StudioA1992 said:

Beautiful vocals, beautiful song

I think the reason that Prince called his recording studio and record label Paisley Park is because of the backward masking thing.

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Especially clear on the "paisley park" start of the 12" mix. Take just the voices and reverse the audio. You will clearly hear "Love Is Here". Basically, he named his place and label love. Paisley Park is in your heart indeed.

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The entire song is about symmetry and backwards/forwards. It is especially obvious in the music notation of the ATWIAD book, but if you reverse the melody of Paisley Park (not the audio, but play the notes in reverse order), it remains the same. It is mostly symmetrical.

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The thing that amazes me, especially for the ATWIAD period, but also outside it, is the meticulous care that was given to details and the backwards thing. A song like Girl, with the song Boy in reverse in it and so on. There are so many little things, that it is hard to imagine the speed with which is was all recorded.

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Even though Paisley Park is not my favourite song from the album, it is very dear to me. Along with all the extra meaning of love and how it extended to his new "uptown". Even though I never went to the place, I did always carry a bit of it in my heart, with love.

[Edited 8/28/16 0:32am]

Latin said:

What does everyone think of the extended version of the SONG "Paisley Park"? It's awesome! Please remember not to mention anything else about Paisley Park because of that moderator that may lock or delete this thread about the SONG.

Always loved this song. Neved tire of it. The seagull sounds were always distracting to me, and I would have preferred he left them off, or at least toned down the volume on them, but the guitar solo at the begining (and end) is just exquisite, improving an already stellar track.

Paisley park is in your heart.......

Enough said..... perfect in every way...

It´s one of my all time favorite Prince songs.

Great lyrics, great storytelling, great music. I like its slow, laid back , grinding beat and guitar, and I absolutely love the 12" inch maxi version with the seagulls.

Paisley Park is one of my favorite songs of all time.

sonshine said:

I love the song. It's catchy, sweet and up-lifting without being heavy or preachy. I finally added ATWIAD after he passed and was floored at how good it is. In fact it's in the top 4 of my favorite albums now. Unfortunately at the time it was released I listened to the critics and didn't spend my money on this record. What a mistake! [Edited 8/28/16 7:42am]

Yes. Although I bought it the day of its release and really was into it, the long interiim between listens (literally over a decade due to cassette player breaking)didn't prepare me for how much I loved the song and the album after he died. Definitely, a top 4 IMO.

bigtimefan said:

StudioA1992 said:

Wow... what a song!

I was 18 yrs old, just bought ATWIAD and after listening to it, knew exactly what I was going to do with my life. I was going to Paisley Park.

I look at that first of many "colorful people who's hair on one side is swept back" photo in that passport of mine and see all the stamps from ATWI my lifetime and can't believe the life I've had and that I did make it to Paisley Park and I owe it all to Prince.

So Cool! Good for you! I am one of those that swept my hair back on one side too! When did you make it to PP?

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Back to topic: Loved this song and the LP when it came out, and to be honest had completely forgotten about it. Amazingly, when I read the above lyrics, I remembered the words and tempo immediately. One of his many songs that really are timeless.....

Kept thinking about this post. I checked my stash and realized I only have this one on vinyl.

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I just ordered the cd from Amazon for $4.99!

This song is just like Prince, meaning, LOVE from Jump !

One of my favourite Prince tracks! I loved it from the first minute I heard it; it's also notable for following in "When Doves Cry"'s footsteps by being another lead single (at least in Europe and Australia) to have no bass.

DarkKnight1 said:

Love that track. Both Paisley Park and Pop Life are fantastic simple pop tracks on a more complex prince album.

I wouldn't qualify them as "simple". "Love me do" they ain't.

I see your point, but there are some serious chord changes in both.
The calliope synth chords in triplets, in the verses, are anything but simple, harmonically speaking (listen carefully).

As for "Pop Life", it's mostly 9th, 11th and 13th chords, not exactly your standard power chords.

[Edited 8/28/16 11:46am]

eyewishuheaven said:

One o' my all-time faves.

BUT: I always thought it was dolphins on the 12" version! You guys sure those are seagulls?

Oh, there's the whole Zoo : birds, monkeys... and possibly dolphins.

PeteSilas said:

morningsong said:

PeteSilas said: I like it because every song on it I fully enjoy on some level. No idea about what the critics are talking about regarding eras and all that.

some of them raved over it, well, as i said, because they liked the nod towards what they considered white psychedelia. I guess, overall, the public and the critics were very mixed. He lost a ton of the fans from PR on this album, and I believe that's what he wanted.

I'm pretty sure he would have preferred the opposite. Listeners with open minds.
But most people, especially americans living in between coasts (sorry), have not that much culture.

Throw in an eastern flute, fingercymbals and violas, and you lose them.
And they expected salacious Prince pt. II, pt. III, etc.

Funny thing is, I think he would have lost me as a fan
if he had repeated himself.

I really don't think throwing people off was intentional.
He knew it was a less accessible record.
But his primary goal was to make interesting music, not to please the masses.

bonatoc said:

Latin said:

Does anyone know whether he ever performed "Paisley Park" live?

A few times. The best in my opinion is the one from the 1986 1st Avenue warm-up.

It's not bad, but without the string quartet, and the introspection (which is a paradox considering the catchy chorus),
it's not the same. I can understand why he felt this was not a song very appropriate for concerts.

Love it, such a great song, it reminds me a lot to Penny Lane; but have you paid attention to that beutiful choir at the end or that i don't know i thinks is a violin; that beautiful ending is missing in the 12 version. I love the guitar intro in the 12 version but i hate those dolphins or seagulls.

Latin said:

Does anyone know whether he ever performed "Paisley Park" live?

I was inside Paisley Park when Prince passed right by me, did an entreance like the band in the Sign of the Times movie, went on stage and played this song that night. It was during the 2002 celebration. It was very unexpected and a very surreal experience.

I call it the 3rd level concept of Purple Utopia
I've always loved this song and the extended versions guitar solo intro takes it over for me

mediumdry said:

....... Even though I never went to the place, I did always carry a bit of it in my heart, with love.

[Edited 8/28/16 0:32am]

bonatoc said:

Latin said:

Does anyone know whether he ever performed "Paisley Park" live?

A few times. The best in my opinion is the one from the 1986 1st Avenue warm-up.

It's not bad, but without the string quartet, and the introspection (which is a paradox considering the catchy chorus),
it's not the same. I can understand why he felt this was not a song very appropriate for concerts.

October 27. 1985
Theatre Du Verdure in France

1.America (Video)
2.Paisley Park
3.Delirious
4.Little Red Corvette
5.Purple Rain

I wonder if it sounds much different than how they did it in 1986

Almost like how America is performed a bit different here than on the Parade tour

Latin said:

It must of been an amazing experience for those who were there when he performed it live!

Indeed, it must have been; a beautiful song and the little chorus at the very end, just beautiful that: "ohhhhhhh"