"The Love We Make" has ALWAYS been one of my top 5 favorite Prince songs ever. The lyrics are so haunting but uplifting at the same time underlined by overly dark/gloomy music. The ending chant "The only love there is, is the love we make" caps off the impressive song. My question is this...Prince has used "Purple Rain" as the ending to his concerts for a while. Do you all think that "The Love We Make" could be used as effectively as "Purple Rain?" its almost as if a spritual element overtakes the crowd when Prince does "Purple Rain" at the end of his concerts and I think that spiritual element is also VERY present in "The Love We Make." I dare to say that "The Love We Make" is as relevant and great musically and lyrically as "Purple Rain" is. Do you all think that "The Love We Make" would be as effective as the closer to Prince's shows as "Purple Rain" is?

Now we all know that "Purple Rain"(the song) will have an appeal simply because more people(those who are and arent Prince fans) have heard the song since it was a hit whereas "The Love We Make" is only known in limited circles, but just based off the credentials of the 2 songs, do you think that "The Love We Make" could replace "Purple Rain" as Prince's "spiritual" closer in his concerts?

CD. #3 is my fave disc off this album and been listening to it all week on my way to work. The Love We Make is a Beautiful song. Replacing Purple Rain? He could try it, I wouldn't mind.

"The Love We Make is a Beautiful song."

YES it is....probably his best of the 90's, easily. I think the song is as effective as "Purple Rain" without some of "PR's" overdramatic moments..

i always thought that song was too nice for the rest of that album and it wasn't done the justice it deserved. i'd love to hear it played live more.

Anx said:

I agree...one thing that irritates me about Prince is that he focusses on some of the "craziest" things...

i.e. a video for "Face Down" but nothing for "The Love We Make"

LoveAlive said:

yeah, it's frustrating...i feel the same way about 'beautiful strange' getting buried in the middle of the Rave In2 remix album and 'lonely room' getting paved over altogether. those are such strong songs, at least in my opinion.

Not a bad song on disc 3. The Love We Make is beautiful.

It's so funny that this thread was started. Just last week, I rediscovered Emancipation when I listened to it at work one day. The Love We Make is definitely a wonderful song and I would love to see it performed live. I actually gained a whole new appreciation for the whole Emancipation set. I always kind of liked it, but there are some really great songs on there!

I have never seen what the fuss is about this song. Too syrupy with some lyrics that are so cliche I was sure he had stolen them.

its a good song.. I overlook it due to Emancipation.

Great Song! I saw him perform this live and end his show in Vegas at the HOB 2 years ago...He ruled the night and put this show into my top 3 specifically because of this song...What a great night that was!

wishuhvn said:

WHAT?????

LoveAlive said:

It's tough to replace a song like "Purple Rain," which is probably his single most beloved song. "The Love We Make" has some of the qualities of a concert closer, but it's more in the vein of "Anna Stesia" than "Purple Rain." Starts off gloomy, almost suffocating and claustrophobic, builds to an emotional crisis, then liberates you and takes you home on a sing along chorus.

Where "Purple Rain" was mystical, "Love We Make" is measured.

"The only love there is... is the love we make." It's grounded in reality, doesn't teleport you to another world. It doesn't promise you heaven--it brings you back to earth, in your body. Back to this mortal coil.
[Edited 4/1/06 13:59pm]

wishuhvn said:

I was there too, what a great show indeed. The man was on fire that night. Much better then the next night IMO. Strange he didn't play this during the Musicology Tour that year. I think he even botched the lyrics a little..

Its no bad song, but a bit overrated i think, the vocals are not that great, and the melody is a bit so-so, too obviously trying to sound anthemlike and not really succeeding.

When it comes to other songs in these vein i like more i think about Gold (alltough this could benefit from rawer production, and a new set of lyrics instead of the largely cheesy lyrics used now...lol) and - also on Emancipation - Saviour, it has that 'huge' Michael Bland drum sound, and the final with the screaming and soloing is just 'classic' Prince.

The Love We Make is in the same level of Purple Rain!

It's tough to replace a song like "Purple Rain," which is probably his single most beloved song. "The Love We Make" has some of the qualities of a concert closer, but it's more in the vein of "Anna Stesia" than "Purple Rain." Starts off gloomy, almost suffocating and claustrophobic, builds to an emotional crisis, then liberates you and takes you home on a sing along chorus.

Where "Purple Rain" was mystical, "Love We Make" is measured.

