OK, this challenge is going to be tough.

This man has written thousands of songs by now, and most of us have hundreds upon hundreds of his recordings one way or another.

So.......

If you could define the whole of Prince's career/talent in just 10 songs what would they be and why?

REMEMBER: THis isn't a "My favorite songs" list....nor is it a "Greatest hits" list....nor even a list designed for new fans or non-fans to be turned on to Prince....

This is a....... portrait.

This is impossible, I tried to span his career. Here is my effort:

Controversy

The essential early Prince/Minneapolis sound. Already the classic Prince themes of duality are showing up in the lyrics.

Little Red Corvette

A perfect pop/rock song and Prince's mainstream crossover. Also, a totally naughty metaphor lost on many.

When Doves Cry

Still nothing like it. Enough said.

Purple Rain

THE Prince anthem to billions of people. Guitar heroics abound.

Kiss

Minimalist and one of the best dance floor/party grooves ever.

Sign O' The Times

Hauntingly poignant and still relevant. Some of Prince's best lyrics and delivery.

Gett Off (Damn Near 10 minute Mix)

Perhaps Prince has nastier songs, but this one showcases the NPG of the 90's and Prince ability easily to incorporate hip hop/rap into his purple mix.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

One of Prince's ultimate ballads/love songs.

The Everlasting Now

The lyrics are duality of God/Sex, Spiritual/Material Prince 1st talked about in Controversy, but the music is a good example of what a live Prince jam is all about. This song covers several styles and turns on a dime with ease.

3121

The futuristic Prince funk of right about now. Sonny T. and Michael B. are deadly.

[Edited 7/25/10 12:26pm]

[Edited 7/25/10 12:27pm]

Ok, this is difficult thing to do. But I'll try:

1)When you were mine

2)Do me baby

3)DMSR

4)When Doves Cry

5)Kiss

6)Little Red Corvette

7)The Beautiful Ones

8)The Ballad of Dorothy Parker

9)Housequake

10)Chaos and Disorder

The thing I find difficult is the later Prince works (most) are built on established sounds from earlier works. I also just stuck to Prince's recordings-not including all songs written for others. (I know, I know, You said whole career.)

1.) Soft & Wet

2.) I Wanna Be Your Lover

3.) Dirty Mind

4.) Controversy

5.) Little Red Corvette

6.) When Doves Cry

7.) Kiss

8.) Sign O' The Times

9.) Cream

10.) The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

That's it in a nutshell (the songs that DEFINED Prince) to me.

I Wanna Be Your Lover

Little Red Corvette

1999

Purple Rain

When Doves Cry

Raspberry Beret

Kiss

Sign O' The Times

Cream

7

Bambi - The rocker appears after a mostly disco/soul-fusion string of songs

Dirty Mind - The overt sexual template is born

Party Up - Funky attitude, social wit and trademark sparse arrangement - a sneak peek at the 1999 LP sans multi-tracking

Controversy - Self-fulfilling ode

Little Red Corvette - Much deserved mass appeal

D.M.S.R. - Influences on his sleeve, yet the pinnacle of the Minneapolis Sound

Let's Go Crazy - Whitey couldn't ignore him now - "crossover"

Raspberry Beret - Your mom couldn't ignore him now

If I Was Your Girlfriend - The brains behind a brilliant album

Graffiti Bridge - Quality control is laid off - the end is nigh

When you were mine

Controversy

Little Red Corvette

Lets Go Crazy

Beautiful Ones

Darling Nikki

Purple Rain

Kiss

Ballad of DP

Holy River

Hidden Track: Reflection

[Edited 7/25/10 16:41pm]

The Beautiful Ones

Not sure I need to list 9 more.

Look up Prince in the dictionary and The Beautiful Ones should be there.

i wanna be your lover

uptown

controversy

1999

purple rain

raspberry beret

kiss

tmbgitw

black sweat

#10 2 be continued ....

