Something about this song makes me sad.I wonder how it ranked with prince on his own favs.He seemed to always sing it at his concerts.

I think the song was deceptively deep for a radio song, and reflected Prince's underlying angst. And yes, for that reason, the song makes me feel melancholy for him and for us.

gandorb said:

I think the song was deceptively deep for a radio song, and reflected Prince's underlying angst. And yes, for that reason, the song makes me feel melancholy for him and for us.

Agree

i fucking love this song; it's properly brilliant. and yes i do hear the underlying angst but more than that i think his words suggest a better way; a solution to life's angst, if you will. It's a bit of a utopic vision i reckon, along with the album as a whole

My question is, is that the best bass line from the 80's?

So damn funky

Thanks guys.A friend of mine swears prince recorded two versions of the song one fast and one slow anyone know if thats true.

It is a sort of angry song about the pitfalls in life i think.

I try so hard not to indulge in feelings of nostalgia...

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But goddamn, THIS SONG takes me right back to 1985 and makes me SO wistful every single time I hear it.

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Nostalgia aside, to me it's one of his very top-most classics. I didn't know the 12" versions until quite a few years later, but when I did my mind was blown once again...

At the time, the whole AWTWIAD album seemed so strange and such a radical departure from PR. I still liked it because it was Prince and different than anything else on the radio.

That being said, Pop Life, was always one of my favorites from this album, probably one of my top 20 Prince songs actually. That drum sound/pattern (credited to Sheila) is so unique and not the typical linn pattern.

AWTWIAD, I get it now and it has gotten better with time. When I hear that drum sound of Pop Life kick in when it comes on the radio, it still makes me stop what I'm doing and groove for a few minutes.

destinyc1 said:

Thanks guys.A friend of mine swears prince recorded two versions of the song one fast and one slow anyone know if thats true.

Sometimes unreleased versions have quality issues up to and including speed. I haven't heard a sped up version of this song? He would pick up the pace when playing it live.

Superconductor said:

One of many enduring examples of Prince's poetry.

I agree, it has angst but is also about spirituality...the more people chase material things or the unattainable...

Then the more unfulfilled they will be... whether it is the lottery cheque, the ultimate high, curly hair

In my case being - "what's the matter with your sex...is 15mins your best..."

Never been a problem for me...but the g/f never gets her POP!

Wolfie87 said:

REV,You're correct thats what it was.And its a heart toucher to me.More so than ever now.

destinyc1 said:

Thanks guys.A friend of mine swears prince recorded two versions of the song one fast and one slow anyone know if thats true.

I´ve never heard about that but....there´s an unreleased version of the song Aroud the World in a Day that sounds drastically different from the album version, and then there´s the two 12" versions of PopLife, one American and one British pressing. But I´m sure you´re already familiar with the 12", right?

Yes with a 9 min extention correct

gandorb said:

Superconductor said:

I love that song. Angst? Sounds to me more like social commentary. About people chasing shallow thrills. Whatcha putting in your nose? Is that where your money goes?

I agree that there is social commentary, but also think he has angst about "we all have a space to fill". This seems to be connected in a personal way to the next two songs on ATWIAD, The Ladder and Temptation. To me, he is suggesting that the best way to fill it is through religion (the Ladder) but his problem is that he tries to fill it through sex (Temptation). The conflict produces angst.

(to the bolded part) - EXCELLENT analysis!

gandorb said:

Superconductor said:

I love that song. Angst? Sounds to me more like social commentary. About people chasing shallow thrills. Whatcha putting in your nose? Is that where your money goes?

I agree that there is social commentary, but also think he has angst about "we all have a space to fill". This seems to be connected in a personal way to the next two songs on ATWIAD, The Ladder and Temptation. To me, he is suggesting that the best way to fill it is through religion (the Ladder) but his problem is that he tries to fill it through sex (Temptation). The conflict produces angst.

Interesting take. Makes sense.

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I just don't feel the angst when I hear the song.

