Never really heard this before, only listened to it in full today! Pretty cool song...

Nah...Positivity's dry production and nasty synthetic beat taken to an extreme which was one of the first alarm signs Prince was wildly out of touch with his own muse and trying to follow radio trends but adding his own quirkiness - a queasy blend that jars wildly here. The whoa-oo-whoa-oowhoo vocal hook is too imposing and tightly layered for the feel of the groove too...unreleased for a reason. I'm pretty sure he's deeply embarrassed by stuff like this - by that I mean the production, not the underlying intent or tune. I'm sure he thinks the initial inspiration was sent to his brain by direct by his God, like everything he's done. The production is second-guessing and over-polishing. One look at the human spine and it's obvious God doesn't over polish. The older I get, the more the spell subsides and I realise prince is completely ad utterly insane.

Number23 said:

Nah...Positivity's dry production and nasty synthetic beat taken to an extreme which was one of the first alarm signs Prince was wildly out of touch with his own muse and trying to follow radio trends but adding his own quirkiness - a queasy blend that jars wildly here. The whoa-oo-whoa-oowhoo vocal hook is too imposing and tightly layered for the feel of the groove too...unreleased for a reason. I'm pretty sure he's deeply embarrassed by stuff like this - by that I mean the production, not the underlying intent or tune. I'm sure he thinks the initial inspiration was sent to his brain by direct by his God, like everything he's done. The production is second-guessing and over-polishing. One look at the human spine and it's obvious God doesn't over polish. The older I get, the more the spell subsides and I realise prince is completely ad utterly insane.

Haha...Have to agree...BUT! I love the Whoa-oo-whoa-oowhoo...

andykeen said:

Number23 said:

Nah...Positivity's dry production and nasty synthetic beat taken to an extreme which was one of the first alarm signs Prince was wildly out of touch with his own muse and trying to follow radio trends but adding his own quirkiness - a queasy blend that jars wildly here. The whoa-oo-whoa-oowhoo vocal hook is too imposing and tightly layered for the feel of the groove too...unreleased for a reason. I'm pretty sure he's deeply embarrassed by stuff like this - by that I mean the production, not the underlying intent or tune. I'm sure he thinks the initial inspiration was sent to his brain by direct by his God, like everything he's done. The production is second-guessing and over-polishing. One look at the human spine and it's obvious God doesn't over polish. The older I get, the more the spell subsides and I realise prince is completely ad utterly insane.

Haha...Have to agree...BUT! I love the Whoa-oo-whoa-oowhoo...

I actually don't mind it - in another song, less imposing in the mix, aye, it might work. But it's not a lead vocal hook, for me. It's too contrived, all craft and no spark. Only Prince conesseurs could dig it. That whole Batman/Grafitti Bridge era has a few gems but most of it leaves me cold. It's pretty obvious to me he was a bit unsure of his overall direction.

Number23 said:

Nah...Positivity's dry production and nasty synthetic beat taken to an extreme which was one of the first alarm signs Prince was wildly out of touch with his own muse and trying to follow radio trends but adding his own quirkiness - a queasy blend that jars wildly here. The whoa-oo-whoa-oowhoo vocal hook is too imposing and tightly layered for the feel of the groove too...unreleased for a reason. I'm pretty sure he's deeply embarrassed by stuff like this - by that I mean the production, not the underlying intent or tune. I'm sure he thinks the initial inspiration was sent to his brain by direct by his God, like everything he's done. The production is second-guessing and over-polishing. One look at the human spine and it's obvious God doesn't over polish. The older I get, the more the spell subsides and I realise prince is completely ad utterly insane.

lol.. Yeah, but it's still a great song

it's pure funk - proves you don't need a live sound to get the funk - the drum pattern with the claps and snares and hi-hat - then that bassline and keyborad parts.

Music coming like a dog in heat.

not one of my favs either....some of the stuff he has recorded should remain unreleased....

got it, love it!. The version I have has the wonderful Mavis all over it but doesn't ledgend have it that over the years he has had various famous singers visiting Paisley Park to add their vocals to it?.

It is a very very good track. I loved the clip of him and Mavis in the studio recording the song... Its anthemic and enlightening. I had a dream Prince recorded this and Alphabet Street in the same day or something to that effect (because the drum pattern is similar).

Hope it gets release soon.

Number23 said:

andykeen said:

Haha...Have to agree...BUT! I love the Whoa-oo-whoa-oowhoo...

