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Did Prince intend to cease "dirty" releases after '85? I always heard the end of Temptation as P saying farewell to dirty recordings (it's funny that his character "dies," which happened again in the film UTCM and again in '93 and arguably again in 2000).
Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy, Batman and GB were all children-friendly recordings. He shelved the Black Album. The Lovesexy tour is the exception that proves the rule (the dirt never left the live-shows really...). Then he released Gett Off - reportedly at a time when he was short of cash. It's one of my fave trax but it always seemed insincere to me, as did all his raunchy stuff in the 90s. What do u all think? (Sorry, but the P&B ATWIAD podcast got me thinking about this again) "We've never been able to pull off a funk number"
"That's becuase we're soulless auttomatons" | |
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interesting analysis | |
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wasitgood4u said: I always heard the end of Temptation as P saying farewell to dirty recordings (it's funny that his character "dies," which happened again in the film UTCM and again in '93 and arguably again in 2000).
Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy, Batman and GB were all children-friendly recordings. He shelved the Black Album. The Lovesexy tour is the exception that proves the rule (the dirt never left the live-shows really...). Then he released Gett Off - reportedly at a time when he was short of cash. It's one of my fave trax but it always seemed insincere to me, as did all his raunchy stuff in the 90s. What do u all think? (Sorry, but the P&B ATWIAD podcast got me thinking about this again) its about the mood .....people change | |
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I always heard the end of Temptation as P saying farewell to dirty recordings (it's funny that his character "dies," which happened again in the film UTCM and again in '93 and arguably again in 2000).
Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy, Batman and GB were all children-friendly recordings. He shelved the Black Album. The Lovesexy tour is the exception that proves the rule (the dirt never left the live-shows really...). Then he released Gett Off - reportedly at a time when he was short of cash. It's one of my fave trax but it always seemed insincere to me, as did all his raunchy stuff in the 90s. What do u all think? Interesting theory. You know, I agree that much of Prince's "raunchy stuff" from 1991 on was less sincere than what had come before. It seemed as if, from Diamonds and Pearls on, he was doing it for shock value more, than because it just came naturally. Perhaps it was a reaction to direction hip hop was taking at the time. People complain that Prince has been less raunchy since becoming a Jehovah's Witness. However, I maintain that he is just as dirty minded as ever... he is just not forcing the issue to "shock". Prince still sings about sex all of the time, it's just that now the lyrics seem to come from a much more sincere place. To me, the nastiness in songs like "Mellow" is always more provocative and real than the horny put on of "Johnny" or "18 and Over". [Edited 5/24/10 12:20pm] "New Power slide...." |
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skywalker said: I always heard the end of Temptation as P saying farewell to dirty recordings (it's funny that his character "dies," which happened again in the film UTCM and again in '93 and arguably again in 2000).
Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy, Batman and GB were all children-friendly recordings. He shelved the Black Album. The Lovesexy tour is the exception that proves the rule (the dirt never left the live-shows really...). Then he released Gett Off - reportedly at a time when he was short of cash. It's one of my fave trax but it always seemed insincere to me, as did all his raunchy stuff in the 90s. What do u all think? Interesting theory. You know, I agree that much of Prince's "raunchy stuff" from 1991 on was less sincere than what had come before. It seemed as if, from Diamonds and Pearls on, he was doing it for shock value more, than because it just came naturally. Perhaps it was a reaction to direction hip hop was taking at the time. People complain that Prince has been less raunchy since becoming a Jehovah's Witness. However, I maintain that he is just as dirty minded as ever... he is just not forcing the issue to "shock". Prince still sings about sex all of the time, it's just that now the lyrics seem to come from a much more sincere place. To me, the nastiness in songs like "Mellow" is always more provocative and real than the horny put on of "Johnny" or "18 and Over". [Edited 5/24/10 12:20pm]  Not to mention Glasscutter 
Yep - nothing pre-85 was as cringe-worthy as the Gangsta Glam video set or the Arsenio performance (LPWM, Sister and Jack U Off are cringe-worthy in a cool way). You could argue that it was always a marketing gimmick (is it Owen Husney that claims that Soft and Wet was written for that reason and that the formula stuck?). But it does seem more genuine in the early eighties or at least to form a more coherent narrative. By '85 he didn't need gimmicks to promote himself so he buried it. In'91 he needed a boost so he brought it all back until he killed it again in '93... "We've never been able to pull off a funk number"
