So many people have been asking me on my take on this album. I finally got to listen to it this summer and ended up with good results.

In fact, when I listened to it the first time, I blew me away.
Not only that, but its very hard to put this album down because one of its songs comes to mind and I gotta listen to it again.

This is what I first wrote about it and some of the things I wrote still apply. I apologize in advance for the length of this post

My immediate thoughts are simply: I feel this album has a lot of potential, I have so much to get through, yet I feel like I wish there was more to the story.
Irony: Prince just makes the music. Writes it and releases it and if he feel its necessary, he takes it on tour and shares the different dimensions of these songs with the public. Sometimes a live performance is necessary for some tracks to reveal their true nature to people who wouldn't know which direction the music is going otherwise. Herein lies the irony. Prince may write the music and release it under a label, but he never gives us the whole story.
A lot about this album can be left up to interpretation. What he was trying to get across, what the album ultimately says, but more importantly, what did he get out of its release? And what isn't he telling us? I say his music already tells a lot, revealing more than a fair share of his spirit's victories and defeats. Not everything is completely clear at this point, some songs may even taken months for me to figure out what they truly mean. Or really what I think they mean.

like its attitude, though. It sets up the playing field and kicks off the album in the right direction. Gives it a bit of a foundation that it can build upon. Almost every song on the album bears resemblance to its musicality. And I always say that a strong opening is one of the most important things an album can have. There have been so many times where I'm not too pleased with the first song of any album. Though it seems like there are more hits than misses. My least favorite openings have been Controversy (on occasion), Let's Go Crazy, Around the world in a day, My name is Prince, Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic and at times, 3121.

Alphabet Street starts into the idea of LoveSexy that Prince starts to establish for his audience. A certain kind of love that he believes he should be paying attention rather than the wrong direction he'd been wrong in apparently for years (why else would he have that "spiritual encounter" if there wasnt something he wasn't doing right?).
Honestly I used to HATE this song. Why get this album if I didn't like this particular song? That was my state of mind a while back. But I think its started to grow on me, though a lot of the album is so much better than it.

Glam Slam started some interesting things going on in my head. My mind was opening up to so many things and the thoughts kept coming. I was listening to this, recognizing that particular sound. Then it got me thinking about the song "Around the World in a Day." Not lyrically, but musically, this song would be perfect for that particular album. It sounded like Prince was taking that song, the vibe of it and made it his own. Taking the sound of that song to the next level, a level he understands and can work with. I've always liked this song, though.

Since seeing that live footage of it, I knew that Anna Stesia was going to be a hit for me. There's no forgetting those opening piano keys, beautiful, yet haunting. I was told that these lyrics suggest a lot of things and allude to that fated night where Prince made the decision to pull The Black Album. Who/What he's talking to, "Anna Stesia," I don't know right now where I think its a person or something else. I want to believe he's talking to a person, but part of me feels that it goes deeper than that. He comes to a realization that he didn't truly understand the meaning of love. The album version feels slightly restrained, subtle and really, I think he should have made it a little more elaborate, though the song itself already feels like a Broadway production confined to a studio. For some parts that repeated, I started singing along, getting a feel for it. Hauntingly beautiful.

“Dance on” suffers a lot because of the song it follows. That’s a tough act to follow!! The music sounds familiar, though. A combination between an outtake from the early 80’s and a techno-sound similar to “Loose!” Usually, my mind still lingering on “Anna Stesia” so I couldn’t really get into this song until a little while later.

The song “Lovesexy” is pretty elaborate, I think. Again, its about intertwining sex & religion into one entity. Though I gotta say that some of the lyrics are really cheesy. Like his whole banter where he says things like “I wanna walk down your halls, swivel in your loveseat”… They’re seriously laughable. I don’t think he cared either way how they came off, though. He just wrote this for fun and to prolong his message.

During that time, I was getting sick of "When 2 r in Love" simply because I've heard it more than enough time thanks to The Black Album. I'm now starting to see its place as part of LoveSexy and most likely if I listen to TBA again, I might just skip this song so I can accept it as a part of LoveSexy.

My favorite 3-song succession ends with the song, Eye wish u Heaven, another that I really wasn't crazy about when I first heard it. Whatever changed in Prince since The Black Album's withdrawal can be seen in those three songs. Lovesexy starts a trend, discussing what love is meant to be like. This song has that 80's sound to it with the drums and such, something that will be missed after the decade ends.

