One thing I've always noticed about Prince is that there are songs that EVERYONE can agree on are amazing and yet in his vast catalog, there are certain songs that almost function as audio ink blot tests: they are the ones in which NO ONE has a handle on what the overall opinion truly is. Case in point: I played The Ladder the other day and a friend (who has ATWIAD) said that he considered it the worst song on the record while I consider it the albums climax! We agreed to disagree about it but it got me thinking, which are the songs that get the most wildly uneven reactions? There are even entire albums that could qualify as having polarizing tendencies: Lovesexy, which I've played ALOT for friends over the years, never gets the same reaction twice!

Eye Hate U - I actually hate you, but I know alot of people love this one. The chorus is just so weak and there were much better songs to choose as singles from TGE

The entire Rainbow Children album.

Dazza said:

Eye Hate U - I actually hate you, but I know alot of people love this one. The chorus is just so weak and there were much better songs to choose as singles from TGE

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

Genesia said:

The entire Rainbow Children album.

Yeah, put me in this category as well. Ive tried many times over the years to dig this album. It hasnt worked.

DarkKnight1 said:

Genesia said:

The entire Rainbow Children album.

Yeah, put me in this category as well. Ive tried many times over the years to dig this album. It hasnt worked.

I actually haven't heard The Rainbow Children it's self but wasn't crazy about the songs from it on the ONA live box....I've heard arguements for and against this album but it's interesting the STRONG reactions, there is NO middle ground with certain art...

Genesia said:

The entire Rainbow Children album.

polarizing: to divide into sharply opposing factions, political groups, etc.

If there was ever an album that divided the Prince fanbase, it was The Rainbow Children. So definitely perfect call on this one.

I just don't like the album. I do think I would enjoy it if it were an instrumental album with some random chanting background vocals or "oohhs" and "ahhhs" here and there. For me, the overt preachiness on it absolutely puts me off. I don't even mind the lowered vocal narration. It's the arrogance in the message. I can deal with Lovesexy, but not The Rainbow Children.

Of course, I also love "The Arms of Orion" immensely.

I'm not sure that there are songs that everyone considers amazing. There are some fans who hate "Purple Rain", and a few fans said they weren't thrilled with "Moonbeam Levels" although it seemed a candidate for universal praise before its release.

The Rainbow Children is a good mention. To a lesser extent, Lovesexy also falls in this boat. I'd also consider a song like "Free".

I was going to say Jughead however isn't thta pretty much universally disliked? lol

For me it´s The most beautiful girl in the world and Diamonds and Pearls. Everybody seems to love this songs, but I don´t dig them at all.

The whole damn Gold Experience album, outside of Eye Hate U!

Temptation - I love the the entire song, even th over the top part. I have heard of other admirers too, but certainly many who just don't like it.

Gold - There are whole threads about this song, with few people in between. I have always liked it and love the live version.

The Greatest Romance That's Ever Been Sold- While I like it, some people really like it and others dismiss it entirely as a sign of the slickness of Rave.

Darling Nikki, not necessarily for Prince fans, but on a societal level in the 1980s because of it being on the Filthy 15 list and the way that it lead to the development of the parental advisory labels.

--

Take Me With U - I really dislike the song. I hate how it sounds. The lyrics are nice, I like the scene in the movie (except for the song). But I just really dislike how the song sounds. I almost always skip it when listening to PR.

I think we're supposed to pick songs that are widely loved and widely hated, not just ones we each go against the grain about, lest every song be called polarizing.

Lovesexy album is not good at all, except for Anna and I Wish U Heaven.

anything he did that said anything remotely negative about white people, white people didn't appreciate their Prince coming at them. Avalanche/Mr. Man are a couple.

I wouldn't have guessedthis, but when I did the thread on the top 5 and bottom 5 of Prince's 19 US top 10 singles, Sign of the Time was the most polarized of the songs in that several orgers rated it in the topo 5 and several rated it in the bottom 5. This doesn't necessarily mean it was hated, but still an interesting finding IMO.

not this topic AGAIN.....

Every time I play Girls & Boys for somebody, they get so turned off by the horn (kazoo?) section in the middle. I love it though.

Telecaster5 said:

For me it´s The most beautiful girl in the world and Diamonds and Pearls. Everybody seems to love this songs, but I don´t dig them at all.

Nah, the fanbase is rather divided on them. I happen to love both myself and both were some of my early favourites when I got into Prince in the early-90s.

These are five songs I LOVE that I feel others may not: 5) Cosmic Day - I've seen SO many ppl brush this off as a stupid overrrated song, but I adore it, hair metal guitars and all 4) Sister - Why do I love this? I honestly can't give a real reason but can see why others may not dig it 3) Superfunkycalifragisexy - You can sense the song isn't for everyone but I cannot stop listening to it! The subject matter alone is rather polarizing, with allusions to drinking blood and "squirrel meat"(???) 2) DMSR - I've got such a love/hate thing with this song, it's ridiculous: it's funky if you are in the mood for it, but reeeeeallly annoying if you are not! Weird. And for number one I pick: 1) Gett Off - I feel idiotic for loving Gett Off because A) it's not really Prince at his best and B) the lyrics are rather obvious but I end up singing along anyway! Plus, he was totally trying too hard with the sex angle....something that definitely would offend some people...I feel polarized within myself over this entire list, lol

[Edited 12/9/16 4:21am]

[Edited 12/9/16 5:19am]

gandorb said:

Temptation - I love the the entire song, even th over the top part. I have heard of other admirers too, but certainly many who just don't like it.

Gold - There are whole threads about this song, with few people in between. I have always liked it and love the live version.

The Greatest Romance That's Ever Been Sold- While I like it, some people really like it and others dismiss it entirely as a sign of the slickness of Rave.

I LOVE Temptation too. One of my favorite of all times.

Anthoknee said:

Billy Jack Bitch and Cream. I know most fans like Cream but I think it's weak and I can't listen to it.

PeteSilas said:

purpleemotions said:

RJOrion said:

purpleemotions said:

Billy Jack Bitch and Cream. I know most fans like Cream but I think it's weak and I can't listen to it.

i agree on both of those...

I attempted to listen to Cream the other day and even after his death I can't listen to it.

RJOrion said:

PeteSilas said:

anything he did that said anything remotely negative about white people, white people didn't appreciate their Prince coming at them. Avalanche/Mr. Man are a couple.

"Family Name" too.. white people dont like that one either...

I just found out I must not be white. Love all three of these songs, especially Avalanche. If people put these songs down, it must have been awhile back.

gandorb said:

RJOrion said:

PeteSilas said: "Family Name" too.. white people dont like that one either...

I just found out I must not be white. Love all three of these songs, especially Avalanche. If people put these songs down, it must have been awhile back.

Is that song historically accurate?