I've heard that this was little controversial at the time.
I can understand why it wasn't a big hit as a single, but I love this song

I think it is a shame that people read something 'queer' into this song, when it's actually such a lovely idea.

a man asking his lover to treat him like his friend... it's so sweet

I love this song, with the camille thing going on

and hey! so what if prince is a lesbian

This song goes over a lot of people's heads.
Buts so beautiful and the idea behind it is so beautiful, too. Lyrically, this is one of his best songs.

If only to have a trusting, loving and free love.

I wonder if there is an equivalent, (female to her male) version of the song...if the tables were turned....If I was your boy ...would you tell me everything...hang out kickin' it with me....etc., or if something would be lost in the translation?

Twinkly1 said:

I like it in theory, but do guys help pick out each others clothes?
Isn't it all just back slapping and sports?

Fellas?

robinesque said:

No, not the clothes part, but don't they bond in other ways that they're not so comfortable in bonding with women?

Any guys going to address robinesque's question?

Twinkly1 said:

isn't there some stuff that goes on in the locker rooms... flicking of bottoms with wet towels.. that sort of thing?

and sport

such an awesome song

It really is a beautiful song.
I just love all the lyrics in it, it's so clever.

Love is the answer to either direction that you are traveling...A relationship that is True for a marriage..will naturally have that friendship attached to it.
If it doesn't...It is merely anywhere in between a stranger, and a glamorous friend.
Sometimes, everybody plays the fool, and we marry people that we couldn't go the distance with, because that is proven in the dissolving of the friendship.

"If I was your Girlfriend," Is a nice was of explaining that special sliver...in the array...of a relationship that will last eternally.

Excellent!

Beautiful song..love TLC'S rendiition of it
Guess some people are just one track minded
Clever lyrics

I love it! Yes, it's really clever and quite brave - as usual with Prince! It's SO brilliant live too..

the bass playing on this song is so wicked and funky adding 2 the vocalazation of the lyrics of the 2nd verse.

the live version in the sign o the times is my all time favorite per4mance of it


i'm waiting 4 flowerz 2 respond 2 this thread

this is one of his songs that work best live. his arrangements are always interesting, especially with the brass/keyboard lines and layering. as always theres a funky groove underneath it all.

It was an artistic triumph but something of a miscalculation as a single release. One of the few occasions when Prince ought to have ignored the advice of Susan Rogers who was the one who talked him into releasing this as a follow up to Sign O' The Times.

Either U Got The Look or Housequake should have followed the release of Sign O' The Times.

But it was as adventurous as a single release got, particularly during the eighties.

Miles Davis playing along with it and that Bass line - Love it!!

denideni said:

When did Miles play along to this?

Handel said:

Paisley Park New Years Eve 1987

Rinluv said:

He played to Gilfriend? I thought it was a groove based on Beautiful Night

eye effing luv this song!! pure awsomeness!!!!

Handel said:

They played a bunch of joints from Sign. When they played Beautiful Night it was like 30 min long.

Rinluv said:

Yeah, I recall. That 30 min segment was the highlight of the night for me. It combined Beautiful Night with Cold Sweat and Chain Of Fools. But Miles never played along to Girlfriend.

this song...ranks right up there with When Doves Cry among the BEST songs Prince has EVER written.

"We'll try 2 imagine what silence looks like..." AWESOME lyric!

Does anyone know if there are more words to the song? Camille is still talking but is abruptly cut off by the snare tap....

bluefish said:

No. That's how it was intended to end.

I'm pretty sure its him!!!!

http://www.last.fm/music/...BPark%2529

Oh, this is the greatest song ever..... I love this song..

Deffintely an awesome version with Miles jammin' with Prince and I use 2 sing this song 2 my X ! Its a cool jam and yes TLC's is good also !

Tame said:

I think my parents have that (59 yrs or marriage) although they do argue alot.

Oh, yeah, simply beautiful Tame. I think you got it.


[Edited 7/28/08 20:26pm]