MattyJam said:

Nasalhair said:

If I'm honest I don't mind "Slave". The rest of it? No. I can't abide the production or the whole sound of the album in general, and think the songs are all very weak. One of his worst albums in my opinion. Hardly "profoundly disturbing" though, is it?

Hahaha... I'm profoundly disturbed that you don't agree with me that Face Down is the shit!!!

If you remove the word "the" from your comment I'd agree with you entirely

Nasalhair said:

MattyJam said:

Hahaha... I'm profoundly disturbed that you don't agree with me that Face Down is the shit!!!

If you remove the word "the" from your comment I'd agree with you entirely

Touche.

MendesCity said:

SAVIOR! I love that it's a beautiful song and the pure intensity in the last half. I remember putting this song on endless repeat when I first got the album. Oh, and singing and screaming at the top of my lungs in the car.

Very close behind is The Love We Make, The Holy River, LSMWife & Soul Sanctuary. I agree that there are many sub par songs on the whole of the album, but the good ones WAY make up for all of the not so good. So silky and smooth. Puts you in a mood and makes you fell like you are floating in a purple Prince bubble.

How could any of us answer that for you? These songs mean different things to different people. You need to choose your own 'best song on Emancipation'.

Also this album always makes me think of how he was so excited about starting a family and becoming a dad. Also love Let's Have A Baby. So personal and sad because of the circumstance. And on Sex in the Summer, his baby's ultrasound heartbeat is the beat for the song at the begining. I always firgured that would be so hard for him to hear after he lost his son.

Most of my favorite songs on the album are on Disc 2 !

Nasalhair said:

jasminejoey said:

Profoundly disturbing comment. One of the strangest I've ever read.

[Edited 7/20/16 15:51pm]

Why is it "profoundly disturbing"? In fact, what is even remotely disturbing about my saying that I really don't like the album aside from that one track?

Okay, slight exaggeration. Let's call it extremely puzzling. I can understand someone who doesn't like Prince at all, whose ears are completely closed to his music, dismissing the entire album apart from one song which he or she likes for some random, superficial reason. But coming from a Prince fan, the comment is bizarre indeed. If half the songs on Emancipation appeared on your favorite 80s albums you would likely consider them good if not great. Thus, I think your summary hatred of the album is for reasons non-musical. I just don't buy that Prince was a genius in the 80s and a hack thereafter.

[Edited 7/21/16 8:09am]

jasminejoey said:

Nasalhair said:

Why is it "profoundly disturbing"? In fact, what is even remotely disturbing about my saying that I really don't like the album aside from that one track?

Okay, slight exaggeration. Let's call it extremely puzzling. I can understand someone who doesn't like Prince at all, whose ears are completely closed to his music, dismissing the entire album apart from one song which he or she likes for some random, superficial reason. But coming from a Prince fan, the comment is bizarre indeed. If half the songs on Emancipation appeared on your favorite 80s albums you would likely consider them good if not great. Thus, I think your summary hatred of the album is for reasons non-musical. I just don't buy that Prince was a genius in the 80s and a hack thereafter.

[Edited 7/21/16 8:09am]

Well, if you don't buy it, that's fine. I've been a fan since about 83 / 84, and when "Emancipation" was announced I was excited to hear it, especially as he trailed it by saying he felt it was the album he was born to make. The day it came out I took my CD walkman to work, rushed to the shop at lunch, then hurried back to listen to it at my desk. I couldn't wait until the evening to listen to it.

It left me utterly cold though. From the opening track it just didn't work for me at all. So plastic sounding, terribly produced, and none of the songs apart from "The Holy River" grabbed me in the slightest. I listened to it again and again over the next few weeks and if anything I liked it less and less. I really, truly wanted to like it, but I thought it was terrible, and I still do. Too many covers, too much poor R&B, too many tracks that made me cringe ("Let's Have A Baby" just popped into my head when I wrote that). Just my opinion, as a fan who is still cut up about his passing.

Would I have liked the songs if they had appeared on 80s albums? I very much doubt it. A song leaves me cold regardless of when it was released. A decade doesn't make a weak song good.

Call me weird but I love "Courtin' Time" It has that old school New Orleans' style dixie jazz sound like that of say "When The Saints Go Marching In" It's my fav one of all on that album

the love we make

i was in shock and awe when he sang it in manchester couple of years ago (my last time to see him)

Nasalhair said:

jasminejoey said:

Okay, slight exaggeration. Let's call it extremely puzzling. I can understand someone who doesn't like Prince at all, whose ears are completely closed to his music, dismissing the entire album apart from one song which he or she likes for some random, superficial reason. But coming from a Prince fan, the comment is bizarre indeed. If half the songs on Emancipation appeared on your favorite 80s albums you would likely consider them good if not great. Thus, I think your summary hatred of the album is for reasons non-musical. I just don't buy that Prince was a genius in the 80s and a hack thereafter.

[Edited 7/21/16 8:09am]

Well, if you don't buy it, that's fine. I've been a fan since about 83 / 84, and when "Emancipation" was announced I was excited to hear it, especially as he trailed it by saying he felt it was the album he was born to make. The day it came out I took my CD walkman to work, rushed to the shop at lunch, then hurried back to listen to it at my desk. I couldn't wait until the evening to listen to it.

