i would love to hear Prince's version like sinead did it back in 83/84 whenever he would have done the demo for it

the version P released reminds me of the story told about wally

when he does something THAT emotionally truthfull he goes back and butchers it

i doubt very much if that cod jazz mid tempo rosie gaines duet kathy j screeching horns would have made a global number one

sinead kills it

i often wonder what the next massive cover will be

17 days?

desire?

Well, many of The Family demos sung by Prince are circulating but his original NC2U is not.

I'm sure is much superior to St.Paul's versions (demo and official) and ABSOLUTELY SUPERIOR to Prince's live version with Rosie.

Hence it's NOT circulating.

jonylawson said:

i would love to hear Prince's version like sinead did it back in 83/84 whenever he would have done the demo for it

the version P released reminds me of the story told about wally

when he does something THAT emotionally truthfull he goes back and butchers it

i doubt very much if that cod jazz mid tempo rosie gaines duet kathy j screeching horns would have made a global number one

sinead kills it

i often wonder what the next massive cover will be

17 days?

desire?

Love Prince version with Rosie Gaines, and can't stand Sinead version who's appearance while singing is how Gary Numan would have performed it during his android period.

Yeah the live version is so cheesy, sounds like a wedding singer version.

jonylawson said:

i would love to hear Prince's version like sinead did it back in 83/84 whenever he would have done the demo for it

the version P released reminds me of the story told about wally

when he does something THAT emotionally truthfull he goes back and butchers it

i doubt very much if that cod jazz mid tempo rosie gaines duet kathy j screeching horns would have made a global number one

sinead kills it

i often wonder what the next massive cover will be

17 days?

desire?

I agree - Prince's live version lacks the emotional resonance of the Sinead cover version.

Having said that, we must remember that it's a live recording and I've never heard Sinead

sing it live so in some ways it's a false comparison. Would love to hear the original Prince demo,

although I get the feeling it would not be that different to The Family version.

I really don't think Prince thought much of the song, which highlights the greatness of the Sinead

cover - I think in many ways, her vocal delivery, strings arrangement and general production are

what really gives it gravitas - having said that, the lyrics are really beautiful, one of the best

written Prince ballads IMO, some very poignant lines that really stay with you.

But I wonder how much of that poignancy is psychologically linked to the visual imagery of

Sinead crying - possibly one of the best music videos of all time - I only wish the director had

stayed with the head shot from start to finish as one continuous shot

(much like Half The Man by Jamiroquai).

Hope that all makes sense, interesting thread....

[Edited 6/15/11 16:02pm]

Ive never liked Sinead O conners version!!!!!

I love his live version with Rosie released on the Hits. Sinead's is even better. The Family's original version is absolutely horrendous.

Prince did it great on the nude tour!!!!Happy days.

Never thought it was such a great song...PERIOD.

I'm sorry but Prince & Shelby live version @ 21 nites in LA killed all circulating versions. Shelby shows so much passion & emotion in her duet with Prince & Prince returns it like a jilted lover they should rerecord it 2gether...

[img:$uid]http://pic80.picturetrail.com:80/VOL2084/9118410/23615037/395076480.jpg[/img:$uid]

daood said:

jonylawson said:

i would love to hear Prince's version like sinead did it back in 83/84 whenever he would have done the demo for it

the version P released reminds me of the story told about wally

when he does something THAT emotionally truthfull he goes back and butchers it

i doubt very much if that cod jazz mid tempo rosie gaines duet kathy j screeching horns would have made a global number one

sinead kills it

i often wonder what the next massive cover will be

17 days?

desire?

Love Prince version with Rosie Gaines, and can't stand Sinead version who's appearance while singing is how Gary Numan would have performed it during his android period.

NouveauDance said:

Yeah the live version is so cheesy, sounds like a wedding singer version.

Prince should record the song solo just as Sinead did. His live versions as a duet with various women has always lacked emotion and seemed so manufactured.

Yeah I don't know why he makes it a duet so often. It would sound fine if he just played it more simply with all the orchestration. Anyway I like the Family's version better than Sinead's.

daood said:

Love Prince version with Rosie Gaines, and can't stand Sinead version who's appearance while singing is how Gary Numan would have performed it during his android period.

Who cares what she looks like? Hers is the definitive version, no question.

ilovebubbles said:

P was kinda lacking emotion when he sang it :/ but have y'all seen the version he did on the Ellen show?? He killed it! And I never did like Sinead's version of the song tho..

Was that 2004? I don't remember that!

lyrically though it could be his greatest song

Prince and Mary J Blige took it to another level in LA.

I liked Prince's version. It could've been better, but I absolutely can't stand Sinead O Connor's version of it . it's just awful. Her voice is so nasty. There's nothing beautiful or touching about it at all - it's pop garbage.

I like the song - the lyrics and everything, but Prince's version wasn't that great, The Family's was worse, and Sinead's is the worst. I can't believe Prince fans would love her version so much.

Personally, I like the ONA Live version the best. If only he'd do the 2nd verse live...

[Edited 6/16/11 0:41am]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I'm sorry but Prince & Shelby live version @ 21 nites in LA killed all circulating versions. Shelby shows so much passion & emotion in her duet with Prince & Prince returns it like a jilted lover they should rerecord it 2gether...

[img:$uid]http://pic80.picturetrail.com:80/VOL2084/9118410/23615037/395076480.jpg[/img:$uid]

Um, no. Hardly the case. You're really just a fanboy who thinks anything Prince does today is better than anything he did yesterday but not as great as anything he'll do tomorrow.

I think my favourite version of this song is the circulating unreleased version by The Family, which has the intruments on rather than the more acappella version that was released. And Sinead's version is beautiful.

[Edited 6/16/11 2:09am]

I prefer Prince's version because his vocals are much stronger, although I can do without the extended horn solos. I'd love for him to perform a stripped down version of this song, either with voice and piano accompaniment or even a cappella.

Vict0r said:

although I can do without the extended horn solos.

Really? That's my favorite part. Why does everyone hate saxophones so much?

He has done the song without the sax, though. Can't recall any specific show, but I recall him calling out Renato to do a keyboard solo. It was something recent, though - like 2009 maybe.

The1592 said:

Vict0r said:

although I can do without the extended horn solos.

Really? That's my favorite part. Why does everyone hate saxophones so much?

It just seems kind of forced to me.

I like sinead o connors version but maybe you need to see it live. Shelby is great but doesnt compare to the Rosie and Prince duo. Its somewhere out there where you can hear it.

[Edited 6/16/11 3:00am]

I've always preferred The Family version.

The sound encapsulates the MPLS sound of '85, as does the album.

Choon !!

TwiliteKid said:

daood said:

Love Prince version with Rosie Gaines, and can't stand Sinead version who's appearance while singing is how Gary Numan would have performed it during his android period.

Who cares what she looks like? Hers is the definitive version, no question.

You can't be serious. Lol

That's a gospel style ballad and Prince & Rosie Gaines singing and emotional fits the song structure. Sinead is a pop singer at best and what is that hiccup style of voice that she goes into when she says "Nothing...?"

Definitive version? HeeHaw:lol:

[Edited 6/16/11 10:25am]

davetherave6767 said:

Ive never liked Sinead O conners version!!!!!

YEAH HER'S IS SO DULLLLLL BLAH BLAH BLAH

Sinead's version is the winner.