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Thread started 12/15/06 9:20am

MikeMatronik

Prince...New Wave?

What are the prince songs and albums that can be considered new wave?

This is based on a discussion I had with someone in another forum!
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Reply #1 posted 12/15/06 9:37am

PurpleKnight

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The Controversy album?
The world is a comedy for those who think and a tragedy for those who feel.

"You still wanna take me to prison...just because I won't trade humanity for patriotism."
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Reply #2 posted 12/15/06 9:42am

Genesia

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I listened to a lot of New Wave in the late 70s/early 80s and I don't think any of his albums can be considered New Wave in their entirety.

That said, he had elements of New Wave on several albums...

Dirty Mind

Dirty Mind
Uptown (a little funky for true New Wave, but the synths carry the vibe)
Sister (true New Wave -- very reminiscent of stuff The Knack did)
Partyup (again, on the funky side, but definitely New Wave-ish)

Controversy

Controversy (the intro reminds me a little of the Talking Heads)
Sexuality (true New Wave here)
Ronnie, Talk to Russia (here again)
Annie Christian

1999

Let's Pretend We're Married
Automatic
Something in the Water
All the Critics Love You

Purple Rain

Computer Blue (not 100% "Wave," but it has elements)

After that, the New Wave thing was pretty much over.
We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #3 posted 12/15/06 9:48am

FruitToAttract
Bears

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Yeah right. He doesn't even like New Wave. Or television.
"18 years old, and she knows her funk!!! headbang"
~ funkpill
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Reply #4 posted 12/15/06 9:58am

ufoclub

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Purple Rain definitely had the New Wave vibe and look back then. As a matter of fact that's the reason all the trendy kids latched on, he fooled them into listening to his funk rock gospel with a little New Wave keyboard, hair flipped to one side, frilly outfit, eyeliner sugar.... then he continued it, and dropped the new wave vibe and lost the mainstream fans....

I still remember new wave friends of mine who DRESSED LIKE PURPLE RAIN PRINCE, hated a song like Tambourine... or Housequake... and at that point had moved to Depeche Mode and New Order. Prince lost the "white" New Wave feel and he lost their interest.

Having a hit with disco/R&B KISS finally closed the door on his strict New Wave fans.

(He gained my full attention with those very songs)
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Reply #5 posted 12/15/06 10:00am

ufoclub

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When I first heard 1999 it fit right in with that Human League song at the time.... "and so the conversation turned, till the sun when down..."
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Reply #6 posted 12/15/06 10:09am

Genesia

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ufoclub said:

Purple Rain definitely had the New Wave vibe and look back then. As a matter of fact that's the reason all the trendy kids latched on, he fooled them into listening to his funk rock gospel with a little New Wave keyboard, hair flipped to one side, frilly outfit, eyeliner sugar.... then he continued it, and dropped the new wave vibe and lost the mainstream fans....

I still remember new wave friends of mine who DRESSED LIKE PURPLE RAIN PRINCE, hated a song like Tambourine... or Housequake... and at that point had moved to Depeche Mode and New Order. Prince lost the "white" New Wave feel and he lost their interest.

Having a hit with disco/R&B KISS finally closed the door on his strict New Wave fans.

(He gained my full attention with those very songs)


Yes...but...Prince's Purple Rain look came from the New Romantic movement in England, which had its roots in glam rock and (to a lesser degree) punk. In terms of music, the New Romantics included groups like Roxy Music, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, and Eurythmics. The music was synth driven (like most of the Prince tracks I noted above) and softer than punk.

The really amazing thing about Prince is that he pulled together funk, R&B, rock, glam rock, New Wave, and New Romantic both in his musical and personal style. That had never been done before. I know I'm not the first one to say it, but it bears repeating.
We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #7 posted 12/15/06 10:33am

ufoclub

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Genesia said:

ufoclub said:

Purple Rain definitely had the New Wave vibe and look back then. As a matter of fact that's the reason all the trendy kids latched on, he fooled them into listening to his funk rock gospel with a little New Wave keyboard, hair flipped to one side, frilly outfit, eyeliner sugar.... then he continued it, and dropped the new wave vibe and lost the mainstream fans....

I still remember new wave friends of mine who DRESSED LIKE PURPLE RAIN PRINCE, hated a song like Tambourine... or Housequake... and at that point had moved to Depeche Mode and New Order. Prince lost the "white" New Wave feel and he lost their interest.

Having a hit with disco/R&B KISS finally closed the door on his strict New Wave fans.

