I have just listened to this song again and even though I have been playing it regularly for the past 30 years, it still blows my mind everytime. In my opinion, everything about this song is perfect and shows Prince's meticulousness and awe-inspiring talent at its best... From the fascinating beauty of the melancholic music to the universal aspect of the lyrics about disillusionment, as well as the poetry... well, what more can I say?

So, in your option, should Condition of the Heart be considered a masterpiece... or not, and why?

Yes 100%.

It's always been a masterpiece, as far as I'm concerned.

I mean...start with that looooong, Debussy-esque piano intro. Who friggin' does that?! It's absolute genius how he sequenced it on the album, too. Quiet brilliance sandwiched between the bouncy, poppy Paisley Park and Raspberry Beret.

I love, love, love this track.

Yes!

Genesia said:

It's always been a masterpiece, as far as I'm concerned.

I mean...start with that looooong, Debussy-esque piano intro. Who friggin' does that?! It's absolute genius how he sequenced it on the album, too. Quiet brilliance sandwiched between the bouncy, poppy Paisley Park and Raspberry Beret.

I love, love, love this track.

Yes. Beautiful song. The whole album is a masterpiece. I had never heard of it and I was blown away when i first listened to it.

Genesia said:

It's always been a masterpiece, as far as I'm concerned.

I mean...start with that looooong, Debussy-esque piano intro. Who friggin' does that?! It's absolute genius how he sequenced it on the album, too. Quiet brilliance sandwiched between the bouncy, poppy Paisley Park and Raspberry Beret.

I love, love, love this track.

And I love, love, love your answer! Do you sometimes find that one play is not enough? I mean this is a song that I can't play once and then move on, I sometimes even put it on repeat for a little while... as it takes a while for all this greatness to sink in.

massing said:

Yes 100%.

Absolutely agree the whole album is a masterpiece.

I've been listening to this song a ton recently too, though I first heard it over 30 years ago... I love how his voice goes higher right at the end. It is definitely a masterpiece.

CherryMoon57 said:

Genesia said:

It's always been a masterpiece, as far as I'm concerned.

I mean...start with that looooong, Debussy-esque piano intro. Who friggin' does that?! It's absolute genius how he sequenced it on the album, too. Quiet brilliance sandwiched between the bouncy, poppy Paisley Park and Raspberry Beret.

I love, love, love this track.

And I love, love, love your answer! Do you sometimes find that one play is not enough? I mean this is a song that I can't play once and then move on, I sometimes even put it on repeat for a little while... as it takes a while for all this greatness to sink in.

Absolutely. Sometimes, my thoughts start wandering during the intro (mostly because the music wanders) and he starts singing and I think, "Wait a minute - you hardly listened to that. Start over, dammit. "

farnorth said:

I've been listening to this song a ton recently too, though I first heard it over 30 years ago... I love how his voice goes higher right at the end. It is definitely a masterpiece.

Yes, I forgot to mention the beauty of Prince's vocals... pure musical heaven

Is anyone on here familiar with the Bob Marley "album" Natural Mystic? It was a posthumous follow-up to Legend, showcasing a collection of his deep cuts. Even though we'd all disagree on the line-up, and agree that Prince has way too many tracks to put on this kind of disc, sometimes I wish an album like this existed for the people out there who are stopping at The Very Best of Prince (on a side note, I'm noticing a bunch of people in my Montreal neighbourhood blasting Prince from car stereos and stores at top volume - always material from The Very Best of Prince, but I'm grateful regardless).

Because let's face it: "Condition of the Heart" is one of those Prince tunes too ambitious to ever make the charts. Yet it has a melody and lyrics I always found instantly accessible but with poetic depth. Amazing song, I'm putting it on when I get home.

It is to me.

There's a Prince tribute band in Houston called The Breakdown. They played at a Prince party a couple Saturdays ago. Their setlist is always cool but when the keyboardist started this song, I nearly fell over.

And he NAILED it. Didn't miss a single note, as far as I could tell. The vocalist did a bang-up job, too. What a pleasant surprise!

Genesia said:

CherryMoon57 said:

And I love, love, love your answer! Do you sometimes find that one play is not enough? I mean this is a song that I can't play once and then move on, I sometimes even put it on repeat for a little while... as it takes a while for all this greatness to sink in.

Absolutely. Sometimes, my thoughts start wandering during the intro (mostly because the music wanders) and he starts singing and I think, "Wait a minute - you hardly listened to that. Start over, dammit. "

Yep, it all sounds very familiar! I once put it on repeat for nearly a whole morning, while I was studying, but it didn't bother me, eventually I realised how long it had been on and started to worry about what the neighbours might have thought as the windows were open (well if they aren't Prince fans by now...)

RodeoSchro said:

It is to me.

There's a Prince tribute band in Houston called The Breakdown. They played at a Prince party a couple Saturdays ago. Their setlist is always cool but when the keyboardist started this song, I nearly fell over.

And he NAILED it. Didn't miss a single note, as far as I could tell. The vocalist did a bang-up job, too. What a pleasant surprise!

Wow, this must have been quite an experience for everyone... For some reason, I wouldn't expect a tribute band to cover this song either... Wish I had been there.

I wonder if anyone on here has ever seen Prince play this song live?

Could it?
YES
It definately is a masterpiece. Prince showing his artistic skill on the piano, after mostly proving it on the guitar prior.

CherryMoon57 said:

I wonder if anyone on here has ever seen Prince play this song live?

Only on the piano section of the Lovesexy Tour at wembley. Still loved it and i agree it is a masterpiece.

CherryMoon57 said:

Guitarhero, did you mean that you were there when he played it?

Such beautiful lyrics

NorthC said:

CherryMoon57 said:

I wonder if anyone on here has ever seen Prince play this song live?

Yep. On the One Nite Alone tour.

CherryMoon57 said:

Guitarhero, did you mean that you were there when he played it?

Such beautiful lyrics

My bad, yes i was there my first Prince concert will never forget it.

Guitarhero said:

CherryMoon57 said:

Guitarhero, did you mean that you were there when he played it?

Such beautiful lyrics

My bad, yes i was there my first Prince concert will never forget it.

Wow, I'm sure you won't! He did play it during the 21 nights in London but not on the dates I went to see him.

CherryMoon57 said:

Guitarhero said:

My bad, yes i was there my first Prince concert will never forget it.

Wow, I'm sure you won't! He did play it during the 21 nights in London but not on the dates I went to see him.

Yes same he did not play on the 13 september show i went too.

Guitarhero said:

CherryMoon57 said:

Wow, I'm sure you won't! He did play it during the 21 nights in London but not on the dates I went to see him.

Yes same he did not play on the 13 september show i went too.

I know, I was there too! I didn't see you though

CherryMoon57 said:

Guitarhero said:

Yes same he did not play on the 13 september show i went too.

I know, I was there too! I didn't see you though

Did you go to the bar i did

Guitarhero said:

CherryMoon57 said:

I know, I was there too! I didn't see you though

Did you go to the bar i did

I can't remember

(I think we might be slightly off topic!)

CherryMoon57 said:

Guitarhero said:

Did you go to the bar i did

I can't remember

(I think we might be slightly off topic!)

Yes sorry I love Condition of the Heart