More like questioning/ challenging the listener as in what are you doing? Fill that space!

The drive of the song, the piercing keys and bass, it sounds driven, pushing forward.

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Just looked up the album info, was released on April 21, 1985.

Loved that album so much when it came out.

destinyc1 said:

He seemed to always sing it at his concerts.

Did he?

I only recall it being sung at the Lovesexy show i attended.

Superconductor said:

Superconductor said:

gandorb said:

Superconductor said: I agree that there is social commentary, but also think he has angst about "we all have a space to fill". This seems to be connected in a personal way to the next two songs on ATWIAD, The Ladder and Temptation. To me, he is suggesting that the best way to fill it is through religion (the Ladder) but his problem is that he tries to fill it through sex (Temptation). The conflict produces angst.

Interesting take. Makes sense.

.

I just don't feel the angst when I hear the song.

More like questioning/ challenging the listener as in what are you doing? Fill that space!

The drive of the song, the piercing keys and bass, it sounds driven, pushing forward.

.

Just looked up the album info, was released on April 21, 1985.

Loved that album so much when it came out.

Strange - Wikipedia gives the release date as April 21st, but Princevault gives it as the 22nd.

Great album though, then and now.

destinyc1 said:

Thanks guys.A friend of mine swears prince recorded two versions of the song one fast and one slow anyone know if thats true.

There was a remix done in the 90s... 94 ish. IIRC Kirky J has a remix accredited to him. Off the top of my head I think it also appears in part on Kirk Js B-sides remix which was b-side to "The Purple Medley"? I don't think it's a faster tempo, but has more of hip hop beat and turns the synth line into a Dr Dre-esque melody.

There is also "Pop Life (fresh dance mix) which I think is the 12" version of the song. But it's no faster than the original

Noodled24 said:

destinyc1 said:

Thanks guys.A friend of mine swears prince recorded two versions of the song one fast and one slow anyone know if thats true.

There was a remix done in the 90s... 94 ish. IIRC Kirky J has a remix accredited to him. Off the top of my head I think it also appears in part on Kirk Js B-sides remix which was b-side to "The Purple Medley"? I don't think it's a faster tempo, but has more of hip hop beat and turns the synth line into a Dr Dre-esque melody.

There is also "Pop Life (fresh dance mix) which I think is the 12" version of the song. But it's no faster than the original

The Pop Life (Fresh Dance Mix) was remixed by Sheila E and was on the US 12". In the UK, we got the far superior Pop Life (Extended Version).

^ Ah thanks for the heads up.

I have the Fresh Dance Mix clocking in at 6.15

extended version of the song clocking in at 9.06 - and is indeed far superior.

When this song hit the airwaves, my girlfriend at the time sad it made her sad, because the line "what you puttin' up your nose" made her think of her older sister, who was a complete loser and was partying hard every chance she got and dropped out of college.

.

So there was definitely some topical, timely social commentary in there, even if it wasn't intended.

Superconductor said:

gandorb said:

Superconductor said: I agree that there is social commentary, but also think he has angst about "we all have a space to fill". This seems to be connected in a personal way to the next two songs on ATWIAD, The Ladder and Temptation. To me, he is suggesting that the best way to fill it is through religion (the Ladder) but his problem is that he tries to fill it through sex (Temptation). The conflict produces angst.

Interesting take. Makes sense.

.

I just don't feel the angst when I hear the song.

More like questioning/ challenging the listener as in what are you doing? Fill that space!

The drive of the song, the piercing keys and bass, it sounds driven, pushing forward.

.

Just looked up the album info, was released on April 21, 1985.

Loved that album so much when it came out.

I'M WITH YOU, really it was realeased on April 21?

I cant even listen to it anymore

ATWIAD was the first cassette I purchased with my allowance. I remember it vividly. I was 9 years old. Pop Life was my favorite song on the tape. I played it over and over. I always thought even back then it was social commentary which also comes up on "America" as well. Such a great song though.