In the book Prince written by Matt Thorne, he writes that "Poor Little Bastard" is the worst song Prince ever recorded. What do you guys think? I know it's not great, but if you walked into a room and this was playing, would you be repulsed? I wouldn't be. Sounds like it might even fit on the Symbol album. But he recorded it for a movie and not for one of his albums so I give him a pass on it.

I can think of other songs deserving of "worst Prince song ever" like "Martika's Kithchen" or "Jughead."

Is Matt Thorne correct and is "Poor Little Bastard" the worst Prince song ever? If not, what is?

he obviously hasn't heard newpowersoul or 20ten

Maybe Matt was turned off that a song as pretty and classy as that is called Poor Little Bastard. It is kind of a gross title for a song that's trying to sound like a standard. Come to think of it, he kind of did the same thing with Damn U. I wonder why he was so interested in making standards with crass titles. At least Poor Little Bastard has a bit of a story to it. Damn U just kind of goes nowhwere and doesn't say a whole lot.

unique said:

he obviously hasn't heard newpowersoul or 20ten

You don't like "Wasted Kisses"?

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Maybe Matt was turned off that a song as pretty and classy as that is called Poor Little Bastard. It is kind of a gross title for a song that's trying to sound like a standard. Come to think of it, he kind of did the same thing with Damn U. I wonder why he was so interested in making standards with crass titles. At least Poor Little Bastard has a bit of a story to it. Damn U just kind of goes nowhwere and doesn't say a whole lot.

Yes, "Damn U" is it I was hearing for the Symbol album. Maybe he took "Poor Little Bastard" and cannabalized it into "Damn U'. Good call, Schlomo (btw, what's the story behind that name? and is that Elvis whom I also love very much?)

Lemon Crush

violectrica said:

Lemon Crush

Right. Almost as bad as REM's "Orange Crush." Play them back to back all night and I'd hang myself. (although I did go to UGA so I have to be an REM fan, but not that song.)

[Edited 4/24/13 23:17pm]

Subjective opinion

that is all.

muirdo said:

Subjective opinion

that is all.

You a White Stripes fan? I love the White Stripes!!!! I love Prince's guitar playing, but I would love
him to do some Jack White type playing just for the hell of it. What if Prince would do Jolene and scream and wrack the guitar like Jack does? I would lose my mind. But you're right, it's all subjective.

8up said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Maybe Matt was turned off that a song as pretty and classy as that is called Poor Little Bastard. It is kind of a gross title for a song that's trying to sound like a standard. Come to think of it, he kind of did the same thing with Damn U. I wonder why he was so interested in making standards with crass titles. At least Poor Little Bastard has a bit of a story to it. Damn U just kind of goes nowhwere and doesn't say a whole lot.

Yes, "Damn U" is it I was hearing for the Symbol album. Maybe he took "Poor Little Bastard" and cannabalized it into "Damn U'. Good call, Schlomo (btw, what's the story behind that name? and is that Elvis whom I also love very much?)

And there's yet another unreleased song from that era which is in the same style like damn u. I just can't remember the name right now.

I like poor little bastard. He's done much worse songs in the 90ies, like "my name is prince". I hate this song with a passion.

*edit*: I browsed princevault and found the song's name: "Hold me" (the version with prince's vocals)

http://www.princevault.com/index.php/Hold_Me

[Edited 4/25/13 6:33am]

What a stupid comment to make, totally disagree with him. I wish some of these biographers would stop offering their irrelevant and totally subjective opinions as musical fact.

I was debating whether to buy his biog, now I know I probably won't!!!

I actually think it is one of his best outtakes for the main reason that it is sung from the heart. He really means what he is singing, the lyrics are apt and his voice and the strings move you to emotion.

I like it when he deals with real life events and social issues (such as The Voice / Money Don't Matter 2 Night), those songs are his strength IMO compared to a lot of the trivia and bragging in later albums such as NPS/Rave.

An excellent, beautiful tune, very moving when he sings "i'll be your papa now"...

[Edited 4/26/13 9:31am]

it is a poor song but i doubt prince thinks much of it either so ....

Who is Matt Thorne????????

8up said:

unique said:

he obviously hasn't heard newpowersoul or 20ten

too me there isn't a single song on newpowersoul thats worth of that honor as the worst prince song of all time. Infact i like that album. Maybe the man hasn't heard rave,20ten, or mpls lol. or purple and gold.

I'm still reading the Matt Thorne book, got it for Christmas - the period from Dirty Mind to 1999 is a complete void. May get back to it later.

Also, he described "Billy" as some stoner rock thing - i thought that involved downtuning meself, unless being stoned equates to forgetting you've left the drum oven on - and if this "Poor Little Bastard" sounds like "Damn U" then you've got to admire the guy's sense of humour at least.

Touts ets les bastardos miserableis! A cochon meh.

Lion of Judah?

Da Da Daa is the worse by far

the Graffiti Bridge title track, imo..

kpowers said:

Who is Matt Thorne????????

He's the worst author on Prince ever.

No, that would be "Purple & Gold"

[Edited 5/3/13 5:02am]

violectrica said:

Lemon Crush

Wow, I love that song. The way he layers vocals and uses them rhythmically is stunning. It's a far more engaging track than most of his "hits".

[Edited 5/3/13 9:27am]

Marrk said:

kpowers said:

Who is Matt Thorne????????

He's the worst author on Prince ever.