"The only love there is... is the love we make." It's grounded in reality, doesn't teleport you to another world. It doesn't promise you heaven--it brings you back to earth, in your body. Back to this mortal coil.
[Edited 4/1/06 13:59pm]
[/quote]

I agree with a lot of what you said here. I like the fact that, as you said, "The Love We Make" is grounded in reality. One "drawback"(if I can use that term ever so loosely) concerning "Purple Rain" IS its mysticism. I dont think the subject matter of the song is "easily accessible" by the average every day person. Take 10 random people and ask them what is the meaning of the song "Purple Rain" is and see if they REALLY know. I still meet people who think that Prince was talking about a car in "Little Rewd Corvette."
I think "The Love We Make" surpasses in its complex simplicity. Sometimes as people, we dont need to be transported to another planet or have an "outer body experience." Sometimes(a lot of times) we just need to face our situations and inner demons right where we are HERE on planet Earth. I think its easier to tap into something that takes you to a place outside of yourself, yet much more difficult to face inside of yourself.

Just my thoughts...


eitehr way, I love both song and I feel that "The Love We Make" is DEFINITELY an underrated classic right up there with all the greats he made in the 80's

LoveAlive said:

I agree with a lot of what you said here. I like the fact that, as you said, "The Love We Make" is grounded in reality. One "drawback"(if I can use that term ever so loosely) concerning "Purple Rain" IS its mysticism. I dont think the subject matter of the song is "easily accessible" by the average every day person. Take 10 random people and ask them what is the meaning of the song "Purple Rain" is and see if they REALLY know. I still meet people who think that Prince was talking about a car in "Little Red Corvette."
I think "The Love We Make" is so effective because of its complex simplicity. Sometimes as people, we dont need to be transported to another planet or have an "outer body experience." Sometimes(a lot of times) we just need to face our situations and inner demons right where we are HERE on planet Earth. I think its easier to tap into something that takes you to a place outside of yourself, yet much more difficult to face the realities of yourself right where you are.

Just my thoughts...


eitehr way, I love both song and I feel that "The Love We Make" is DEFINITELY an underrated classic right up there with all the greats he made in the 80's[/quote]
[Edited 4/2/06 12:16pm]

Oh yes - this is a great song - and would certainly go in line with Purple Rain - and would be a fab song to end at one of his shows...this song gives me goosebumps -

It is on the same level as PR. But it couldnt "replace" it as a show closer.

Far too many people associate him with PR and not enough would appreaciate TLWM.

LoveAlive said:

Little Red Corvette isn't about a car?????

padawan said:

LOL
sarcasm...gotta love it!

origmnd said:

You probably right, but musically and spiritually that dont take the merits away from the song. Like usual, its the people that wouldnt be able to receive it..Right?

LoveAlive said:

Of course.
I cant listen to the lp version of PR anymore. If I wanna hear the song I'll pull out an old rehearsal or live show.

I'd much rather hear TLWM.

LoveAlive said:

[Edited 4/2/06 12:16pm]
[/quote]


Mm. People "get" the meaning of "Purple Rain" just fine, I think. The chorus is a bit metaphoric, but the verses are straight up literal. They're almost casual, like he's talking to an old friend. "Purple Rain" is one of his plainest, most easily accessible songs. It's about regret and remoarse.

"The Love We Make" is a little more labored. There's more artifice to the lyrics, and the verse constructions are rigid. But the tone and imagery are bleaker and more specific than that of "Purple Rain," which may cause listeners to view is as more real or honest. There's no catharsis, no relief. The closing chant is resigned and sober, not quite the rapturous send-off in "Purple Rain."

Which is what a concert closer requires. A big triumphant finale. You can make your case for "Love We Make," but just listen to Prince howling at the end of "Purple Rain." That's the kind of release words can't articulate.

I don't have the book anymore, but I am sure that this was written for someone who had died from Drug Abuse?? Hence some of the lyrical reference's in the song. Again without the book it is difficult to state this.

Can anyone clarify this?

purpledisc said:

Jonathan Coleman - As in Lisa's brother, ex-member of Smashing Pumpkins.

NouveauDance said:

Thank You -

It is such a beautiful song and yet very sad, one of my many favourites from this album.

The Love We Make could possibly overtake Purple Rain, as it is a great mover live -- the Filmore gig in 2004 was superb.

But if The Love We Make replaces Purple Rain (for a while), then we should include "Gold" as an equal replacement. The same would have to be said about either "Everlasting Now" or "Last December" - both from The Rainbow Children. The two last joints from the 2001 disc have the same movement power as a closer and is right there as equal to Purple Rain.

But even though Prince said it's time to put PR to bed for a little bit, he's still playing it today (with Tamar) ... will Purple Rain ever retire completely, a la "1999"?

NouveauDance said:

If anyone's heard/seen the L.A. 2004 concert, didn't Prince dedicate a song to Jonathan Coleman? Can't remember which one.

And The Love We Make is a real gem of a song. In some ways, I like it better than Purple Rain. I don't like some of Purple Rain's lyrics:

U say u want a leader
But u can’t seem 2 make up your mind
I think u better close it
And let me guide u 2 the purple rain

Closing your mind is never good and Prince seems to think it's OK in this song for some reason. Rubs me the wrong way.
[Edited 4/2/06 17:32pm]