Is it make love to your soulmate because the end of the world is near? Or is it have fun because a war in coming?

I´ve always wondered about it, too. I think your first theory is correct.

And who are the little babies with make up terrorizing the western world?

Back then, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ghaddaffi used to be in the news quite often, but none of them could be described as "little baby with make up".

It's about the fear of impending war. The track was recorded after Prince's return from France, following the Libya air attack.

Prince's answer to the fear is to make love to his woman.

TheDigitalGardener said:

It's about the fear of impending war. The track was recorded after Prince's return from France, following the Libya air attack.

Prince's answer to the fear is to make love to his woman.

that's his answer to everything

TheDigitalGardener said:

It's about the fear of impending war. The track was recorded after Prince's return from France, following the Libya air attack.

Prince's answer to the fear is to make love to his woman.

That part is pretty clear to me ( I think I read about it in one of Per Nielsen´s books) but what about the "little babies with make-up terrorize the western world" line?

Do you have any idea what that could be about? Who are the little babies, and why are they wearing make-up?

KoolEaze said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

It's about the fear of impending war. The track was recorded after Prince's return from France, following the Libya air attack.

Prince's answer to the fear is to make love to his woman.

That part is pretty clear to me ( I think I read about it in one of Per Nielsen´s books) but what about the "little babies with make-up terrorize the western world" line?

Do you have any idea what that could be about? Who are the little babies, and why are they wearing make-up?

I have no idea, maybe it's best not to know.

I think there was a thread about that babies wearing make up line before, i have no idea if a conclusion was reached.

errant said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

It's about the fear of impending war. The track was recorded after Prince's return from France, following the Libya air attack.

Prince's answer to the fear is to make love to his woman.

that's his answer to everything

It does seem to be a recurring theme.

KoolEaze said:

I´ve always wondered about it, too. I think your first theory is correct.

And who are the little babies with make up terrorizing the western world?

Back then, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ghaddaffi used to be in the news quite often, but none of them could be described as "little baby with make up".

Isn't that something that was happening in an Eastern African country

OldFriends4Sale said:

KoolEaze said:

I´ve always wondered about it, too. I think your first theory is correct.

And who are the little babies with make up terrorizing the western world?

Back then, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ghaddaffi used to be in the news quite often, but none of them could be described as "little baby with make up".

Isn't that something that was happening in an Eastern African country

That don't look like a little baby with make up, it looks like a grown ass man wearing a pink wig.

Expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Ooh, expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?

As bombs explode around us and hate advances on the right
The only thing that matters, baby, is the love that we make 2night
As little babies in make-up terrorize the western world
The only thing that matters, baby, is the love between a boy and girl

Oh, expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Undercover, no maybe
All 4 fun and fun 4 all

I can't remember my baby's voice cuz she ain't talkin' no more (Ohh...)
Only the sound of love and prayer echoes from the yellow floor, yellow floor (Ohh...)
Huh, she's sayin' - "Dear Jesus, save us from temptation
Dear Jesus, save us from hell
Save us from the madness that threatens us all
Can U hear us? It's hard 2 tell
In your name we pray"

Expert lover, my baby
Have U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Undercover, no maybe
All 4 fun and fun 4 all

As soldiers draw swords of sorrow (Ohh...)
My baby draws pictures of sex (Yes, she does)
All over the walls in graphic detail - sex! (Ohh...)

Everybody say it now
Expert lover, huh, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Under... undercover, ha, no maybe
All 4 fun and fun 4 all

Rip it, ouch! Uh

Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Uh, expert lover, my baby (My baby)
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Crystal Ball
Expert

My baby, my baby, my baby, my baby
Kiss me, lick me, trick me, whoa!
Eh yeah, yeah
Come on, come on, come on, won't U come on?

Expert lover, huh, my baby
Have U ever had a Crystal Ball?

Don't U wanna?
What my drummer wanna say? {x2}
Yeah! Drummer
Tell me what the bass sayin'?

Yeah
Oh, ow!
Listen 2 my, uh, listen 2 my bass man play
(Alright) (Expert lover, my baby is alright)
(Alright) (Undercover, my baby is alright)
Listen 2 the guitar play
Hey! Wait a minute now
School ya!
Ouch! Guitar, guitar
Come on now
Oh yeah!

My baby licked me fast (A heavenly temple my baby calls)
Come mama, watch your gas (Quietly missiles - some people die)
Come on, baby, do me fast (A gasp of gas clutters the mind)
Come on, come on (And a woman dies in the aftermath)
Mathematical gas

Sisters and brothers in the Purple Underground
Find peace of mind with the pop sound
It seems when we're in danger, everything gets black
Don't U wanna go?
Maybe not

Expert, expert
Uh
Ooh wee!
Darlin', darlin', U know U want a Cry... Crystal Ball
Crystal Ball
I don't know, I have 2 ask my mommy first

As bombs explode around U and hate advances on your right
The only thing U can be sure of is the love we make 2night

Expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball?
Take off your clothes, baby
Come on, get the Crystal Ball (Ahh...)
Oh, expert lover, my baby
U ever had a Crystal Ball? (Ahh...)
Come on, take off your clothes, baby
Come on, get the Crystal Ball
Come on!
Expert lover, my baby
Ever had a Crystal Ball?
Oh, my baby, my baby, my baby
Come on, get the, get the, get the Crystal Ba-a-a-all
Ha ha!
Oh, U ever had a Crystal Ball?