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I think.....i want a cup of Tea. | |
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"And would U, would U let me kiss U there
You know down there where it counts I'll do it so good I swear I'll drink every ounce" "Oh, pretty little whip, U got me drippin' Drippin' all over the floor, the floor If I come back as a woman, I want a body like yours A body like yours" "Their bodies shiver at the mere contemplation Of penetration (let alone the act) Let alone the actual act The thought of his tongue in the V of her love In his mind, this thought it leads the pack" "If u do 2 much, your skin will be sensitive 2 touch The first person that touches u, u want 2 fuck U take them 2 your crib and u tie them 2 a chair Then u make funny faces til they get really scared Then u turn on the neon, then u play with yourself Til u turn them on" Hardly children friendly. TRUE BLUE |
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New Position
Honey, we've been together, Honey, 4 2 long Honey, we've got 2 make it better, Honey, before we go wrong Got 2 try a new position, yeah! Something that'll make it all right New position, yeah, let's go fishing in the river, the river of life Honey, we can't last (we can't last) without a shot of new spunk (Ha) Honey, forget your past (forget your past) U've got 2 try my new funk U've got 2 try a new position, yeah, something that'll make it all right Oh, a new position, yeah, yeah, let's go fishing in the river, the river of life Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah Oh, let me do ya, come on let me do ya, do ya, come one let me do ya, I want, I want 2 do ya, do ya, I can make u happy (I can make u H.A.P.P.Y) I can make it real good (so good) Honey, I won't be your pappy, (P.U.S.S.Y.) but I'll do ya, I'll do ya, do ya, do ya, like a, Do ya do ya like a good man should I'll do ya do ya like a good man should Honey, let's try a new position | |
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I take the point, but I really think that all those mentioned are far more subtle and suggestive than the pre-85 stuff. It's not obscene IMO the way the others I mentioned are.
All except motherfunka's last example, which could be a deal-breaker. But I'm having a memory lapse, what songs it from? (BTW my theory excludes b-sides. Scarlet Pussy hardly fits...  )"We've never been able to pull off a funk number"
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motherfunka said: "And would U, would U let me kiss U there
You know down there where it counts I'll do it so good I swear I'll drink every ounce" "Oh, pretty little whip, U got me drippin' Drippin' all over the floor, the floor If I come back as a woman, I want a body like yours A body like yours" "Their bodies shiver at the mere contemplation Of penetration (let alone the act) Let alone the actual act The thought of his tongue in the V of her love In his mind, this thought it leads the pack" "If u do 2 much, your skin will be sensitive 2 touch The first person that touches u, u want 2 fuck U take them 2 your crib and u tie them 2 a chair Then u make funny faces til they get really scared Then u turn on the neon, then u play with yourself Til u turn them on" Hardly children friendly. Agreed. However, the point is that they are not THAT explicit compared to his ealry 80's or eraly 90's lyrics. In fact, Prince of 2000 onward would get away with some of the above lyrics. "New Power slide...." |
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He still had nasty sexual lyrics and cussed more too....
New Position Housequake If I Were Your Girlfriend Shockadelica It Bob George Rock Hard In A Funky Place Lovesexy When 2 R In Love Scarlet Pussy I Love U In Me Feel U Up Vicki Waiting Andy is a four letter word. | |
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wasitgood4u said: I take the point, but I really think that all those mentioned are far more subtle and suggestive than the pre-85 stuff. It's not obscene IMO the way the others I mentioned are.
All except motherfunka's last example, which could be a deal-breaker. But I'm having a memory lapse, what songs it from? (BTW my theory excludes b-sides. Scarlet Pussy hardly fits... )I agree they are more subtle, than let's say "I sincerely want to fuck the taste out of your mouth", maybe he just matured a little over a few years and was probably getting a lot of guff from WB since the whole parental advisory came about from Darling Nikki, among others. Obscene is objectionable. TRUE BLUE |
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I've got two words for you...
Sexy Motherfucker I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart. | |
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Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy, Batman and GB were all children-friendly recordings.