It left me utterly cold though. From the opening track it just didn't work for me at all. So plastic sounding, terribly produced, and none of the songs apart from "The Holy River" grabbed me in the slightest. I listened to it again and again over the next few weeks and if anything I liked it less and less. I really, truly wanted to like it, but I thought it was terrible, and I still do. Too many covers, too much poor R&B, too many tracks that made me cringe ("Let's Have A Baby" just popped into my head when I wrote that). Just my opinion, as a fan who is still cut up about his passing.

Would I have liked the songs if they had appeared on 80s albums? I very much doubt it. A song leaves me cold regardless of when it was released. A decade doesn't make a weak song good.

Interesting. I personally love 2/3 of the album, but I admit that the album has flaws.

Just out of curiousity, what do you think of the songs Soul Sanctuary, Joint 2 Joint, In This Bed Eye Scream, Curious Child, New World and The Human Body? To me, I cannot fathom how any Prince fan could possibly dislike all of those (imo fantastic) songs. I'd be curious to know your thoughts on those ones....

justAmeda said:

Call me weird but I love "Courtin' Time" It has that old school New Orleans' style dixie jazz sound like that of say "When The Saints Go Marching In" It's my fav one of all on that album

I love Courtin' Time. One of the best on disc one imo.

Nasalhair said:

jasminejoey said:

Okay, slight exaggeration. Let's call it extremely puzzling. I can understand someone who doesn't like Prince at all, whose ears are completely closed to his music, dismissing the entire album apart from one song which he or she likes for some random, superficial reason. But coming from a Prince fan, the comment is bizarre indeed. If half the songs on Emancipation appeared on your favorite 80s albums you would likely consider them good if not great. Thus, I think your summary hatred of the album is for reasons non-musical. I just don't buy that Prince was a genius in the 80s and a hack thereafter.

[Edited 7/21/16 8:09am]

Well, if you don't buy it, that's fine. I've been a fan since about 83 / 84, and when "Emancipation" was announced I was excited to hear it, especially as he trailed it by saying he felt it was the album he was born to make. The day it came out I took my CD walkman to work, rushed to the shop at lunch, then hurried back to listen to it at my desk. I couldn't wait until the evening to listen to it.

It left me utterly cold though. From the opening track it just didn't work for me at all. So plastic sounding, terribly produced, and none of the songs apart from "The Holy River" grabbed me in the slightest. I listened to it again and again over the next few weeks and if anything I liked it less and less. I really, truly wanted to like it, but I thought it was terrible, and I still do. Too many covers, too much poor R&B, too many tracks that made me cringe ("Let's Have A Baby" just popped into my head when I wrote that). Just my opinion, as a fan who is still cut up about his passing.

Would I have liked the songs if they had appeared on 80s albums? I very much doubt it. A song leaves me cold regardless of when it was released. A decade doesn't make a weak song good.

I appreciate your comment. It sounds like you've listened to it enough to formulate a legitimate opinion. Far be it from me to say you aren't entitled to it.

1- Joint 2 Joint

Distant 2nd- In This Bed I Scream

Curious Child - for me one of the best pieces of music at all!!!

Further: Soul Sanctuary - this endless smooth melody, simply genius.

Holy River is remarkable too. Fine guitar solo.

leadline said:

How could any of us answer that for you? These songs mean different things to different people. You need to choose your own 'best song on Emancipation'.

.

You just busted me cheating on my test.

I didn't have the patients to listen to it over and over again, so I came here to get the cliffnotes.

You all have been very helpful though because I am making a CD for someone else, and I want to include a minimum of one song from every album and a maximum of four songs.

I can list my lineup for you if you are interested in giving me feedback.

.

QueenofCardboard said:

thequeenofthekings said:

Also this album always makes me think of how he was so excited about starting a family and becoming a dad. Also love Let's Have A Baby. So personal and sad because of the circumstance. And on Sex in the Summer, his baby's ultrasound heartbeat is the beat for the song at the begining. I always firgured that would be so hard for him to hear after he lost his son.

Most of my favorite songs on the album are on Disc 2 !

Disc 2 really works great as a wonderful slow jam album!. Really nothing so consistently like that among his entire catalog that I am awre of.

gandorb said:

thequeenofthekings said:

QueenofCardboard said:

.

You just busted me cheating on my test.

I didn't have the patients to listen to it over and over again, so I came here to get the cliffnotes.

You all have been very helpful though because I am making a CD for someone else, and I want to include a minimum of one song from every album and a maximum of four songs.

I can list my lineup for you if you are interested in giving me feedback.

.

