It sounds great as a studio track but it's true vocation is to be performed live. Certainly leaves a wide canvas for Prince to solo. Forget about the words, they are summary on purpose -- the guitar does the talking.

Cue to tomorrow's "I like it way better live" comments, I have a feeling he can really crank this thing.

It doesn't matter if it's not a hit or the second coming of Sign O' The Times, he's expressing himself on an issue as he wants to -- you think you know how he should sound, but ultimately he's the artist and its his creativity.

At this point, Prince is well boyond being accused of lacking originality he has a multitude of patterns and sounds that are by now his trademark and they work in the same way a Picasso worked: a recognizable style, some recurring motifs, a vision, a style.

This song is a Prince song, and it's a song about Baltimore where the guitar does the talking, not the words.

Aerogram said:

It sounds great as a studio track but it's true vocation is to be performed live. Certainly leaves a wide canvas for Prince to solo. Forget about the words, they are summary on purpose -- the guitar does the talking.

Cue to tomorrow's "I like it way better live" comments, I have a feeling he can really crank this thing.

It doesn't matter if it's not a hit or the second coming of Sign O' The Times, he's expressing himself on an issue as he wants to -- you think you know how he should sound, but ultimately he's the artist and its his creativity.

At this point, Prince is well boyond being accused of lacking originality he has a multitude of patterns and sounds that are by now his trademark and they work in the same way a Picasso worked: a recognizable style, some recurring motifs, a vision, a style.

This song is a Prince song, and it's a song about Baltimore where the guitar does the talking, not the words.

He's not going to do anything on that guitar that he hasn't done a million times before.

The lyrics and music used to be his soul.

Styles said:

thedance said:

Then write something better and post it!

that wouldn't take much,

what a garbage song this is... RnR LA part II...

Polo1026 said:

The response to this song is really sad. Every Prince song doesn't need to be some earth shattering piece of art or something.

If you (= Prince) believe something important went down in Baltimore, and you announce to the whole world that you've written a song about, then yes, it better be profound....

[Edited 5/9/15 13:11pm]

Aerogram said:

It sounds great as a studio track but it's true vocation is to be performed live. Certainly leaves a wide canvas for Prince to solo. Forget about the words, they are summary on purpose -- the guitar does the talking.

Cue to tomorrow's "I like it way better live" comments, I have a feeling he can really crank this thing.

It doesn't matter if it's not a hit or the second coming of Sign O' The Times, he's expressing himself on an issue as he wants to -- you think you know how he should sound, but ultimately he's the artist and its his creativity.

At this point, Prince is well boyond being accused of lacking originality he has a multitude of patterns and sounds that are by now his trademark and they work in the same way a Picasso worked: a recognizable style, some recurring motifs, a vision, a style.

This song is a Prince song, and it's a song about Baltimore where the guitar does the talking, not the words.

I wonder what the difference is between this version and the former recorded version that some people on this thread were mentioning. Wonder if Prince wanted a toned down "safe" song that wouldn't incite more anger. Although his song has certainly incited enough of that on this board.

On the first listen, I like it and can imagine it being one of those chanted tracks that grow bigger live. I also don't imagine he'll be performing it for long after this summer.

Overall, it is a catchy song. I was worried about it sounding like Purple & Gold.

thedance said:

Styles said:

Then write something better and post it!

that wouldn't take much,

what a garbage song this is... RnR LA part II...

Hey, I like Rock and Roll Love Affair.

EroticDreamer said:

Aerogram said:

It sounds great as a studio track but it's true vocation is to be performed live. Certainly leaves a wide canvas for Prince to solo. Forget about the words, they are summary on purpose -- the guitar does the talking.

Cue to tomorrow's "I like it way better live" comments, I have a feeling he can really crank this thing.

It doesn't matter if it's not a hit or the second coming of Sign O' The Times, he's expressing himself on an issue as he wants to -- you think you know how he should sound, but ultimately he's the artist and its his creativity.

At this point, Prince is well boyond being accused of lacking originality he has a multitude of patterns and sounds that are by now his trademark and they work in the same way a Picasso worked: a recognizable style, some recurring motifs, a vision, a style.

This song is a Prince song, and it's a song about Baltimore where the guitar does the talking, not the words.

He's not going to do anything on that guitar that he hasn't done a million times before.

The lyrics and music used to be his soul.

It still is but infused with a different energy. I don't know how old you are, but few people do everythying the way they did when they were 25 years old. I think the old man is doing great these days and is in a much better place than he's been in a while creatively, it can be hit or miss but we have been getting some great tracks, AOA was his best album since his heydays, the 3EG stuff was not as strong but still had Wow, Screwdriver, AnotherLove, FixUrLifeUp. This time he sorts of reworks RRLA into a guitar tune, it's a little faster and it fits the melody perfectly.

He wrote it a week ago and re-recorded it all by himself in the meantime, here it is for us to hear.

