Prince has written & released some amazing singles. Sometimes he hits everything just right lyrics, instrumental performance, vocals, production, etc. It's all spot on. But then there are times when he's tantalizingly close but just barely misses the mark.

What are some songs that could've been huge hits but didn't quite make it? Here's my list.

P. Control

Great, swaggering rap. Rename this song "She's in Control" and rename the character anything but "Pussy," and it goes high on the charts. The women's empowerment message is complete. It becomes Prince biggest hip hop hit.

Black Sweat

Amazing beat. Rename this song "Hot Sweat" and reduce the whining keyboard line to something less ear piercing, and you've got a hit. It's Prince's answer to "Cold Sweat" by James Brown. "Cool Sweat" would also work.

Future Soul Song

Great deep vocals, nice melody, great verses, but the lyrics of the chorus have got to go. Change it to almost anything else, also related to the verses, like "Ooooo, Shala-la-la-la. Floating through this dream land", and then call the song "Dream Land."

Any others?

Rename "Pussy Control"?

No no...

I love it back when Prince used to be offenssive.

thedance said:

Rename "Pussy Control"?

No no...

I love it back when Prince used to be offenssive.

Yes, a nasty prince is a good prince. But what about the fact that the song title is in contradiction to the message? It was to the point that Prince had to explain "please don't be a victim of the 30 second sound bite" to get the message across at the VH-1 fashion music awards. He basicaly admitted that the chorus doesn't make sense.

controversy99 said:

thedance said:

Rename "Pussy Control"?

No no...

I love it back when Prince used to be offenssive.

Yes, a nasty prince is a good prince. But what about the fact that the song title is in contradiction to the message? It was to the point that Prince had to explain "please don't be a victim of the 30 second sound bite" to get the message across at the VH-1 fashion music awards. He basicaly admitted that the chorus doesn't make sense.

no he didnt....

it meant listen to the songs lyrical content....

this has to be the dumbest ass thread i have read for a while

why not rename purple rain...purple storm and omit the guitar solo

jesus

controversy99 said:

thedance said:

Rename "Pussy Control"?

No no...

I love it back when Prince used to be offenssive.

Yes, a nasty prince is a good prince. But what about the fact that the song title is in contradiction to the message? It was to the point that Prince had to explain "please don't be a victim of the 30 second sound bite" to get the message across at the VH-1 fashion music awards. He basicaly admitted that the chorus doesn't make sense.

You need to listen again, the chorus makes perfect sense!

controversy99 said:

Prince has written & released some amazing singles. Sometimes he hits everything just right lyrics, instrumental performance, vocals, production, etc. It's all spot on. But then there are times when he's tantalizingly close but just barely misses the mark.

What are some songs that could've been huge hits but didn't quite make it? Here's my list.

P. Control

Great, swaggering rap. Rename this song "She's in Control" and rename the character anything but "Pussy," and it goes high on the charts. The women's empowerment message is complete. It becomes Prince biggest hip hop hit.

Black Sweat

Amazing beat. Rename this song "Hot Sweat" and reduce the whining keyboard line to something less ear piercing, and you've got a hit. It's Prince's answer to "Cold Sweat" by James Brown. "Cool Sweat" would also work.

Future Soul Song

Great deep vocals, nice melody, great verses, but the lyrics of the chorus have got to go. Change it to almost anything else, also related to the verses, like "Ooooo, Shala-la-la-la. Floating through this dream land", and then call the song "Dream Land."

Any others?

Spot on with P Control. Dead wrong on the last two. Both were released when 99.9% of all hit singles were by acts under 35. Future Soul Song? Remember, Scandalous got almost no Pop airplay. Most of his great R&B ballads were only played on R&B radio. As great as FSS is, no way would it be a hit.

Obvious choices:

The Beautiful Ones

Paisley Park

Housequake, Starfish & Coffee, or Forever In My Life all three of these would have avoided killing SOTT's momentum like If I Was Your Girlfriend did. U Got The Look could've been the second single, followed by one of those, and then ICNTTPOYM. Starfish had the perfect nursery rhyme thing, and Housequake even got airplay in Tallahassee, FL...and other southern citites without being a single With a great party video, it would've been huge, and it woud have been easy to edit out the BS line.

Anna Stesia....anything but the Turkey my friend calls "The Denny's breakfast theme." "Stesia" would have done better than Grand,, uh... Glam Slam.

So Far So Pleased....Gwen was so low in the mix, it would've taken a few seconds to edit her out so this gem could've been a perfect lead single, and right at the time where older artists started to become outcasts. Especially considering Prince had burned so many bridges with the industry...would have been a hit.

TheEnglishGent said:

controversy99 said:

Yes, a nasty prince is a good prince. But what about the fact that the song title is in contradiction to the message? It was to the point that Prince had to explain "please don't be a victim of the 30 second sound bite" to get the message across at the VH-1 fashion music awards. He basicaly admitted that the chorus doesn't make sense.

