When I first heard Tevin Campbell's version, I was like "Uhh okay, I'm glad Prince gave that one away... with him singing about doin you after school like some homework and what not." It was a pretty straight forward R&B ditty.

When I saw that Prince had reclaimed the song I was worried. Would those high school lyrics work for him? But then I gave it a listen... Clocking in at a little over 7 minutes, this is just one of those gems where P captures the rhythm, tone, and tempo of sex like no other (I'd put "When We're Dancing Close and Slow" and "Joy in Repetition" in this category).

Take a listen with me.

Starting with the drums at the beginning and Mayte's moans... I mean it is clear clothes are being ripped off in the heat of passion... moving fast... and then and then...

Shhh! Break it down STOP! A slow building back and forth, moved by the rhythm track. Slowly rockin while the lyrics slink back and forth. And as it builds up with the one off lines...

The song goes for a smooth hypnotic climb I'd-rather-wait-til-everyone's-fast-asleep-and-do-it-kitchen-on-the-table-top with-NO-pause-then-a OHHH Stop pull back slow down not yet. Shhh

Bring in the chorus...

We got the break it on down Take it slower, this is gonna last a little longer. Here we go again. You ready?

Candlelight I don't think so. Now it's gettin hot, drippin. Drippaannn. A few verses and then it climbs after the crackle of the flame... keep it goin-no-pause-takin-you-to-the-edge again drippin-all-over-you-like-a-ball-of-wax-relax-LET GO!!! but hold up not yet.

Chorus kicks in... The guitar wants to speak tho. The guitar wants to come. But not yet. Just a little stroke. Play... climb halt. build build build. Take it up up UP. you say you wanna STOP slow jam

Back on track.

Are you listening baby? Here come the drum break. It's about to happen. You make me wanna HUH Take it to the edge. All the way. Speed it up. Take it all the way. Let's go let's go let's go.

Bring in the guitar. Stretch bent pitch. Guitar is holla'in. Here it comes whooo-eee-ooo-eee-ooo-eo-eo-eo-eo-eo-oe-down down down. Down down down. (it's coming now) down down down. down down down... down down down

Keys taken it up...and... and... and... and... band HIT...drums.

whispering sex is not all i think about. it's just all i think about... you

WHEW!

This song is a WORK OUT!

Shhhh the Edit.
[This message was edited Tue Apr 1 15:31:58 PST 2003 by NuPwrSoul]

"when we're dancing..."? with this??














but anyway... break it down!

NuPwrSoul said:

I rememebr hearin Tevins on the box..thinking "lookit Tevin!" lol. Then they played Princes live one one year before release and I said oh shit...I gotta fiond this (92.3). The rest is history of course

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

As far as capturing the tempo and rhythm of sex? Hell ya. A different kind tho. Not the thrashing around of Shhh. But a slow passionate love making.

Listen to the the drum beat skip the 4 to add to the continuing flow. But key is the guitar strumming in the back ground. It's just there. Complimenting the move with its little phrase over and over and over. Repeating until the end. Letting the piano take lead.

Then at about 3:30 into the song, the piano sinks into chords and fluorishes while the guitar comes to the fore front and its phrasings add a few notes here and there while the phrasing speeds up.

Soon the piano is gone and there are two guitars playing off of each other. At a faster tempo. By 4:30 the guitars are goin for it!

You're thinking entirely too hard on this song. Let it go.

okaypimpn said:

okaypimpn said:

If you set your mind free...maybe you'd understand.

okaypimpn said:

Prince said "break it down" so Nu did

NuPwrSoul said:

but i ain't heard either version of "shhh" in a minnit, tho'...

NuPwr. U r a trip . do hear sex in this song. it's like u can visualize everything that could happen in the room with Prince and Mayte. If u were a man u would visualize a sexy girl in the room with u. For women, it would simply b Prince talking 2 u.

Insatiable and Question of U is another track that can give u an orgasmic experience.

Creame said:

Ha! It's def a song to f*** to. After some foreplay with "When We're Dancing Close and Slow"

dang, now i gotta put "wwd..." on...

I dug Tevin's Version better just for the lyrics alone because they fit Him Better.unless Prince was going to Night School I can't see Him singing this Kind of Song IMHO.the music is tight but it went to the Right Person IMHO.Prince even when he was Younger wasn't a Teeny Bop type of Artist.yes He has always had Young Fans&whatnot but His Material&Writing has had a more of a Adult type of theme.it works better Live IMHO also than on Record but I still don't rank It up there with His Best Slow-Jams.actually I'd say Middle of the Road on the 2nd-tier Range of His Slow-Jams to me.but Musically it carrys alot of weight but the Lyrics truly work against Prince doing it in this instance for me.

Have you heard the version Prince did on the 94 tv special The Beautiful Experience? It's pretty cool too and a bit more raw than the album version.

mistermaxxx said:

You missin my point mayne. It's not about the lyrics. It's about the FEEL of the song. The changing rhythm tone tempo etc.

Tom said:

Yes that's a nastyazz guitar solo up in there.

NuPwrSoul said:

I give you Prop points on the Music&in a Instrumental Form it's cool Bro.

NuPwrSoul said:

...i'm just surprised he ain't mentioned mj

mistermaxxx said:

Yeah i mean it's just libidinous (if that's a word). Guttural. From the heart or pelvis depending.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Lame Cheap-Shot Remarks like that is how Feuds are started.but anyway a ENEMY like yourself starting up on me I figured you would go there sooner or later since you got nothing else better to do but to Hate on Me.but remember my Lingo "HATERS SHAKE THE FLAKES"&Hopefully you will get them Hater Flakes outta your system over me.

NuPwrSoul said:

I Know what you mean Man.I dug How Sonny&Michael bland broke it down Live.

mistermaxxx said:

I never understood this Tevin's version was some junior high "hee hee, that boy/girl is cute" type shit. Nice, but that's about it. Prince's version has ALWAYS kicked some serious ass & dropped many'a drawz, the "homework" lyric is NOTHING to be held up over (some of y'all are SO damn literal!!). Those drums @ the open & close?? His tone???


We got the break it on down Take it slower, this is gonna last a little longer. Here we go again. You ready?

NPS, you broke it down NICE!!! A little TOO nice

mistermaxxx said:

eatiddup
[This message was edited Tue Apr 1 13:22:15 PST 2003 by Handclapsfingasnapz]

mistermaxxx said:

Where's that meatloaf pic??

mmmhmmm

I feel ya, NuPwrSoul... this song takes your emotions for a ride.

CalhounSq said:

thanx 4 remindin me...

I like how u broke that down, NPS...the song IS sex, for sure.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Handclaps you listened to "When We're Dancing..." yet? What you think?

NuPwrSoul said:

yeah, i listened 2 it a while ago...they're similar, in the baby-makin music sense, but still worlds apart, imo.

probably cuz "wwd..." wuz like p's first attempt at seduction...

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Yeah it's more subtle. You'd def wanna play that first before gettin into something stronger.