Musicology

Little Red Corvette

Controversy

Kiss

Cream

Sign o' The Times

7

I Wanna Be Your Lover

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Purple Rain

If I had to pick, here are but a few that come to mind....

The Most Beautiful Girl In The World

Purple Rain

Future Soul Song

When Doves Cry

Gold

Pop Life

7

The Holy River

Reflection

Colonized Mind

Bonus:

Dolphin

Where Ever U Go, What Ever U Do

Somewhere Here On Earth

Diamonds and Pearls

Walk In The Sand

I Wanna Be Your Lover

Partyup

Controversy

1999

Little Red Corvette

Let's Go Crazy

When Doves Cry

Purple Rain

Raspberry Beret

Kiss

This Was Very Difficult

Well if it's a "portrait" then obviously it'd still mostly be a greatest hits especially with only ten songs. Prince wouldn't even be prince if he didn't have his hits that define him. so this thread is pretty much a to fave prince songs. thread. so no interest for me to do this. but good job though.

But it's still a list of all the things you said it's not lol

one2vibe said:

Well if it's a "portrait" then obviously it'd still mostly be a greatest hits especially with only ten songs. Prince wouldn't even be prince if he didn't have his hits that define him. so this thread is pretty much a to fave prince songs. thread. so no interest for me to do this. but good job though.

But it's still a list of all the things you said it's not lol

This post makes no sense on so many levels, Newton wouldn't be able to invent a form of math to count the ways.

1. Get Off

2. Sexy M.F.

3. I Wanna Be Your Lover

4. When Doves Cry

5. Pop Life

6. If I Was Your Girlfriend

7. Kiss

8. Te Amo Corazon

9. Adore

10. Purple Rain

1. Get Off

2. Sexy M.F.

3. I Wanna Be Your Lover

4. When Doves Cry

5. Pop Life

6. If I Was Your Girlfriend

7. Kiss

8. Te Amo Corazon

9. Adore

10. Purple Rain

1999

When Doves Cry

Purple Rain

Raspberry Beret

Kiss

Sign O the Times

Alphabet St.

Gett Off

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Musicology

skywalker said:

This is impossible, I tried to span his career. Here is my effort:

Controversy

The essential early Prince/Minneapolis sound. Already the classic Prince themes of duality are showing up in the lyrics.

Little Red Corvette

A perfect pop/rock song and Prince's mainstream crossover. Also, a totally naughty metaphor lost on many.

When Doves Cry

Still nothing like it. Enough said.

Purple Rain

THE Prince anthem to billions of people. Guitar heroics abound.

Kiss

Minimalist and one of the best dance floor/party grooves ever.

Sign O' The Times

Hauntingly poignant and still relevant. Some of Prince's best lyrics and delivery.

Gett Off (Damn Near 10 minute Mix)

Perhaps Prince has nastier songs, but this one showcases the NPG of the 90's and Prince ability easily to incorporate hip hop/rap into his purple mix.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

One of Prince's ultimate ballads/love songs.

The Everlasting Now

The lyrics are duality of God/Sex, Spiritual/Material Prince 1st talked about in Controversy, but the music is a good example of what a live Prince jam is all about. This song covers several styles and turns on a dime with ease.

3121

The futuristic Prince funk of right about now. Sonny T. and Michael B. are deadly.

[Edited 7/25/10 12:26pm]

[Edited 7/25/10 12:27pm]

This is excellent. Good explanations of your choices. Spot on

dandan said:

skywalker said:

This is impossible, I tried to span his career. Here is my effort:

Controversy

The essential early Prince/Minneapolis sound. Already the classic Prince themes of duality are showing up in the lyrics.

Little Red Corvette

A perfect pop/rock song and Prince's mainstream crossover. Also, a totally naughty metaphor lost on many.

When Doves Cry

Still nothing like it. Enough said.

Purple Rain

THE Prince anthem to billions of people. Guitar heroics abound.

Kiss

Minimalist and one of the best dance floor/party grooves ever.

Sign O' The Times

Hauntingly poignant and still relevant. Some of Prince's best lyrics and delivery.