(He gained my full attention with those very songs)


Yes...but...Prince's Purple Rain look came from the New Romantic movement in England, which had its roots in glam rock and (to a lesser degree) punk. In terms of music, the New Romantics included groups like Roxy Music, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, and Eurythmics. The music was synth driven (like most of the Prince tracks I noted above) and softer than punk.

The really amazing thing about Prince is that he pulled together funk, R&B, rock, glam rock, New Wave, and New Romantic both in his musical and personal style. That had never been done before. I know I'm not the first one to say it, but it bears repeating.



New Romantic was New Wave. All those bands you mentioned fall under the category New Wave (as defined by the masses from the 80's), while New Romantic might be a way to try to create a niche within New Wave....
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Reply #8 posted 12/15/06 10:35am

Genesia

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ufoclub said:

Genesia said:



Yes...but...Prince's Purple Rain look came from the New Romantic movement in England, which had its roots in glam rock and (to a lesser degree) punk. In terms of music, the New Romantics included groups like Roxy Music, Spandau Ballet, Duran Duran, Depeche Mode, Soft Cell, and Eurythmics. The music was synth driven (like most of the Prince tracks I noted above) and softer than punk.

The really amazing thing about Prince is that he pulled together funk, R&B, rock, glam rock, New Wave, and New Romantic both in his musical and personal style. That had never been done before. I know I'm not the first one to say it, but it bears repeating.



New Romantic was New Wave. All those bands you mentioned fall under the category New Wave (as defined by the masses from the 80's), while New Romantic might be a way to try to create a niche within New Wave....


Yes, I know. But while New Romantic was New Wave, not all New Wave was New Romantic -- ya dig?

At any rate, I was referring specifically to your comment about the clothing.
We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #9 posted 12/16/06 4:10am

myloveis4ever

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Genesia said:

ufoclub said:




New Romantic was New Wave. All those bands you mentioned fall under the category New Wave (as defined by the masses from the 80's), while New Romantic might be a way to try to create a niche within New Wave....


Yes, I know. But while New Romantic was New Wave, not all New Wave was New Romantic -- ya dig?

At any rate, I was referring specifically to your comment about the clothing.


with no doubt, THE ALBUMS " DIRTY MIND" "CONTROVERSY" 1999" AND PURPLE RAIN
IMO - DIRTY MIND IS THE ONE THAT REALLY IS NEW HAVE- ALL THE WAY.
[Edited 12/16/06 4:11am]
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Reply #10 posted 12/16/06 5:25am

NouveauDance

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Genesia said:

I listened to a lot of New Wave in the late 70s/early 80s and I don't think any of his albums can be considered New Wave in their entirety.

That said, he had elements of New Wave on several albums...

Dirty Mind

Dirty Mind
Uptown (a little funky for true New Wave, but the synths carry the vibe)
Sister (true New Wave -- very reminiscent of stuff The Knack did)
Partyup (again, on the funky side, but definitely New Wave-ish)

Controversy

Controversy (the intro reminds me a little of the Talking Heads)
Sexuality (true New Wave here)
Ronnie, Talk to Russia (here again)
Annie Christian

1999

Let's Pretend We're Married
Automatic
Something in the Water
All the Critics Love You

Purple Rain

Computer Blue (not 100% "Wave," but it has elements)

After that, the New Wave thing was pretty much over.


Pretty much sums it up. nod

Also, add the Time and Vanity 6 stuff to that too. smile
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Reply #11 posted 12/16/06 5:44am

DMSR

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I think "when You Were Mine" was definitely New Wave. It sounds like Elvis Costello or the Cars keyboard sound. Cyndi Lauper even covered it.
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Reply #12 posted 12/16/06 7:05am

2freaky4church
1

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Dirty Mind is full of funky new wave, so is Controversy, 1999 was his last attempt at New Wave. The synth in The Beautiful Ones is new wave based. Listen to Gary Numan. Prince cops from this guy liberally.
All you others say Hell Yea!! woot!
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Reply #13 posted 12/16/06 7:59am

SexyBeautifulO
ne

FruitToAttractBears said:

Yeah right. He doesn't even like New Wave. Or television.


giggle
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Reply #14 posted 12/16/06 8:07am

Imago

MikeMatronik said:

What are the prince songs and albums that can be considered new wave?

This is based on a discussion I had with someone in another forum!



Contreversy
1999


But , being Prince, he music is a hybrid of sounds, New Wave being one of many elements.
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Reply #15 posted 12/16/06 8:50am

vainandy

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"Controversy" and "1999".

When I hear "Automatic", I definately hear the influence of Gary Numan's "Cars".
Andy is a four letter word.
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