rednblue said:

TheEnglishGent said:

Me too. And one not quite old enough to yet be taking them

Greetings, fellow parent. : ) My son recently discovered today's Top 40 (or whatever they call it now), and he's pretty into it.

Thanks for the honest opinion on how Automatically Awful you find the song.

Do you have favorite songs on 1999 (and/or other albums if you prefer)?

On 1999 I love everything except for Automatic, All The Critics, Lady Cab Driver and Something in the Water, all of which I have tried to get in to but just can't. It's not a popular list of disliked tracks

The rest is stellar.

TheEnglishGent said:

rednblue said:

Greetings, fellow parent. : ) My son recently discovered today's Top 40 (or whatever they call it now), and he's pretty into it.

Thanks for the honest opinion on how Automatically Awful you find the song.

Do you have favorite songs on 1999 (and/or other albums if you prefer)?

On 1999 I love everything except for Automatic, All The Critics, Lady Cab Driver and Something in the Water, all of which I have tried to get in to but just can't. It's not a popular list of disliked tracks

The rest is stellar.

Fun to compare favorites and not-so-favorites, especially with Prince's generous output. I've got some pretty big disconnects with other fans, even when there's a lot of favorites in common.

Hear you on the stuff you just haven't been able to get into. It's really cool when music grows on a person, but with some things, it's just not gonna happen. : l

I'll continue to see if some of the stuff grows, but right now I've got DMSR playing in my head. Stellar. : )

skipthecharades said:

Automatic was released as a single, but Australia only. So at least someone thought it had hit potential.. Never heard the 3.38 minute edit but I am curious what "was left" from the original version.

Good point, and I wonder, too.

Germanegro said:

RJOrion said:

LMAO

Clarence slapped his &ss into the middle of next week! Acting that scene might have made Prince feel nervous.

>

I think "Automatic" was better suited as a non-promotional cut.

Actually, I don't think it did. On the commentary track on the 20th anniversary DVD, either Albert Magnoli or Robert Cavallo (director and producer, respectively) said that Prince went all out in that scene, actually throwing himself into the fall so it would look as if he were hit incredibly hard. They said he didn't even flinch.

The original poster's comments aren't all that wild. Remember, 1999 failed at first with pop audiences, stalling at #44 on the Hot 100 (it went top 5 R&B). After LRC crossed him over, they re-released 1999 and it peaked at #12 pop. R&B was just left with a gap in promotion until Delirious.

.

After that, the risqué "Let's Pretend We're Married" was released as the 4th single and actually charted as high as #54. That 4th single slot could easily have been Automatic, which, when edited, was probably more radio-friendly than LPWM. If Prince hadn't been so busy working on Purple Rain at that point (this was the end of '83/early '84) Automatic could easily have been a minor Top 40 hit.

renfield said:

The original poster's comments aren't all that wild. Remember, 1999 failed at first with pop audiences, stalling at #44 on the Hot 100 (it went top 5 R&B). After LRC crossed him over, they re-released 1999 and it peaked at #12 pop. R&B was just left with a gap in promotion until Delirious.

.

After that, the risqué "Let's Pretend We're Married" was released as the 4th single and actually charted as high as #54. That 4th single slot could easily have been Automatic, which, when edited, was probably more radio-friendly than LPWM. If Prince hadn't been so busy working on Purple Rain at that point (this was the end of '83/early '84) Automatic could easily have been a minor Top 40 hit.

Thanks for your thoughts, and for the backstory. It's really interesting to learn about 1999-LRC-1999.

Fascinating how Prince initially made connections with different parts (for lack of a better word) of his diverse audience, and how he at times worked to maintain or regain followings.

"... and even when i'm right, i'll be wrong"


man, a dude dedicates this to me it's on

starkitty said:

"... and even when i'm right, i'll be wrong"


man, a dude dedicates this to me it's on

Yes, the dude can bring it on.

those obsessive lyrics...

