I was listening to P today and started wondering what his most reflective, personal album was. "Come" comes to mind and possibly parts of Emancipation...
What do you think is P's most personal album?

poetcorner61 said:

Hmm well I'd agree with both of what you said, Come and parts of Emancipation are about as personal as Prince gets.

I can say very confidently say that "The Holy River" from Emancipation is probably the most personal song he has ever wrote. It's also an just an AMAZING song!

i would say

1999
Around The World In The Day
Purple Rain
Emancipation
The Gold Experiance
3121
The Rainbow Children

^^^ not sure how 1999 or PR is considered personal overall.

I'd say Lovesexy is because it reflects an alleged spiritual awakening he had at the time.

Emancipation Disk 2. All about Mayte.

Rave because so many songs were goodbye messages to Mayte.

The Truth

ernestsewell said:

Actually.. I recently watched the Directors/Producers audio commentary of PR and they had said that "I Would Die 4 U" was some actually something Prince heard his father say to his mother. Also he incorporated some music written by his father into Computer Blue(the guitar solo)

PurpleColossus said:

I know the story w/ that song.

It was just much more of a Top-40 effort by him, purposeful. When I think lyrically, there are other albums that are much more intimate lyrically and personal.

sro100 said:

The Truth I think has some personal songs on it--regarding where P stood in that moment spiritually. I also agree with Ernest that Lovesexy has some spiritually searching songs--far more expansive than anything recently. I just wish I had the tracked version of Lovesexy rather than the one track version! Then I could really dissect the songs more with playback!

I also think this is one of P's most accessible songs for people with similar beliefs--"The Cross." The lyrics and the melody are very moving and not accusatory, condemning, or exclusionary... Too bad he doesn't write these any more...

Black day, stormy night
No love, no hope in sight
Don't cry, he is coming
Don't die without knowing the cross
Ghettos 2 the left of us
Flowers 2 the right
There'll be bread 4 all of us
If we can just bear the cross

Sweet song of salvation
A pregnant mother sings
She lives in starvation
Her children need all that she brings

We all have our problems
Some BIG, some are small
Soon all of our problems
Will be taken by the cross

Black day, stormy night
No love, no hope in sight
Don't cry 4 he is coming
Don't die without knowing the cross

Ghettos 2 the left of us
Flowers 2 the right
There'll be bread 4 all, y'all
If we can just, just bear the cross, yeah

We all have our problems
Some are BIG, some are small
Soon all of our problems, y'all
Will be taken by the cross

The cross

The cross...

sro100 said:

It certainly doesn't get any more personal than "Comeback"

ernestsewell said:

Definitely going to agree on these two.

PurpleColossus said:

I think that Come is really under-rated, maybe because it is considered "dirty and dark." I remember reading on the org how people played it for friends or relatives and were embarrassed, especially by "Solo." I think that is a great song and intensely personal on P's part. Look at these lyrics:

So low, the curb looks like a skyscraper
So high, the stars are under me
So quiet, I can hear the blood rushing through my veins
So low, I feel like I'm going insane
The angels, they watch in wonder
When U made love 2 me
Through the rain and the thunder
U cried in ecstacy

And U were so kind
I felt sorry 4 all creation
Because at the time, no 1 was lucky
no 1 was lucky, no 1 was lucky as me

And now U're gone and I just wanna be still
So silent, I'll just let my senses sleep

It's gonna be so hard 2 hear my voice
If I ever learn once more 2 speak

I'm so lost, no 1 can find me
And I've been looking 4 so long
But now I'm done
I'm so low, solo, my name is No 1

Really elucidates the feelings that many people have experienced through periods of their lives. I find the song very revealing and touching, not embarrassing!

...Batman?

sro100 said:

Yep

LOVESEXY

I just have to add that "Continental Drift" is amazing for live sound and quality...

sro100 said:

yep, that's the one.

The last 3/4 of Disk 3 of The Hits/The B-Sides

All to be honest. For you, his life he shares. All songs were written from personal feelings at that time.

Highlights include Emancipation, The Truth, Rainbow Children and One Night Alone: Piano and Voice.

PurpleDiamond2009 said:

I always sensed something personal in the SONG Purple Rain. Well, the orginal recording. The First Ave version/footage just seemed so real. His voice was so sincere, the music, the guitar solo was emotional, and even his actions on stage. He wasnt the show off we see later in concerts when he performs this song
. He was much more tame. I dont know if this song applied to someone he had hurt or not, but that performance sure did feel real to me.

Had U - from Chaos and Disorder

ernestsewell said:

... this is spot on

poetcorner61 said:

A M A Z I N G !!

Emancipation. He's almost like a real person in that one.

after all these years I would have to say, all albums have their own personality... Its like a big book Ive been reading since I was a teenager...of course I feel its Lovesexy!

poetcorner61 said:

Don't you mean The Christ?

PsychedelicMama said:

I hate that he changed it to that. I know its his business, but it will ALWAYS be the CROSS to me.

ronnwinter said:

And to me also--he meant what he said the FIRST time--and that is that!

The Truth
One Night Alone - Piano
And the Dream Factory/Crystal Ball sessions.

TRC