The latter replaced the former for inclusion on 1999. do you think this was a good choice? They're similar in composition, but which is the superior track? And why?

Both songs are amazing. Free is more accessible for the pop market, and perhaps that's why it was chosen. That said, Moonbeam Levels could have easily replaced a number of lesser tracks on that album e.g. International Lover.

In terms of which is superior, I can't help but be broken by those opening lines from Free. However, Moonbeam Levels cuts deeper lyrically.

Anji said:

It's interesting you'd say this. When I was a kid, I hated "Free" because I thought it had an almost gospel vibe. I only gained appreciation for it as a young adult.

I instantly fell for "Moonbeam Levels." But I do wonder if its stranger, more melancholy, lyrics would have been too big of an oddity for the general market.

But 1999 is full of strange, melancholy lyrics.

Anji said:

:pimpslap:

International Lover

Are you crazy? You don't get laid much do you

Anji said:

Hmmm... that's true. Yet Free, which isn't, works better. Why do you think that is?

chickengrease said:

:pimpslapthreetimes!:

"international lover"? lesser track???



now: "moonbeam" vs. "free"...well, "moonbeam" begat "free", so they're pretty much one in the same...

Lammastide said:

A balancing act. On one hand, you have commercial pop songs like 1999, Little Red Corvette and Delirious and then on the other hand, you have more obtuse songs like Something In The Water (Does Not Compute), Lady Cab Driver and All The Critics Love You In New York.

As much as I enjoy International Lover, it does not come close to Do Me, Baby in terms of sexiness. Regardless, as much as I do like International Lover, Moonbeam Levels seems a better song to me.

Personally speaking, I think there were too many long, drawn out funk jams on 1999. These could have easily been shortened to make way for Moonbeam Levels.

.
[This message was edited Tue Mar 18 18:49:01 PST 2003 by Anji]

Anji said:

...it's that last minute of "do me, baby", ain't it? it's always that last minute or so...

Moonbeam Levels.


the lyrics are more personal and profound. Free is a bunch of (sometimes embarrasing) feel-good political cliches strung together over some unimaginative production and playing.
[This message was edited Tue Mar 18 18:53:08 PST 2003 by AaronFantastic]

I love Moonbeam Levels, but I can't see it on 1999.
Would have made a great B-Side. I had no idea at the
time that Prince could stretch that far.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

It's the first minute, actually.

Anji said:

that, 2.

to me, Moonbeam Levels is a masterpiece, and Free is only an average Prince song.

That said: I would leave Free on 1999. It just seems to fit better. Maybe because it IS on 1999, and I can't imagine 1999 without it.

But Moonbeam Levels definitely deserved a release... maybe as a one-off single.

M
O
O
N
B
E
A
M


L
E
V
E
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S


Definitely!!!

There's joy in repetition...joy in repetition...joy in repetition...
How I love rehashed topics

Moonbeam levels seems a bit too ethereal for 1999.

Free fits just fine.

FREE...

I like "Moonbeam" better,
it is a deeper, more introspective song
I suppose it might have "fit in" with the other songs on 1999,

but I think "Free" worked well as a song on 1999


My favorite line from "Moonbeam" is:

"he says he'll never keep diaries to learn from his mistakes
instead he'll just repeat all the good things that he's done"

somehow, I really relate to that..

Moonbeam levels in a blow-out.Free is like a Reject Elton John Charity Song IMHO Compared to Moonbeam levels.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

This is your pilot Prince speaking...:pimpslapfo'times!:

FunkMistress said:

Do Me, Baby is sexier and funkier than International Lover.

'Moonbeam Levels' is in my opinion an unreleased classic. Prince's voice is hauntingly effective, the lyrics are beautifully introspective and the melody is sublime.

It's one of those songs that only Prince could have written. In some respects it is pure Prince. Suprising, moving and artistic.

Whether it should have replaced 'Free' or not is debateable, but I think it should have found it's way on the album somewhere. I'm aware that Prince was perhaps restricted in terms of space (on vinyl releases) but I would rather have had 'Moonbeam Levels' and lost out on 'Lets Pretend we're Married' or 'Automatic'.

However, '1999' is a great album. What is really required is a high quality, thoughtfully assembled vault collection, with all of these gems in re-mastered sound.

Am I the only one who thinks that "How Does It Feel" from D'Angelo is a follow-up 2 Free??

Man...I've never heard Moonbeam Levels!

oh, hmmm. the discussion seems to be which song should have gone on 1999. i say neither. Moonbeam levels doesn't fit, and i think Free sticks out like a sore thumb even more.


leave both off. save them both for b-sides. and use the extended Delirious and LRC instead of having a slow, boring track there in the middle of the album. :ducks: