was this posted?

http://www.spin.com/blog/...s-all-time

emesem said:

I could not agree more with that list, very good list IMO

Lovesymbol2 said:

I would probably knock out Controversy and put in Dorothy Parker or Lady Cab Driver. Its hard because to us the "hits" are all played out.

They stole my 'chicken scratch' descriotion. At least they know what it is.

emesem said:

Fuck your right this is very hard. Id just add in them both and make it a top 12 list, dorothy parker is a genius piece that will and should go down into history, so simple yet so complicated if you know what i mean. Controversy is more looked at for its eccentric unusual way and the lyrics. Then again, which song of prince is not unusual.

emesem said:

I've heard other writers refer to When U Were Mine as an illusion to a threesome. I don't believe P was being literal with the line about another man "sleeping between the two of us."

What do you guys think?

jdcxc said:

It was meant to be both. He was trying to be scandalous but also refers to the idea of the "other man"
[Edited 4/9/09 20:11pm]

purple rain number 1? really?

Knock out Purple Rain and Raspberry Beret for Ballad of Dorothy Parker and Joy In Repetition.

I'd probably come up with a somewhat different list, but I do like the writer's descriptions of the songs.

Nice list... for the most part.

While I expected Purple Rain to get the #1 spot, part of me hoped it would go to something like "If I was ur girlfriend"... me included, so many people here praise that as one of his best EVER, if not the best

Raspberry Beret... I've heard better
When Doves Cry should be higher up for that creativity thats gotta count for something.
I haven't heard it in a while, but "Erotic City" didn't make much of an impression on me... I still don't see why its a favorite. It's from the Purple Rain era, its one of those great b-sides, I get it. Maybe its just the lyrics I couldn't get around... that was back when I found Darling Nikki somewhat offensive

I give them props for adding hidden gems like "Sometimes it snows in April" and "I could never take the place of ur man"... not many regular people (non-fanbase people) would even know those ones

Hmmm...lemme see how do I explain why Erotic City is a favorite....ummm, ummmm.....cause ITS A GREAT FUCKING SONG!!!!! Silly...where do I start..from the beginning...the intro is so damn sexy and immediately the listener wants to know whats gonna happen next....the lyrics are just sooooo ummm scandalous...the fact that it was actually a single on the radio and he didn't have to change the lyrics is just awesome!!! Finally if the visions of an Erotic City the way Prince & Co. put if out there "didn't make much of an impression on you"..remind me not to invite you to my next Hot tub party ...Thats all.....
[Edited 4/9/09 21:43pm]
[Edited 4/9/09 21:43pm]

WOW best Top Prince songs list Ive ever seen!!!!!
They have 'Sometimes It Snows In April'!!!!! :O

I could never just narrow it down to 10.

any list that doesn't contain the song Crystal Ball is wrong wrong wrong.

xlr8r said:

that phrase was around before you were born . . .

Lovesymbol2 said:

'Arms of Orion' . . .

jdcxc said:

Yes, What other meaning is there?

emesem said:

He's reminding her that he did that for her.

Good List, but I can think of ten more that should be added to it. I thought "Little Red Corvette" should have made the list, just from the creativity of the lyrics alone!

It's a pretty good list. We've all got our own top ten of course, but many of these would be on ours. I don't agree with the dismissal of Crystal Ball.



If you happen to stop into a Target this weekend and see a preponderance of people clad in purple, don't be alarmed -- they're just Prince fans.
On Sunday, three albums from rock's reigning funk genius will go on sale exclusively at the retailer (though you can also get them by buying a membership to the artist's Lotusflow3r.com website).
As a Prince fan, I'm keen to hear the eccentrically titled albums (the guitar-heavy LOtusFLOW3R, electronic-oriented MPLSoUND, and pop-centric Elixer -- featuring Bria Valente on vocals), but I'm keeping my expectations low. Historically, the Minneapolis funkateer's best work doesn't come in big packages. I've listened to all of 1998's four-disc Crystal Ball. It's highly unlikely I'll do it again. 1996's triple-disc Emancipation is better, but you've got to a wade through a lot of unmemorable soul and pop before you get to a gem like "the Holy River."
So while we're hoping for three great new albums, I celebrate his Purple Majesty's return with his Top 10 Tunes of All Time.
LISTEN TO CLIPS OF PRINCE'S TOP 10 SONGS:

