I am listening to this song for the first time in a long time and I think it is really under appreciated by many. I think it is a stellar Prince song--a diamond in the rough on this album. Think it has all the best elements of a Prince song--good lyrics, good pacing, heart-felt and emotive, and great jazzy instrumentation... Wish he would do more like this in the future. In fact, I'm gonna play it again!

I don't think it's under-appreciated, at least not by those who have heard it. Read through a few Newpower Soul threads - you'll find it's generally regarded as the best song from that era, and one of his best in his entire post-WB catalogue. Also given that it's a semi-regular in his setlists, I think that says something about the fans' appreciation for it. Prince's music post-WB is only "under-appreciated" in the sense that hardly anyone hears it beyond his already established fan-base.

[Edited 1/18/11 22:21pm]

I love this song & the clip, I listen 2 the song or watch the clip almost daily!

Can really break out into a dance routine with it as well.

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

lovesexy06 said:

I love this song & the clip, I listen 2 the song or watch the clip almost daily!

Can really break out into a dance routine with it as well.

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The video for "The One" was actually directed by Mayte and features a cameo by West Side Story actress Rita Moreno.

its a very nice track . Its not underrated among die heard but it is underrated among the general public

It is def one of my favs from the 97-03 era

lovesexy06 said:

I love this song & the clip, I listen 2 the song or watch the clip almost daily!

Can really break out into a dance routine with it as well.

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wonderful. I think the first time I heard it was also the first time I watched the video, which I thought was breathtaking. I love the longer version too.

TheDigitalGardener said:

lovesexy06 said:

I love this song & the clip, I listen 2 the song or watch the clip almost daily!

Can really break out into a dance routine with it as well.

Oh yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The video for "The One" was actually directed by Mayte and features a cameo by West Side Story actress Rita Moreno.

Cool! Thanx for the info. I love the storyline & the choreography! 10/10!!!! IMO!!!

Frankly, I think it's over-appreciated. I see people all over this forum talking about how wonderful it is. Yeah, it's pretty good, even great considering the pile of crap this kernel sits atop, but it's not a classic to me, unless it's in a live mash-up with The Question Of U.

Yeah, not under appreciated at all. It has had plenty of good reps. Honestly I think it's the most honest track Prince has ever done concerning true love, in which during that time period, he was deeply in love with this woman. I knew it was true the first time I saw the video and heard 'the one'. It's like how much more simpler can he get than that.

It's good, musically quite interesting and I considered it easily the best song on NPS when the album came out. But, to be honest, over the years I've found myself to get quite bored while listening to it.

Prince said that he considered the song being as good as "When Doves Cry" and others. Given that he's performed it also later on he must have really liked it himself.

I prefer many of the slower cuts from Rave over it.

The One is to me absolutely one of THE best songs the man has ever recorded (which I have heard). I think it´s a masterpiece, quite simply. Like someone said; the lyrics are fantastic, it´s fantastically written. His vocals are absolutely perfect, he is singing with great passion and "feel" and i addition this is a song that I actually feel Prince has managed to produce perfectly, too. And I am of the opinion that there are a lot of Prince songs that could have better production but NOT this one, which is The One

Besides, the live versions are also unbelievable and I think it´s so great that he manages to change the arrangements completely and still make it that fantastic. It´s just like they are two different songs. I love both the studio version and thelive versions. So if anyone wonders The One is definately one of my favourite Prince tracks, and boring?? No way!!

And his vocal delivery is really good too. Great song!

Just once I'd like a thread where the "under-appreciated" song is actually under-appreciated. Maybe I'll start a thread in defense of "Wedding Feast" or the segue on Rave.

One of his finest ballads, for sure.

As others have said, I don' t think it's necessarily underappreciated by his die-hard fans, but it's unknown to the general public, which is a shame.

But then that's true for many great Prince songs.

I love this song...best song on NPSfor sure! At first I didn't appreciate the slower, album version. I preferred the faster, live version from the Musicology days. But just 1 day I listened to it, and loved it! A few of Prince songs are like that with me...which is good! This song is beautiful!

Love the remix.