Yes, and they all belong in the same Parthenon as "Row, Row, Ur Boat"."Hot Cross Buns" and "Big Rock Candy Mountain". | |
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Gett Off
How can I put this in a way so as not to offend or unnerve There's a rumor goin' all round that you ain’t been gettin' served They say that you ain’t you know what In baby who knows how long It's hard for me to say what's right When all I wanna do is wrong Get off - 23 positions in a one night stand Get off - I'll only call you after if you say I can Get off - let a woman be a woman and a man be a man Get off - if you want to baby here I am (Here I am) I clocked the jizz from a friend Of yours named Vanessa Bet (Bet) She said you told her a fantasy That got her all wet (Wet) Something about a little box with a Mirror and a tongue inside What she told me then got me so hot I knew that we could slide Get off - 23 positions in a one night stand Get off - I'll only call you after if you say I can Get off - let a woman be a woman and a man be a man Get off - if you want to baby here I am (Here I am) Get off (Get off) 1 2 3 - Nah, little cutie, I ain't drinkin' (Get off) Scope this, I was just thinkin' You + me, what a ride If you was thinkin' the same We could continue outside (Get off) Lay your pretty body against the parkin' meter Strip your dress down Like I was strippin' a Peter Paul's Almond Joy Lemme show you baby I'm a talented boy Everybody grab a body Pump it like you want somebody Get off (Get off) So here we-so here we-so here we are, here we are (G-G-Get off) In my paisley crib Whatcha want to eat? "Ribs" Ha, toy, I don't serve ribs... You better be happy that dress is still on I heard the rip when you sat down Honey them hips is gone That's alright, I clock 'em that way Remind me of something James used to say... "I like 'em fat" "I like 'em proud" "Ya gotta have a mother for me" Now move your big ass 'round this way So I can work on that zipper, baby Tonight you’re a star And I'm the big dipper (Kick it) (Get off) (Get off) How can I put this in a way so as not to offend or unnerve (Get off) There's a rumor goin' all round that you ain’t been gettin' served (Get off) They say that you ain’t you know what In baby who knows how long (Get off) It's hard for me to say what's right When all I wanna do is wrong Get off - 23 positions in a one night stand Get off - I'll only call you after if you say I can Get off - let a woman be a woman and a man be a man Get off - if you want to baby here I am Come on Get off Get off Get off Get off Get off Get off Get off Get off | |
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HatrinaHaterwitz said: I've got two words for you...
Sexy Motherfucker Released as a single on June 30, 1992 Yo man What? She came Where? There! Oh! In a word or 2 - it's u I wanna do No not cha body, yo mind u fool Come here baby, yeah U sexy motherfucker Were all alone in a villa on the rivera That's in france on the south side In case u cared Out of all yo friends I wanna be the closest That's why I tell u things So ull be the mostest When it comes 2 life, 2 be this mans wife U got 2 be well educated on the subject of fights I mean prevention of In other words - it's r.e.a.l meaning of this thing called love Are u up on this? If so, then u can get up off hug and a kiss Come here baby, yeah U sexy motherfucker Come here baby, yeah U sexy motherfucker We need 2 talk about things Tell me what cha do, tell me what cha eat I might cook 4 u See it really don't matter cuz it's all about me and u Aint no one else around Im even with the blindfold, gagged and bound I don't mind See this aint about sex Its all about love being in charge of this life And the next... Why all the cosmic talk? I just want u smarter than I'll ever be When we take that walk Come here baby, yeah U sexy motherfucker Come here baby, yeah U sexy motherfucker Horns stand please... I like it, I like it U seem perplexed I haven't taken u yet Cant u see Im harder than a man can get I got wet dreams comin out of my ears I get hard if the wind blows your cologne near me But I can take it, cuz I want the whole nine This aint about the body, it's about the mind Come here baby, yeah U sexy motherfucker Come here baby, yeah U sexy motherfucker Tommy barbarella in the house Scrub the dishes Come here tommy, yeah Sexy, sexy, sexy, sexy Levi, levi, fly [ooh man, lets give em some more good shit] I like it, I like it Sexy motherfucker shakin that ass, shakin that ass, shakin that ass Sexy motherfucker shakin that ass, shakin that ass, shakin that ass Guard your folks and get your daughter (sexy motherfucker shakin that ass, shakin that ass, shakin that ass) The sexy motherfuckers so fine I could drink her bathwater A long, leggy 58 (sexy motherfucker shakin that ass, shakin that ass, shakin that ass) Packing an ass as tight as a grape I want to spit some game but I said to myself Hmmm...just conversate (yeah!) (sexy motherfucker shakin that ass, shakin that ass, shakin that ass) Cuz Im usually quite the calm one (come on!) You never found me out prowling boy Im just havin fun (sexy motherfucker shakin that ass, shakin that ass, shakin that ass) But Im happy 2 change my state of mind for this behind I bet that if you threw that ass into the air it would turn into sunshine Sexy motherfucker That would make shakin that ass 4 one sexy motherfucker shakin this place shakin that ass Shakin that ass Sexy motherfucker shakin that ass, shakin that ass, shakin that ass Sexy motherfucker shakin that ass, shakin that ass, shakin that ass Sexy motherfucker shakin that ass, shakin that ass, shakin that ass U sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker U sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker Sexy motherfucker I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart. | |
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wasitgood4u said: I always heard the end of Temptation as P saying farewell to dirty recordings (it's funny that his character "dies," which happened again in the film UTCM and again in '93 and arguably again in 2000).
Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy, Batman and GB were all children-friendly recordings. He shelved the Black Album. The Lovesexy tour is the exception that proves the rule (the dirt never left the live-shows really...). Then he released Gett Off - reportedly at a time when he was short of cash. It's one of my fave trax but it always seemed insincere to me, as did all his raunchy stuff in the 90s. What do u all think? (Sorry, but the P&B ATWIAD podcast got me thinking about this again) Sorry, but I entirely disagree - the "dirt" never left him at all. None of it seems as outrageous now as it was back then, because of our more liberal times, but he was still his "royal badness" throughout. Certainly the general view of him at the time was that he was rude and dirty, definitely NOT suitable for minors and even many conservative adults! None of the post-85 albums you have mentioned are "child-friendly". They all came with "explicit lyrics" stickers (the stickers themselves being indirectly down to Prince), all have blatant sexual content and both subtle and overt innuendo on them and language that would make your grandma squirm. It doesn't really matter if the delivery was more subtle (and it wasn't necessarily), because the intention of the lyric is the same, which is what is relevant. ATWIAD has Tambourine - a song about masturbation which isn't exactly subtle. And, of course, Temptation has it's lewd moments. Parade has New Position and Life Can Be So Nice ("Morning glories never cry, my love is just-a-drippin'" and "I've come a thousand different ways before I even start!") and so on. And claiming the Lovesexy tour is the exception is also quite wrong. Have you seen the Prince's birthday show from the Hit'n'Run tour of '86? Prince is preening, pouting and rubbing through most of the show and there is a whole section of him humping his microphone stand during the "All the men call me Princey, all the women call me Electric man" stint. SOTT concerts had him ripping off Cat's skirt, laying her down on the heart etc etc In fact, I would argue that the only time he tamed the sexual tones was in Batman (pretty much restricting he lewdness to a joke about manhood size), as it probably wasn't so suited to a PG rated comic-book film. Even his most "spiritual" album, The Rainbow Children, has surprisingly explicit sexual lyrics included; "If u desire I'll shed my attire, Anything 2 get u wet." and "Can I sing 2 u while u bring urself 2 joy? I'll go slow at first, while u quench ur thirst, Wet circles round the toy/While u bring urself 2 joy". As to his sincerity - well, its been intrinsic in his music from the start - I think most of it was done for a bit of shock value and controversy, but he was also writing from a personal perspective and it was clearly part of his make-up and character. And I'm glad he did as he did - he really helped bring more aspects of human behaviour out in to the open. He did as much for sexual frankness and openness about who we are and what we do as the sexual revolution in the 60s. He, along with a few others (him just being the highest profile) helped make it less of a taboo subject, in my view. [Edited 5/25/10 1:23am] ...we have only scratched the surface of what the mind can do...
My dance project; www.zubzub.co.uk Listen to any of my tracks in full, for free, here; www.zubzub.bandcamp.com Go and glisten | |
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Some interesting points - although some of you didn't even bother to read my original post!! I was talking about LPs between 86-90, Gett Off and Sexy MF are after these, Tambourine and Temptaion before. I excluded the Black Album, boots and b-sides.
I accept most of mindflux' points but I still feel that there was a significant difference that happened during those years (I remember it at the time). i don't think it's anything like his post-JW anti-cursing etc, although there is some similarity in how the sexual implications became more subtle and suggestive and less explicit. It may have had something to do with pressure from WB or maturing. I think it was an artistic/image decision. I agree that the live shows were different, but I would argue that they, too, were sensual rather than crude (a fine line, I admit - is simulating sex with a microphone stand less crude than simulating masturbation with a guitar?) "We've never been able to pull off a funk number"
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wasitgood4u said: Some interesting points - although some of you didn't even bother to read my original post!! I was talking about LPs between 86-90, Gett Off and Sexy MF are after these, Tambourine and Temptaion before. I excluded the Black Album, boots and b-sides.
