kenkamken said:

I had an orgasm while listening to "WHEN WE'RE DANCING CLOSE AND SLOW"

I have to, but that isn't every orgasm an example of genius?

Sides 3 and 4 of 1999. Particularly Automatic, Something in the Water (does not compute) and All the Critics Love U in New York. I just thought the drums on All the critics sounded so 'hard', and I had no idea how he came up with the kind of sounds, sounds he did. My 12 year old mind was totally blown by 1999... and then I used to wait or the Long version of When Doves Cry to come on the radio. They wouldn't always play it, but all that harmony at the end made all the difference to me. Finally, The Beautiful Ones, that arrangement is so masterful and so unlike anything else going on. That was and still is TOTAL GENIUS.

A fascinating thread, thanks to all who've posted.. For me, it's hard to pinpoint a song or particular moment...I've been in awe since almost the first time I heard him!

The first album I recognised as genius was 1999, which I got into in '86. It's absolutely inspired and just so funky...Lady Cab Driver and such like are just totally out there.

I think it was when I stumbled into the B sides. Circa '85, 13/14 years old and bang into Purple Rain and AtWiaD. Also knew 1999 and LRC, but that was all. So I had the 2 LP's, and 12"'s of LGC, I would Die 4 U and 1999/LRC. Played the lp's and the A sides of the 12"'s to death. Then one night, needing some fresh stuff and probably more out of boredom than expecting to hear anything good, I mean come on its the 'B' side. I flipped that 'Die 4 U' 12" and heard Another Lonely Christmas and Free. It-blew-my-mind!!! I couldn't believe music this good could be deemed as mere B sides (of course I didn't know Free was on 1999 at the time). You know what happened then....the B side of LGC. Enough said. That was the moment.

Trere must Fenwick said:

I was VERY late to this party, given my age. I knew of Prince through all the radio hits, but never latched on to him through high school days (daze). I was still to in to Ozzy/Sabbath/Zep etc. (I was a teenage white kid from the 70's who lived in the suburbs, what do you expect)? Anyway, I was 19/20 years old and my girlfriend at the time's brother gave me a copy of Lovesexy. All he said was, "if you're a fan of good music you have to listen to this album". The SECOND I heard "Welcome to the New Power Generation. The reason my voice is so clear, is there's no smack in my brain", and the transition into the funky groove of I Know, I was HOOKED. Within a month I had all of his albums and could not believe all of the joy I had been missing out on over the years.

LOL!

I was reading through this thread, as I rememberd my first Prince experience. I was late into getting my own music. First album I had, was a cassette of Mj, Bad, that was given to me. Then Kiss came on the radio. Not knowing the title of the song, just Prince I some time later came across a cassette with Prince, called Love Sexy. I bought it as my first ever music purcase, and hoped Kiss was on it... LOL! I layed down in my bed, turned the lights down, earphones on and was ready.

.

.

.

.

One Lovesexy mindtripp later, I was hooked for life.

two tree backcatalog byes later, I also found out that some of the radio tape recordings I did, like the intro on Darling Nicky that someone used for inro on a radioshow. I had taped it, and had heard that segment atleast 50 times back then, with no clue on who or what it was, as I was 13 :p

So, first experience with knowledge, Intro of Love Sexy

squirrelgrease said:

Little Red Corvette.

His best lyrics ever. Best metaphor in a song ever.

The entire 1999 album just blew me away. Everything about it is genius.

funksoldier said:

I was a little late to the party but for me. If I Was Your Girlfriend.

Genesia said:

squirrelgrease said:

Little Red Corvette.

His best lyrics ever. Best metaphor in a song ever.

The entire 1999 album just blew me away. Everything about it is genius.

Agreed. That is one of the best lyrics ever in LRC. Wasn't it Eric Leeds who said that Prince was dozing off in Lisa's car once while they were driving around, and he would wake up a bit, and write a few lyrics - those being what became LRC. He said something to the effect of "It almost makes you want to make him fall asleep again, just to see what he'd wake up and write." It really is one of the most clever lyrics he's ever written. As a kid, I had no idea what he was talking about, and never really thought about it until in my late 20's, when it suddenly hit me what he was talking about. It was like hearing it for the first time all over again. Such a fantastic growth period from 1981-1982 with those two albums. You can hear he was just having fun with everything he did. You have to be having fun when you write stuff like "Jack U Off", and "Delirious" and LRC.

ernestsewell said:

Genesia said:

His best lyrics ever. Best metaphor in a song ever.

The entire 1999 album just blew me away. Everything about it is genius.

Agreed. That is one of the best lyrics ever in LRC. Wasn't it Eric Leeds who said that Prince was dozing off in Lisa's car once while they were driving around, and he would wake up a bit, and write a few lyrics - those being what became LRC. He said something to the effect of "It almost makes you want to make him fall asleep again, just to see what he'd wake up and write." It really is one of the most clever lyrics he's ever written. As a kid, I had no idea what he was talking about, and never really thought about it until in my late 20's, when it suddenly hit me what he was talking about. It was like hearing it for the first time all over again. Such a fantastic growth period from 1981-1982 with those two albums. You can hear he was just having fun with everything he did. You have to be having fun when you write stuff like "Jack U Off", and "Delirious" and LRC.

Makes you wonder how he'd answer if you asked...

And you? What do you dream about?

It ain't little red corvettes these days...that's for sure...

Genesia said:

ernestsewell said:

Agreed. That is one of the best lyrics ever in LRC. Wasn't it Eric Leeds who said that Prince was dozing off in Lisa's car once while they were driving around, and he would wake up a bit, and write a few lyrics - those being what became LRC. He said something to the effect of "It almost makes you want to make him fall asleep again, just to see what he'd wake up and write." It really is one of the most clever lyrics he's ever written. As a kid, I had no idea what he was talking about, and never really thought about it until in my late 20's, when it suddenly hit me what he was talking about. It was like hearing it for the first time all over again. Such a fantastic growth period from 1981-1982 with those two albums. You can hear he was just having fun with everything he did. You have to be having fun when you write stuff like "Jack U Off", and "Delirious" and LRC.

Makes you wonder how he'd answer if you asked...

And you? What do you dream about?

It ain't little red corvettes these days...that's for sure...

Yeah I know. He'd still probably let a well endowed topless gal jump in a lake though.

DreZone said:

watching him Play Drums on "Sign O the times" concert film... thinking, "Sh*T, U play Drums too?!"

That whole movie sealed the deal for me too(even though the music was pre-recorded).

And it really confirmed it between the organ intro of "Hot Thing" and the guitar solo of "Never Take The Place Of Your Man".

Coupled with the fact that he's a clever lyricist - "Dorothy Parker" is a perfect showcase of that department.

ernestsewell said:

I always immensely enjoyed his music, but when I heard "Let's Go Crazy", that's when I knew the guy was more than I ever thought he was going to be.

we're about a million miles away from that now though. I just read up to your post so far and well, i know it's going to get depressing.

*leaves thread*