He did promise to do his guitar album, so this must be it.

I didn't like it at first, now I think it is really good. A decent remake.

LondonStyle said:

Blood Nah. Abandon? While the original is a classic, it's not like classics avail no new ground to be covered. Artists record superior (or at least significantly more expansive) remakes all the time, even as they may or may not set out to do so. I think Prince's version, while indeed showing a real reverence for the original, is simply a loungy rehash of it -- and to me that makes for a very fine live cover. To the extent one would commit a pop work to recording, though, I can't imagine why they'd not 1) fully exploit the opportunity to explore a whole new realm in an existing title; or 2) write their own original title, as you've suggested. Much else seems a bit of a waste.

Correction: Not a "waste" (as many people clearly are getting something cool out of it). Just somewhat redundant, IMHO.
[Edited 12/21/08 12:07pm]

MattyJam said:

That's definitely what makes it special for me. It's all sweet and sad at the same time.

But I do think the Wild Thing chorus was a horrible idea. Breaks up the flow of the song and doesn't really make sense lyrically.

Wild Thing was an inside, musician joke.

2freaky4church1 said:

Because of the similarity of the chord progression?

Rosalita said:

I laughed when I read this...cuz' I lived on the second floor of an old house, and I was blasting Mariah Carey of all things...and my jerk neighbor downstairs created such a problem in the street...He banged on my door...I didn't answer it so he banged brooms on his ceiling and yelled at me on my balcony...screaming.."I just got back from Florida...I'm sleepin' turn that shit down." And I said..."It's labor day at 4 O'clock, and I'm gonna watch the air show.
One night he went in the basement and turned off the power...I had 2 call the police.
They moved. Thank God.

Tame said:

Listening 2 both of your stories is way 2 funny. I have a girl friend that stayed on the second floor of an apartment building. When The Most Beautiful Girl came out, she played it over and over. One day someone threw a brick through the window. She said she couldn’t do anything but laugh because she said she played that song all day every day until that brick came thru her window.

why cover a song that was not that good to begin with?

.
[Edited 1/1/10 23:48pm]

I've been listening to the song for the past few days, and I really want to write how much I love it and how hendrix-ian it is etc... but the truth is, it's just...OK. I'm not a fan of the falsetto vocals, the Wild Thing part fits in well with the song and I like that he included it, but it is not hendrix-like at all - I don't know why people keep saying that. Yes, Jimi covered the song and played it live often, but Jimi was simply covering The Troggs version because he liked the song and that's it. Jimi didn't make the song any better or worse - he just covered it, that's all. The prince guitar part at the end of the song is just ok, unfortunately it doesn't go anywhere. So the truth is, it's just simply ok. The good news is, if Prince goes on tour and adds this to the setlist, he can really rock out and jam on it if he wants to. My bet is that if played live, this will really kick ass!!!

to be honest, i'd actually never heard the original before i heard p's version . when i did, i liked it alot though. pretty song, regardless. can't say if prince's is better or worse, as i have the tendency to dig him on stuff more anyway . i agree with folks that say that with all the un-released material he has, there is really no reason to be putting out covers (or even playing so many of them live, which i don't really mind as long as they are rockin'), but this is a nice version anyways. heartfelt and a great solo at the end . it's been stuck in my head since i first heard it, so yeah, i guess i like it .

.
[Edited 1/1/10 23:49pm]

mzkqueen03 said:

MendesCity said:

If he would have mashed up Crimson & Clover and Sweet Jane then I would have been a bit more impressed since I cant see Prince getting down with the VU.

Of all five new songs leaked last week I really dig Crimson & Clover and Colonized Mind the best. It's part of the sound of Planet Earth that I like so much, but amped up. Of Crimson & Clover I love the fact he Prince'd it up, but sound-wise I was very shocked to find out he kept the original sound so close to the original, even the sound effect on the guitar and the way he sings it.
He took out the really dated parts of the song and threw in some Jimi and some great guitar playing. I think this is the best cover he's done since Just My Imagination, which is what this reminds me of a lot.
Crimson & Clover is easily the best single/radio material of the new songs. It sounds so effortlessly and easy and is great to hum along to.