OnlyNDaUsa said:

if someone says they do not like this song that is not something any of us should take personal. We either like it or not.

And if I do not like a line or two that is not a basis to be called names... And I really do not care how things are in the rest of the world. I do respect and will defend as best I can the rights we have.

SuperFurryAnimal said:

aaroncanderson said:

SNIP -OF4S

With that said I did this song. It's a stripped back soft rock protest song. I like the line about taking guns away, they do more harm than good. Props to Prince for saying what he believes and not saying what people want him to say. I will be playing this song reguarly.

SNIP -OF4S
Wish Prince had the mind to write about these situation, at least he is drinking clean water? Right? This government even created ways to benefit corporations to move jobs out of America. People need to wake up and our artists need to as well. At least the song is a try in the right direction. I believe Prince's heart is in the right place but it is more complex.

SNIP -OF4S
So back to the song. I 100% agree with Prince's line about gun control. I hope his next album is called "GUN CTRL."

RJOrion said:

when a black entertainer doesnt use his platform to make social/political statements on behalf of his people, he is called a Tom or Sellout... when a black entertainer does use his platform to make social/political statements, he gets mocked and ridiculed.. and mostly by non-blacks, in both cases.. damned if u do...damned if u dont... let them tell it *drops 2 pennies on the floor*

I'm sure you got a list of examples to with that? I don't live in the USA, so...

And Prince is first and foremost called out for writing a bad song with regards to an important topic.

Aerogram said:

At this point, Prince is well boyond being accused of lacking originality he has a multitude of patterns and sounds that are by now his trademark and they work in the same way a Picasso worked: a recognizable style, some recurring motifs, a vision, a style.

This song is a Prince song, and it's a song about Baltimore where the guitar does the talking, not the words.

.

to me the song sounds extremely generic. When talking about Prince's style I think about all the great songs on 1999, parade, loxesexy, sott, symbol, on and on... I think of things like the layers of vocals during the bridge of This Could Be Us.

.

Baltimore is only his 'style' in the sense that he's been churning out similar throwaway tunes for a while now.

purplethunder3121 said:

Aerogram said:

It sounds great as a studio track but it's true vocation is to be performed live. Certainly leaves a wide canvas for Prince to solo. Forget about the words, they are summary on purpose -- the guitar does the talking.

Cue to tomorrow's "I like it way better live" comments, I have a feeling he can really crank this thing.

It doesn't matter if it's not a hit or the second coming of Sign O' The Times, he's expressing himself on an issue as he wants to -- you think you know how he should sound, but ultimately he's the artist and its his creativity.

At this point, Prince is well boyond being accused of lacking originality he has a multitude of patterns and sounds that are by now his trademark and they work in the same way a Picasso worked: a recognizable style, some recurring motifs, a vision, a style.

This song is a Prince song, and it's a song about Baltimore where the guitar does the talking, not the words.

I wonder what the difference is between this version and the former recorded version that some people on this thread were mentioning. Wonder if Prince wanted a toned down "safe" song that wouldn't incite more anger. Although his song has certainly incited enough of that on this board.

It appears the lyrics are the same. The background singer was added to the 2nd version. The first version was live and according to Iris Perez (the Fox 9 news employee who heard it), had an amazing guitar solo that made her cry. As with most Prince songs, it didn't translate into the 2nd version imo.

motherfunka said:

purplethunder3121 said:

I wonder what the difference is between this version and the former recorded version that some people on this thread were mentioning. Wonder if Prince wanted a toned down "safe" song that wouldn't incite more anger. Although his song has certainly incited enough of that on this board.

It appears the lyrics are the same. The background singer was added to the 2nd version. The first version was live and according to Iris Perez (the Fox 9 news employee who heard it), had an amazing guitar solo that made her cry. As with most Prince songs, it didn't translate into the 2nd version imo.

I'd like to hear it with the guitar solo. He's probably saving that for the concert. Why, I don't know.

Aerogram said:

herb4 said:

What's so awful about it?

Nothing remotedly awful about it, just some people who have been waiting a week to say it is.

They thought it was terrible before hearing it and they feel the same after listening to it.

It's a well-crafted, expertly performed song with earnest lyrics and music, with a poppy rock sound that is appropriate for its simple, straightforward message. He didn't set out to impress with a left-field composition like SOTT and send the musicologists among us to their notebooks.

The song is for regular people, not for crazy boot-collecting Prince fans.

.

Man, sensitive prince fans can't trust other people to have an honest reaction to a song. "There has to be some reason why people don't like this song! They're prejudiced, they just want to hate it! The song is good!"

.

Also, the argument "this song isn't supposed to impress" is something I would only read on prince.org. It's absurd. If some people aren't impressed by the song, just leave them be. Don't try to convince them that they've got it all wrong.

PurpleSkipper58 said:

Why exactly do you feel it's bad?

.

