OldFriends4Sale said:

errant said:

the opening bit is great. it's the vocals that I don't like. same with God, to a lesser extent.

oh, I actually love it, that was 'spooky' Prince lol

what's so off about the vocals for Condition of the Heart or God, for the most part he's just singing reg/falsetto back in forth. God has the screeches

the vocals are very... "baroque," for lack of a better term

errant said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

oh, I actually love it, that was 'spooky' Prince lol

what's so off about the vocals for Condition of the Heart or God, for the most part he's just singing reg/falsetto back in forth. God has the screeches

the vocals are very... "baroque," for lack of a better term

With a dash of vaudeville. Over the top, for sure.

This could be my favorite Prince song. It's so well done, I think W&L had to have spent some major time working on it. Not as a dis to Prince, but think of the ballads on Emancipation and the over the top bass heavy, compressed vocal layering and then listen to Condition Of The Heart and how smooth everything sounds. Vocally Prince's strengths (falsetto) and weaknesses (lack of note control in his tenor) are evident on each record, but Condition Of The Heart sounds like someone had a plan and patiently executed it. Doesn't sound like Prince would do that, so I've got to give it up to W&L.

A lot of the vocal takes on Condition Of The Heart are so out there that most "producers" would never allow it in a final mix, but the dodgy vocals actually humanize and elevate the record and if you've opened yourself up to the intro, and follow through to the finish you are going to get hit hard emotionally. Like you just got your heart broken. Great record.

runningbear said:

Spinlight said:

Underrated typically means more people than is justified tend to have a poor view of something. Condition of the Heart remains a very popular song here on the Org as it always has been (which is notable because I am sure its appreciation amongst fans is what lent to its inclusion in the One Nite Alone... Live! set).

I don't agree with your typical defination of underrated, don't imagine most people have a "poor" view of whatever for it to be underrated, I think something that is often overlooked or taken for granted by most when greater appreciation is deserved should be the defination.

that being said, I think I need to get my morning running by getting out of bed, cranking up the stereo and playing this gem at least twice. Did not realize there was that much appreciation for Condition on the org, but that being the case, terrific , well deserved. Tamborine and the title track to AtWiaD are also beckoning me this AM.

It's never been an overlooked song. In fact, out of the hundreds that's been released, this has always been held up as one of his best...

[Edited 1/10/11 8:48am]

pald1 said:

runningbear said:

I don't agree with your typical defination of underrated, don't imagine most people have a "poor" view of whatever for it to be underrated, I think something that is often overlooked or taken for granted by most when greater appreciation is deserved should be the defination.

that being said, I think I need to get my morning running by getting out of bed, cranking up the stereo and playing this gem at least twice. Did not realize there was that much appreciation for Condition on the org, but that being the case, terrific , well deserved. Tamborine and the title track to AtWiaD are also beckoning me this AM.

It's never been an overlooked song. In fact, out of the hundreds that's been released, this has always been held up as one of his best...

[Edited 1/10/11 8:48am]

I agree, I made a playlist of this from different shows most being 1.50-2something minutes long and the crowd reaction is awwwwwwe similar reaction people give when he does Sometimes It Snows In April