I accept most of mindflux' points but I still feel that there was a significant difference that happened during those years (I remember it at the time). i don't think it's anything like his post-JW anti-cursing etc, although there is some similarity in how the sexual implications became more subtle and suggestive and less explicit. It may have had something to do with pressure from WB or maturing. I think it was an artistic/image decision. I agree that the live shows were different, but I would argue that they, too, were sensual rather than crude (a fine line, I admit - is simulating sex with a microphone stand less crude than simulating masturbation with a guitar?) I think the 'nastiness' comes/came thru more in the shows that always on the albums. I mean Dirty Mind had the most 'out there' songs but even those weren't all, I mean Do It All Night(Dirty Mind), is not much different than It(SOTT) Prince had orgasmic songs starting at Controversy:Do Me Baby with the climactic scene at the end, repeated with Vibrator(V6) repeated with International Lover(1999) repeated with If the Kid Can't Make You Come(Ice Cream Castles) (None on Purple Rain) ATWIAD:Girl the long version, (none on Parade), repeated on If I Was Your Girlfriend(SOTT) none on the Black album, repeated on Lovesexy(Lovesexy) I think Purple Rain was just as radio friendly as SOTT: the only song on Purple Rain that was 'Adult' was Darlin Nikki + all the B sides except for Erotic City. SOTT had 'Adult' songs like IT, maybe Hot Thang(not something) If I Was Your Girlfriend(only because of the ending If you look back from his album up to 1986(including outtakes) I don't think it changed much. Even the Dream Factory / Camille cuts had some 'dirt' | |
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i can't state exact examples of lyrics but after listening to some
of his live shows from 2009, i remember thinking to myself half of the time "oh, really?" he sang some quite nasty stuff there. not a sexual explicit lyric like in the past, but very racy anyway. it's a healthy sign imo. he doesn't need to be disgustingly provocative or anything anymore, and cuss words never did too much for me any time. but it's good to hear him singing some more sexual charged lyrics again instead of completely stamping them out, which seems a lot less sincere. and true love lives on lollipops and crisps | |
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Mindflux said: wasitgood4u said: I always heard the end of Temptation as P saying farewell to dirty recordings (it's funny that his character "dies," which happened again in the film UTCM and again in '93 and arguably again in 2000).
Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy, Batman and GB were all children-friendly recordings. He shelved the Black Album. The Lovesexy tour is the exception that proves the rule (the dirt never left the live-shows really...). Then he released Gett Off - reportedly at a time when he was short of cash. It's one of my fave trax but it always seemed insincere to me, as did all his raunchy stuff in the 90s. What do u all think? (Sorry, but the P&B ATWIAD podcast got me thinking about this again) Sorry, but I entirely disagree - the "dirt" never left him at all. None of it seems as outrageous now as it was back then, because of our more liberal times, but he was still his "royal badness" throughout. Certainly the general view of him at the time was that he was rude and dirty, definitely NOT suitable for minors and even many conservative adults! None of the post-85 albums you have mentioned are "child-friendly". They all came with "explicit lyrics" stickers (the stickers themselves being indirectly down to Prince), all have blatant sexual content and both subtle and overt innuendo on them and language that would make your grandma squirm. It doesn't really matter if the delivery was more subtle (and it wasn't necessarily), because the intention of the lyric is the same, which is what is relevant. ATWIAD has Tambourine - a song about masturbation which isn't exactly subtle. And, of course, Temptation has it's lewd moments. Parade has New Position and Life Can Be So Nice ("Morning glories never cry, my love is just-a-drippin'" and "I've come a thousand different ways before I even start!") and so on. And claiming the Lovesexy tour is the exception is also quite wrong. Have you seen the Prince's birthday show from the Hit'n'Run tour of '86? Prince is preening, pouting and rubbing through most of the show and there is a whole section of him humping his microphone stand during the "All the men call me Princey, all the women call me Electric man" stint. SOTT concerts had him ripping off Cat's skirt, laying her down on the heart etc etc In fact, I would argue that the only time he tamed the sexual tones was in Batman (pretty much restricting he lewdness to a joke about manhood size), as it probably wasn't so suited to a PG rated comic-book film. Even his most "spiritual" album, The Rainbow Children, has surprisingly explicit sexual lyrics included; "If u desire I'll shed my attire, Anything 2 get u wet." and "Can I sing 2 u while u bring urself 2 joy? I'll go slow at first, while u quench ur thirst, Wet circles round the toy/While u bring urself 2 joy". As to his sincerity - well, its been intrinsic in his music from the start - I think most of it was done for a bit of shock value and controversy, but he was also writing from a personal perspective and it was clearly part of his make-up and character. And I'm glad he did as he did - he really helped bring more aspects of human behaviour out in to the open. He did as much for sexual frankness and openness about who we are and what we do as the sexual revolution in the 60s. He, along with a few others (him just being the highest profile) helped make it less of a taboo subject, in my view. [Edited 5/25/10 1:23am] Well said. "New Power slide...." |
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