I cannot seem to stop listening to “RocknRoll Love Affair.” Whether it is the studio version or the live version on Jimmy Kimmel, I love it. It is good ole’ American RocknRoll, which really means RocknSoul, and if it were performed by Charlie Pride or some white artist it would be a big Country hit. Yet, ultimately, “RocknRoll Love Affair” cements for me that Prince is still a great song writer and performer. He is still blending musical categories like no one else. Musically, “RocknRoll Love Affair” is damn near everything American, except jazz. Additionally, his lyrics are still fun and creative: “He said, ‘My faith keeps me from being willing, but you know that I’m able. If there’s some room, I’d like to sit at your table.’” Of course the line is self-referential, alluding to “Willing and Able,” but it is also metatextual because it echoes Prince’s long time theme of struggling with, balancing, and paralleling the physical and the metaphysical. Both the male and the female are looking for something, on a journey to find something. Hers seems to be more physical while his seems to be more metaphysical. “He learned the meaning of grace; that’s when his cup overflowed.” Prince still compacts more into his lyrics than most. So the fact that the male is “able” to physically satisfy her but not necessarily “willing” is a really great/economical manner to symbolize that his search is for more than the immediate physical, which also works to intensify the importance of the metaphysical by connecting it to physical desire, thus making the reward or treasure of the metaphysical equally if not more rewarding than the orgasm. Thus, this is just a well written and well delivered song. In fact, “RocknRoll Love Affair” and a number of songs from 2000 to now crush a good number of songs written by Prince during the eighties.

*

First, things first: most of Prince’s studio bootlegs written from 1977 to 1990 suck; I mean they
are straight garbage. So, whenever I hear someone say that they became a Prince fan because of these or that they remain a Prince fan solely or mostly for these bootleg “gems,” I can only laugh and thank God that I don’t have an STD of the ears. For seventy-five percent of the studio bootlegs that I’ve heard, my reaction is “I understand why it was and still is unreleased. Whoever leaked it should be choked until their eyes close.”

*

Secondly, “RocknRoll Love Affair,” “Colonized Mind,” “Musicology,” “Guitar,” “Fury,” “Dance 4 Me,” “Ole Skool Company,” “The Work,” “The Everlasting Now,” “Muse to the Pharaoh,” “She Loves Me 4 Me,” “1+1+1=3,” “Family Name,” “Cause and Effect,” “Future Soul Song,” “Sticky Like Glue,” and “Laydown” are far superior to and crush songs like “Take Me w/U,” “Baby, I’m a Star,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “I Wonder U,” “Life Can Be So Nice,” and the vast majority of those so-called unreleased bootleg “gems,” which are all good songs but not in the league of those post 1999 songs that I have mentioned. In fact, the only thing I like about “Take Me w/U,” “Baby, I’m a Star,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and “Life Can Be So Nice” is Prince’s live performance of them. There is nothing I like about “I Wonder U,” except that it ends quickly. And listening to it performed live during the Parade Tour was the most agonizing five minutes of my life. My point is that clearly Prince is still capable of writing songs that surpass what he has done in the past.

*

And, I must add that while I do think that “Colonized Mind” is a rip-off of “Quit It,” it is still one of the funkiest, most passionate, and electrifying songs that he has ever done. And since “Party Up,” a song written by Morris Day, is the song that made me a Prince fan, I don’t mind that “Colonized Mind” was written by someone else, especially since Prince’s interpretation of the song is, again, so much more funky, passionate, and electrifying.

*

So, I am loving “RocknRoll Love Affair.” Like I said, I can’t stop playing it, but I’m not surprised. I have loved Prince’s growth as a songwriter and performer over the past twelve years. And while I can’t fathom why someone who calls themselves a Prince fan wouldn’t like it, to each his own. But, man am I glad I have this jam!

