Does anyone think the song Hello should have been released as a single, not a B-side? A lot of Prince's B-Sides sound pristine and well produced that they could have been hits.

SoftSkarlettLovisa said:

Does anyone think the song Hello should have been released as a single, not a B-side? A lot of Prince's B-Sides sound pristine and well produced that they could have been hits.

No. A few of his b-sides were hits, or recognized on radio. Prince's personal stuff often stayed buried on an album, or as a b-side, or not at all (ie: "Old Friends 4 Sale"). Sure he wrote songs about people around him and they were singles. But the really deep stuff where he's name checking or really calling someone out and putting shit on blast - that stuff was left to be discovered.

Believe me, as someone who was alive during that, "Hello" got plenty of attention when it came out as the B-side to "Pop Life". Him not showing up at the "We Are The World" session made big headlines, and even Bob Geldof said (sic) "it will forever be his shame that he didn't show up". Stories came out later about what happened, then "Hello" showed up.

PS We have the same birthday, albeit 20 year apart!

This track lyrically was very intimate and summed up the issues Prince was dealing with at the time. Musically, fierce track and I have always loved this song.

I do not think it should have been released as a single. I think that releasing this as a B-side was the best route to go. Prince expressed, and in essence, answered the issues he was accused of and was going thru. He did so in an excellent way.

I love the line, "You call 'em bodyguards but I call 'em my friends
I guess I'm used to havin' 'em around".

Just my 2 cents in a ramblin fashion.

TrivialPursuit said:

SoftSkarlettLovisa said:

Does anyone think the song Hello should have been released as a single, not a B-side? A lot of Prince's B-Sides sound pristine and well produced that they could have been hits.

No. A few of his b-sides were hits, or recognized on radio. Prince's personal stuff often stayed buried on an album, or as a b-side, or not at all (ie: "Old Friends 4 Sale"). Sure he wrote songs about people around him and they were singles. But the really deep stuff where he's name checking or really calling someone out and putting shit on blast - that stuff was left to be discovered.

Believe me, as someone who was alive during that, "Hello" got plenty of attention when it came out as the B-side to "Pop Life". Him not showing up at the "We Are The World" session made big headlines, and even Bob Geldof said (sic) "it will forever be his shame that he didn't show up". Stories came out later about what happened, then "Hello" showed up.

PS We have the same birthday, albeit 20 year apart!

TrivialPursuit, that's awesome to know we have the same birthday. Please to meet another Arien.

SoftSkarlettLovisa said:

TrivialPursuit, that's awesome to know we have the same birthday. Please to meet another Arien.

TrivialPursuit said:

SoftSkarlettLovisa said:

TrivialPursuit, that's awesome to know we have the same birthday. Please to meet another Arien.

*waves back*