I just had to say that. OMG. What a brilliant piece of work. Why this hasn't yet been released, I will never understand.


MOONBEAM LEVELS


Yesterday I tried 2 write a novel
but I didn't know where 2 begin
So I laid down in the grass
trying 2 feel the world turn
Boy loses girl in a rain storm,
nuclear World War III
All that's left is pain and sorrow,
as far as he's concerned

He says “Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die”

Maybe he's lookin' 4 a different world
Maybe he's lookin' 4 a brand new high
Maybe he would like a nice condo
overlooking the rings of Saturn
Maybe he wants affection instead of a plastic life
Maybe he doesn't know what he wants at all

He says “Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die”

A newborn child knows nothing of destruction
Nothing of love and hate
What happens in between is a mystery
Because we don't give a damn about his fate

He said he'll never keep diaries
2 learn from his mistakes
Instead he'll just repeat
all the good things that he's done
Fight 4 perfect love until
it's perfect love he makes
When he's happy then his battle will be won (It's never 2 late)

Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
(Send your.. send 2 me)
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
(Send your levels 2 me)
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
(Sending me your.. send 2 me)
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die (Better place 2 die)

Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me (Oh yeah!)
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me {x2}
He don't, he don't, he don't really wanna die
He don't wanna, he don't wanna, he don't wanna die {x2}
He don't really wanna die

i know. tragic the way it just rots away in the vault

Thats a very lovely song...

I just wanna say "im saturn and I do have alot of rings..literally, but..I dont think a CONDO will fit on me anywhere..."

THAT is a nice song...
I dont keep diaries either ...becuz PEOPLE ARE justplain NOSY.

Thank U
gnisaim.

I love this song! This was the first outtake I ever heard.

TipN4U said:

AaronFantastic said:

AARON if U ever get a brain "send me an invitation to it" KAY?

Thanks.
SingMia

never heard this one.

wonder if it will live up2 its hype,

dig that Jam.

TipN4U said:

i've got some to spare. you definitely need it. will fedex do?

I'm not catching what's so great about this song. Maybe someday I'll understand. But it's no "All My Dreams" or "Wonderful Ass"

I would be satisfied if this was the only song that Prince ever released from the Vault. Just look at how heart-felt those lyrics are! The desperate plea for "moonbeam levels," the disillusioned reaction to the world (World War III, pain and sorrow) and the glimmer of hope at the end ("he don't really wanna die") really tie it to "Anna Stesia" to me, where Prince finds that his solace is God.

Moonbeam said:

yup - great analysis. One of these days we'll have all of these tracks issued, and when it happens the first one i listen to will be Moonbeam Levels.

JonSnow said:

I'm hoping that someday Prince will release remastered versions of all of his albums with bonus tracks. Could you imagine "1999" with "Moonbeam Levels" as a bonus track?

Moonbeam said:

It'll happen, eventually. So many lesser artists are getting releases remastered and bonus tracks added...

Moonbeam Levels to me doesn't fit into 1999, though... maybe that's why it was left off the album. I think it would have been a great one-off single at the time.. maybe backed with Extra Loveable.

Or, how's this for a 1983 EP:

1. moonbeam levels
2. lust u always

3. extra lovable
4. purple music

JonSnow said:

I think it fits well with the themes of the end of the world and other sci-fi themes. Musically, it is a bit warm in comparison to the rest of the album, which is probably why it was left off. I'm perfectly content with "1999" the way it is, but I wouldn't complain if "Moonbeam Levels" and those other tracks you mentioned (among others) were put on a bonus disc.

actually, for 1999 I've always wished that shorter versions of DMSR, Let's Pretend We're Married and Automatic had been used... then ExtraLovable and Moonbeam Levels, and maybe one more track, might have fit onto 1999.

oh well. with prince, there are so many revisionist history possibilities

From an earlier post:

My 1,999th post

What else can I do with this, my 1,999th post, other than to dedicate it to my favorite album, "1999!" There has been a lot of discussion recently about this album, whether it defines Prince and whether its unique facets are strengths or weaknesses.

This album and I have had a long history. One of the first Prince songs (if not THE first) that I knew was "1999." It quickly became my favorite song of his. I was probably 10 or so by the time that I gained enough interest to sneak money to my brother (TRON) to buy me the tape outside of the wary guise of my mother, who would have had a conniption upon discovering that I owned an album by PRINCE. Soon thereafter, my brother, being the good brother that he is, exposed me to more of Prince's music. Regardless, "1999" remained my favorite to this day, for its quirkiness and its style.

Why do I hold such a dear place in my heart for "1999?" First, it defines me musically more than any other album. Its undeniably sassy and confident funk flows freely through my insatiable ears. Its synth/new wave also suits me well, as that genre is arguably my favorite. Stylistically then, the combination of funk and synth appeals to me greatly.