You need to listen again, the chorus makes perfect sense!

I realize it makes sense. And I know he's playing with existing slang and reinterpreting its meaning. But that new meaning is completely lost on your average listener.

I think P. Control is a great track as is. BUT it could have been a hit. Not all songs need to be hits, of course, but I would enjoy hearing that track on the radio and in the club.

Have you tried playing P. Control for a casual fan and explaining that it's a woman's empowerment song? Let me know how that goes. I've done it, and people think of pussy control as deragatory slang for the situation where a man doesn't dare disagree with his girlfriend/wife on even the simplest things. Why? Because that's what the term means. It takes a lot of convincing that he's not using it that way and even after being convinced, most people still think it's stupid that he used those words.

I still don't get how he admitted it didn't make sense. He just said listen to the whole thing, it's not that hard to follow and I don't need to play it to my friends to know they'd understand.

[Edited 11/27/12 8:03am]

TheEnglishGent said:

I still don't get how he admitted it didn't make sense. He just said listen to the whole thing, it's not that hard to follow and I don't need to play it to my friends to know they'd understand.

[Edited 11/27/12 8:03am]

Yeah, maybe I'm reading too much into his statement. Well, I'll have to stick with enjoying it on my stereo at home. The past is past, as they say.

stillwaiting said:

Spot on with P Control. Dead wrong on the last two. Both were released when 99.9% of all hit singles were by acts under 35. Future Soul Song? Remember, Scandalous got almost no Pop airplay. Most of his great R&B ballads were only played on R&B radio. As great as FSS is, no way would it be a hit.

Obvious choices:

The Beautiful Ones

Paisley Park

Housequake, Starfish & Coffee, or Forever In My Life all three of these would have avoided killing SOTT's momentum like If I Was Your Girlfriend did. U Got The Look could've been the second single, followed by one of those, and then ICNTTPOYM. Starfish had the perfect nursery rhyme thing, and Housequake even got airplay in Tallahassee, FL...and other southern citites without being a single With a great party video, it would've been huge, and it woud have been easy to edit out the BS line.

Anna Stesia....anything but the Turkey my friend calls "The Denny's breakfast theme." "Stesia" would have done better than Grand,, uh... Glam Slam.

So Far So Pleased....Gwen was so low in the mix, it would've taken a few seconds to edit her out so this gem could've been a perfect lead single, and right at the time where older artists started to become outcasts. Especially considering Prince had burned so many bridges with the industry...would have been a hit.

yeah, some better choices in singles would be nice. he's hit or miss in this area -- the early to mid 1980s choices were just about perfect.

i'm so wrong.... i thought this thread would be about the ones who got away.... nevermind carry on...

controversy99 said:

P. Control

Great, swaggering rap. Rename this song "She's in Control" and rename the character anything but "Pussy," and it goes high on the charts. The women's empowerment message is complete. It becomes Prince biggest hip hop hit.

controversy99 said:

Black Sweat

Amazing beat. Rename this song "Hot Sweat" and reduce the whining keyboard line to something less ear piercing, and you've got a hit. It's Prince's answer to "Cold Sweat" by James Brown. "Cool Sweat" would also work.

controversy99 said:

Future Soul Song

Great deep vocals, nice melody, great verses, but the lyrics of the chorus have got to go. Change it to almost anything else, also related to the verses, like "Ooooo, Shala-la-la-la. Floating through this dream land", and then call the song "Dream Land."

A 'near miss' is a hit... cuz you nearly missed, therefore it was a hit. I guess what was meant is a 'near hit'. Just saying

So Far, So Pleased?

controversy99 said:

Black Sweat

Amazing beat. Rename this song "Hot Sweat" and reduce the whining keyboard line to something less ear piercing, and you've got a hit. It's Prince's answer to "Cold Sweat" by James Brown. "Cool Sweat" would also work.

I think you make the keyboard part less ear piercing, and that's it. The song could have been improved in other ways, but making it not hurt is number one!

why do so many people want to reduce prince's few artistic statements of the last 20 years down to something more palletable for the moronic easy-listening audience?

the best part of black sweat is the ear-piercing pitch. music is not meant to be nondescript and nice. he's not making cupcakes.

robertgeorgeakabob said:

why do so many people want to reduce prince's few artistic statements of the last 20 years down to something more palletable for the moronic easy-listening audience?

the best part of black sweat is the ear-piercing pitch. music is not meant to be nondescript and nice. he's not making cupcakes.

NDRU said:

controversy99 said:

Black Sweat

Amazing beat. Rename this song "Hot Sweat" and reduce the whining keyboard line to something less ear piercing, and you've got a hit. It's Prince's answer to "Cold Sweat" by James Brown. "Cool Sweat" would also work.

I think you make the keyboard part less ear piercing, and that's it. The song could have been improved in other ways, but making it not hurt is number one!