I actually don't mind it - in another song, less imposing in the mix, aye, it might work. But it's not a lead vocal hook, for me. It's too contrived, all craft and no spark. Only Prince conesseurs could dig it. That whole Batman/Grafitti Bridge era has a few gems but most of it leaves me cold. It's pretty obvious to me he was a bit unsure of his overall direction.

1993...Now that was a year for bootleggers!

Number23 said:

I actually don't mind it - in another song, less imposing in the mix, aye, it might work. But it's not a lead vocal hook, for me. It's too contrived, all craft and no spark. Only Prince conesseurs could dig it. That whole Batman/Grafitti Bridge era has a few gems but most of it leaves me cold. It's pretty obvious to me he was a bit unsure of his overall direction.

I have to agree. Sure we masochists can listen to it all, but after he bunkered himself up at Paisley Park, it didn't take long for the Camille/Black Album sound to filter down through to the Batman sound.

It's funny because here's this massive studio complex not long out of the plastic wrap, in which he can do anything he wants, and instead of exploding the sound and playing around, he insulates himself and cuts it all away, back to drum machines and synth horns. Almost like an updated 1999. I'm not saying it's bad, but it's cloistered and cold - that's Prince I guess. It all feels like he's just banging them out, not much thought beyond the initial idea - which is what his similar synthy stuff sounds like (NPGMC, MPLSound etc).

And 'God Is Alive' is a perfect example. He's got the voice of Mavis Staples to work with and what does he do with her, sticks her over some cold, unmelodic synths and pitched-down vocals. Sounds half-hearted and snap, bang, done, next.

As you say, unsure of an overall direction, I think he was pincered between the influence on pop music of House, freestyle and rap - all of which used a lot of similar ideas - loops, samples, stripped back synths, dance music.

I see neas and yeas, I guess like everything some Dig it, others don't.... I'm with the Yea's!!!!!

I wonder how if any neas are rolling with a 6 for the Title Alone is cold enough to make one recognize

[Edited 11/17/10 10:17am]

[img:$uid]http://xa.yimg.com/kq/groups/21303846/sn/1713769748/name/SOUNDBOARD1.jpg[/img:$uid]

It sounds like the demo/working version of Positivity... in fact the chorus are almost identical:

"Po-si-ti-vi-tyyyy..."

"Uh-oh uh-oh uh-oh..."

I actually like this one. Always have. (Which is odd considering the subject matter.) But it does feel incomplete, or unsure, and as a result a bit overdone. Wouldn't mind it showing up on an outtakes/unreleased comp or box set, though.

Dandroppedadime said:

it's pure funk - proves you don't need a live sound to get the funk - the drum pattern with the claps and snares and hi-hat - then that bassline and keyborad parts.

Music coming like a dog in heat.

I think this song would have been better if a band recorded it. I think I would have prefered Sheila E or Boni than Mavis

blackbob said:

not one of my favs either....some of the stuff he has recorded should remain unreleased....

I actually like hearing it live during the Lovesexy aftershows

the song is on Deposition, right?

I haven't heard it in several years, but I kind of liked it back when I saw that documentary and Mavis Staples sang it... that little snippet was very good imo....

Whilst I wouldn't disagree with what some of you say, I don't dislike the track.

vitriol said:

Whilst I wouldn't disagree with what some of you say, I don't dislike the track.

I don't either.

thedance said:

the song is on Deposition, right?

It is.

andykeen said:

Number23 said:

Nah...Positivity's dry production and nasty synthetic beat taken to an extreme which was one of the first alarm signs Prince was wildly out of touch with his own muse and trying to follow radio trends but adding his own quirkiness - a queasy blend that jars wildly here. The whoa-oo-whoa-oowhoo vocal hook is too imposing and tightly layered for the feel of the groove too...unreleased for a reason. I'm pretty sure he's deeply embarrassed by stuff like this - by that I mean the production, not the underlying intent or tune. I'm sure he thinks the initial inspiration was sent to his brain by direct by his God, like everything he's done. The production is second-guessing and over-polishing. One look at the human spine and it's obvious God doesn't over polish. The older I get, the more the spell subsides and I realise prince is completely ad utterly insane.

Haha...Have to agree...BUT! I love the Whoa-oo-whoa-oowhoo...

is that part backwards?

Very nice song-Love Prince and Mavis

...and a very cool guitar solo!

Listening to it now-Love it!