I also love the album for what it represents. "1999" is one of the most adventurous albums I have heard. Its 11 songs sprawl across many feelings and emotions with a confident swagger. However, as has been mentioned, this album breaks the format of the traditional 3 to 4 minute pop song. As his first double LP, "1999" is furthermore a bold move as it implies that Prince was important enough to merit double the attention of the general audience. Having not had overwhelming success, this is quite a statement. And the music lives up to the pretensions.

Each song on the album is crafted with a keen sense of style and substance. Even the more mainstream songs carry a deeper meaning under the surface. The title track, for example, not only clamors for a gigantic party (and what a funky party at that!), but carries an undertone of an impending sense of doom and the need to be prepared for the worst. "Little Red Corvette" also proved to be commercial fodder, but its message of the triumph of love over lust indicates that this is a Prince who has matured to some degree. "Delirious" continues the car theme present in LRC and explores the effects of the suffocating beauty of a woman.

The format of the album also is quite intriguing. Craftily placing the smash singles at the beginning of the album, "1999" then meanders into deeper, darker, and more experimental territory. "Let's Pretend We're Married" has been described by some as the dirtiest song on a top 10 album. The juxtaposition of the messages of infidelity and obedience to God is just one paradox in an album filled with many. "DMSR" evolved into a sort of motto for Prince. Its line "I don't care to win awards...all I wanna do is dance, dance music sex romance..." is exemplary of Prince's attitude at the time. "Automatic" follows with its sonic ecstasy superimposed over dark messages of bondage and torture. Its 9 minutes are a voyage into seemingly uncharted territory.

What follows may be the best track on the album, "Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)." A turbulent drum line opens the song and sets the stage for the uneasiness that follows with the lyrics. Obviously broken-hearted, Prince struggles to find an explanation for the substandard treatment he receives from the women he loves. Cleverly incorporating alliteration in its scheme, lyrically the song is quite impressive. The song, like its composer, seems to be tearing apart at its seams- at once maintaining the turbulent, robotic synths and drums while the emotion beings to overflow with an almost psychotic zest.

"Free" offers a prelude to what would come in Prince's career with the massive anthemic success of "Purple Rain." "Lady Cab Driver" funks like no other and features Prince exorcising the demons of his insecurities while having intercourse with his female chauffer. At once vulnerable and needy, Prince confides his fears and doubts in her, forming a bond consummated by passionate sex. Although undeniably funky, it is only a precursor to what is perhaps the funkiest song of Prince's career- "All the Critics Love U in New York." Exuding great confidence, Prince realizes that he is the "it" artist of the time and takes the opportunity to take a swipe at his critics and admirers alike. The funk effervesces throughout the entire song, wading into experimental territory. It is undeniably singular in its kind and stands out as one of the most memorable moments on not only the album, but of his career.

The album closes with "International Lover," an appropriate ending track to this voyage through the dark realms of electronic funk. Sassy and strident, the song obviously gave Prince a chance to appeal to his fans who found him sexy. Thus concludes what I believe to be a masterpiece.

This album has never ceased to entertain and surprise me. All the tracks have overwhelmed me at some point and continue to duke it out for the lofty spot of my favorite on the album. This album has taught me a lot about music and my own style. I adore it thoroughly.

How could you be satisfied with only one more song released from the vault. Deep down, don't you really want it all? I do.

TipN4U said:

lolololololololololololololololololololololololololololololo lololololololololololololololololololololololoololololololololol

TRON said:

i can't argue with that

Moonbeam said:

That would be perfect...

Joshy84au said:

indeed it does.

TRON said:

I would be ecstatic if he released everything. I would be satisfied if he only released "Moonbeam Levels." Really.

Moonbeam said:

Yes!

Moonbeam Levels is great.I seriously listen to it every single day.It is so atmospheric.It touches something in me I cannot explain.I hope it isn't released to the masses unless it's in a very limited way.I don't think most people could appreciate it and it is too right to be wronged.

AaronFantastic said:

READ IT AGAIN AARON "PUT SOME GLASSES ON yo eyes.
I SAID:and let me repeat this ONE time for ya...
"IF U EVER GET A BRAIN"...send ME an INVITATION TO IT"!
I never indicated U had one...however,
FED EX is too dang expensive for such a LIGHT package...
So let's remain polite and U CAN "PIGEON COURIER" it 2 me...if THE BIRD dont drop it FIRST...
THANK U
Forever "some kind of something"
SingMia
here birdie birdie birdie I got some BIRD FEED for ya...to PICK ON.

i agree w/ what u said about the 1999 album. Some part of me will always wish though that a couple of the songs were shorter, to allow Moonbeam Levels to be included. But then again it's hard to mess with perfection.

What a thrill it was for me as a kid to listen to 1999, the album. I remember it clearly - in my bedroom, afraid my parents would find out what i was listening to. Let's Pretend We're Married... wow. ! ! !

IAM said:

I never heard it either but the words...say enuff for it to be incredibly "lovely" as previously indicated above with out Mr. Hammer on the head icon going at it...
THANK U.

LOL
SingMia