two songs i'd like to know about for right now, "Heaven" and "The Dance Electric"

"Heaven"

1. Specifically what point is Prince trying to make in this song? there's just something there i just can't seem to figure out.

"The Dance Electric"

2. What is the dance electric? i know Prince was trying to say something about love, but again, what was his main point?

he writes deeply, sometimes too damn deeply! but still he's an awsome writer and we love him. if anyone can answer these questions feel free to post your thoughts.

jojackson said:

two songs i'd like to know about for right now, "Heaven" and "The Dance Electric"

"Heaven"

1. Specifically what point is Prince trying to make in this song? there's just something there i just can't seem to figure out.

"The Dance Electric"

2. What is the dance electric? i know Prince was trying to say something about love, but again, what was his main point?

he writes deeply, sometimes too damn deeply! but still he's an awsome writer and we love him. if anyone can answer these questions feel free to post your thoughts.

...Since when is there an outtake called "Heaven"?

armpit said:

...Since when is there an outtake called "Heaven"?

Since 1985.

armpit said:

...Since when is there an outtake called "Heaven"?

It has been circulating for over 20 years

http://www.princevault.co...php/Heaven

jojackson said:

"The Dance Electric"

2. What is the dance electric? i know Prince was trying to say something about love, but again, what was his main point?

I Sing the body electric - Fame

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG-wl2qqD7Y

Hot Lunch Jam would have been to blatant?

Anyway, with lyrics like "we better love each other, it's almost time 2 go" and references to god and the world, I don't think it's one of his deeper songs, like say, Kiss.

NouveauDance said:

armpit said:

...Since when is there an outtake called "Heaven"?

Since 1985.

And I've been hanging out on these boards for years...how the fuck is it that I'm just now ever seeing anybody mention this song?!

armpit said:

NouveauDance said:

Since 1985.

And I've been hanging out on these boards for years...how the fuck is it that I'm just now ever seeing anybody mention this song?!

Get the "Charade" bootleg

I never really paid it that much attention until I heard that set.

As for the OP's question, I agree. His music, esp during the 1985/6 era were/still are open for interpretation. I could understand it if some people find his lyrics writing cryptic, but personally speaking, sometimes they(his songs) hit a nerve. This part from "Heaven" certainly did:

We can dream of color if we look into the sun
On a day of kindness only blind will dig the one

Isn't Dance Electric mentioned at the end of God?

AhPook said:

Isn't Dance Electric mentioned at the end of God?

As i recal God was recorded 2 days later or two days prior to Dance Electric

armpit said:

NouveauDance said:

Since 1985.

And I've been hanging out on these boards for years...how the fuck is it that I'm just now ever seeing anybody mention this song?!

Damn, you are late. Lol!!! I thought you were a little more in the know than that! It's one of his most popular outtakes, in my opinion.

It's all right! In addition to "Charade", as Harlepolis mentioned, you can also find it on Work It 2.0 Vol. 2. It's one of my favorites. Jam on!

Judging from the rest of the lyrics, I would say Prince thought, "Wow, Dance Electric sounds like a good song title. A perfect fit for the quasi-spiritual, mysterious mumbo-jumbo my brand is known for. Let me see if I can shoe-horn some lyrics around this term."

Also, I love hyphens.

Just a guess.

I think songf akin to Dance Electric/Purple Rain have that theme of getting "saved" and awaiting the return of Jesus Christ.

jojackson said:

two songs i'd like to know about for right now, "Heaven" and "The Dance Electric"

"Heaven"

1. Specifically what point is Prince trying to make in this song? there's just something there i just can't seem to figure out.

"The Dance Electric"

2. What is the dance electric? i know Prince was trying to say something about love, but again, what was his main point?

he writes deeply, sometimes too damn deeply! but still he's an awsome writer and we love him. if anyone can answer these questions feel free to post your thoughts.

I never thought of Prince as a deep writer but an amazing song composer.

NouveauDance said:

armpit said:

...Since when is there an outtake called "Heaven"?

Since 1985.

This piece from 17 Days single notes sorta connects with the whole God & the Dance Electric vibe

17 Days
the rain will come down, then U will have 2 choose. If U believe, look 2 the dawn and U shall never lose

17 Days", written by Prince, Wendy, Lisa, Dr. Fink song slated for the Apolonia 6 album. background vocals include Brenda Bennett

So let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down, down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down, down

Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down, down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down, down

Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down, down

Why dont you answer your phone? 

Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down, down
17 days

Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down
Let the rain come down, down
17 days

When it comes 2 dawn, a light of truth will shine, and baby you will fall...

God © 9.26.84
Purple Rain B-side

God:the Dance Electic was performed regularly on the Purple Rain tour

God
In the beginning, there was God
He made the earth and the heavens
He gave us light 2 rule the day
And another light 2 rule the night
The Lord, thy God
He made, He made the seas
He made the fruit upon the tree

When He saw
When He saw that it was good
He made a man
He made a man
Only He could, only He could

God made U
God made me 2
He made us all
He made us all equally

Now U say it

God made U, God made me
He made us all equally

Wake up children
Dance the Dance Electric
There isn't much time
Who screamed?
Was it U?

