I know I will probably get strung up around here for saying so, but am I the only person around these parts that thinks The Word is a medeocre Prince song. I aint slating it, I like it,it just aint as good as a lot make it out to be. Does ANYBODY agree? It really aint all that.

I'd give it a 8 out of 10. It's better than anything on The Vault, Rave, or most of Emancipation.

i like the little guitar loop thingie but that's about it. i think this song and the damn boat song are wildly overrated.

as are your spelling skills.

p.s. i agree. mediocre at best.

FreeMuze said:

Pretty brave statement, the albums generally take a hiding, but there are many gems on any of the albums you mention. I can name SEVEN tracks off disc 2 that are better than the word, musically, or whatever. Yes, that is MY oppinion.

agree..I usually skip over it, but not always.I am not saying it is bad, It is just not my cup o tea
[Edited 4/10/07 8:01am]

suomynona said:

SORRY have I spelt something incorrectly? (aint?) i'm english, common word.
[Edited 4/10/07 8:04am]

It's one of the best written songs on 3121.

I call it one of the "saving grace" tracks because it overall sounds very modern to me (and un-Prince-like, I guess you could say).

The Word, The Dance, Get on the Boat, and Te Amo Corazon are songs that don't reflect what modern/mainstream music sounds like (unlike 3121, Lolita, Black Sweat, to name a few).

The Word is very cryptic in its lyrics and the flow of music just works so well... I think its a beautiful piece of work.

I only rank it second 2 Te Amo Corazon becuz I have a little history with that particular song.

I really like The Word. One of the best songs on the album, and one of the best things I've heard from him in a while.

suomynona said:

sorry, i take your point! oppologies!!

Jakeasaurus said:

That's one of the most common things I've heard about it.

When I wrote my review of 3121 after my first listen, I don't think I noticed it too much. I think people's comments on it influenced me, but regardless, it's a really good song.

The Word is far better that mediocre.

I think it´s a good song, musically interesting and the lyrics have a very positive, uplifting vibe... the only thing I absolutely don´t like about it is the chorus with the " safeguard against forked tongue " etc. etc. lyric...that sounds very corny and makes the song flawed, IMO. The same goes for some songs on TRC ...great music, but the stupidity in some of the lyrics, for instance in Everlasting Now and 1+1+1=3 is difficult to ignore and ruins them for me.

It´s sad that the musical talent seems to be getting bigger and better while at the same time his lyrics become more and more cryptic and esoteric ( in the exclusive sense of the word ) and less accessible by those who don´t follow every step of his personal spiritual journey. Then again, this is not really new and was probably just as present in the 80´s as it is now.

I KNOW most like this song, I don't doubt that many find it great. That is my point, I want to know who agrees with me, that it really aint all that. Nothing amazing, for a Prince song.

PS: Not just the lyrics alone, but also the way he sings the chorus...except for that, I really like this song a lot.But that " treachery of the wiiiiickeeeed oooooness..." part coupled with that " forked tongue" lyric are on the verge of embarrassing. Thing is, we all know what a good songwriter he can be at times.

bonedaddy said:

Don´t know if I get what you´re trying to say....my main difficulty are some of the lyrics and the way he sings them, as mentioned in my post above.
But I really like the sparse, minimalist and simple instrumentation of this song.
So, musically, I like it a lot....I also like the lyrics and how he sings them except for the part I mentioned above...that I can´t stand.

What I get from the song is that it is uplifting & happy, it's lyrics are relatively cryptic (one of his specialties), but its overall sound (the music) is the best part. It's a classic sounding song that you really can't ID with this era of music... most of which is garbage, but there's nothing technological about it.
Plus there's the fact that he plays all the instruments on it, that adds a little value to it... but that's just me.

Not only that, it is recordly well. The sound of it is crisp and clear. The production is outstanding.

suomynona said:[quote]as are your spelling skills.

bonedaddy said:

I agree with u,bonedaddy.Very possibly my least fave song on 3121.I'll never understand what people c in this song.

sexxydancer said:

Why because it isn't about sex?

Lyrically though, it is bloody awful.

While I can appreciate that Prince is a simple, uneducated kind of guy who tends to see the world in simplistic childish shades of black and white, good vs evil... this song really is too much. I can't stomach it, it is too overtly religious, and knowing that Prince flirted with those JW loonies a while back makes it harder to listen to lyrics about getting saved, the wicked one, forked tongues, and spiders. It's just very silly.

ian said:

Very true!

ian said:

See, this is exactly what I´m talking about.

The lyrics are neither universal nor subtle.

skywalker said:

U know? Or the song 7 for that matter. The Word is mediocre compared to what? Other Prince songs or other songs in general? I'm not saying its the most accesible song but mediocre it is not.

The Word is so fetch!

The word is one of the best songs on 3121!

gr8 sog

theodore said:

And I thought I was the only person who said that... haha

It's totally fetch.

A lot of people say 3121 'ain't the greatest'. I know it ain't the greatest, but it's not a complete washout.

The Word is definitely one of the album's best written, as adorable said, it's production is very clear & crisp... I see that quality in 'Money Don't Matter 2night'... a good, clear & crisp Prince song is definitely a good one.

But I've found that the song sounds better while listening thru the album than on its own... for some reason, it just doesnt work the same way. It doesn't come off as brilliant on its own than it does in its "home".
3121 is kinda like a journey of experimentation, trying out new modern sound techniques, but slowly seeping back into the familiar.
Get on the Boat sounds like it could be Musicology material based on its use of instruments, but it's also new & fresh compared to Musicology's material. The Dance is sophisicated like 'Money' & 'Diamonds and Pearls' in its musical arrangement... there's a slow progresion thru it like 'Money'... but there's a wonderful use of balance. All of the instruments used in it make it work and sound beautifully.

The Word has a nice mix of instruments that create a sophisticated atmosphere. It has a slow progression throughout and the transition from one "scene" to another is great, nice and smooth. Prince was definitely in his element or "in the zone" when he wrote it.