The vocals are ok. The rest needs to be redone completely.

novabrkr said:

robertgeorgeakabob said:

why do so many people want to reduce prince's few artistic statements of the last 20 years down to something more palletable for the moronic easy-listening audience?

the best part of black sweat is the ear-piercing pitch. music is not meant to be nondescript and nice. he's not making cupcakes.

This is a good one!

robertgeorgeakabob said:

why do so many people want to reduce prince's few artistic statements of the last 20 years down to something more palletable for the moronic easy-listening audience?

the best part of black sweat is the ear-piercing pitch. music is not meant to be nondescript and nice. he's not making cupcakes.

I have an album for you!

robertgeorgeakabob said:

why do so many people want to reduce prince's few artistic statements of the last 20 years down to something more palletable for the moronic easy-listening audience?

the best part of black sweat is the ear-piercing pitch. music is not meant to be nondescript and nice. he's not making cupcakes.

Also if Prince went back and changed anything like he did with Xtralovable people would scream bloody murder on here. Prince even got called out for changing a single word in that 'Dark' rehearsal he did recently.

Payt said:

A 'near miss' is a hit... cuz you nearly missed, therefore it was a hit. I guess what was meant is a 'near hit'. Just saying

George Carlin?

Here in the "bible belt", P. Control was THE Prince song that HAD to be played in clubs, for at least 10 years after it's release (if not still).

It may not be a radio hit, but, on the dance floor it was bigger than ANY of the hits. Only "Kiss" came close to packing as many people on the dancefloor.

My friend, I understand your good intention to make these songs more acceptable to a wide radio audience, so to make them hit singles. But the word Pussy is one of the main reasons we love Pussy Control. Yes, it's his greatest rap. His most fortunate rap incursion. You mean to take off the word Black from Black Sweat because it might sound racist? But, if, besides being a JW, Prince gets to be puritain, that would be a complete tragedy!! The nastier he got in his carreer was some of his best moments musically.

[Edited 11/28/12 17:25pm]

djThunderfunk said:

Here in the "bible belt", P. Control was THE Prince song that HAD to be played in clubs, for at least 10 years after it's release (if not still).

It may not be a radio hit, but, on the dance floor it was bigger than ANY of the hits. Only "Kiss" came close to packing as many people on the dancefloor.

You guys don't know how fortunate you are to listen to Prince and other good music in the clubs. I never did that in my life in Brazil... Only heard When Doves Cry twice, in selected clubs.

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

djThunderfunk said:

Here in the "bible belt", P. Control was THE Prince song that HAD to be played in clubs, for at least 10 years after it's release (if not still).

It may not be a radio hit, but, on the dance floor it was bigger than ANY of the hits. Only "Kiss" came close to packing as many people on the dancefloor.

You guys don't know how fortunate you are to listen to Prince and other good music in the clubs. I never did that in my life in Brazil... Only heard When Doves Cry twice, in selected clubs.

Not so lucky. I was a club DJ for about 5 years. P Control, Kiss and Erotic City were staples and got regular spins. Other than that, there were maybe 5 or 6 other songs by Prince that would get (or keep) some people dancing but never fill the floor. Anything else by Prince cleared the floor. The crowds here have to already know and like a song to dance to it, or, it has to be "hot". They were never responsive to the unfamiliar...

Jungle Love, The Bird, Glamorous Life & A Love Bizarre always fared pretty well too.

djThunderfunk said:

BrazilianOnRaspberryBeret said:

You guys don't know how fortunate you are to listen to Prince and other good music in the clubs. I never did that in my life in Brazil... Only heard When Doves Cry twice, in selected clubs.

Not so lucky. I was a club DJ for about 5 years. P Control, Kiss and Erotic City were staples and got regular spins. Other than that, there were maybe 5 or 6 other songs by Prince that would get (or keep) some people dancing but never fill the floor. Anything else by Prince cleared the floor. The crowds here have to already know and like a song to dance to it, or, it has to be "hot". They were never responsive to the unfamiliar...

Jungle Love, The Bird, Glamorous Life & A Love Bizarre always fared pretty well too.

Where u from? A small town I presume.

Always thought "Walk dont walk" would be much better without on the damn car horns.

xpertluva said:

Payt said:

A 'near miss' is a hit... cuz you nearly missed, therefore it was a hit. I guess what was meant is a 'near hit'. Just saying

George Carlin?

I think he mentioned it too.. but it was actually mainly logic.

When i'm flying on a plane i wouldn't like to experience a 'near miss' with a mountain, that's for sure.

Payt said:

xpertluva said:

George Carlin?

I think he mentioned it too.. but it was actually mainly logic.

When i'm flying on a plane i wouldn't like to experience a 'near miss' with a mountain, that's for sure.

That makes sense to me. I wouldn't want to be involved in a near miss either!