* I've noticed that Do Me, Baby stands out from the others on this album because it's the only sexual song where Prince, Andre, or whoever the story teller is, is more or less the submissive one. Sings in falsetto and sounds very vulnerable. Asks to be hold in the end. Not very "manly".
Is it from a girls point of view?

*The other sexy songs are more like him showing what fun is supposed to be like and calling her his toy. Would you call them sexist? Even if Prince always has toyed with gender roles, isn't afraid of being feminine, adores women and spends more time with them than with men he still seems to have that kind of men-are-above-women attitude. Always so contradicting.

*Annie Cristian=Antichrist. Annie is probably a natural choice of name here, but might there be a reason from P having Antichrist as a female? Evil personified is a woman? As I've said, he adores woman but he seems to have that kind of love/hate relationship with them. The I-hate-you-becasue-I-love-you kind of thing. They bring him so much pleasure, but also so much pain...

*Some of the songs, especially RTTR, sound quite naïve. The melody of RTTR even sounds like a chant for children. Do you think P simply was that naïve or is he just fooling around and very well aware of what he's doing...?

Most of the critics seem to think of Controversy as a fun and naïve album. RTTR shows that he has no clue about politics. Now, I'd say those people who say that take the songs way too seriously and literally. Both lyircs and music to RTTR are childish. Almost sounds like he's more like mocking those who would agree with him. The album is called Controversy. So of course P wants to create that...


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[Edited 12/31/07 8:00am]

I think it's unfortunate that Controversy faired so poorly critically in the shadow of Dirty Mind.

I think the album holds it's own very well. It was the first Prince album that truly had the "80's" sound to it, and the one I feel TRULY expressed his pop song writing skills that would be so evident in his 5 following albums.

That's not to say he didn't reach major milestones with his software effort and with Dirty Mind, but in Controversy he really started to perfect his voice, and his ability to bend genres in music.

I always viewed Controversy as the blueprint to 1999.

Imago said:

Hm, dont you forget about When You Were Mine?

"Sexuality" is one of his most important songs, IMHO, as in it marks an important spiritual statement.

He came full circle on that one, in TRC.

SenseOfDoubt said:

Everyone brings that song up as his first true pop song, and they are correct in a lot of ways--that and Bambi were the afore mentioned milestones I spoke of above.
Contreversy however, as an album, goes further towards what folks would call the Minneapolis sound than his previous records. I liken it to Ministry's "Twitch" album which was a prelude to things to come by Al Jourgenson. Controversy was that for me. It was what I considered to be the first of his 80s sounding albums, where the previous records sounded a bit like late 70's material.

I think you're both right: When You Were Mine was his first true classic (and one of the finest songs he's ever created!) and Sexuality was number 2 (and the video showed possibly the most naturally finest/sexual/coolest look he's ever had!).

But the album also holds that bizarre distinction of having the one song on an album (Do Me Baby) that is probably the most realized/respected song on an album that he didn't actually write - Andre has 'kinda' claimed the song-writing credits on that one (although in reality that '70's dude (whatever his name is) that wrote Frantic Moments (it's been discussed here before) most definitely came up with the entire heart of the musical piece - I mean seriously, I can't believe P wasn't sued for absolutely ripping off that track musically (if Lennon got sued successfully for stealing the melody he used on Come Together, then Prince most definitely ripped off Frantic Moments for Do Me Baby!!!...).

To this day it still surprises me he got away with that.

I love the entire thing!

The song, "Controversy" I believe is based on observance. People looking at you, and having something to say, is going to be there.
"Sexuality" It's gonna be there.

"Do Me Baby and Private Joy" go together in their own parenthesis. Set those aside.

"Ronnie Talk to Russia" is political.
"Let's Work" goes in the same corner with Do Me, and Private.
"Annie Christian" Bores me.
And, Let's just call the last one "Jack" Thank you.

I forgot to make my point, and that is, that I don't believe the album was trying to create controversy...

I believe those are all natural observations of the world through Prince's eyes at the time.

What about a man, isn't about finding love, and getting primitive.

Prince makes a strong statement when He talks about people imitating their atmospere. If we all imitated the moon's atmospere, our friends would most likely be more lighthearted.

Not manly to who? And I would say there are a number of songs that Prince has written that put him in the position of not being in control, or submissive, if you must use that phrase. One such example is Automatic - the song itself talks about the lengths that he will go to get the girls love. And the video ends with him being tied up and whipped by Lisa and JJ.