© 1984 Controversy Music

The Dance Electric

Good morning children
Take a look out your window
Our world is falling
It's almost time 2 go

(Dance)

Dance the Dance Electric
The rhythm is love and love is blind
Love your enemies
There isn't much time, there isn't much time

Look - our world is falling
A rhythm-less house of blinded prophecy
Hear our Master calling
This isn't what He wanted us 2 be

We got 2 dance the Dance Electric
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
Come on and dance the Dance Electric
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go

Don't - it don't make U happy
2 give another someone your own smile
Dance the dance electric
Never mind your hatred, try a brand new style

Dance the Dance Electric
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
U got 2 dance the Dance Electric
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go

We... love... all... enemies

Look - U're livin' in Babylon
Makin', but not feelin' love at all
When your youth is gone, when it comes 2 dawn
A light of truth will shine and U will fall

That's why U got 2 dance the Dance Electric
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
U got 2 dance the Dance Electric
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go

See the light inside of us
U're stuck in living, livin' life as bad
Whatever U do, don't U let your life go without my love
It's the only life that U will ever have

Why don't U (dance) dance the Dance Electric?
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
Why don't U dance the Dance Electric?
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go (almost time 2)

Dance the Dance Electric
Listen 2 the rhythm of your soul
Come on and dance the Dance Electric
We better love each other, it's almost time 2 go

tho we just met there's an energy between us .. that energy is the dance electric .. when u dance you let go of babylon, sex, gluttony .. u are free .. u feel the energy of love .. it is too universal too chaotic too real to exist in the form of the superficial reality .. u must release your perceptions of self, rules, want .. free yourself to feel the love between all living souls .. to feel your true soul manifest in your physical being .. to truly connect with others, god and the sprituality of the universe .. to tap into the true source of life .. to truly live we must dance the dance electric .. listen to the rhythm of your soul .. don't follow the rhythm of babylon .. babylon system is a vampire, sucking the blood of the sufferers .. wake up and live .. dance the dance electric ..

I absolutely love Heaven, such a funky beat.

I first heard it when I was travelling around Egypt and it was very appropriate with the subject of life and death esp after visiting the pyramids.

Its about the afterlife "Where you go, you don't know, where you go, you've gotta bare your soul"

and having to 'bare your soul' before you can enter.

I originally thought he said "weigh your soul" as the ancient Egyptians believed that our souls are weighed on a scale before they can be light enough to be admitted to heaven or the next life.

It's also about the idea that we can create heaven on earth "Heaven will be here on Earth if we just try to love".

[Edited 6/21/11 2:25am]

Yes Heaven is a cool track but you don't hear people talk about it much for some reason. But I remember hearing it in '86 or so back when we used to trade tapes.

The Dance Electric is about the apocalypse that everyone assumed was coming in 1999. Simply put he's saying for us to party cause it's almost time to go. There's even an ad libbed line in it that say "we got 14 years".

I always took heaven to be about opening yourself up to love and you would know heaven. Not necessarily in the "died and gone to heaven" sense but in a knowledge of heavenly bliss in your life/love.

FunkiestOne said:

Yes Heaven is a cool track but you don't hear people talk about it much for some reason. But I remember hearing it in '86 or so back when we used to trade tapes.

Agreed i never see it spoken about, i discovered it from "The Work" series and loved it instantly. It was recorded in 1985 around the time that Parade was being worked on.

TheFreakerFantastic said:

FunkiestOne said:

Yes Heaven is a cool track but you don't hear people talk about it much for some reason. But I remember hearing it in '86 or so back when we used to trade tapes.

Agreed i never see it spoken about, i discovered it from "The Work" series and loved it instantly. It was recorded in 1985 around the time that Parade was being worked on.

http://prince.org/msg/7/357982?pr

Can someone provide a clear explanation of what an "outtake" is? Are they songs that just didn't make it on to a promoted album? or are they recordings containing errors and then shelved? or......

sweething said:

Can someone provide a clear explanation of what an "outtake" is? Are they songs that just didn't make it on to a promoted album? or are they recordings containing errors and then shelved? or......

The term 'outtake' really means something that contained errors and were shelved but when fans use the word outtake they really mean an unreleased recording or at least a different version of a released recording that is out there. They don't mean it has mistakes on it.

[Edited 6/22/11 2:27am]

TheFreakerFantastic said:

sweething said:

Can someone provide a clear explanation of what an "outtake" is? Are they songs that just didn't make it on to a promoted album? or are they recordings containing errors and then shelved? or......

The term 'outtake' really means something that contained errors and were shelved but when fans use the word outtake they really mean an unreleased recording or at least a different version of a released recording that is out there. They don't mean it has mistakes on it.

I don't think it has anything to do with errors. Some things are just not finished or the plan was changed and then a song doesn't fit etc etc

B sides can be considered outtakes of a sort because sometimes they are considered 4 an album like Love or Money & Old Friends 4 Sale.

Also lots of outtakes from Dream Factory like Power Fantastic Crystal Ball etc

OldFriends4Sale said:

TheFreakerFantastic said:

The term 'outtake' really means something that contained errors and were shelved but when fans use the word outtake they really mean an unreleased recording or at least a different version of a released recording that is out there. They don't mean it has mistakes on it.

I don't think it has anything to do with errors. Some things are just not finished or the plan was changed and then a song doesn't fit etc etc

B sides can be considered outtakes of a sort because sometimes they are considered 4 an album like Love or Money & Old Friends 4 Sale.

Also lots of outtakes from Dream Factory like Power Fantastic Crystal Ball etc

2

: something that is taken out: as a : a take that is not used in an edited version of a film or videotape b : a recorded musical selection not included in a record album

cool, thanks.