[I wrote this at a later date]
Positivity: Life gets us down and takes away from whatever trust we have based on experience. Positivity allows us to look on the bright side and at first, it doesn’t seem to be doing its job. First we ask if its had its “+ sign,” meaning whatever it needs to do its job. Then we ask if its present or late. Positivity is always around us, but doesn’t always do its job. Its up to us to put it work, so therefore, positivity is always present. If you can’t see it, you have to make your own much like we all have to make our own luck in this crazy world.
[Edited 9/7/08 11:19am]

the title track is my favorite that song rocks!!

Iw as waiting for the next big thing after sign.. the next step musically and it never came ever again

i love the cd alot prince shows people there 4 soo many directions and roads in life u cant travel the pass safely u have 2 go out on a limb and do whats not expected of u and when u r soo creative like prince u have 2 let it all out
i love the song lovesexy its just burns rubber in my pants and dance on is a drummers love affair wit music and when 2 r in love just makes me wanna fall in love go prince

No is an excellent opening track...it is just so uplifting! I love it. The gospel feel is awesome. The backing voices (JJ, Susannah, Ingrid, Boni, Cat and/or whoever else) are really great and add to the party vibe of the song. The outro/segue is really cool as well.

Alphabet Street has always been one of my favorite tunes. Prince is just so cool on this song...I love when he says "Yes she will." Such a pimp!

Glam Slam I like pretty well...the highlight for me is the "breakdown" near the end; it sounds really "tribal" and intense, and the keyboards give it a really different (in a good way) flavor.

Anna Stesia is a bona-fide classic...just brilliant. What can I say that hasn't already been said about this masterpiece? I will add that I prefer the album version to the handful of live versions I have heard.

Dance On is probably the only track I could take or leave. Aside from the wicked slap bass nothing really stands out about it, IMO. It seems too aggressive for the album.

Lovesexy is jammin' and it definitely makes me put on my "funk face." The lyrics are a bit cheesy and the make me laugh, but overall it's a strong track, I think.

When 2 R In Love is one of Prince's truly great ballads and I just love the tenderness of the vocal along with the beautiful instrumentation. The "Can u hear me?" line is brilliant.

Wish U Heaven is, to me, a true gem on this album. The sing-song melody is infectious and Prince's falsetto is flawless. I love the richness of the layered vocals on the chorus. I think it is much too brief, and yet I don't care for Parts II and III; I'm glad he left them off the album.

Positivity is a good song, but hard to define. How do I talk about its vibe? Neo-electronic-gospel-jazz??? I know, that is way off! It is in a class all its own, and I really dig the starkness of it. The "church choir" chant with the flourishes and water sound-effects at the end are what I like most about it.

Overall, Lovesexy is a great album...it is just behind Purple Rain on my list of Favorite Prince Albums, in an unbreakable tie with SOTT at #2.
[Edited 9/7/08 14:24pm]

Lovesexy is a unique album...I don't listen to Lovesexy as much as Prince's other records...however, I did listen to it a few days ago...I have to be in the mood to go back to that sound for Prince.

DreamyPopRoyalty...You titled your thread..."My thoughts on LoveSexy...and you have a lot of other info in your presentation. I enjoy reading your work...sometimes it is scattered comments...write on!

I was never crazy about 'Lovesexy", but I love the vid of his Dortmount concert!

trying to keep this thread alive and up for the people who wanted to see it...

A little in-depth into my favorite track.

Anna Stesia: It’s among those pieces where you’re trapped in Prince’s world. Where he’s lost in his own thoughts and his thoughts roux the day. Perhaps in this case, roux the night. Very metaphorical in nature, but as the magic 8 ball would say “all signs point to yes.” Meaning that there has to be a great amount of truth in this.
The album starts as a celebration of life, love and the basic foundation of humanity. There’s good & evil in the world and each exists within us.
The song begins where Prince is at the brink of losing sight completely in life. He is alone to tremble in the presence of his own thoughts, fears and realizations about himself. His material doesn’t have the same finesse that it used to. Would choosing one side or the other be able to fix his inability to compose? He’s dying to give into temptation and yet he looks elsewhere for possibilities. He arrives at the conclusion that 1) he is never truly alone and 2) he needs to learn to love “the right way” or else face the consequences.
The end result: He chooses good over evil and faces life with a newly opened state of mind.

very interesting and great thoughts u have about this wonderful album

What great posts!

