It is basically the same song, sung note for note, by the same artist,.. but why do some of us find the song so repugnant?

If that was the only version of 1999 would we think otherwise? Would it be the classic it is today?
To me that song epitomizes the Prince sound of the 90's I loath, but I cant put my finger on why?
If he recorded and released jughead in the 80's would it have some charm to make it palatable for the same inexplicable reason?
[Edited 9/7/08 19:02pm]

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

by the time of the new master he pretty much lost it, lost creativity and just sounds boring and commercial

I have it, I like it

I think when people talk about 1999: The New Master, they're referring to the entire set of songs on there, not just the first one. At least, that's what I'm referring to. I actually like the first song (although I'm probably in the minority on that one). I think it's a fun, if pointless, remake.

The rest of it, though--ugh. The weird and nonsensical etymology lesson done over LRC just aggravates me, and then it gets much, much worse after that.

Efan said:

and the awful hip-hop anthems

Also, both WB and Prince messed up with the timing of their rereleases of this song. They should have done it in 1998, not 1999.

I remember playing this thing over and over when it was first released, thinking maybe i was being a little too harsh on it, trying to find a redeeming quality about it, finally i gave up and trashed it.
I was going to put it on again today after it was mentioned on another thread, to try and disect why i hated it.....but it has been tossed long ago.
[Edited 9/7/08 20:27pm]

http://prince.org/msg/7/210241?&pg=2

Page 2 post # 34 is mine that is my opinion about the album

toots said:

I co-sign the second post on that thread.

Plus with anyone that said it was pointless, soulless and DUMB. Prince should stop re-writing history and leave the covers to Alicia. I rather have him play Play That Funky Music and that's saying something, as I hate, hate, hate that commercial fodder.


He debunks his own 1982 genius when he does stuff like this. If one person made the 'new' Prince flunk, it is not Prince in the past, it's Prince in the present, getting everything WRONG.

HamsterHuey said:

I agree with your post now as well

toots said:

I, at times, make sense. You have to wait around for it, like the caramel bottoms of the Mona chocolate mousse desserts.

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Everything.

NouveauDance said:

But especially the IDEA behind it; it's soulless because it's not from the heart, but out of vengeance/anger.

Yeah....
But I always quite liked it (the song)

I'd always thought - wouldn't it be cool to hear 1999 with real horns... It brings out the Sly influence on it I find. OTOH, of course it doesn't compare at all to the original, but so what?

Then again, I bought it for next to nothing at the 2000 celly...

wasitgood4u said:

Of course, he has been doing 1999 with real horns ever since 1987.

wasitgood4u said:

Everyone is allowed their own guilty secrets.

I myself always quite liked Life Of The Party. Esp the mash-up with The Ball. Yes, that's fanmade, but hella kewl.

HamsterHuey said:

Yeah - but living in Oz, I didn't see him live till 1992 (and I don't think he did 1999...)

wasitgood4u said:

He only played it in Brisbane on the 13th of April 1992. Bummer.

It would be a tragedy if it replaced the real version, but as a remix it is inoffensive, and there's even a little more bounce to it than the original.

If I heard him do it this way at a concert I'd love it, and I have no problem with him changing lyrics live. If I want to hear the original version there's a cd at home!

HamsterHuey said:

I saw 3 Sydney shows...