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Thread started 07/21/15 6:16am

aaroncanderson

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What 12 songs would you use to convert someone to Prince's music?

I have a friend that is really into indie folk music (a la Fleet Foxes) and electronica (a la Daft Punk) and I was thinking of making him a Prince primer of 12 songs. What would ya'll recommend. He is in his mid 20's.

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Reply #1 posted 07/21/15 9:08am

NorthC

Make it easy on yourself. Just give him Purple Rain or Ultimate Prince. If he doesn't like that, he won't like the rest either.
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Reply #2 posted 07/21/15 11:54am

herb4

It would depend on what style music they like. Rock? Funk? R&B? Fast or slow? Ballads? Jazz? That said, I like to pull out stuff that your average listener wouldn't know was Prince. Alexa De Paris, I Wonder U, Hallucination Rain, While My Guitar Gently Weeps or stuff that's a little bit left field and not hit oriented, like Don't Play Me, PFUNK, Glass Cutter, Days of Wild, The Ride...stuff the average listener hasn't heard before and that isn't over-played.

.

For funk heads, Exodus always wins them over. For rock and roll types, The Undertaker seems to leave an impression. Indie folk? A few tracks from The Truth will do. The acoustic set from the Muslicology shows maybe. Electronica? Some of Emancipation and Rave In2. Melt With U. Slave. Love. Judas Smile.

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Reply #3 posted 07/21/15 12:02pm

aaroncanderson

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herb4 said:

It would depend on what style music they like. Rock? Funk? R&B? Fast or slow? Ballads? Jazz? That said, I like to pull out stuff that your average listener wouldn't know was Prince. Alexa De Paris, I Wonder U, Hallucination Rain, While My Guitar Gently Weeps or stuff that's a little bit left field and not hit oriented, like Don't Play Me, PFUNK, Glass Cutter, Days of Wild, The Ride...stuff the average listener hasn't heard before and that isn't over-played.

.

For funk heads, Exodus always wins them over. For rock and roll types, The Undertaker seems to leave an impression. Indie folk? A few tracks from The Truth will do. The acoustic set from the Muslicology shows maybe. Electronica? Some of Emancipation and Rave In2. Melt With U. Slave. Love. Judas Smile.

That is great advice. I like the left field idea. Very cool. I was thinking about adding an instrumental or two. Thanks!

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Reply #4 posted 07/21/15 1:53pm

fbueller

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You could try playing them these...

Strange But True

Hot Thing

Forever In My Life

Automatic

Something in the water (does not compute)

Sometimes It Snows In April

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Reply #5 posted 07/21/15 2:04pm

trax

America

colonized mind

anna stesia

housequake

bob george

vicki waiting

elephants and flowers

live 4 love

7

the holy river

Family name

the everlasting now

Don't get too caught up in the folk genre. Prince is not a folk artist so challenge him by not giving him/her a hits heavy cd.

[Edited 7/21/15 14:05pm]

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Reply #6 posted 07/21/15 2:10pm

rusty1

When u were mine
17 days
When doves cry
Little red corvette
Beautiful ones
Condition of the heart
Sometimes it snows in April
I could never take the place of your man
Something in the water (does not compute)
Rasberry Beret
BOB4theFUNK
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Reply #7 posted 07/21/15 2:17pm

feeluupp

trax said:

America

colonized mind

anna stesia

housequake

bob george

vicki waiting

elephants and flowers

live 4 love

7

the holy river

Family name

the everlasting now

Don't get too caught up in the folk genre. Prince is not a folk artist so challenge him by not giving him/her a hits heavy cd.

[Edited 7/21/15 14:05pm]

Would be a GOOD choice for a hardcore PRINCE fan... Not someone that's never heard his stuff before...

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Reply #8 posted 07/21/15 2:20pm

feeluupp

She's Always In My Hair

Purple Rain

When Doves Cry

Joy in Repetition

Shhh

Kiss

Let's Work

Little Red Corvette

Hard Rock Lover

Thieves in the Temple

U Know

I Could Never Take The Place Of Ur Man

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Reply #9 posted 07/21/15 2:45pm

Astasheiks

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herb4 said:

It would depend on what style music they like. Rock? Funk? R&B? Fast or slow? Ballads? Jazz? That said, I like to pull out stuff that your average listener wouldn't know was Prince. Alexa De Paris, I Wonder U, Hallucination Rain, While My Guitar Gently Weeps or stuff that's a little bit left field and not hit oriented, like Don't Play Me, PFUNK, Glass Cutter, Days of Wild, The Ride...stuff the average listener hasn't heard before and that isn't over-played.

.

For funk heads, Exodus always wins them over. For rock and roll types, The Undertaker seems to leave an impression. Indie folk? A few tracks from The Truth will do. The acoustic set from the Muslicology shows maybe. Electronica? Some of Emancipation and Rave In2. Melt With U. Slave. Love. Judas Smile.

