Thanks to a smart suggestion from Huggiebear, we'll reboot with a new topic for the matchups that have been made. Apologies to all who have come with more full ballots for selections, because that ship has sailed.

For those who have not seen it yet, here's Bracket #1:









Okay, there's all four. Post your winners, and PLEASE choose one for each matchup.
REMEMBER: If you already voted for #1, whether in this topic or the original, no need to re-up, as they've been recorded already.
[Edited 3/7/09 18:15pm]
[Edited 3/7/09 18:37pm]
[Edited 3/8/09 8:54am]
[Edited 3/10/09 5:16am]

have you read the rules here?

PEJ said:

I'm guessing you meant the links. They're gone.

Anyway, back on topic, I'll go ahead and put in a vote myself.

Mountains--Just a really feel-good song, far as I'm concerned. Question of U is an excellent, very moody track, but I'd have gone for maybe one more verse.

Papa--Another one that's quite moody and dark, and it's almost chilling in the matter-of-factness in Prince's voice.

Purple Rain--Bad luck for Joy in Repetition, as it got grouped with THE anthem. Many other matchups, "JiR" would have won easily. This one, no contest in my book.

Do Me, Baby--Partyman is a fun song, but this was one of the definitive panty-dropping ballads. Another squash.

Pop Life--Around the World in a Day was worth the purchase price for this jam and Raspberry Beret alone, never mind some of the other highlights on it. 3121 is funky as week-old draws, but Pop Life is still a classic.

Computer Blue--Like Question of U, Computer Blue could have done with another verse somewhere (and doesn't it have one on a remix somewhere?), but it's still heavier than Le Grind, which definitely got in here on being the best of a spotty album.

Space--See, I thought Come was a very, very underrated album, and Space is another one of those moody, kinda sexy jams that I can't help but groove to. 7, after a while, got a little overplayed for me, same problem as I had with Diamonds and Pearls.

Illusion, Coma, Pimp and Circumstance--I love it when Prince brings out a sense of humor, and for me, this jam's one of his funniest. Maybe not classic funk, but still highly enjoyable for me.

The Question of U- tough call as I love both songs. "Mountains" has the sheer ecstasy, and "The Question of U" has the mystery. Both are worthy, but I have to give the edge to "The Question of U".

Love- Again, a tough choice. I adore both songs, but "Love" just gets me going.

Purple Rain- I would have chosen any of the previous 4 songs over both of these, but "Purple Rain" wins for its majesty.

Do Me, Baby- Prince's first excellent ballad.

3121- Prince's best song of the 2000s, if you ask me.

Computer Blue- Not even close. "Le Grind" may be fun, but "Computer Blue" is vital.

7- Landslide here. "7" is a great song, while I skip "Space" nearly every time.

Lion of Judah- This matchup encapsulates Prince's music of the past 5 years. He's had quite the commercial streak, but little of his music has been challenging of late. "Lion of Judah" stands out as one of the only challenging songs of this era, and it has the depth and emotional tug to have lasting value. "Illusion, Coma, Pimp and Circumstance" is an embarrassment- Prince trying to sound hip but coming across as an old man desperate to stay relevant.

Mountains
Love
Purple Rain
Do Me, Baby
3121
Computer Blue
7
Illusion, Coma, Pimp and Circumstance

Here are my votes:

Question of U
Papa
Purple Rain
Do Me Baby
Pop Life
Computer Blue
Space
Lion of Judah

Prince's Sarah

Mountains
Papa
Purple Rain
Partyman
Pop Life
Computer Blue
Space
Lion of Judah

Thanks for the props. C u already 4 or 5 new votes in afew hours, and yes Do Me Baby is a great song, infact out of the first 16 it would be the best of the lot

this is still really f*n tough.

TRON said:

Just copy my votes!

Have you already counted my votes from the old thread or shall I do it again?

Mountains
Papa
Joy in Repetition
Do Me, Baby
Pop Life
Computer Blue
7
Illusion, Coma, Pimp and Circumstance

Ta.

Mountains
Papa
Purple Rain
Do Me Baby
Pop Life
Computer Blue
7
Lion of Judah

Mountains


Papa


Purple Rain


Do Me, Baby


Pop Life


Le Grind


7


Lion of Judah

All right, everyone, here comes #2. Each bracket will be edited into the topic's opening post, so latecomers who haven't gotten to vote on the first round can still do so. If you're already at the party, just throw the new votes up and discuss.

I Wanna Be Your Lover


Anotherloverholenyohead


The Cross


Little Red Corvette


Come On


If I Was Your Girlfriend


Forever In My Life


Controversy

I Wanna Be Your Love
Anotherloverholenyohead
Still Would Stand All Time
Little Red Corvette
Black Sweat
If I Was Your Girlfriend
Forever In My Life
Controversy

My #2 ballot:

I Wanna Be Your Lover--Put P on the map. Private Joy is fun, but it's still cool to think of the looks on execs' faces when they heard that I Wanna Be Your Lover was done by one teenager alone in the studio.