"you don't like something I like? Explain yourself, young man!"

motherfunka said:

purplethunder3121 said:

I wonder what the difference is between this version and the former recorded version that some people on this thread were mentioning. Wonder if Prince wanted a toned down "safe" song that wouldn't incite more anger. Although his song has certainly incited enough of that on this board.

It appears the lyrics are the same. The background singer was added to the 2nd version. The first version was live and according to Iris Perez (the Fox 9 news employee who heard it), had an amazing guitar solo that made her cry. As with most Prince songs, it didn't translate into the 2nd version imo.

Yes I wouldnt be suprised if the first version was much better. Well the released version is still a nice little song and not bad but not powerful enough which I think it should have been.

aaroncanderson said:

so sad... u ppl...

[Edited 5/9/15 14:20pm]

so sad... u ppl...

RJOrion said:

when a black entertainer doesnt use his platform to make social/political statements on behalf of his people, he is called a Tom or Sellout...
when a black entertainer does use his platform to make social/political statements, he gets mocked and ridiculed..
and mostly by non-blacks, in both cases..
damned if u do...
damned if u dont...
let them tell it
*drops 2 pennies on the floor*

On the political side :
Oh great. Just what we need, more communitarianism.

My anger has nothing to do with P's skin color.
To consider this harmless little tune to be a "social/political statement", is beyond me.
Following this path, "Ronnie Talk To Russia" saved us from Armaggedon and caused the fall of the Soviet Union years later.

Events did not wait for Prince to get ugly.
It's easy to drop his little "Albums matter" line upon a left-wing Hollywood audience.
What's the point of persuading your own party? Where's the risk-taking?
Real political courage means going on the field, and confronting with your adversary.

I'm partial to performers jumping into social issues,
but even ol'Bono deserves an applause. At last he did something on the concrete side.
To erase the debt of third-world countries is a real, tangible action.
Does Prince really think that informing the world of his latest bland fart is some kind of political activism?

On the musical side :
When I listen to "Run The Jewels 2" (rightfully considered album of the year in many places),
I get the state of America in 2014/2015. A fucking ugly place, nasty, violent, uncomfortable, unjust, merciless.
This is the sound of Police sirens, of insurrection, of fights.

"Baltimore"? I just tried to listen it for the second time and I could not get past the first ten seconds.
It has the Linn, for crying out loud! The Linn Drum, a major key, "la-la-la" background vocals, for police brutality resulting in homicides?

Seriously. He has become full of himself, and completely unaware of what real life is.

I love the guy, I even have compassion for him : he's obviously someone very sensitive, allergic to violence.
But long gone are the days of "All You Need Is Love".
Not only it is anachronic, but it has no redeeming qualities whatsoever.
There's nothing on this song that we haven't heard dozens of times before.

And to the ones saying "chill out, it's just a song", you're right, but you're also tepid.
Just like this "social/political statement".

That said, peace to all the orgers.
It's Prince that pisses me off.

thedance said:

Styles said:

Then write something better and post it!

that wouldn't take much,

what a garbage song this is... RnR LA part II...

SNIP -OF4S

RJOrion said:

when a black entertainer doesnt use his platform to make social/political statements on behalf of his people, he is called a Tom or Sellout... when a black entertainer does use his platform to make social/political statements, he gets mocked and ridiculed.. and mostly by non-blacks, in both cases.. damned if u do...damned if u dont... let them tell it *drops 2 pennies on the floor*

Or, he could have just written (& hyped) a very mediocre song, regardless of his skin color & certain of his black fans with a chip on their shoulder act the victim? Could that be it?

ahightthen said:

Beause you, your grey thin hair and your FAT belly could write a better song ?!

Post the lyrix and the link to the upload right here:

Or shut the frog up. 4ever.

Let's have BlackandRising sing us his refrain on mankind and the internet.

Aerogram said:

EroticDreamer said:

He's not going to do anything on that guitar that he hasn't done a million times before.

The lyrics and music used to be his soul.

"...I think the old man is doing great these days and is in a much better place than he's been in a while creatively, it can be hit or miss but we have been getting some great tracks, AOA was his best album since his heydays..."

Some people on this site tend to think his "heyday" ended with 20ten.

They're mistaken.

Entertainment Weekly

Prince's new song 'Baltimore' is absolutely amazing

by Christopher Rosen • @chrisjrosen

“Baltimore,” the song Prince recorded to honor the nationwide protests following the deaths of Freddie Gray, Eric Garner and Michael Brown, has arrived. The throwback jam is the best kind of track: a funky banger that also makes a loud cry for tolerance, equal rights and justice.

Literally: “If there ain’t no justice, then there ain’t no peace,” Prince and 3rdeyegirl chant throughout. Another key lyric: “Does anybody hear us p...e Gray?”

Listen below, and then keep listening to “Baltimore” all summer. Prince will likely perform the track during his Rally 4 Peace concert in ... on Sunday.