You dead on it... cool

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Reply #10 posted 07/21/15 3:00pm

Astasheiks

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My 12 would be:

Let's Go Crazy

When Doves Cry

Purple Rain

Days of Wild

Dreamer

The Cross

Let's Work

Hard Rock Lover

Scandalous Sex Suite Version

Anna Stesia One Nite Alone Version

She's Always In My Hair Live Montreal Version

and finally a medley of The Gold Standard, What It Feels Like, Time, Funknroll, Way Back Home razz cool

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Reply #11 posted 07/21/15 3:14pm

tab32792

indie folk? maybe anything from 85-86? electronica? the 1999 album lol

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Reply #12 posted 07/21/15 3:20pm

nonamesleft

I'd include some recent stuff: anotherlove from plecelec, time from AOA. Then Dreamer for sure.
Some big ones that never get old: Mountains, forever in my life, when you were mine, always in my hair.
And show some diversity: strange but true, all my dreams, all day all night.
Musicology is irresistible, and Madsex, for thet groove.
----------
Lets just go somewhere (we can funk)
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Reply #13 posted 07/21/15 3:59pm

CharismaDove

A lot of people I know are into pop/instant songs, I usually include

I Wanna Be Your Lover

1999

Little Red Corvette

Delirious

Let's Go Crazy

When Doves Cry

Purple Rain

I Would Die 4 U

Take Me with U

I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man

Gett Off

Diamonds and Pearls

Cream

Most Beautiful Girl in the World

See, songs like "Something in the Water" and others listed above are classic tracks but a little polarizing. I've noticed, at least for me, that a lot of Prince songs require a few listens before they really 'click'. Everybody's different though. Personally the songs above ^^^ are super pop-oriented so they work

[Edited 7/21/15 15:59pm]

Maybe eye do, just not like eye did before pimp2
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Reply #14 posted 07/21/15 5:09pm

trax

feeluupp said:

trax said:

America

colonized mind

anna stesia

housequake

bob george

vicki waiting

elephants and flowers

live 4 love

7

the holy river

Family name

the everlasting now

Don't get too caught up in the folk genre. Prince is not a folk artist so challenge him by not giving him/her a hits heavy cd.

[Edited 7/21/15 14:05pm]

Would be a GOOD choice for a hardcore PRINCE fan... Not someone that's never heard his stuff before...

Well it works for me. I have this to three different people and they ended up liking and actually buying Prince. Two of the three are now die hards and the other bought 3-4 Prince cds frm our shop but traded them back in as he didn't like them. BUT, the cd worked on all three. Good songs are good songs. For someone who does not know what his hits are(which was the case with these three) these are great songs. You hook them on these great songs and then they are blown away by the hits. If you set the bar too high with a hits barage then there is only down from there. I guess it depends on how diverse the music listener is. A folk person is much more open to different styles and types of music than your average top 40 hits listener. Either way it doesn't matter. You should make him the songs you are most passionate on as your the one that going to sell it. Your vibe and enthusiasm is half the battle so pick your favorites. These just happen to be mine and its an easy sell for me on any nonfan

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Reply #15 posted 07/21/15 5:12pm

trax

Oh and Bob George is hands down EVERYONES favorite that I have ever exposed them to so if you only used one from my list I would use that one. People go nuts on that one!!

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Reply #16 posted 07/21/15 6:44pm

Se7en

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A buddy of mine showed interest in getting into Prince but didn't want to buy a lot of CDs.

I steered him toward The Hits/B-Sides.
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Reply #17 posted 07/22/15 5:44am

214

IT TAKES A COUPLE OF LISTENS TO GET INTO PRINCE, IT WAS MY CASE

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Reply #18 posted 07/22/15 6:40am

aaroncanderson

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Thanks so much guys for the input here's what I came up with:

1. Bob George

This song is so strange I think everyone should hear it and what better way to start an album off?

2. Beautiful Strange

This sounds like Soundgarden trying to do a Prince song and the person this compilation for is a huge Soundgarden fan.

3. Something In the Water (Does Not Compute)

My friend is a huge fan of The Weekend. He is sure to love this song.

4. Alexa de Paris

Any fan of music will dig this right?

5. Te Amo Corazon

He is Puerto Rican and loves Spanish music. No it is not racist.

6. 7

The Middle Eastern vibe in this song is just to freaking catchy. And it is the song that made me buy my first Prince album.

7. 3 Chains O' Gold

Who doesn't love a good rock opera?

8. U Know

He's in his 20's, he loves music like this. This should have been the single from this album.

9. Anotherlove

That guitar solo though!!

10. When U Were Mine (One Nite Alone version)

This song has my favorite Prince solo and plus everyone needs to hear Prince live.

11. Joy In Repetition

Another werid song, no chorus, one verse yet still majestic.

12. Forever In My Life

It was between this song and Mountains, I flipped a coin.

13. God (Instrumental Extended 12" version)

This is Prince's prettiest song. It's a sonic hug

14. Jughead

Just kidding!

