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Thread started 04/26/15 10:37am

KingSausage

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Emancipation -- the peak of Prince's vocals?

I've been thinking about which Prince album has his strongest vocal performance. I think SOTT and Symbol are strong contenders, each with many different vocal styles and some amazing performances. But in my opinion, Emancipation might be Prince's vocal peak. It's far from my favorite Prince album due to the plastic production and relatively mundane songs (very little Princely inventiveness). But damn, it's full of great vocals. Anyone doubting that Prince is a great singer just needs to listen to Emancipation to be set straight.

What album do you think is Prince's vocal peak?
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #1 posted 04/26/15 10:58am

kenkamken

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Soul Sanctuary is a good support for your argument, and overall the rest of the album as well. The Love We Make, Saviour, Let's Have A Baby, some strong material he included on that album.

"So fierce U look 2night, the brightest star pales 2 Ur sex..."
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Reply #2 posted 04/26/15 11:08am

HatrinaHaterwi
tz

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I agree with you wholeheartedly. nod It's just too fucking bad that we can't post his music here for those that may not have heard it. Because "One Kiss At A Time", "Soul Sanctuary", "Let's Have A Baby", "Dreaming About U" and "Friend, Lover, Sister, Mother, Wife" - ALL - leaves no damn doubt about it! hammer

[Edited 4/26/15 11:12am]

I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart.
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Reply #3 posted 04/26/15 11:44am

CharismaDove

I think his falsetto got higher and smoother as the years went on (TMBGITW finale, anyone?)

Emancipation had great vocals, but I feel Prince's vocals in general improved in the 90s. He had an amazing voice in the 80s and kills most of the tracks, but I feel like after Purple Rain, he stopped paying as much attention to vocals. If you notice, on songs like ATWIAD, Paisley Park, New Position, most of SOTT, etc, his voice was still really good but much less produced.. to me, it started sounding more raw and natural, nasal.. Which is still pretty cool, but I noticed it most on SOTT that he became very minimalistic when it came to vocal effects. They almost seemed like a '1 take, that's it' kind of thing. His voice quivered a lot in some ATWIAD tracks.

On albums like Diamonds and Pearls + Symbol, I think his voice sounds much richer, warmer, and louder. His vocal performances on Diamonds and Pearls and such. Everytime I listen to Symbol I notice how well-produced and smooth his voice sounds overall. Both vocal styles are great. But when I listen to his 90s albums from 91-96, there's a difference than the 85-87 work.

EDIT: for some reason, his vocals on SOTT and his vocals on the 87 tour seemed so different.. I prefer the tour's more powerful voice than the album's,

[Edited 4/26/15 11:46am]

Maybe eye do, just not like eye did before pimp2
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Reply #4 posted 04/26/15 11:51am

Billmenever

kenkamken said:

Soul Sanctuary is a good support for your argument, and overall the rest of the album as well. The Love We Make, Saviour, Let's Have A Baby, some strong material he included on that album.

:Tinkerbell: yes Dreaming About You batting eyes

Although 3121 sounds mighty nice too kfc

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Reply #5 posted 04/26/15 11:52am

Billmenever

Billmenever said:

kenkamken said:

Soul Sanctuary is a good support for your argument, and overall the rest of the album as well. The Love We Make, Saviour, Let's Have A Baby, some strong material he included on that album.

tinkerbell yes Dreaming About You batting eyes

Although 3121 sounds mighty nice too kfc

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Reply #6 posted 04/26/15 2:04pm

HatrinaHaterwi
tz

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Oh...

I knew from the start that I loved you with all my heart.
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Reply #7 posted 04/26/15 3:44pm

thebanishedone

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Prince vocal peak was during the 1999 tour
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Reply #8 posted 04/26/15 4:38pm

warning2all

"Betcha By Golly Wow" has some nice vocal moments, as does "The Love We Make".

I think his vocals & guitar work have gotten better over time, ironically as the songwriting has diminished
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Reply #9 posted 04/26/15 6:25pm

controversy99

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Mmmm, not sure if I agree with this argument. Purple Rain album has friggin great vocals. Prince's most interesting and powerful vocals are the screams and falsetto balads. 1999 and Purlple Rain albums have the best screams with honorable mention to Do Me Baby and Insatiable. But of his post-PR albums, Emancipation might have the best vocals, that and Diamonds and Pearls.
"Love & honesty, peace & harmony"
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Reply #10 posted 04/26/15 7:54pm

Lette

Man the high notes he hits on "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" are so awesome! I get chills every time haha

[Edited 4/26/15 19:55pm]

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Reply #11 posted 04/26/15 7:59pm

feeluupp

THE ONE

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Reply #12 posted 04/26/15 11:29pm

SchlomoThaHomo

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KingSausage said:

I've been thinking about which Prince album has his strongest vocal performance. I think SOTT and Symbol are strong contenders, each with many different vocal styles and some amazing performances. But in my opinion, Emancipation might be Prince's vocal peak. It's far from my favorite Prince album due to the plastic production and relatively mundane songs (very little Princely inventiveness). But damn, it's full of great vocals. Anyone doubting that Prince is a great singer just needs to listen to Emancipation to be set straight. What album do you think is Prince's vocal peak?

