release It! and the title track) are actually rather nice. They're rich, well written, solid Prince lyrics with distinctive arrangements and a true sense of 'joy' in the music.

Favs:

* New Power Generation
* The Question of U
* Elephants & Flowers
* Tick, Tick, Boom
* Theives in the Temple
* Joy in Repetition
* Still Would Stand All Time

Really, this is one of the most lyrically interesting albums Prince created. I don't see a lot of love being given, and it should be. I miss this Prince.

I was listening to it just now Great song. The line about peeing is a little...on the nose, but the rest of the song is awesome.

Perfect example of the LONG, DEEP songs that Prince is capable of.

THIS from Graffiti Bridge:

"Talking 2 no one in particular, they say "the baddest I am tonight"
4 letter words are seldom heard with such dignity and bite.

All the poets and the part time singers always hang inside
live music from a band plays a song called "Soul Psychodelicide".

The song's a year long and had been playing 4 months when he
walked into the place.

No one seemed to care, an introverted this-is-it look on most of their faces.
Up on the mic repeating 2 words, over and over again
was this woman he had never noticed before he lost himself in the
articulated manner in which she said them.

These 2 words, a little bit behind the beat.
I mean just enough 2 turn u on."


Versus THIS from 3121

"U're a VIP at least 2 me
Come here and show me some ID
Eye know U're fine from head 2 pumps
if U were mine we'd bump bump bump
U're much 2 young 2 peep my stash
U're tryin' 2 write checks Ur body can't cash
U can't hang with this, girl"

*****

That's what i miss most about the "old" Prince. Not so much the sexy/raunchy aspect, but the more introspective Prince that had something interesting and original to say.

I dunno..I'm rambling and being sentimental.
[Edited 3/30/06 19:54pm]
[Edited 3/30/06 19:55pm]

With the release of 3121, I thought I'd compare it to some of the Prince i loved in my childhood, and Graffiti Bridge is one of the first.

The film...is okay It's silly and cheesey, but the album (with the exception of a few songs like Release It! and the title track)

TheFreakerFantastic said:

I dunno. I felt this was the start of the phony Prince era. It was as if his exposure to the Batman set and working close Tinseltown set him off in a plastic, superficial direction. Graffiti Bridge is so It's A Small World After All I couldn't believe my ears. Can you imagine that turd on "Controversy?"

I really think the whole "positive" vibe was forced and Hollywood-influenced. Prince was sliding into movie conventions, making albums with "happy endings." But his best work was never about happily ever after, but what ifs and why nots and fu's.