I like Colonized Mind because it pours so many last decade Prince topics into a song format that is great to listen to; it’s not only interesting lyrically, but also musically; but both are not as hard to get into The War or One Song, that both handled topics close to Prince’s heart, but were harder to digest in both music and lyrical content; especially the last here is crafted way more intricately than other of his ‘topic’-songs.
When it comes to songs stepping out of the verse/chorus/verse/chorus-straight-jacket, Colonized Mind to me is his most interesting song since One Nite Alone, that also had interesting forms painting colours. I love it when it at least sounds as if Prince did some work to craft more challenging songs.

Like I said, I am reminded of Planet Earth when I listen to these songs; it has got that laid back vibe of it, but mixed some One Nite Alone-ish feel. I liked both albums, but I must admit I do not play either album much after their initial release. I share this info with you because the first two songs, if released proper, I would play ova and ova, while the other two new songs from the seemingly new album, do have the same laid-back feel, but aren’t as time-less as the first two previewed song; they’re not amazing new Prince compositions I would want to include on any of my future playlists.

Wall Of Berlin is fun and is rather nice but nothing more than that; the lyrics are too forgettable, the most great thing about it is the guitar playing, that lifts the song up above the guitar work on, say Musicology and makes the song at least interesting enough to play more often.
4Ever to me sounds like the extended version of My Computer on Emancipation, and has got that too smooth Emancipation sound and I want to keep singing ‘a better life’ throughout the entire song. Yet, it is better than My Computer, as it is more straight-forward and is a bit un-smoothed by the guitar.

Of all the songs previewed last week I like (There’ll Never b) Another Like Me the least for a few reasons.

One of them is that it has that plactic pastiche sound of the NPGmc tracks, which is to me the most un-interesting sound Prince ever produced.

Another is that it does not fit very well with the other four songs and therefore stands out, but not in a good way; it sounds rather bleak compared to the warm feel of the other four songs and therefore pales significantly, not only musically, but also lyrically. It is just too silly; even the weaker of the other four songs kicks this song’s ass and he’s just done these kind of songs way better before.

If this is what Prince likes to dance to these days, can someone please send him some cd’s of the Ting Tings? Thanks.

Crimson is cool, hope there's a longer version on the album along with Let's Go!

I'm not diggin this track too much. It's ok, but to me the other 4 tracks are VERY NICE. Wall of Berlin is my favorite, 4Ever is next, the other two are about tied for third/fourth place.

Maybe it's cuz I never cared for the original tune too much.

purplecam said:

Why don't you go there & check for yourself.

viewaskew said:

You're such a hot mess but that's ok, we still love ya

I still can't get over how great this song is. I've played this song "over and over" all weekend. Such a great song and I can't wait to see Prince do this song live again.

WELL I love it, prince voice and that guitar sounds beautiful on the track

pennylover said:

well now I don't want to play any music in my house...if I can't turn it up then I don't want to listen at all.....I can't wait to have my own space

viewaskew said:

-----
I guess you missed "All Along The Watchtower part of the Superbowl performance

Lammastide said:

I can understand but not agree with most of your points but..to say Prince version is a bit of a "loungy rehash" is a bit much can't really see Prince being loungy about a cover when he knows people will compare versions..i think he done a strip down version...hence the jimi ..which is some clue..i guess to some link..Prince is a smart guy...and hides alot in his music... and we have only heard this over a doggy mp3..when on CD ..i think we may hear more

Rockability said:

Just cause he can, probably...haha

I really Prince's version.
The whole feel of the song...vocals and Guitar... wow!
~what a Beautiful feeling~
would really love to hear the long version-the instrumental part in the beginning of the song that was mentioned.

npggirl77 said:

Prince has done a full Jimi cover . . . he covered Red House and renamed it Purple House.

As far as Prince doing covers: they are hit or miss when actually released on an album.

When he did One Of Us, on album and live, it seriously sent chills down my spine it was so good. On the other had, Everyday Is A Winding Road was cringe-worthy.

MendesCity said:

i find this interesting.

.
[Edited 1/1/10 23:50pm]