People say that first impressions mean everything, but what about picking that certain song a casual Prince fan hasn't heard yet... they've already heard the hits, but are willing to hear a song you pick for them.

Which song do you pick? You want to find the song that could capture and intrigue them. A song that would bring them deeper into the Prince world. You get one chance, one song. What is that song?

heymistermusic said:

People say that first impressions mean everything, but what about picking that certain song a casual Prince fan hasn't heard yet... they've already heard the hits, but are willing to hear a song you pick for them.

Which song do you pick? You want to find the song that could capture and intrigue them. A song that would bring them deeper into the Prince world. You get one chance, one song. What is that song?

just one? well It would probably be The Ladder but if they liked it I would have to spring Telemarketer Blues on them just for the laughs!

Blue Light..

STARFISH AND COFFEE is one of my favs...

One chance, one song...I'd go with "If I Was Your Girlfriend," which was voted by pre-4/21 orgers as a top favorite in a thread a half a year or so ago. IMO it would be an appropriate choice as I think it best exemplifies Prince's distinction as a musician: the unconventional sound and blurring of musical styles; its experimental nature with regard to the high pitch electronically altered vocals; the palpable emotionalism; the weirdness of it being a dark, romantic-bordering-on-obsessive, funk ballad; playing with gender boundaries; mature and nuanced lyrics; vivid sexuality at the end; the intense, almost transcent love he feels for his muse; poetic contemplation; delicious discordant tones; a whispered invitation to stare together into silence and imagine what it looks like, then ending the song abruptly, leaving the listener suspended in exactly that--silence.

.

It's not an obscure song, but to a casual fan it might be. As a fan, familiarity with this track is mandatory

.

.

[Edited 8/28/16 0:09am]

My shortlist of choices would be:

Strange Relationship

If I Was Your Girlfriend

Sexuality

I'm Yours

Lady Cab Driver

The Love We Make

It would definitely be fine tuned to the type of music I would feel that person would like and then once they are hooked then expose them to a fuller range.

For my 70 year old sister who is turned off by explicit sexuality, Condition of the Heart.

For my 35 year old niece who is neutral about the hits yet usually appreciattes good music, any of the plethora of great live tracks.

For my 22 year od nephew, a guitar track like Boom.

For my friend who hasn't heard Prince since he stopped having hits, Revelation (and the entire AOA)

For my partner, any of the "masterpieces" created from the songs of the past decade.

Granted, I haven't done this yet but this thread has put me in the mood!

[Edited 8/28/16 7:59am]

Still Would Stand All Time from Small Club.

Prince has so many songs in so many different styles that depending on their existing taste in music, it might be a good idea to pick an obscure song that comes from a genre of music that they like. That may peak their interest and they may wish to hear more. You could then introduce them to other songs/different genres and showcase P's versatility by playing them a studio and a live version of a particular track.

blueshouse21 said:

The Love We Make...love the lyrics.

17 Days
She's Always In My Hair
Another Lonely Christmas

.

I love this thread

.

I just did this very thing with a selection of songs for a friend.

.

I had three criteria.

.

first, it had to be something he never heard before.

.

second, it had to be something that wouldn't gross out a gay man.

.

third, it had to be great.

.

Colonized Mind

.

QueenofCardboard said:

.

I love this thread

.

I just did this very thing with a selection of songs for a friend.

.

I had three criteria.

.

first, it had to be something he never heard before.

.

second, it had to be something that didn't gross out a gay man

.

third, it had to be great.

.

Colonized Mind

.

You had to navigate this one closely between all the references, with or without slurps and moans.

BTW, how did he like the product of your hard work?

[Edited 8/28/16 10:58am]

What made me become a Prince fan was the fact that you never knew which way the music would turn and some unexpected lyrics. I like strange/different songs, so I would say There´s others here with us, Dance with the devil , Tamborine and Temptation.

gandorb said:

QueenofCardboard said:

.

I love this thread

.

I just did this very thing with a selection of songs for a friend.

.

I had three criteria.

.

first, it had to be something he never heard before.

.

second, it had to be something that didn't gross out a gay man

.

third, it had to be great.

.

Colonized Mind

.

You had to navigate this one closely between all the references, with or without slurps and moans.

BTW, how did he like the product of your hard work?

[Edited 8/28/16 10:58am]

.

I didn't include songs that had explicit pussy lyrics. (which eliminated some of my favorite songs)

.

I haven't heard back from him yet, but I think that he will probably tell that he likes it even if he doesn't, just to polite. But it was such a good selection that I am confident that he's gonna love it.

.

The funny thing is that my step son who never liked Prince helped me put it together, and he is now warming up to Prince. He really likes Exodus, The Truth, The Vault, and the song Pussy Control.

.

.

QueenofCardboard said:

Pope. I was going to say Annie Christian but its too explicit to introduce to a casual Prince fan.