1725topp said:

I cannot seem to stop listening to “RocknRoll Love Affair.” Whether it is the studio version or the live version on Jimmy Kimmel, I love it. It is good ole’ American RocknRoll, which really means RocknSoul, and if it were performed by Charlie Pride or some white artist it would be a big Country hit. Yet, ultimately, “RocknRoll Love Affair” cements for me that Prince is still a great song writer and performer. He is still blending musical categories like no one else. Musically, “RocknRoll Love Affair” is damn near everything American, except jazz. Additionally, his lyrics are still fun and creative: “He said, ‘My faith keeps me from being willing, but you know that I’m able. If there’s some room, I’d like to sit at your table.’” Of course the line is self-referential, alluding to “Willing and Able,” but it is also metatextual because it echoes Prince’s long time theme of struggling with, balancing, and paralleling the physical and the metaphysical. Both the male and the female are looking for something, on a journey to find something. Hers seems to be more physical while his seems to be more metaphysical. “He learned the meaning of grace; that’s when his cup overflowed.” Prince still compacts more into his lyrics than most. So the fact that the male is “able” to physically satisfy her but not necessarily “willing” is a really great/economical manner to symbolize that his search is for more than the immediate physical, which also works to intensify the importance of the metaphysical by connecting it to physical desire, thus making the reward or treasure of the metaphysical equally if not more rewarding than the orgasm. Thus, this is just a well written and well delivered song. In fact, “RocknRoll Love Affair” and a number of songs from 2000 to now crush a good number of songs written by Prince during the eighties.

*

First, things first: most of Prince’s studio bootlegs written from 1977 to 1990 suck; I mean they
are straight garbage. So, whenever I hear someone say that they became a Prince fan because of these or that they remain a Prince fan solely or mostly for these bootleg “gems,” I can only laugh and thank God that I don’t have an STD of the ears. For seventy-five percent of the studio bootlegs that I’ve heard, my reaction is “I understand why it was and still is unreleased. Whoever leaked it should be choked until their eyes close.”

*

Secondly, “RocknRoll Love Affair,” “Colonized Mind,” “Musicology,” “Guitar,” “Fury,” “Dance 4 Me,” “Ole Skool Company,” “The Work,” “The Everlasting Now,” “Muse to the Pharaoh,” “She Loves Me 4 Me,” “1+1+1=3,” “Family Name,” “Cause and Effect,” “Future Soul Song,” “Sticky Like Glue,” and “Laydown” are far superior to and crush songs like “Take Me w/U,” “Baby, I’m a Star,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “I Wonder U,” “Life Can Be So Nice,” and the vast majority of those so-called unreleased bootleg “gems,” which are all good songs but not in the league of those post 1999 songs that I have mentioned. In fact, the only thing I like about “Take Me w/U,” “Baby, I’m a Star,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and “Life Can Be So Nice” is Prince’s live performance of them. There is nothing I like about “I Wonder U,” except that it ends quickly. And listening to it performed live during the Parade Tour was the most agonizing five minutes of my life. My point is that clearly Prince is still capable of writing songs that surpass what he has done in the past.

*

And, I must add that while I do think that “Colonized Mind” is a rip-off of “Quit It,” it is still one of the funkiest, most passionate, and electrifying songs that he has ever done. And since “Party Up,” a song written by Morris Day, is the song that made me a Prince fan, I don’t mind that “Colonized Mind” was written by someone else, especially since Prince’s interpretation of the song is, again, so much more funky, passionate, and electrifying.

*

So, I am loving “RocknRoll Love Affair.” Like I said, I can’t stop playing it, but I’m not surprised. I have loved Prince’s growth as a songwriter and performer over the past twelve years. And while I can’t fathom why someone who calls themselves a Prince fan wouldn’t like it, to each his own. But, man am I glad I have this jam!

I'm very much in aggreeance with most of what you posted, especially the bolded parts.

I've been posting regularly on this site about how strong Prince's material has been in the 21st Century, and I even stated that the 'Lotusflow3r' album easily stands next to (and in many ways crushes) any album he's ever released.

This mostly falls upon deaf ears and blind eyes though, because the majority of folks on this site will simply refuse to listen with a fresh, current perspective, and instead, feel that they must compare present and past. They are so attached to the past, that they can't hear the brilliance going on today.

