I love this track even more than I did when I first heard it.

I remember first hearing it, streaming real audio, and being blown away - In the midst of New Power Soul came this glimmer of hope that Prince was in there somewhere, willing to take chances in music again.

I think The War was a fore-runner to TRC - with it's organic sound, the guitar work and of course the political/socialogical/spiritual lyrics.

I used to joke with friends about the microchip in the neck stuff, but it's been around for years now.

Prince may be a goofball some of the times, but he's obviously a well read man - and some of the stuff in this song is spot on.

He's not prophetic, just well read.

I don't listen to it that often, and don't really know why. I like it!

MiaBocca said:

I agree points to TRC. I thought that too listening to it for only the 2nd or third time last week. I really like it but it is like fine wine to be used sparingly. It's kinda of trance inducing. Kind of science fiction sounding like the song TRC.

Ahhh...The War...
That is a motivating song to me...
Reminds me of why I am growing a garden...

It's a great track. Very errie and disturbing, yet captivating.

I love it and yes, it does seem like a pre-cursor to 'TRC'. I'd happily have an album full of material like 'The War' anyday.

I wonder if there is a vaulted studio version or any other similar material that he recorded at the same time?

"THE WAR", now that song makes me think. Most of Prince's music just makes me wet.

I still don't get why I'm going to need a chocolate microchip in my neck...

I don't he said "chocolate microchip" ?

I have the strangest story in regards to The War.

I dreamt that there was a war, and that we were all living underground. It was an eerie, scary and very intense dream.

I woke up on a sunny morning and went to my mailbox. Without any idea that it was coming, I found the tape of The War, and it described the dream I had probably just finished, perfecly.

That connection has really boosted my connection and feeling with the song, and I've always treasured it highly.

teller said:

I think he is trying to say that being chipped will be like a "sweet" temptation. Do you stay on top of the chip and await your faith? Or do you love your government/country instead of God. Problem is that many love both and America is suposedly one nation under God.

Do you suppose this track is related in some way to the Digital Garden concept from TRC?

this is Prince's Take on Gil Scott Heron's "The Revolution will not be telivised" IMHO.He is going in that direction with this Song or at least trying to.interesting elements in this Song.

As someone who values peace and opposes war, I find it ironic that I absolutely love 'The War' and hate 'Peace' -

I ain't taking no damn chip!

Spot on, Mistermaxx - everyone should check out Gil Scott Heron's "The Revolution Will Not Be Televised" - inspiring stuff!

What's the background to it? Is Prince improvising the lyrics?

i ain't even heard it yet
did u say it was on NPS?

"The evolution will be colorized..."

super-tiresome 2 listen 2, after a bit...

I also was thinking that the war was very close to TRC, but maybe more coherent and less funky. As if P was smoking when writing it ;oP

teller said:

The lyrics of the War have a lot do (I think) with the whole TRC album.

It sounds to me like Prince has been reading David Icke.

The guitarsolo sounds brontosaural. I love that. The lyrics
are pretty goofy but in the context of the song they work
really well.

I'm a bit surprised that of all the times people start a
threat about this song, no one ever mentions the last 3
minutes and that amazing drum/percussion solo.

Sometimes I just ffwrd the whole song just to listen to
those last few minutes with the drumming and then the
outro with the people chanting "1, 2, the revolution...".

Always makes me wonder what on earth NPS could have been
like when compiled of some other work recorded in 1998.

IstenSzek said:

'Newpower Soul' definitely had its moments.

For such a much-maligned album it does contain some killer tracks, namely 'Come On' and 'The One'. Check out their respective mixes too.

.

giotto said:

Oh, I know that. I would even go as far as to include
"Mad Sex" with the great tunes. I listened to that in
my car about 500 times this week. I just love the vox
on that one.

So yes, there surely about 4 or 5 fantastic songs on
there. But with trax like "Breathe" and "The War" or
even "S&M Groove" or "Madrid 2 Chicago" added to it,
it would have had an entirely different atmosphere.

Than again, it might not have worked at all. At least
the way it is, NPS is a nice partyfunk album. Just a
bit of a hoot and a laugh.

But that's why we're Prince fans, we always want what
we didn't get.

giotto said:

There's a remix of The One? Why?!

i remember hangin out at paisley the night "the war" was recorded! i'm glad he edited it down to 25 minutes for the release. 45 minutes of this jam made me have to find a spot to sit down.

teller said:

It was on the Come On maxi-single available from 1800NF (not the retail version, this track was the only difference I think).

The composition is amazing..

Didn't this win the Yahoo internet download award

Savannah said:

Yeah it did. Prince made a speech about using computers "but don't let them use you"

He presented an award to Public Enemy.

Flavor Flav was shouting "I wanna give a hug to my mutherfucker Prince"

I think Prince was laughing at the cursing.

Prince ?

well-read ?

hahaha

that IS funny.

probably read one biased opinionated 3 paragraph article on a plane to somewhere, took it to be truth and wrote some crappy lyrics about it.

yeah

well read.


LOL