I swear I just said this exact same thing in a post a few days ago. I totally agree. It was actually the Emancipation era track Love (Never Has 2 Say Goodbye) that really made me reexamine his vocals from that time period, and I really think they were his best ever. Can you imagine if the prime vocal era and prime writing era(s) had crossed paths? eek

"That's when stars collide. When there's space for what u want, and ur heart is open wide."
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Reply #13 posted 04/27/15 12:58am

Rebeljuice

Wish U Heaven 12 inch part II. The Cross vocals after the guitar kicks in, another example. Elephants & Flowers where he sounds hoarse. Purple Rain, final verse and chorus. Another Lonely Christmas.

Those are the kind of vocals I like the best. Not too polished, not too up-front. Raw. Loud. Almost shouty but not. The 90s onwards he seemed to put his voice up front and centre with little or no reverb. Whilst his voice sounds excellent, I do miss the voice of old that was filtered according to the type of song.

To me it isnt about how well he is singing, its how well the voice goes with the song. The Gold Standard is not what it could have been because of the polished vocals imo. But I know KingS that you love that song, so i wont say anymore except "Heaven, Yeah! Heaven Sugar Baby!".

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Reply #14 posted 04/27/15 1:55am

dodger

SchlomoThaHomo said:

KingSausage said:

I've been thinking about which Prince album has his strongest vocal performance. I think SOTT and Symbol are strong contenders, each with many different vocal styles and some amazing performances. But in my opinion, Emancipation might be Prince's vocal peak. It's far from my favorite Prince album due to the plastic production and relatively mundane songs (very little Princely inventiveness). But damn, it's full of great vocals. Anyone doubting that Prince is a great singer just needs to listen to Emancipation to be set straight. What album do you think is Prince's vocal peak?

I swear I just said this exact same thing in a post a few days ago. I totally agree. It was actually the Emancipation era track Love (Never Has 2 Say Goodbye) that really made me reexamine his vocals from that time period, and I really think they were his best ever. Can you imagine if the prime vocal era and prime writing era(s) had crossed paths? eek

You beat me to it, I was just going to say after hearing Love (Never Has 2 Say Goodbye) it also reminded me how good his vocals were around this era on these ballads.

.

Also, another example is the recent leaked edit of I Can't Make You Love Me, made me go back again and listen to some of Emancipation. Of course some will say the plastic like production detracts from some of tracks but his vocals are without doubt superb.

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Reply #15 posted 04/27/15 2:26am

dandan

As much as I do love his vocals from this era, I personally don't find his voice superior to his 'peak' era. Adore, The Beautiful Ones etc, are better vocal performances than anything on Emancipation in my opinion.Another Lonely Christmas, Temptation, If I Was Your Girlfriend too.
I got two sides... and they're both friends.
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Reply #16 posted 04/27/15 3:10am

KingSausage

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Rebeljuice said:

Wish U Heaven 12 inch part II. The Cross vocals after the guitar kicks in, another example. Elephants & Flowers where he sounds hoarse. Purple Rain, final verse and chorus. Another Lonely Christmas.

Those are the kind of vocals I like the best. Not too polished, not too up-front. Raw. Loud. Almost shouty but not. The 90s onwards he seemed to put his voice up front and centre with little or no reverb. Whilst his voice sounds excellent, I do miss the voice of old that was filtered according to the type of song.

To me it isnt about how well he is singing, its how well the voice goes with the song. The Gold Standard is not what it could have been because of the polished vocals imo. But I know KingS that you love that song, so i wont say anymore except "Heaven, Yeah! Heaven Sugar Baby!".



I love the Gold Standard, but I'll take I Wish U Heaven (any parts) any day.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #17 posted 04/27/15 3:16am

KingSausage

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I also re-examined the Emancipation era vocals after Love Never Has 2 Say Goodbye!


I agree that some of the individual songs mentioned above have amazing vocals, arguably his best on any single performance (the Beautiful Ones? Jesus, it's so haunting). Personally, I love love love his vocals on Condition of the Heart. He sings with so much passion that the song gives me chills even hundreds of listens later. However, I still think that Emancipation (with Symbol as the backup) has his best vocals on average across an entire album. SOTT too, where he uses so many styles/voices across the songs.


(This discussion made me think about Bowie. I'd like to add a personal plug for Scary Monsters as his best album for vocals, with Diamond Dogs as backup choice.)
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #18 posted 04/27/15 8:38am

Funkyalien

His vocal peak is the New Power Soul album. Sounds like effortless magic. A lot of hard work must have gone into it.