I've been a Prince fan longer than most on this site, and I grew up with that wonderful music of the past. It was unprecedented and fresh and inspiring. But as a musician with keen ears and an open mind, I enjoy hearing new material from the mind and soul of this amazing human being, and works like 'The Rainbow Children' and 'Lotusflow3r' are inarguably brilliant, refreshing, and very musical.

This common perception here that Prince has "lost it" could be because of conditioning of sorts. In popular music history, it is very common for an artist/band to "burn out"... Prince is an anomoly that most of the music listening population can't understand.

In the Rock world, The Police burned out ('Synchronicity' sucked). Van Halen burned out... their last good album being 'Fair Warning'. Led Zeppelin really never burned out, but most Pop, R&B, and Rock artists and bands have.

Prince is an anomoly in many ways, but perhaps his longevity and his deep well of creativity and continued levels of skill and talent make him truly one of a kind.

~G

.

[Edited 11/1/12 17:15pm]

Giovanni777 said:

I'm very much in aggreeance with most of what you posted, especially the bolded parts.

I've been posting regularly on this site about how strong Prince's material has been in the 21st Century, and I even stated that the 'Lotusflow3r' album easily stands next to (and in many ways crushes) any album he's ever released.

This mostly falls upon deaf ears and blind eyes though, because the majority of folks on this site will simply refuse to listen with a fresh, current perspective, and instead, feel that they must compare present and past. They are so attached to the past, that they can't hear the brilliance going on today.

I've been a Prince fan longer than most on this site, and I grew up with that wonderful music of the past. It was unprecedented and fresh and inspiring. But as a musician with keen ears and an open mind, I enjoy hearing new material from the mind and soul of this amazing human being, and works like 'The Rainbow Children' and 'Lotusflow3r' are inarguably brilliant, refreshing, and very musical.

This common perception here that Prince has "lost it" could be because of conditioning of sorts. In popular music history, it is very common for an artist/band to "burn out"... Prince is an anomoly that most of the music listening population can't understand.

In the Rock world, The Police burned out ('Synchronicity' sucked). Van Halen burned out... their last good album being 'Women and Children First'. Led Zeppelin really never burned out, but most Pop, R&B, and Rock artists and bands have.

Prince is an anomoly in many ways, but perhaps his longevity and his deep well of creativity and continued levels of skill and talent make him truly one of a kind.

~G

Amen!

12 years is that all?

rdhull said:

12 years is that all?

I'm not quite sure if I understand your question, whether or not you are being sarcastic or not. My focus on the past twelve years is because that's where it seems the most criticism of Prince's work has been by most on this cite. But, I thought that my post made it clear that I've been a Prince fan for years, since the early eighties, 1980 to be exact. I like For You and Prince, but "Party Up," as I stated in the post, and Dirty Mind made me a Prince fan. So, I don't really know if you are questioning if I've only been a fan for twelve years or if you are being sarcastic, and, of course, the point of sarcasm would be if I don't get it.

i like a lot of his recent output. the last few months i've been revisiting his post 2000

output and am quite amazed at how many songs i consider 'essential prince'.

however

"i wonder u" alone is worth a dozen musicology's and planet earth's imo.

IstenSzek said:

i like a lot of his recent output. the last few months i've been revisiting his post 2000

output and am quite amazed at how many songs i consider 'essential prince'.

however

"i wonder u" alone is worth a dozen musicology's and planet earth's imo.

The cool thing is that we can find space to agree and disagree. So, I, of course, agree with your first statement about how there are some songs post 2000 that are "essential" to the Prince catalogue. And we can disagree on "I Wonder U" because if "I Wonder U" were currency it would take a million of it to equate to ten cents of America currency. And with the state of the American dollar, you know that's bad.:^)

IstenSzek said:

"i wonder u" alone is worth a dozen musicology's and planet earth's imo.

yup .. life can be so nice is one of my faves too ..

I've never had a problem with Prince's lyrics [for the most part @ least ].....the music is my problem with him now days. I miss the playful aggressiveness of his old stuff. I also miss the melodies too. A lot of what he did back in the day was just far more exciting then what he does now. I believe most of us that complain really miss the excitement his 80's music brought [hence what makes the old outtake bootlegs so dope to listen too]. "RnR Affair" is just okay to me from a music angle, but I do like the lyrics . I just wish he was still delivering that creative off-kilter exciting music that would come out of nowhere. A lot of what he does now days [& for the past decade] has been too formulaic for my liking.....

Tittypants said:

I've never had a problem with Prince's lyrics [for the most part @ least ].....the music is my problem with him now days. I miss the playful aggressiveness of his old stuff. I also miss the melodies too. A lot of what he did back in the day was just far more exciting then what he does now. I believe most of us that complain really miss the excitement his 80's music brought [hence what makes the old outtake bootlegs so dope to listen too]. "RnR Affair" is just okay to me from a music angle, but I do like the lyrics . I just wish he was still delivering that creative off-kilter exciting music that would come out of nowhere. A lot of what he does now days [& for the past decade] has been too formulaic for my liking.....

I hear and respect what you are saying, but I don't hear formula when I listen to Prince's work of this past decade. Especially the songs that I listed, I hear a man who is still as passionate and electrifying as ever. He may be passionate about different things, but I still hear his passion and excitement in the guitar licks, bass thumps, piano runs, and vocal moans, growls, and screams. And clearly you are hearing something in those unreleased studio bootlegs that I have never heard, at least in about seventy-five percent of them. Most of that stuff sounds like knockoffs of songs that actually made the album or a B-side.

1725topp said:

First, things first: most of Prince’s studio bootlegs written from 1977 to 1990 suck; I mean they
are straight garbage.

That's where I stopped reading, and I will ignore everything you'll ever say on here from now on. Ridiculous.

Since we're stating opinions I'll just say that I consider "Rock'n'Roll Love Affair" to be comparable to some of the outtakes and B-sides from the 1990s. Stylistically and qualitywise I could compare it to something like "Play" (a.k.a. "Come Outside and Play"). Meaning he could do a whole lot better.

I suppose the statements about Prince's 80s bootleg catalog about being not very good is starting to be truthful in an increasing manner as more and more of those songs have been released officially in one form or another (either on Crystal Ball, via NPGMC, as the more recent remakes, rehearsal recordings etc.). But to say that the tracks that have circulated as bootlegs and that he didn't put on the albums during the 1980s "are mostly" garbage is something that I can't take seriously either.

I've been wondering if the orgers that say these things just got the bootlegs downloaded all at once (e.g. The Work -compilations) and there was just too much stuff to be digested. A bit like how some individuals never gave Emancipation or Crystal Ball a chance.

[Edited 11/2/12 2:49am]

I really dislike the song,

it's NOT that kind of Prince songs I like..

it reminds me of a weak version of "Cream" or another "country-light" song: "The One U Wanna C".

Not funky at all,

IF Prince is trying to do a "pop song" with "R & R L A" -- then where's the melody..

3 1/2 years of hope and 8 1/2 years of mediocrity

i only discovered prince 5yrs ago & i loved all recent albums.. with the exception of the one off singles. they are all naff including R & R love affair! the lyrics make me smile but the country vibe is cheezy & far from rock & roll.

also his yellow trousers are NOT rock & roll & i wouldn't want to be seen dead with him in those let alone have an kind of love affair, plus they are killing my libido

1725topp said:

I cannot seem to stop listening to “RocknRoll Love Affair.” Whether it is the studio version or the live version on Jimmy Kimmel, I love it. It is good ole’ American RocknRoll, which really means RocknSoul, and if it were performed by Charlie Pride or some white artist it would be a big Country hit. Yet, ultimately, “RocknRoll Love Affair” cements for me that Prince is still a great song writer and performer. He is still blending musical categories like no one else. Musically, “RocknRoll Love Affair” is damn near everything American, except jazz. Additionally, his lyrics are still fun and creative: “He said, ‘My faith keeps me from being willing, but you know that I’m able. If there’s some room, I’d like to sit at your table.’” Of course the line is self-referential, alluding to “Willing and Able,” but it is also metatextual because it echoes Prince’s long time theme of struggling with, balancing, and paralleling the physical and the metaphysical. Both the male and the female are looking for something, on a journey to find something. Hers seems to be more physical while his seems to be more metaphysical. “He learned the meaning of grace; that’s when his cup overflowed.” Prince still compacts more into his lyrics than most. So the fact that the male is “able” to physically satisfy her but not necessarily “willing” is a really great/economical manner to symbolize that his search is for more than the immediate physical, which also works to intensify the importance of the metaphysical by connecting it to physical desire, thus making the reward or treasure of the metaphysical equally if not more rewarding than the orgasm. Thus, this is just a well written and well delivered song. In fact, “RocknRoll Love Affair” and a number of songs from 2000 to now crush a good number of songs written by Prince during the eighties.