Gett Off (Damn Near 10 minute Mix)

Perhaps Prince has nastier songs, but this one showcases the NPG of the 90's and Prince ability easily to incorporate hip hop/rap into his purple mix.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

One of Prince's ultimate ballads/love songs.

The Everlasting Now

The lyrics are duality of God/Sex, Spiritual/Material Prince 1st talked about in Controversy, but the music is a good example of what a live Prince jam is all about. This song covers several styles and turns on a dime with ease.

3121

The futuristic Prince funk of right about now. Sonny T. and Michael B. are deadly.

[Edited 7/25/10 12:26pm]

[Edited 7/25/10 12:27pm]

This is excellent. Good explanations of your choices. Spot on

Thank you for the kind words.

skywalker said:

This is impossible, I tried to span his career. Here is my effort:

Controversy

The essential early Prince/Minneapolis sound. Already the classic Prince themes of duality are showing up in the lyrics.

Little Red Corvette

A perfect pop/rock song and Prince's mainstream crossover. Also, a totally naughty metaphor lost on many.

When Doves Cry

Still nothing like it. Enough said.

Purple Rain

THE Prince anthem to billions of people. Guitar heroics abound.

Kiss

Minimalist and one of the best dance floor/party grooves ever.

Sign O' The Times

Hauntingly poignant and still relevant. Some of Prince's best lyrics and delivery.

Gett Off (Damn Near 10 minute Mix)

Perhaps Prince has nastier songs, but this one showcases the NPG of the 90's and Prince ability easily to incorporate hip hop/rap into his purple mix.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

One of Prince's ultimate ballads/love songs.

The Everlasting Now

The lyrics are duality of God/Sex, Spiritual/Material Prince 1st talked about in Controversy, but the music is a good example of what a live Prince jam is all about. This song covers several styles and turns on a dime with ease.

3121

The futuristic Prince funk of right about now. Sonny T. and Michael B. are deadly.

[Edited 7/25/10 12:26pm]

[Edited 7/25/10 12:27pm]

Soft & Wet

LRC

SOTT

Adore

Question of U

Tempation

The Rainbow Children

When Doves Cry

Solo

Let's Work

paisleypark4 said:

skywalker said:

This is impossible, I tried to span his career. Here is my effort:

Controversy

The essential early Prince/Minneapolis sound. Already the classic Prince themes of duality are showing up in the lyrics.

Little Red Corvette

A perfect pop/rock song and Prince's mainstream crossover. Also, a totally naughty metaphor lost on many.

When Doves Cry

Still nothing like it. Enough said.

Purple Rain

THE Prince anthem to billions of people. Guitar heroics abound.

Kiss

Minimalist and one of the best dance floor/party grooves ever.

Sign O' The Times

Hauntingly poignant and still relevant. Some of Prince's best lyrics and delivery.

Gett Off (Damn Near 10 minute Mix)

Perhaps Prince has nastier songs, but this one showcases the NPG of the 90's and Prince ability easily to incorporate hip hop/rap into his purple mix.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

One of Prince's ultimate ballads/love songs.

The Everlasting Now

The lyrics are duality of God/Sex, Spiritual/Material Prince 1st talked about in Controversy, but the music is a good example of what a live Prince jam is all about. This song covers several styles and turns on a dime with ease.

3121

The futuristic Prince funk of right about now. Sonny T. and Michael B. are deadly.

[Edited 7/25/10 12:26pm]

[Edited 7/25/10 12:27pm]

u hit da nail on the head

Absolutely!

Although the 20TEN/MPLSound could be a new chapter (unfortunately).

1. Bambi

2. Lets Work

3. Do Me Baby

4. Sign O Times

5. Computer Blue

6. Positivity

7. Wasted Kisses

8. Everlasting Now

9. Reflection

10. Colonized Mind

skywalker said:

This is impossible, I tried to span his career. Here is my effort:

Controversy

The essential early Prince/Minneapolis sound. Already the classic Prince themes of duality are showing up in the lyrics.

Little Red Corvette

A perfect pop/rock song and Prince's mainstream crossover. Also, a totally naughty metaphor lost on many.

When Doves Cry

Still nothing like it. Enough said.

Purple Rain

THE Prince anthem to billions of people. Guitar heroics abound.

Kiss

Minimalist and one of the best dance floor/party grooves ever.

Sign O' The Times

Hauntingly poignant and still relevant. Some of Prince's best lyrics and delivery.

Gett Off (Damn Near 10 minute Mix)

Perhaps Prince has nastier songs, but this one showcases the NPG of the 90's and Prince ability easily to incorporate hip hop/rap into his purple mix.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

One of Prince's ultimate ballads/love songs.

The Everlasting Now

The lyrics are duality of God/Sex, Spiritual/Material Prince 1st talked about in Controversy, but the music is a good example of what a live Prince jam is all about. This song covers several styles and turns on a dime with ease.

3121

The futuristic Prince funk of right about now. Sonny T. and Michael B. are deadly.

[Edited 7/25/10 12:26pm]

[Edited 7/25/10 12:27pm]

Mostly agree - but I think i'd change TMBGITW to "adore," "insatiable," "scandelous," "international lover," or even "come (abum version)"

I think those ballads are unique to Prince in that they tell an entire story w/ the music, ebbing and flowing and showing a complexity in the music, instrumentation and harmonies that is a unique signature of Prince.

ooh! good thread. this is hard, but i will attempt...

Uptown ("We don't let society tell us how it's supposed 2 be / Our clothes, our hair, we don't care...")

Controversy (funk anthem that addresses confusion/curiosity about P)

Little Red Corvette (just a perfect pop song that's clever as hell)

Computer Blue (raw & passionate; epic guitar playing)

Sign O' the Times (brilliant lyrics; understated yet effective vocal delivery)

Erotic City (legendary, dirty, and funky)

Mountains (positivity & playfulness. the '85-'86 Revolution era in one song)

If I Was Your Girlfriend (Genius.)

Anna Stesia (probably one of P's most honest songs. it sounds like redemption)

The One (seductive yet romantic)

these songs all show a different side of Prince. together they paint a portrait of his career and help to define his talent, imo.

skywalker said:

This is impossible, I tried to span his career. Here is my effort:

Controversy

The essential early Prince/Minneapolis sound. Already the classic Prince themes of duality are showing up in the lyrics.

Little Red Corvette

A perfect pop/rock song and Prince's mainstream crossover. Also, a totally naughty metaphor lost on many.

When Doves Cry

Still nothing like it. Enough said.

Purple Rain

THE Prince anthem to billions of people. Guitar heroics abound.

Kiss

Minimalist and one of the best dance floor/party grooves ever.

Sign O' The Times

Hauntingly poignant and still relevant. Some of Prince's best lyrics and delivery.

Gett Off (Damn Near 10 minute Mix)

Perhaps Prince has nastier songs, but this one showcases the NPG of the 90's and Prince ability easily to incorporate hip hop/rap into his purple mix.

The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

One of Prince's ultimate ballads/love songs.

The Everlasting Now

The lyrics are duality of God/Sex, Spiritual/Material Prince 1st talked about in Controversy, but the music is a good example of what a live Prince jam is all about. This song covers several styles and turns on a dime with ease.

3121

The futuristic Prince funk of right about now. Sonny T. and Michael B. are deadly.

[Edited 7/25/10 12:26pm]

[Edited 7/25/10 12:27pm]

I also think this is a nice list, I only wanna add or replace Everlasting Now with

Lovesexy!!! The best of Prince-funk in one song (the crazy hig/low voice,horns,groove,

horns...just everything)

1. I Wanna Be Your Lover

2. Little Red Corvette

3. The Beautiful Ones

4. Kiss

5. Adore

6. Anna Stesia

7. Diamonds and Pearls.

8. The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

9. SST

10. The Word