[Edited 7/22/15 6:41am]

[Edited 7/22/15 15:16pm]

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Reply #19 posted 07/22/15 7:23am

RJOrion

my love is forever
im yours
sexy dancer
when doves cry
dirty mind
sexuality
i could never take the place of your man
Welcome To The Ratrace (In A Large Room With No Light)
Condition Of The Heart
Something In The Water
LeGrind
i wanna be your lover
[Edited 7/22/15 10:51am]
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Reply #20 posted 07/22/15 10:26am

Trashcat

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  • I'm Yours
  • Bambi
  • Electric Intercourse
  • America
  • Mountains
  • The Ballad of Dorothy Parker
  • In a Large Room with no Light
  • Good Love
  • Joy In Repetition
  • Endorphinmachine
  • The Dance
  • $ and Dreamer
Have a look at 'The W2A: Euro Tour Song Survey' http://prince.org/msg/12/362417
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Reply #21 posted 07/22/15 10:58am

aaroncanderson

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Oh man Good Love is a nice choice. It's going to be in my head all day now. Cherry pie, apple kisses everything is cool!

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Reply #22 posted 07/22/15 2:25pm

NorthC

This thread is going exactly the way I thought it would. Everybody's saying:
Hey, look what a great compilation I made!!! woot!
What we forget is that, what we as FANS like, is not the same as what a beginner would like. What we as fans should do, is point a beginner to the right albums.
You like Kate Bush? Start with The Kick Inside, Hounds of Love or The Sensual World.
Don't start with Lionheart, The Dreaming or Aerial.
You like Bob Dylan? Start with Bringing it All Back Home, Highway 61 Revisited or Blonde on Blonde.
Don't start with Slow Train Coming, Infidels or Knocked Out Loaded.
You like Prince? Start with 1999, Purple Rain or Sign O'the Times.
Not all those things folks on this thread came up with.
[Edited 7/22/15 14:28pm]
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Reply #23 posted 07/22/15 2:47pm

aaroncanderson

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I gave him Sign O' the Times and he was all meh...He's not really a funk guy or 80's pop guy so I was trying to go at it from a different angle.

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Reply #24 posted 07/22/15 2:54pm

BobGeorge909

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aaroncanderson said:

Thanks so much guys for the input here's what I came up with:



1. Bob George


This song is so strange I think everyone should hear it and what better way to start an album off?



2. Strange But True


This sounds like Soundgarden trying to do a Prince song and the person this compilation for is a huge Soundgarden fan.



3. Something In the Water (Does Not Compute)


My friend is a huge fan of The Weekend. He is sure to love this song.



4. Alexa de Paris


Any fan of music will dig this right?



5. Te Amo Corazon


He is Puerto Rican and loves Spanish music. No it is not racist.



6. 7


The Middle Eastern vibe in this song is just to freaking catchy. And it is the song that made me buy my first Prince album.



7. 3 Chains O' Gold


Who doesn't love a good rock opera?



8. U Know


He's in his 20's, he loves music like this. This should have been the single from this album.



9. Anotherlove


That guitar solo though!!



10. When U Were Mine (One Nite Alone version)


This song has my favorite Prince solo and plus everyone needs to hear Prince live.



11. Joy In Repetition


Another werid song, no chorus, one verse yet still majestic.



12. Forever In My Life


It was between this song and Mountains, I flipped a coin.



13. God (Instrumental Extended 12" version)


This is Prince's prettiest song. It's a sonic hug



14. Jughead


Just kidding!


[Edited 7/22/15 6:41am]


I'm glad I'm the headliner of the show.
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Reply #25 posted 07/22/15 7:48pm

UncleJam

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I may have posted this before, but here's my "You have no idea how amazing Prince is, how he can cover all genres!" CD. I of course us my CD burner program to segue the songs together smoothly...I have received nothing but "Wow!" responses (except for one idiot):

She's Always in my Hair (extended)

Feel U Up (my own edit of extended version)

Irresistible Bitch

Pop Life

Paisley Park

17 Days

Mountains

Do U Lie?

I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man

Joy in Repetition

Starfish and Coffee

Rock Hard in a Funky Place

Girls and Boys

Life Can Be So Nice

Superfunkycalifragisexi

Housequake

The Beautiful Ones

Make it so, Number One...
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Reply #26 posted 07/26/15 3:53pm

214

In a Large Room really, come on it's not even available in good quality, a guy in the office doesn't like Prince but a couple of weeks ago i played Others Here With Us and he liked the song

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Reply #27 posted 07/27/15 4:29am

blackwith

You shouldn't try to convert a indie-folk fan with Prince playing his most folk sounding music. Ik won't impress him just as it won't impress a blues or rock fan when Prince plays blues or rock. Prince can play genres, but is certainly no master. There's many, many bands that play that music better. Prince is only a master in Prince music, so just play him the music that most Prince fans made them fan. Purple Rain, 1999, etc. And play it again an again and again. At some point, they will bend.
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Reply #28 posted 07/27/15 6:17am

luvsexy4all

play something from each era and style of music

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Reply #29 posted 07/28/15 7:41am

2020

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NorthC said:

Make it easy on yourself. Just give him Purple Rain or Ultimate Prince. If he doesn't like that, he won't like the rest either.

yeahthat
The greatest live performer of our times was is and always will be Prince.

Remember there is only one destination and that place is U
All of it. Everything. Is U.
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