I even think when over 200 or 300 years people are looking back to the music of the 20th century, Automatic would be considered of one the key tracks of that century, and used as the first example to illustrate Prince's influence.

One word: Automatic

Not only being the perfect example of The Minneapolis sound, but probably (sound-and productionwise) the most influential Prince-song EVER.

Listen to his production-work for The Family and Jill Jones. The synths might be (partially) replaced by real orchestral arrangements (thanks, Clare Fisher!), but that songs are a continuation of what he tried to achieve with Automatic.

Listen to the sound of producers like Jam / Lewis, Timbaland, Nerd, artists like Beck and the electrofunk movement of the last years, Automatic is their blueprint in the end.

I even think when over 200 or 300 years people are looking back to the music of the 20th century, Automatic would be considered of one the key tracks of that century, and used as the first example to illustrate Prince's influence.

I even think when over 200 or 300 years people are looking back to the music of the 20th century, Automatic would be considered of one the key tracks of that century, and used as the first example to illustrate Prince's influence.