I got a woman, U got a man
So we got 2 do what's right
I said U'd get beheaded in other lands
If I were in your arms 2night
Quit tryin' 2 get me under that icy plunder
Boy, oh boy, what a scare, ooh

Love it!

Its like Prince realised "Dorothy Parker" was one of his most popular songs, so he thought.. "Lets make it again!". If DP didnt exist, this would be one of the greatest songs ever, but to me it´s formula.

I love this song too, I think it's great. There's something oddly eerie about it to me...in a good way, though. I have no idea why...in any event, I love it.

Agree this is a great track and one of his best pop songs in recent memory.

Wall said:

I wouldn't call it a pop song... it's more like jazz to me. The music reminds me of background music they used in various Peanuts specials in the 60's.

Actually, Prince refered to this album as a "pop record". I don't see that at all... at least that's not my definition of pop.
Regardless, this is one of the better songs on the album because of its simplicity. It's very laid-back and relaxed like Prince's attitude.
Actually, except one, all of the songs on the album are good songs in my book.

This song is a good representation of the album because Prince seems to believe that sometimes you need to enjoy the simpler things in life.

Overall Musicology lacks focus and inspiration. What Do U Want Me To Do sounds like a demo. For the title of the album to be Musicology, I feel like it didn't deliver. The tour delivered but not the album itself. U can't even blast P for trying something new and innovative and the public just not getting it. He played it safe (what is considered safe for Prince) and it still didn't do anything special for me. Reflection was the saving grace of that album for me. Thats just my opinion. While it wasn't horrible, musicology wasn't spectacular either.

By far the best track on Musicology.....

adorable2 said:

After listening it again, I don't think I care that it wasn't spectucular.

As far as I'm concerned, it was just what I needed, a serious break from the past. I've been dwelling too long on Purple Rain & TGE (can't get me wrong, i love 'em to death, but I needed to cut myself off b4 I got swallowed into their world(s)).

I think what united the album was the variety of old-school music. The lyrics, in no way, played a role becuz each song spoke about a diff. subject. It's kinda ironic... I said I needed a break from the past, but this is Prince's definition of "old-school".

I guess I wanted something a little simpler and less addictive, so it's like a breath of fresh air 4 me.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

less addictive? I can tolerate Musicology but its not an album that I listen to and think to myself "Only P can do that". While it didn't sound like anything else that was on the radio at that time or up until recently for that matter, Musicology isn't an album I reach for. I didn't mean it wasn't focused in subject matter, I mean it doesn't sound like a project he was excited about. Sounds like it was just put together and put out there so he could introduce his new lineup and do a tour. Like I said before Reflection was for me the saving grace. What Do You Want Me To Do sounds like something he was just playing around with and that's cool but I'm not crazy about it.

adorable2 said:

Point taken.

Some of the arrangements don't sound quite as "tight" as they used to. I think that "Money Don't Matter 2night" and "Shy" could possibly fit in the same category with this album based on musical style alone. The first of the two is very tightly arrangement and that overall moves the piece forward. I can't comment too much on Shy just cuz I haven't heard it enough, but its musical style was simpler than the others on TGE.
I think he put it together to prove a point, in an effort to bring "real music" back since he believes that the quality of music has gone down. In that respect, I happen to agree with him. He certainly showed me what he thinks real music is about, with real instruments and such.
The album very well could open some doors 4 me in regards to "old school" music and I most likey will give it more of a chance. Prince has his own definition, other artists are sure to have different ones.
In regards to your statement, "its not an album that I listen to and think to myself 'Only P can do that,'" I agree. Meaning there's a hope that I'll find an artist in my "travels" thru the record stores that's able to do the same 4 me or quite possibly, do a better job than Prince on this type of project.

I failed in Musicology.
I may have to repeat it during the summer.

Fuck.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

If it made u wanna go back and discover more of what he considers real music by real muscians, then at the end of the day P accomplished his goal.

adorable2 said:

It's strange, though. Prince overall made me see why my dad seems to prefer old-school music to today's music. 90-95% doesn't sound like real music to me. I give Prince the title of my fav. musician, not singer, becuz he does everything, play & compose. He didnt necessary need Musicology to convince me of that, but he sure makes old-school music appealing.
Musicology ranks above 3121 to me just in the respect that it sounds more raw... but the fact remains that it's very diff. from all of his other albums, so it's hard for me to compare them and say "so-and-so" is better than one another.
I like diff. albums 4 diff. reasons becuz they were designed with a particular purpose in mind. Each album also caters to a particular need or mood. And Musicology happened to be what I needed this particular time and place.
It helps me forget how ghastly some of today's music sounds... not just because it uses real instruments instead of computers, but because it actually says something. Prince is a storyteller in the album, basically. Today's music lacks that kind of purpose. It's just released to get on mainstream radio and most of the time, it's not written by the actual singers themselves.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

When compared to most other mainstream music, musicology takes the cake. I don't believe I was expecting anything in particular so I can't explain why Musicology didn't deliver for me but then again I'm not that crazy about 3121 either. I'm not going to go all out like some people who feel P fell off in the late 80's but I'm finding his later work to be less intense. Starting to feel like he's on auto pilot.
[Edited 3/30/07 15:53pm]

I feel that the song is very good representation of the album, Musicology.

It's not only a good way to look back on how good music used to be... but it's also one of those albums you can relax with. At times, it's smoothing... this song is one of the tracks that does that for me.

Another good one is "Reflection" because it makes you really think, making it the perfect clincher for Musicology. It couldn't have proven that same point and given that same effect if it were put in another other spot.

"What do U want me 2 do" is like elevator music, but a little more exciting.