I think 1 + 1 + 1 is hardly an Erotic City rip-off. It is much livelier, has more cool parts. There is a lot more song dynamics.

Erotic City is fine, but it never goes anywhere, and is way overrated.

I think 1 + 1 + 1 is far greater.

I think 1 + 1 + 1 is hardly an Erotic City rip-off. It is much livelier, has more cool parts. There is a lot more song dynamics.

Erotic City is fine, but it never goes anywhere, and is way overrated.

I think 1 + 1 + 1 is far greater.

I like how 1+1+1=3 builds up from the start. It matches the lyrics perfectly, all the stuff about getting into her 'suggestive mind' (and the other). Creepy, but great.

The only thing detracting from this album is the Vader voice - and even that is not that bad when you get used to it.

You're saying that one of the best songs on the album is actually one of the worst? It might borrow from Erotic City, but the only that keyboard/synth line.

I don't think the storyline of TRC would make sense without 1+1+1=3. He's putting forth a worldview and religious belief system, and that song is essential, I think, to what he's getting at. He's asserting that there's no trinity and setting up the theme to be revisited in Everlasting Now and Last December. That's far different from his religious works of the past. I Would Die 4 U, for example, supports a belief in the trinity.

Plus, the song is really funky and good, whatever it's saying. I don't have much time for the lyrical content of TRC, but musically it reaches great heights.

Femi Jeya

Everything I don't like about Prince music is on that album. Musically it has it's moments, but you could say that about all Prince albums. Lyrically it's largely negative and ignorant. I don't enjoy it as a whole, but I do like 'She Loves Me For Me'. Overall, I think it's one of the worse projects he's ever done.

funksterr said:

Completely agree.

I would be interested to know if the same people who dislike TRC enjoy NPS.
I love TRC but i dont really like NPS.

muirdo said:

I think neither because i dont think like cheesy music of any form.

I was going to ask a similar question, that if those who like TRC are also the ones who dig MNPLSOUND?

From 1+1+1 is 3:

"There's a theocratic order
There's a theocratic order (There's a way we gotta do things)

This is how it's gonna be
If U wanna be with me
Ain't no room 4 disagree (No room)
1+1+1 is 3

Take your time 2 think it through (Think about it)
If this is what U wanna do
I ain't really that hard 2 please
Cuz 1+1+1 is 3 - hey!"

I always figured he was referring to Ecclesiastes 4:12 and the "threefold cord" mentioned therein. The threefold cord is a figurative expression. When applied to marriage, it includes the husband and wife, two strands, who are intertwined with the central strand, God.

spiritandtruth said:

theocratic order:

god -> man -> woman -> child -> animals

spiritandtruth said:

theocratic order:

god -> man -> woman -> child -> animals

Yes I'm sorry I really like this album, it is a staggeringly fantastic album: the musicianship is truly inspired, the melodies subtle yet insidiously lingering, and every song but one breathes of Prince on fire. I can even forgive him 'The Wedding Feast' because it is just plain daft, makes me smile and really isn't much of a song at all. The Darth Vader voice also is unnecessary and stupid but, hey this is Prince, you want straightforwardness try someone else
Yet one song down the years has irritated me and nettled me. I would preferred that he had left it off completely. Why? Because it is derivative, it reeks of Prince recycling some of the best of his past work for the sake of a funky melody. The song is 1+1+1=3 which,IMO,is no more than a rip off of 'Erotic City'. The song really irritates me because without this the album is just a fabulous, musical trip.

Sorry for droning on but this has bothered me for years. Can you relate?