10. "She's Always in My Hair"
A psychedelic rocker with a terse guitar riff and staccato keyboard part, this 1985 song shows how Prince set the template for the kind of rhythm heavy, futuristic rock that similarly forward-thinking artists like Andre 3000, Janelle Monae, and MGMT would later follow.

9. "Controversy"
An epic disco hook, in-the-pocket chicken-scratch guitar, and a young Prince asking the questions that he'd spend years struggling gloriously to answer: "Do I believe in god? / Do I believe in me?"

8. "When Doves Cry"
From disparate parts -- Oedipal lyrics, a simple drum machine riff, a mechanical vocal performance -- Prince crafts something mysterious and moving. Try to find the full-length album version, which features a nicely haughty neo-classical keyboard interlude.

7. "Raspberry Beret"
Utterly charming Beatlesesque acoustic pop. "Sweet" is not a word normally associated with Prince, but "Raspberry Beret" spends 3:31 reveling in the first blush of love.

6. "Sometimes it Snows in April"
Even though it spawned both "Kiss" and this ethereal ballad, 1986's Parade is an often-overlooked jewel in Prince's crown. Seek it out for "April" alone -- a heartbreaking goodbye to a recently departed friend that sounds as if it was recorded in a heavenly cloud.

5. "Kiss"
A skittery rhythm guitar part + a hiccupping falsetto vocal + not much else = a No. 1 hit. It's hard to sound this simply awesome.

4. "Erotic City"
A b-side from the Purple Rain days, "Erotic City" is a prime example of Prince's ability to blend danceable music with almost avant-garde production techniques. Check out the way the song's fat backbeat is surrounded by strange, high-pitched vocals and overdriven electric guitar.

3. "I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man"
The sheer musical talent necessary to play a song that moves from folk rock into a psychedelic Latin jam and then climaxes in a shredding guitar solo is one thing. But Prince also had the creative imagination to think to do it.

2. "When You Were Mine"
Built on a simple beat, dry rhythm guitar, and squiggly keyboard, this minimal new wave rocker is as catchy as anything heralded bands like the Cars or the Bangles ever put out -- and those groups never put their go-go melodies to lyrics that allude to a three-way.

1. "Purple Rain"
This gorgeous gospel ballad is Prince's "Hey Jude," his "Stairway to Heaven," his undeniable stadium-rousing anthem. It's also a rare instance of an epic-length song where the come-down is just as memorable as the build-up.

Good selection, they are all worthy of respect. But where is adore and when 2 R in love in that list, they are the greatest Prince songs of all time. 1987 was his best year as far as I am concerned

Don't agree, but I've seen worst lists.

NouveauDance said:

co sign

Obviously we're not all gonna agree on this list but it is one of the better lists I've seen. Two of my all time favorites made it, "Sometimes it snows in April" and "I could never take the place of your man".

jdcxc said:

No, I don't think Prince was being literal...If one lover has someone else on their mind, that's one way of looking at it. A cameraman gettin the love on tape is another way of looking at it.
The truth is in the eyes of the beholder of this line.

I am always delighted to see When You Were Mine get some love. It's probably my favorite Prince song of all - and definitely one of his best. Just straight up rock 'n' roll.

jdcxc said:

I agree. It's a simple allusion to an affair - and shouldn't be taken literally. "[S]leeping in between the two of us" just means there was a third person involved (though not physically) in the relationship.

Genesia said:

I remember when it was one of my favorites. "Love you more than I did when you were mine."

absolutley nothing to argue about there

Genesia said:

Thanks.