Crystal Ball
Performed by Prince & the Revolution, this alternate take was recorded during the Dream Factory sessions. It differs from the released track in that several vocals by Wendy and Lisa were removed when Prince updated it for his Crystal Ball 3 LP set later in 1986. Also missing is the added instrumentation and sound effects throughout the song, as well as Clare Fischer's orchestra. The updated track was released in 1998 on the Crystal Ball 3 CD set.

[Edited 2/3/11 8:43am]

TheDigitalGardener said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Isn't that something that was happening in an Eastern African country

That don't look like a little baby with make up, it looks like a grown ass man wearing a pink wig.

That's the only pic I could find right away, that's a teenager

I forget what country it is, but I saw a documentary on it kid soldiers and teens wearing make up/drag while fighting

OldFriends4Sale said:

KoolEaze said:

I´ve always wondered about it, too. I think your first theory is correct.

And who are the little babies with make up terrorizing the western world?

Back then, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ghaddaffi used to be in the news quite often, but none of them could be described as "little baby with make up".

Isn't that something that was happening in an Eastern African country

Correct. I believe it is a reference to the child soldiers of I believe Liberia. They were dressing up in all kind of things including make-up, wigs, etc.

OldFriends4Sale said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

That don't look like a little baby with make up, it looks like a grown ass man wearing a pink wig.

That's the only pic I could find right away, that's a teenager

I forget what country it is, but I saw a documentary on it kid soldiers and teens wearing make up/drag while fighting

Thanks,

Do you know the reason behind the make up/wigs etc?

TheDigitalGardener said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

That's the only pic I could find right away, that's a teenager

I forget what country it is, but I saw a documentary on it kid soldiers and teens wearing make up/drag while fighting

Thanks,

Do you know the reason behind the make up/wigs etc?

It seems people are still trying to anylize it, bu

t I think it's something about the look that is terrorizing and nightmarish

I saw a documentary on one of the leaders of a band of child soldiers and he talked about it

[Edited 2/3/11 7:33am]

OldFriends4Sale said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

Thanks,

Do you know the reason behind the make up/wigs etc?

It seems people are still trying to anylize it, but I think it's something about the look that is terrorizing and nightmarish

I saw a documentary on one of the leaders of a band of child soldiers and he talked about it

thanks.

errant said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

It's about the fear of impending war. The track was recorded after Prince's return from France, following the Libya air attack.

Prince's answer to the fear is to make love to his woman.

that's his answer to everything

HAHA! LOL!

tricky99 said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

Isn't that something that was happening in an Eastern African country

Correct. I believe it is a reference to the child soldiers of I believe Liberia. They were dressing up in all kind of things including make-up, wigs, etc.

Thanks

can anyone tell me who is drumming on this song, prince or sheila?

hhhhdmt said:

can anyone tell me who is drumming on this song, prince or sheila?

It's prince.

[Edited 2/3/11 7:58am]

hhhhdmt said:

can anyone tell me who is drumming on this song, prince or sheila?

Prince

wow, i knew prince is a good drummer (tambourine, lady cab driver) but i didnt know he was this good a drummer.

KoolEaze said:

I´ve always wondered about it, too. I think your first theory is correct.

And who are the little babies with make up terrorizing the western world?

Back then, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ghaddaffi used to be in the news quite often, but none of them could be described as "little baby with make up".

Very interesting. I remember in the movie Under the cherry moon he said to Mary's mom. "I do nothing professionally. I only do things for fun."

ntpoet said:

KoolEaze said:

I´ve always wondered about it, too. I think your first theory is correct.

And who are the little babies with make up terrorizing the western world?

Back then, Ayatollah Khomeini and Ghaddaffi used to be in the news quite often, but none of them could be described as "little baby with make up".

Very interesting. I remember in the movie Under the cherry moon he said to Mary's mom. "I do nothing professionally. I only do things for fun."

Very true.

In the movie "Purple Rain", he yelled "Answer me motherfucker!".

Prince is politically naive, sex is the only thing he's good at.

2freaky4church1 said:

Prince is politically naive, sex is the only thing he's good at.

There is something in the booklet about how the idea of making love during the apocalypse fascinated him. That theme comes across also in some of the 1999 lyrics.

2freaky4church1 said:

Prince is politically naive, sex is the only thing he's good at.

He's an artist, not a politician (and thank whoever for that!) Its an artistic expression of an ideal. Who the hell wants artists to be burdening you with too much literal realism? You may as well be watching the news (albeit their distorted agenda, hey just like politicians!). That would be boring as fuck - artists need to be existentialist!

And what's so wrong with "Make love, not war" concept and the many variations on that theme that popular artists with a conscience have promoted throughout the years?

I'd rather fuck than kill, wouldn't you? Or perhaps you have a gem of a song, some poetry, a painting or other form of artistic expression to enlighten the human race which is both grounded, intelligent and doesn't stray from reality at all eh? Lay it on us!

TheDigitalGardener said:

errant said:

that's his answer to everything

It does seem to be a recurring theme.