[Edited 8/28/16 12:46pm]

Bluu said:

One chance, one song...I'd go with "If I Was Your Girlfriend," which was voted by pre-4/21 orgers as a top favorite in a thread a half a year or so ago. IMO it would be an appropriate choice as I think it best exemplifies Prince's distinction as a musician: the unconventional sound and blurring of musical styles; its experimental nature with regard to the high pitch electronically altered vocals; the palpable emotionalism; the weirdness of it being a dark, romantic-bordering-on-obsessive, funk ballad; playing with gender boundaries; mature and nuanced lyrics; vivid sexuality at the end; the intense, almost transcent love he feels for his muse; poetic contemplation; delicious discordant tones; a whispered invitation to stare together into silence and imagine what it looks like, then ending the song abruptly, leaving the listener suspended in exactly that--silence.

.

It's not an obscure song, but to a casual fan it might be. As a fan, familiarity with this track is mandatory

.

.

[Edited 8/28/16 0:09am]

The sadness and frustration on it, i'm with you this would be the one.

heymistermusic said:

People say that first impressions mean everything, but what about picking that certain song a casual Prince fan hasn't heard yet... they've already heard the hits, but are willing to hear a song you pick for them.

Which song do you pick? You want to find the song that could capture and intrigue them. A song that would bring them deeper into the Prince world. You get one chance, one song. What is that song?

I think "All My Dreams" is a good contender, in which it's cinematic enough to pique a noobie's curiosity.
It's so far away from the usual singles non-fans know.

The megaphone verses are full of humour, you have Wendy, Lisa and probably Susannah doing some of
the best female vocal harmonies ever heard in popular music, you have the God's voice,
an incredible bass line before the final reprise, Clare Fischer, a jazzy piano solo,
and the most pyrotechnical ending of all times, classical music aside.
Even the Jimi-esque "Let's Go Crazy" ending cannot top it.

If after that, the person doesn't want to know more about the man,
they're not really into music.

My bad, I thought we were discussing unreleased tracks only.

If released tracks are allowed, I would go for the most bizarro and creative stuff :

"Something In the Water", "All The Critics Love U In New York",
"Tamborine", "Hello", "Alexa de Paris"...

gandorb said:

QueenofCardboard said:

.

I didn't include songs that had explicit pussy lyrics. (which eliminated some of my favorite songs)

.

I haven't heard back from him yet, but I think that he will probably tell that he likes it even if he doesn't, just to polite. But it was such a good selection that I am confident that he's gonna love it.

.

The funny thing is that my step son who never liked Prince helped me put it together, and he is now warming up to Prince. He really likes Exodus, The Truth, The Vault, and the song Pussy Control.

.

.

Whatever his verdict, the joy is in the process!

.

I just heard from my friend and he said that he listens to it (Prince) in his car on his commute to and from work.

.

He said and I quote "I'm actually starting to get into some of his crap."

.

I think we have a convert.

.

[Edited 8/28/16 20:40pm]

QueenofCardboard said:

I would play AOA ... the "mature" Prince. I couldn't settle on just one song.

Close eyes and make a random album selection. Pick any 1 song from that collection that hasn't been broadcast much, either one I like or think they could get into musically--say, "Crazy You" from For You, or "Da Bang" from Crystal Ball. Play it and ask: U like?

>

If (s)he doesn't care for it, ah well then.

>

If (s)he never listens to or checks for another "obscure" Prince song ever again, then too damn bad.

>

They won't be getting an invite to join me on my visit to Paisley Park.

>

I'm not big on attempting to convert the casual fan into a more supportive one. Is that bad of me?

Dang, that is a tough, great question!

I think I'd go with "The Holy River". I love the lyrics, and the guitar solo is my favorite of all the solos Prince has released.

Germanegro said:

Close eyes and make a random album selection. Pick any 1 song from that collection that hasn't been broadcast much, either one I like or think they could get into musically--say, "Crazy You" from For You, or "Da Bang" from Crystal Ball. Play it and ask: U like?

>

If (s)he doesn't care for it, ah well then.

>

If (s)he never listens to or checks for another "obscure" Prince song ever again, then too damn bad.

>

They won't be getting an invite to join me on my visit to Paisley Park.

>

I'm not big on attempting to convert the casual fan into a more supportive one. Is that bad of me?

.

No, that isn't bad of you.

My friend actually chided me about holding back on him when it came to good music.

So I told him I was into Prince and was he interested in hearing some of the stuff that wasn't on the radio.

He gave me an enthusiastic YES.

.

[Edited 8/29/16 19:02pm]

Bluu said:

One chance, one song...I'd go with "If I Was Your Girlfriend," which was voted by pre-4/21 orgers as a top favorite in a thread a half a year or so ago. IMO it would be an appropriate choice as I think it best exemplifies Prince's distinction as a musician: the unconventional sound and blurring of musical styles; its experimental nature with regard to the high pitch electronically altered vocals; the palpable emotionalism; the weirdness of it being a dark, romantic-bordering-on-obsessive, funk ballad; playing with gender boundaries; mature and nuanced lyrics; vivid sexuality at the end; the intense, almost transcent love he feels for his muse; poetic contemplation; delicious discordant tones; a whispered invitation to stare together into silence and imagine what it looks like, then ending the song abruptly, leaving the listener suspended in exactly that--silence.

.

It's not an obscure song, but to a casual fan it might be. As a fan, familiarity with this track is mandatory

.

.

[Edited 8/28/16 0:09am]

I could not have described IIWYG better <3