[Edited 4/27/15 8:39am]

Funky alien
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Reply #19 posted 04/27/15 9:06am

KingSausage

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Funkyalien said:

His vocal peak is the New Power Soul album. Sounds like effortless magic. A lot of hard work must have gone into it.

[Edited 4/27/15 8:39am]




No. All the hard work was saved for the album art. That's why Prince is laying down on those pillows in that one pic. He's simply worn out from reviewing draft album art.
"Drop that stereo before I blow your Goddamn nuts off, asshole!"
-Eugene Tackleberry
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Reply #20 posted 04/27/15 12:21pm

bonatoc

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The peak of Prince's vocals?

"Temptation".
Like the song or not, you can't top Prince doing Elvis, Iggy Pop, James Brown, Ella Fitzgerald
in the same fucking single take (at least I'd like to believe so).

His voice is on fire in the midst of the Purple Rain Tour (talk about practicing night after night...).

All of ATWIAD is vocally impressive. He covers almost every pop genre.
What is impressive is that he kept this stake all these years.
Only the compositions became less adventurous.
But his voice is like his guitar skills. It just got better and better, no matter the music.


Thread lockdance wink

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #21 posted 04/27/15 8:37pm

chrisslope9

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KingSausage said:

I've been thinking about which Prince album has his strongest vocal performance. I think SOTT and Symbol are strong contenders, each with many different vocal styles and some amazing performances. But in my opinion, Emancipation might be Prince's vocal peak. It's far from my favorite Prince album due to the plastic production and relatively mundane songs (very little Princely inventiveness). But damn, it's full of great vocals. Anyone doubting that Prince is a great singer just needs to listen to Emancipation to be set straight. What album do you think is Prince's vocal peak?

Well put

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Reply #22 posted 04/28/15 5:21am

Funkyalien

KingSausage said:

Funkyalien said:

His vocal peak is the New Power Soul album. Sounds like effortless magic. A lot of hard work must have gone into it.

[Edited 4/27/15 8:39am]

No. All the hard work was saved for the album art. That's why Prince is laying down on those pillows in that one pic. He's simply worn out from reviewing draft album art.

lol lol lol lol lol

Funky alien
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Reply #23 posted 04/28/15 10:11am

KCOOLMUZIQ

prince 's vocal range gets "Better With Time". He has a three-octave vocal range,that slays every artist in his generation.

eye will ALWAYS think of prince like a "ACT OF GOD"! N another realm. eye mean of all people who might of been aliens or angels.if found out that prince wasn't of this earth, eye would not have been that surprised. R.I.P. prince
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Reply #24 posted 04/28/15 10:20am

emesem

Can't really tell. The album is recorded so compressed and so tinny its hard to judge.

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Reply #25 posted 04/28/15 11:38am

JoeTyler

LoveSymbol album

tinkerbell
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Reply #26 posted 04/28/15 5:38pm

EddieC

dodger said:

.

Also, another example is the recent leaked edit of I Can't Make You Love Me, made me go back again and listen to some of Emancipation. Of course some will say the plastic like production detracts from some of tracks but his vocals are without doubt superb.

Wait--what leak of I Can't Make You Love Me?

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Reply #27 posted 04/30/15 1:16pm

Astasheiks

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KingSausage said:

I've been thinking about which Prince album has his strongest vocal performance. I think SOTT and Symbol are strong contenders, each with many different vocal styles and some amazing performances. But in my opinion, Emancipation might be Prince's vocal peak. It's far from my favorite Prince album due to the plastic production and relatively mundane songs (very little Princely inventiveness). But damn, it's full of great vocals. Anyone doubting that Prince is a great singer just needs to listen to Emancipation to be set straight. What album do you think is Prince's vocal peak?

He has not peak, AOA is proof, and he's still going strong!!! cool biggrin

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Reply #28 posted 04/30/15 4:12pm

dandan

I'd like to second Temptation as a vocal fucking knockout. I'd challange any singer, professional or otherwise, to sing that vocal with as much character as P does. To be honest, I don't think anyone but P could even attempt the 'I love it when are bodies touch' line.

I got two sides... and they're both friends.
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Reply #29 posted 05/01/15 3:52am

bonatoc

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dandan said:

I'd like to second Temptation as a vocal fucking knockout. I'd challange any singer, professional or otherwise, to sing that vocal with as much character as P does. To be honest, I don't think anyone but P could even attempt the 'I love it when are bodies touch' line.


...and what about when he goes with all screaming scat that blends into the female-like "Temptaaation—oooh, all my fingers..." just before the coda.
Now that's some serious vocal cords stretching.

Other experiences include Adore, ConditionOTH and TBeautifulO.

I can't think of no one else able to cope with Tamborine.
He deserves a medal for the "passing cars" effect alone.

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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