I think this album follows the pattern of the Prince tracks of Graffiti Bridge, with an edgier & more organic sound. I guess Prince truly needed a band after the unfocused days of the 88-90 era. This means that D&P was easily his best album since The Black Album or even SOTT...

I truly like the D&P/Symbol era, it's like a DM/Controversy era for the early-90s...

I was going to do review PR but one can only subscribe to the thread. So it's D&P.

This was the last cd I got of Prince before I stopped buying his music until 2009. Trying to remember why & I guess it was a combi of factors. But the prominent one was that I moved into house music. I loved the energy of house, and the underground aspect of tons of tracks by unknown artists. Loved the video of D&P but I also stopped watching mtv after this because I went to live in Asia for 2 years and only got Asian mtv. Ironically, although I still have house favourite playlists, I never listen to the scores of cds I bought then.

Thunder: Good opener; it has never been a favourite though and I suppose because of the rock part at the end. I like the vocal delivery and lyrics.

Daddy Pop: Not a bad track but it never grabbed me. Chorus is catchy but the beat is a little predictable which is fine if it comes back intermittently to knock you off your feet, but it doesn't. The female vocals are good but well, there's not much of Prince in this one. Perhaps if it had been shorter, I would have listened more.

Diamonds and Pearls - What a track! A timeless piece of music. Which is the stronger part, the vocals or the music? Impossible to decide, both superb imo. The lyrics are perceptive, the music an adventurous voyage and the production is supremely polished.

Cream - oops had to come back to this as I missed it! Who can't love this perfect track? 10/10 Live, also brilliant!

Strolling: This has always been a favorite. What a warm, laid-back tune. The harmonies, the finger clicking, the effortless movement throughout with the summer lyrics make this one timeless for me too.

Willing and Able - Love this one. So catchy from the first few seconds. The melody is capitivating and unpredictable. Love the key changes, the vocals and beat. Impossible not to tap along with some part of your body with this one.

Gett Off - Dislike the intro, love the flute and actually, although some song element changes are quite good, i can't really say anything positive about this one. Prince's voice is so lifeless and robotic; the lyrics irritate me and even though there are catchy parts and some words are clever I don't like it; and when they all sing together it sounds positively awful imo. Then the whining guitar at 3.54. just seals the deal for me.

Walk don't walk - Starts off so pretty and is a pretty tune but there's not enough of Prince and the traffic sounds also bother me.

Jughead - I just can't relate this kind of music to the musical genius Prince is. There's no build up, ups and downs, climaxes or rest periods, it's just a monotonous, robotic, melody-less lecture. Now I know why I turned to vocal funky house; I think it has lots more soul compared to this kind of stuff. But good for the folks that like this kind of music. Thank goodness we can go to different clubs!

Money don't matter - I often answer threads about my favourite songs and always afterwards I know it's a useless cause, because it all depends on time, mood, season etc etc. This one could be one of those "all time favourites," it was the second Prince song I learnt to play on the piano after D&P. The lyrics are pure, the tune is pure, it's really the pearl on D&P. J'adore ca.

Push - never really listened to this one. The violin classical part is nice but I don't like the vocals. Beat is ok but I haven't a clue what they're singing about and actually I don't really want to find out. It misses flow this track imo. Feels like disorganised noise.

Insatiable - weird that I don't really know this one. I suppose after the Push I got tired of the cd. Nice track. A little slow and it's nice but it doesn't grab me like some slows songs of Prince do.

Live 4 love - Like it up to 3.45 mins and certain parts after it. Magic tune, nice vocals and I even like some rap parts but the rock guitar spoils it for me. I should look for a short version.

Once again, the videos though for this album were grand from what I remember. My favourites are on my ipod and I love it when they pop up in between on shuffle.

Bohemian67 said:

I was going to do review PR but one can only subscribe to the thread. So it's D&P.

Feel free to take the "timed out/subscribe" threads and repost the main article to add your thoughts.

[Edited 11/21/10 13:28pm]

I have to say I LOVE this album!!! Its in my top 10 list, Cream, Get Off, Insatiable, Diamond and Pearls, are my favorite songs off the album, but honestly, its one of his albums that I listen to all the way through. I actually really miss the Prince of this era...the hair, the outfits, the attitude, all of it was GREAT!!! He was gorgeous, his eyes looked so gorgeous during this period! I play this album often..

NDRU said:

hhhhdmt said:

What is the meaning of the song cream?

I think it is about the expression "cream rises to the top" and Prince is saying "you're the cream, get on top!" And he did, the song went to #1.

This song, along with Diamonds & Pearls always struck me as metaphors for Prince as a musician more than personal songs for people.

I agree! Cream is about rising to the top and Prince sort of boasting himself up...the lyrics back up this. And knowing he was looking in the mirror, he was probably giving himself a nickname! He did have very yummy looking creamy skin during this era...so I think its about him!! He knew people would be perverted and think it was about something else.

Cream - rises to the top.

Hmmmm ok - I guess everyone has an interpretation.

But when you factor in that it was to also be included on an album with Horny Pony - the thoughts may not be so pure.

Cream - get on top and you will cop....