Hi...I forgot the news about this song. I have never heard Prince perform this song.

When was this song released and for was it for the internet only?

He didn't cover a Sade song, he referenced it. It was released on CD single with "Brand New Orleans" as the B-side (which is really an extended instrumental ending to the A-side). It's called "S.S.T." which stands for "Sade's Sweetest Taboo". You can still find it in stores.

Oh Thanx...I was wondering.

Not to get all nit-picky and political, however, The lyrics to that song do say..."Everyday is Christmas, and every night a New Years Eve." Which I think is sweet....

I was just wondering if Prince sang those lyrics for a record.

this was just playing on way home

I love the song but I have to be inthe right mood for it and tonite I was

Who will be a guest in your tent?
Certainly not the ones who don't wanna repent
And keep giving guns 2 the poorest of our nation's sons

Who is gonna call U by name
With no confusion, trinity or preacher's vain?
Who says it every time (Every time)
And opens up the eyes of the blind?

Who will be the one in his bed?
Certainly not the one who put the thorns on his head
And wished him dead while they took his daily bread

Which one is of value 2 U? (2 U )
The one depletin' the oil supply
Or the one that renews it
And keeps the peace (Keep the peace)
Like the groove in Sade's "Sweetest Taboo"?

CHORUS:
Give it 2 me, give it 2 me
The Sweetest (the sweetest {first chorus only})
Give it 2 me, give it 2 me
Give it 2 me, give it 2 me
The Sweetest

Can I groove a little bit?
Let me groove a little bit

Who will be a guest in your tent? (Who dat...?)
Are U gonna be happy with how your life is spent?
Did U have open arms 4 each and everybody U met?

Did U let them die in the rain, (In the rain)
Endless war, poverty or hurricane?
It's time 4 another groove
Like Sade's "Sweetest Taboo"

CHORUS

Come on, come on

CHORUS

Oh, yeah

Turn it right down
Be cool, everybody
New Orleans

"S.S.T." also refers to sea surface temperature, which is used to monitor the threat of hurricanes. A little double meaning there.

I remember reading somewhere that Prince wrote this after watching hurricane coverage and listening to Sweetest Taboo. Could be slightly off about that but it would make sense.

CerpinTaxt said:

I think you're right.

There are hurricane references on the CD artwork and the CD itself was released for charity. A portion of the purchase amount was supposed to go to a hurricane relief fund.

SST was a good cause and a sweet thing for Prince to do.

But it shows the blatant need for a good producer and editor.
The production, effects, sound volumes, how its put together...etc. just forced, flat, plastic and juvenile.

People say his newer music sounds overproduced, i have always felt its just lazily produced.

I really want to like Prince;s music, especially for such a worthy cause, but its just terrible.
I do like the end section which sounds loose and spontaneous.

http://www.youtube.com/wa...lGCQaFolrc

I have no idea why the song is set to some other video.

ernestsewell said:

I remember that song being available for purchase on Prince's NPGMC site, right after the Hurricane Katrina disaster. A portion of the proceeds went to a charity for the Hurricane Katrina victims. I remember seeing one of the images on that site, of one of the victime of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, with the American flag wrapped around their body.
[Edited 12/1/09 7:06am]

Brand New Orleans is pretty funky :woot

Well if it's "lazily produced" then it's not bad for a song he wrote and recorded in a day (if reports are true).

....

lotusflw3r said:

Yeah, but he writes and records most of his songs in a day. That's kind of his M.O. So having said that, and establishing his method, the arguments speaking to production can still be on an even keel, by the very standard he set.

NouveauDance said:

What kind of fuckery is this? You so silly.

This song was screaming for a video from a live setting. It would have been a great live clip, totally acoustic/unplugged type arrangement (similar to how Tina Turner does "I Can't Stand The Rain", "Steamy Windows", etc in concert).

Thanks 4 the replyz guyz.

ernestsewell said:

Completely off-topic, but holy shit, "Steamy Windows"!

I used to love that song, and haven't heard it in years. Off to iTunes!

I love Sade's version, can we leave it with her?

S.S.T. speaks for itself. It was for charity and nobody/no one can take away from that. Being from New Orleans I saw directly after Hurricane Katrina and still see today people turning their heads (including our own government).
People here put Prince down for whatever reasons.
Some People here should be looking at their Own Lives.
[Edited 12/6/09 0:46am]

squirrelgrease said:

STT sounds like 'The Amendment Song' from the Simpsons.

NouveauDance said:

Ahhh... I gotta listen to that again, then.

metallicjigolo said:

I missread the original thread-- in a hurry...

Of course anything that helps to shed light on the plight of less fortunate, oppressed and disenfranchised people says alot of good about the giver.