The Everlasting Now--One of the more underwhelming first-round matchups, for me at least. "Everlasting" was one of the highlights of The Rainbow Children for me, to be sure.

The Cross--Aw, damn, I practically had to flip a coin on this one. Probably two of my top 10, and they're duking it out this early.

Little Red Corvette--This song changed the game, getting a black man on MTV, which was no small feat at the time. This one would take on the winner of The Cross/Still Would Stand... next round, which will be another tough call.

Come On--Again, very tongue-in-cheek song, and very fun. I like Black Sweat, but I can't vote it over lines like "Or could it B yo girlfriend/Who never ever been straight/When I ask U R U hungry/U say U already 8."

17 Days--Best song on the "B-Sides" collection, bar none. Could have been a hot single on its own.

Chaos and Disorder--That whole album showed that P could still rock out. Forever In My Life is a pretty ballad, but Chaos is just FILTHY. Love it.

Controversy--Another classic track that showed this Prince guy might have something to say, rather than just being a pervert for shock's sake. Picked up pretty well where the slight political statement of "Partyup" left off at the end of Dirty Mind.

Private Joy

Anotherloverholenyohead

The Cross

Guitar

Black Sweat

If I Was Your Girlfriend

Chaos and Disorder

Controversy

jstarr99 said:

There are some really unfair, difficult pairings in here. Yikes.
[Edited 3/8/09 17:29pm]

I'm just gonna do a quick vote for now and maybe come back with some more about the songs themselves. But I don't wanna miss out on these.



Mountains
v.
The Question of U


Love
v.
Papa


Joy in Repetition
v.
Purple Rain


Do Me, Baby
v.
Partyman


Pop Life
v.
3121


Le Grind
v.
Computer Blue


7
v.
Space


Illusion, Coma, Pimp and Circumstance
v.
Lion of Judah

Bracket #2:

I Wanna Be Your Lover
v.
Private Joy

Anotherloverholenyohead
v.
The Everlasting Now

Still Would Stand All Time
v.
The Cross

Little Red Corvette
v.
Guitar

Come On
v.
Black Sweat

17 Days
v.
If I Was Your Girlfriend

Chaos and Disorder
v.
Forever In My Life

Controversy
v.
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic

I Wanna Be Your Lover
v.
Private Joy- by far!

Anotherloverholenyohead- I quite like "The Everlasting Now", but it's out of its league here.
v.
The Everlasting Now

Still Would Stand All Time
v.
The Cross- tough matchup, but "The Cross" is in my top 5.

Little Red Corvette- "Guitar" is atrocious.
v.
Guitar

Come On
v.
Black Sweat- Good matchup! "Black Sweat" just barely ekes it out.

17 Days- "If I Was Your Girlfriend" is nice enough, but I think it's overrated by Prince fans.
v.
If I Was Your Girlfriend

Chaos and Disorder
v.
Forever In My Life- Very tough, but I'm feeling spiritual Prince more than pissed-off Prince at the moment.

Controversy
v.
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic- Both of these are contenders for my Prince top 10. In truth, I probably like "Controversy" more, but "Rave" deserves at least 1 vote!

jstarr99 said:

My Picks

I Wanna Be Your Lover
Anotherloverholenyohead
The Cross
Little Red Corvette
Black Sweat
If I Was Your Girlfriend
Forever In My Life
Controversy

Moonbeam said:

Sorry, but that's not possible.

I have eliminated the songs I don't want, the one left is my votes

[quote]Bracket #2:
I Wanna Be Your Lover
I like Private Joy, but Lover was his original hit, quite clever and catchy and u have 2 love the funked out part on the album version. His first classic

Anotherloverholenyohead
Rhetorical question, here super funky Parade jam, versus crappy Rainbow Children drone fest. Another.. is a great party song and so catchy

Still Would Stand All Time
Thats nasty my two favourite Prince ballads, but the Cross needed another verse to push it through. Still.. was his greatest pleading song and has a magical feel.

Little Red Corvette
Again classic versus no brainer. Little Red Corvette is a classic pop song, and very infectious and the song that broke him really, the rest of the album is a classic too.. Guitar is passable at best off a very mediocre album.


Black Sweat
Easy Choice, its just a great later song, has vibe, has juice and has a great video. Hes got a job to do, still many earlier songs better than this

17 Days
Again a hard choice as this is the second outstanding SOTT track I have had to eliminate, why are we matching 2 great songs together then 2 crap ones. 17 Days is his greatest B side and his most convincing pop rock song ever with excellent bass and lyrics. But I really love Girlfriend too.


Forever In My Life
Thank god for easy choices like this, Forever in my life is one my absolute favourite songs, sung with such conviction and force, totally a good time to start respecting Sign o the Times

Controversy
Easily wins here, an early classic, better enjoyed in full version with the Lords Prayer, the video is pretty cool 2