*

First, things first: most of Prince’s studio bootlegs written from 1977 to 1990 suck; I mean they
are straight garbage. So, whenever I hear someone say that they became a Prince fan because of these or that they remain a Prince fan solely or mostly for these bootleg “gems,” I can only laugh and thank God that I don’t have an STD of the ears. For seventy-five percent of the studio bootlegs that I’ve heard, my reaction is “I understand why it was and still is unreleased. Whoever leaked it should be choked until their eyes close.”

*

Secondly, “RocknRoll Love Affair,” “Colonized Mind,” “Musicology,” “Guitar,” “Fury,” “Dance 4 Me,” “Ole Skool Company,” “The Work,” “The Everlasting Now,” “Muse to the Pharaoh,” “She Loves Me 4 Me,” “1+1+1=3,” “Family Name,” “Cause and Effect,” “Future Soul Song,” “Sticky Like Glue,” and “Laydown” are far superior to and crush songs like “Take Me w/U,” “Baby, I’m a Star,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “I Wonder U,” “Life Can Be So Nice,” and the vast majority of those so-called unreleased bootleg “gems,” which are all good songs but not in the league of those post 1999 songs that I have mentioned. In fact, the only thing I like about “Take Me w/U,” “Baby, I’m a Star,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and “Life Can Be So Nice” is Prince’s live performance of them. There is nothing I like about “I Wonder U,” except that it ends quickly. And listening to it performed live during the Parade Tour was the most agonizing five minutes of my life. My point is that clearly Prince is still capable of writing songs that surpass what he has done in the past.

*

And, I must add that while I do think that “Colonized Mind” is a rip-off of “Quit It,” it is still one of the funkiest, most passionate, and electrifying songs that he has ever done. And since “Party Up,” a song written by Morris Day, is the song that made me a Prince fan, I don’t mind that “Colonized Mind” was written by someone else, especially since Prince’s interpretation of the song is, again, so much more funky, passionate, and electrifying.

*

So, I am loving “RocknRoll Love Affair.” Like I said, I can’t stop playing it, but I’m not surprised. I have loved Prince’s growth as a songwriter and performer over the past twelve years. And while I can’t fathom why someone who calls themselves a Prince fan wouldn’t like it, to each his own. But, man am I glad I have this jam!

I dont completely agree with some of the songs you've slagged off BUT its nice to see someone with an alternative view on here and someone who sees the brilliance of his music since 2000.

Certainly makes a change from "whine whine whine whers my Purple Rain 2" or "I'm a massive Prince fan but I come on here everyday to tell you all how shit he is"

excited said:

i only discovered prince 5yrs ago & i loved all recent albums.. with the exception of the one off singles. they are all naff including R & R love affair! the lyrics make me smile but the country vibe is cheezy & far from rock & roll.

also his yellow trousers are NOT rock & roll & i wouldn't want to be seen dead with him in those let alone have an kind of love affair, plus they are killing my libido

I hope you don't think this is the first time Prince has worn colorful pants.

Have you seen the infamous assless pants? They were yellow and his ass was showing through a layer of pantyhose type fabric.

novabrkr said:

excited said:

i only discovered prince 5yrs ago & i loved all recent albums.. with the exception of the one off singles. they are all naff including R & R love affair! the lyrics make me smile but the country vibe is cheezy & far from rock & roll.

also his yellow trousers are NOT rock & roll & i wouldn't want to be seen dead with him in those let alone have an kind of love affair, plus they are killing my libido

I hope you don't think this is the first time Prince has worn colorful pants.

Have you seen the infamous assless pants? They were yellow and his ass was showing through a layer of pantyhose type fabric.

but the arseless ones were at least lacey & were an attempt at erotic styling! he WORE those bastards!!

[Edited 11/2/12 3:31am]

IstenSzek said:

"i wonder u" alone is worth a dozen musicology's and planet earth's imo.

ludwig said:

PurpleSullivan said:

novabrkr said:

Since we're stating opinions I'll just say that I consider "Rock'n'Roll Love Affair" to be comparable to some of the outtakes and B-sides from the 1990s. Stylistically and qualitywise I could compare it to something like "Play" (a.k.a. "Come Outside and Play"). Meaning he could do a whole lot better.

I suppose the statements about Prince's 80s bootleg catalog about being not very good is starting to be truthful in an increasing manner as more and more of those songs have been released officially in one form or another (either on Crystal Ball, via NPGMC, as the more recent remakes, rehearsal recordings etc.). But to say that the tracks that have circulated as bootlegs and that he didn't put on the albums during the 1980s "are mostly" garbage is something that I can't take seriously either.

I've been wondering if the orgers that say these things just got the bootlegs downloaded all at once (e.g. The Work -compilations) and there was just too much stuff to be digested. A bit like how some individuals never gave Emancipation or Crystal Ball a chance.

[Edited 11/2/12 2:49am]

On a site that is mostly filled with people's opinions, do you really have to say, "Since we're stating opinions"? And, as to my statement about the vast majority of the unreleased studio bootlegs, what makes your opinion of them more valid than mine? I've been a Prince fan since 1980. I started collecting bootlegs in 1989 so no, The Work compilations was not my intro into collecting. Please, I have forgotten more about colleting Prince material than many on this site have ever known. And for my tastes, the vast majority of unreleased studio bootlegs of the eighties and beyond are weak, stale, copies of what was released, and those songs, along with some of the released songs, pale in comparison to songs that Prince has released since 2000, since we're stating opinions. Additionally, I love Emancipation and rate Crystal Ball as a (B-) so i don't fit into that category either.

ludwig said:

1725topp said:

First, things first: most of Prince’s studio bootlegs written from 1977 to 1990 suck; I mean they
are straight garbage.

That's where I stopped reading, and I will ignore everything you'll ever say on here from now on. Ridiculous.

Good. I don't like having to waste my time explaning things for people who ride the short bus to school.

TheEnglishGent said:

PurpleSullivan said:

Not for me. I wonder pooh is more like it:)

Amen!

Prince already surpassed his past...this is not a shining example.

luvsexy4all said:

Prince already surpassed his past...this is not a shining example.

It's glowing pretty brightly for me. In fact, let me put on my shades while I give it another listen.

1725topp said:

On a site that is mostly filled with people's opinions, do you really have to say, "Since we're stating opinions"?

No, you do not really have to say that.

I just wanted to make it clear that I consider "Rock'n'Roll Love Affair" to be somewhat reminiscent of some of the work Prince did in the early-90s, but I am aware that many people would not hear it that way.

Probably not the answer you were looking for, but that's what you get for ending a sentence with a question mark.

1725topp said:

[...] to my statement about the vast majority of the unreleased studio bootlegs, what makes your opinion of them more valid than mine?

Opinions aren't really valid or invalid. You probably mean "valuable".

I've commented on this site before that I don't take seriously comments that describe a body of work from a long period of time in unreasonably negative terms (such as simply deeming it all "garbage" or "shit"). To me this implies strongly that the person making such comments has a personal need to divide Prince's work into "good" and "bad" by some arbitrary criteria and isn't willing to judge each piece individually. Given that your view on Prince's outtake material isn't what most fans share that probably applies to you.

To put it in friendlier terms: you don't need to slag off one part of Prince's musical legacy in order to defend another part of it. That's completely unnecessary. Not everyone on this site thinks the output from the past 12 years is bad. I think it's mostly good or at least as good as most of the outtakes from the 80s period (if not as good as the album stuff from the 80s).