I don't know if this has been mentioned before, but back in the late 80's/early 90's there was a movie starring Nick Cage as a crazy artist in some kind of Love triangle with his friend's wife. The film co-starred a beautiful woman whose character was named Zandalee (yes with a "d") and the film shared the same name. From what I recall it was a very erotic film and both the story and the imagery always stuck with me-- I remember being more sympathetic with the husband (Judge Reinhold?) than any of the other characters. I haven't seen it in 15 to 20 years, but I've heard from other sources that it doesn't stand up well over time.

Anyway, I was just wondering if this was Prince's inspiration for the song.
[Edited 7/12/08 14:03pm]
[Edited 7/13/08 15:15pm]

I don't know...what inspired Prince to write, Zannalee, " other than getting her moods in the mood.

whodknee said:

I saw it in the early 90's - only 3 things I remember about it
1) aside from some sex it's was pretty lame and forgettable
2) that chick was way hot
3) in one scene nicholas cage had wet hair and was very very very much balding on top - this seems to have been rectified in the following 17 years - can anyone say "advanced hair, yea, yea!"

FlamingRaindrop said:

Yeah that seems to be the consensus-- and I guess that explains why the movie seems to have dropped off the face of the earth. I do recall that about Nick's hair too (or lack thereof).

I was just wondering if he had that chick on his mind when he named/wrote the song. I wouldn't put it past him and that movie would have been out before the song..
[Edited 7/14/08 13:06pm]

I truly doubt that the song came out before that movie was made.

I always thought it was a slight play on words, as in "her name iz anna lee". Didn't there used to be someone around Prince by that name.

And by the way, I always liked the earlier, more bluesy unreleased version, than the glammed-up C&D jobbie.