If I've learned anything on this site it's that we all have very different opinions of Prince's music. I find it pretty facinating. I've revisited several albums over the last few months and many of the songs I used to really dispise, I have come to appreciate now. And listing to them through headphones is a must! I had never done this until after his death. I listen with my "beats" and sound is amazing and I understand what he was trying to do in some of the ones u I thought were not so good in the past. Even though we all have different opinions on what we like and don't (which is great, by the way), I'd still be very interested in seeing your list. Any idea what your friend likes and doesn't in terms of music? Do they love or hate R&B? Or love more hard rock? Or like the blues? That would probably help narrow down. I say include some good blues cuts if u can. I think that a lot of people that went fans didn't realize his range of music and his blues songs in my humble opinion were great. I love all his work. I am putting together a cd for my brother of harder rock Prince. He refused to believe that Prince was considered "rock" except for lets go crazy. I had to school him on some songs he had never heard. Casual Prince listeners only hear the radio stuff. I feel bad for them! Ha good for u for spreading Prince joy to your friend! I'm thinking of making specific CDs for my friends as well but according to their taste of music.

.

My friend has both Parade and SOTT, he has heard 1999, Purple Rain and ATWIAD.

.

His favorite band is Radiohead and he loves Neil Young and David Bowie and .........

.

I don't think that he likes R&B or Funk very much yet.

.

I think he likes New Wavish Rock N Roll.

.

I don't know if he like The Blues, but if he doesn't he should so I am going to include a few blues songs.

.

[Edited 7/26/16 1:26am]

Okay, here is the list

.

UNRELEASED

When Doves Scream (unreleased)

Billy's Sunglasses (KAL)

Computer Blue (extended version)

Do Yourself A Favor (unreleased)

Irresistible Bitch (unreleased)

Extralovable (1982)

Turn It Up (Demo 1982)

You're In My System (84 groove)

Lust U Always (unreleased)

Velvet Kitty Cat (unreleased)

.

FOR YOU

I'm Yours

.

PRINCE

I Wanna Be Your Lover

Bambi

.

DIRTY MIND

When You Were Mine

Head

.

CONTROVERSY

Sexuality

Jack U Off

.

1999

Lady Cab Driver

International Lover

.

B-SIDES

Horny Toad

How Come You Don't Call Me Anymore

Shockadelica

She's Always In My Hair

Feel U Up

.

LOVESEXY

Anna Stesia

.

BATMAN

Electric Chair

.

GRAFFITI BRIDGE

The Question of You

Thieves in the Temple

.

DIAMONDS AND PEARLS

Money Don't Matter 2 Night

Thunder

.

LOVE SYMBOL

sweet Baby

.

GOLDNIGGA

Black M. F. in the House

Johnny

.

COME

Pheromone

Papa

Letitgo

.

EXODUS

The Exodus Has Begun

.

THE GOLD EXPERIENCE

Pussy Control

Shhh

Now

319

Billy Jack Bitch

Eye Hate You

.

CHAOS & DISORDER

Zannalee

I Rock, Therefore I am

.

EMANCIPATION

Somebody's Somebody

The Holy River

.

CRYSTAL BALL

Calhoun Square

The Ride

.

NEW POWER SOUL

Wasted Kisses

.

THE TRUTH

The Truth

Don't Play Me

3rd Eye

.

THE VAULT

5 Women

When the Lights Go Down

.

RAVE IN2 THE JOY FANTASTIC

Baby Knows (extended version)

Pretty Man (extended version)

.

MUSICOLOGY

Illusion, Coma, Pimp & Circumstance

Dear Mr. Man

.

THE CHOCOLATE INVASION

Underneath the Cream

.

THE SLAUGHTERHOUSE

The Daisy Chain

.

3121

Fury

The Word

.

INDIGO NIGHTS

Beggin' Woman Blues

Rock Steady

.

LOTUS FLOWER

Crimson and Clover

Colonized Mind

.

MPL SOUND

Dance 4 Me

Valentina

.

HITNRUN PHASE ONE

1,000 X's & 0's

.

HITNRUN PHASE ONE

Xtralovable

.

And that is as far as I have gotten.

What do you think?

[Edited 8/15/16 21:40pm]

The best song is either 'The Holy River' or 'White Mansion'.

.

'The Holy River' is exactly how Prince should have sounded in the 90s, but rarely did. It doesn't sound like R Kelly or like Prince is trying to copy contemporary sounds. It just sounds like a Prince song in the 90s. Lyrically, it's mature.

.

'White Mansion' is just a perfect song that can't fail to put a smile on your face. Yeah, there are the usual production-issues on it, but the song itself is so great that it just steamrolls over that unfortunate 'Emancipation-sound'. I wish Prince had written more lyrics like this where he is nostalgic about his youth and his early days in the industry. This kind of lyric all fans can relate to and understand.

Friend/Lover/Mother/Sister/Wife.....

So fuckin sexy!!!

Then again, In this bed I scream, is guaranteed to make me happy

I really like Emale, In This Bed I Scream, Somebody's Somebody, and Face Down. I feel like he had some beautiful vocals on this album. Somebody should make a thread on his best vocals.

1. Joint 2 joint

2. Human body

3. Love we make

twistedeargasm said:

MendesCity said:

Saviour!

YES! SAVIOUR!!!!! Is a track that everyone slept on. I feel like he gave it all up on this one song!!! This is Prince Royalty passion and Funk. Best song on the Album. Imagine if he released this 1st!???!

For some reason I completely didn't appreciate this song when the album first came out, but it really is the true epic masterpiece on it. The last minute or so just blows my mind.