Lovesexy is (probably) my favourite album of all time!

From the opening to the final chord you are taken on a truly amazing journey.

You feel like you are living some sort of fantasy life in a fantasy world yet it strangely relates to this world too.

I always feel Prince wrote this album at a time in his life when he is trying to deal with issues.

Words cannot express how I feel about this album it is pure nirvana for me. It takes me to a place that is beyond this planet - beyond this world.

It is somethings so spiritual but I'm not sure what spirituality it defines.

Great..!!!

What does anyone think Prince means when he says: "Don't kiss the Beast, be superior at least!"

Do You think Prince means ...

a) don't pretend and go along with something that U know is wrong by kissing up to someone or agreeing to something that U know U don't approve of

OR

b) is he saying that even if U ackowledge the Beast, U are kissing it?

OR

c) is Prince saying that by getting angry or upset with wrong or rude behavior in your response, that U are in effect kissing the Beast?


thanks

I don’t hate the album, but to me from Dirty Mind - SOTT, each preceding album was leaps and bounds more sophisticated in every way than the previous...
This was the first album I was disappointed on first listen, it seemed like more of the same, maybe even a little stale. A telling sign of things to come.
For me THIS was the beginning of his artistic decline, more interested in on his personal bullshitery than his music.
[Edited 9/13/08 21:54pm]

colorblu said:

I was thinking something else entirely, actually

Before he says that line, he says how you can fly by Spooky Electric and everything he crawls for. He doesn't say what he "stands for" because Spooky is the lowest of the low (the devil).

In the end, he says don't kiss the beat. Meaning don't flirt with the devil or sink to his level, stand above it/him.

I am not sure if this album is as good as people give it credit for, but it's got some great stuff. Actually I am one of those people who over-rates it!

Lovesexy hit me at just the right time in my life. My mind was opening, and the blend of sexuality & spirituality was perfect for a horny thinker.


Alphabet Street, Anastesia, Lovesexy, When 2 R IN Love, and even I Wish U Heaven are damn near flawless. That's 5 great tracks, 4 more than most albums!

Eye No still gives me that vibe I felt way back then, 20 years ago, of beginning the journey.

Glam Slam is not the strongest song, IMO, but I love the arrangement. Rich acoustic and electric instruments make the ending very special.

In retrospect, Dance On is a little out of place with the personal theme of the album, though at the time I loved the insane drumbeat and the uptempo live funky rock vibe.

I feel the album really ends on I Wish U Heaven and that Positivity is kind of an extra. A post script, credits rolling, etc. Positivity is in the same tradition as the remixes of I Wish U Heaven. Now I also find that the beat is a little annoying. That same snare all through the song wears thin. But typically, Prince sqeezes in more ides to this song than most artists do in an entire career.

Lovesexy has become my favorite track. Maybe it always was, but it felt more like a moment on the record and less of a song. It's quite obviouisly the climax, and Prince has probably never produced a better musical one than "come one and touch I know you will love it...this feeling's so good in every single way!!"

This album is no longer my favorite, but it will always hold a magical place in my heart. Prince was just so free here, and unlike other albums where he could be accused of being derivative, on Lovesexy he was completely Prince!

Prince's awakening. Many of us have one. Mine was when I realised that I didn't have to believe in a god. The veil lifts and it truly is a life altering moment, regardless of one's choice.

NDRU said:

Great post, thanks for your reply.

I agree with a lot that you said. What u said about "Postivity" makes a lot of sense. I love Glam Slam's arrangement as well and the ending is really cool with the strings and such.

DreamyPop

The meaning of who 'Anna Stesia' is can be taken in 2 ways. It could be a play on the word 'anaesthesia'or it could be taken from the Greek 'anastasia' which means resurrection.

I would even hazard a guess that it is a play on both meanings. Brilliant song from a brilliant CD.

Violetblues-I must disagree with your summation of this CD.

mashedpotato said:

there is also a famous "lost princess" named Anastasia

NDRU said:

There is also a Saint Anastasia (but I don't think the song is about her).