This is one of my top 10 all time Prince songs. I was listening to this track on headphones a few nights ago and I was floored by the brilliance contained on the track. The altered lead vocal, the varying octaves of the background vocals, the slapp bass, linn drum computer, and synths are unbelievable. Whenever I hear people mention electronica as if it were created in the late '90s I cringe because Prince mastered electronica in the'80s and it's on full display on this track. The most interesting thing about the song is the complex lyrical content that questions whether his woman would be more open if he were her best girlfriend. Whats more astounding is the depths at which Prince discusses their relationship, from being open with one another, to crying together at a movie, making breakfast, and picking out her clothes, ideas that are rarely discussed to this depth by a man in music. Prince hit all the notes of a relationship on this one even allowing himself to cry a little for his lady and creating a soundscape that is androgynous in theory yet within the confines of a heterosexual relationship.

Another astounding feature of the track is the way it segues from the pop/rock of U Got The Look into the seductive funk of If I Was Your Girlfriend. This segue is one of the most creative in music with the use of the orchestra tuning up signifying the beginning of the relationship, to the chant of a salesman stating "Look At The Bargins Over Here Ladies", to the weeding processional and then like a flash these thoughts are gone, yet they have covered the full range of a relationship in a matter of seconds. The creativity of that segueway is worth the price of the album because it sets the tone for what Prince is discussing in the song. Whats more interesting is the fact that Prince lyrically covers the ground the segue hints at. Whenever I listen to this track I am reaffirmed of the brilliance of Prince, sonically and lyrically.

very well put ... agree ... totally ...

This song is one of his all-time best.

However the public wasn't ready for it when it was released.

true

prince goes where few

men dare 2

this is what makes

him unique


'...(sumtymes) i trip on how happy we could be...'


women love men who can relate

to their emotions

love is understanding

"Look at the bargains over here ladies."

Good GRIEF...had this album for 16 years and TODAY I finally discovered what the dude was saying. Thanks.

Doozer said:

Glad I could help.

real cool Post& Dig that Song like it came out last Tuesday you know?

Doozer said:

same here! I'm still going to pretend it's crazy talk/gibberish, though

'Girlfriend' is an achievement of a lifetime, up there with 'Strawberry Fields Forever', in my mind

but I have to respectfully disagree, I thought Hendrix was better with the Experience!

It is an excellent song.
It contains one of my all time favorite Prince lyrics:
"Would U run 2 me if somebody hurt U,
even if that somebody was me?"

I have to say though, as much as I love the album version,
it always seems to really come alive when played live.

Yes, this song is absolutely astounding! A masterpiece.

One of his very best.

A beautiful song; one of his best. I really like the way he does it on the Sign of the Times concert video.

I completely dig it myself, it's one of my favorites too! TLC did a cover of it on one of their albums and it was very good but nothing can beat THE Original!

Jasper said:

The way he does it on the video is the same way he does it on the album, it's a lip-sync.

Way, way, WAY ahead of its' time. Perfect. I'd love to have been a fly on the wall when he recorded this and 'The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker'. Just the very ideas behind them - let alone the actual songs themselves - show what a genius he is.

Jasper - I co-sign! I was listening to that over the weekend. I love the concert video's Philly-soul vibe. And the way he & Cat fall into the heart at the end...

Essence said:

If I were you I would listen to the album and watch the movie again cause it´s deff. not a lip-sync.

Jasper said:

You wouldn't know a good song if you pissed on it!

ChocolateInvasion said:

Don´t push it, choc! I have some video´s that I can fill with snow or Michael Jackson interviews.

ooh yeah, and the funky intro is the shiznit!!

Jasper said:

Not the MJ interviews!!!

I absolutely agree that this is one of his finest songs ever, as well as one of the most interesting songs ever crafted. i read a interview with a professor fo poetry once who said she gave her students copies of the lyrics, and waited to tell them who wrote it untill afterwards. the students went nuts arguing wther it was written by a str8 man, a str8 woman, a gay man, or a gay woman. i thought...wow, how genius...

BorisFishpaw said:


OH YES completely agree, one of his best live songs! 've heard so many live versions of this song but it's always sounding like this truly intense masterpiece, it's definitely a song about true love, desire & happiness.

Brilliant

That song IS awesome - first time I listened to SOTT, I panned it - moved on. But as the other songs lost their initial WOW, that song grew on me - as did ADORE and Dorothy Parker.

That whole album was awesome. Not another one like it. I listened to that album everyday for 2 years straight.

Doozer said:

Oh yeah...forgot to say what I always thought was being said:

Look at the partridge in the tree, ladies.

WTF was I thinking?!?

Doozer said:[quote]Doozer said:[quote]"Look at the bargains over here ladies."

All I can say is, nice touch.

Prince himself was VERY proud of the song.
He was very upset that it didn't do that
well when it was released as a single, and
because of that he almost gave up on
promoting the album.

Personally, I think it was a mistake to
release as the 2nd single from the album.
Even though it IS a fantastic song, it's
not that immediate, and would have benefitted
from being the 4th or 5th single released.

I CAN'T back this up - so no point in anyone asking me - but I'm sure I read somewhere once that this was Prince's favourite self-penned song.

Am I imagining this or did I really read that?

The best thing about this song is that Prince does not seem afraid to be in touch with his feminine side. He says things that every girl wants to hear(he does that in a lot of his songs). I liked it from the very first time I ever heard it.

I thought the voice was saying: "Look at your Pa, you suffragette lady"...

Oh dear.