"They say nothing's perfect, but they don't know U"

mynameisnotsusan said:

TheEnglishGent said:

Because it's awful.

ouch lol " />

I like songs that build/have a progression

Automatic is one of them

It definately rides on the live shows

Don't say that no man has ever tasted your ice cream
Baby, U're the purple star of the night supreme
U'll always be a virgin
4 no man deserves your love
I only pray that when U dream
I'm the one U dream of
I pray that when U dream
U dream of how we kiss
Not with our lips, but with our souls
Stop me if I bore U
Why is it that I think we'd be so good in bed?
Can U hear me?
Why do I love U so much?
It's so strange, I'm more comfortable around U when I'm naked
Can U hear me?
I wonder if U have any mercy, don't torture me

Stop the music, baby
Automatic fool!

renfield said:

The original poster's comments aren't all that wild. Remember, 1999 failed at first with pop audiences, stalling at #44 on the Hot 100 (it went top 5 R&B). After LRC crossed him over, they re-released 1999 and it peaked at #12 pop. R&B was just left with a gap in promotion until Delirious.

.

After that, the risqué "Let's Pretend We're Married" was released as the 4th single and actually charted as high as #54. That 4th single slot could easily have been Automatic, which, when edited, was probably more radio-friendly than LPWM. If Prince hadn't been so busy working on Purple Rain at that point (this was the end of '83/early '84) Automatic could easily have been a minor Top 40 hit.

Thanks! The release of Let's Pretend We're Married definitely influenced my thinking. The first two words ("Excuse me") are very well mannered and polite, but let's face it, the risque is out of the bag by the end of that first sentence. : )

A later verse, that speaks of some sincere sentiments, doesn't show up in the four minute video I've seen, but it's kinda just a restatement of the opening line.

OldFriends4Sale said:

I like songs that build/have a progression

Automatic is one of them

It definately rides on the live shows

Don't say that no man has ever tasted your ice cream
Baby, U're the purple star of the night supreme
U'll always be a virgin
4 no man deserves your love
I only pray that when U dream
I'm the one U dream of
I pray that when U dream
U dream of how we kiss
Not with our lips, but with our souls
Stop me if I bore U
Why is it that I think we'd be so good in bed?
Can U hear me?
Why do I love U so much?
It's so strange, I'm more comfortable around U when I'm naked
Can U hear me?
I wonder if U have any mercy, don't torture me

Stop the music, baby
Automatic fool!

It's fantastic to hear from so many fellow Automatic fans! I love the way it builds, and the way Prince speaks those lines. You really feel that dark, over-the-top obsessiveness.

"U'll always be a virgin

4 no man deserves your love..."

rednblue said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

I like songs that build/have a progression

Automatic is one of them

It definately rides on the live shows

Don't say that no man has ever tasted your ice cream
Baby, U're the purple star of the night supreme
U'll always be a virgin
4 no man deserves your love
I only pray that when U dream
I'm the one U dream of
I pray that when U dream
U dream of how we kiss
Not with our lips, but with our souls
Stop me if I bore U
Why is it that I think we'd be so good in bed?
Can U hear me?
Why do I love U so much?
It's so strange, I'm more comfortable around U when I'm naked
Can U hear me?
I wonder if U have any mercy, don't torture me

Stop the music, baby
Automatic fool!

It's fantastic to hear from so many fellow Automatic fans! I love the way it builds, and the way Prince speaks those lines. You really feel that dark, over-the-top obsessiveness.

"U'll always be a virgin

4 no man deserves your love..."

yes 1999 era we really saw a full realization of Prince vision

lasciviousness

this song 4 me so connects with Computer Blue and a little Darling Nikki

TheEnglishGent said:

On 1999 I love everything except for Automatic, All The Critics, Lady Cab Driver and Something in the Water, all of which I have tried to get in to but just can't. It's not a popular list of disliked tracks

The rest is stellar.

I absolutely adore the 1999 album, and the tracks you mention here are my favourites!

rednblue said:

These threads had some great descriptions of Automatic, e.g. this one from thisisreece:

"One of the absolute jewels of his discography. I love how dark and obsessive Prince sounds in this song. Like much of 1999 album it manages to be totally weird, experimental and indulgent, while somehow remaining completely accesible. A hynptoic, erotic, synth-soaked masterpiece."

My thoughts exactly!

OldFriends4Sale said:

rednblue said:

It's fantastic to hear from so many fellow Automatic fans! I love the way it builds, and the way Prince speaks those lines. You really feel that dark, over-the-top obsessiveness.

"U'll always be a virgin

4 no man deserves your love..."

yes 1999 era we really saw a full realization of Prince vision

lasciviousness

this song 4 me so connects with Computer Blue and a little Darling Nikki

Thanks for pointing those out. Thinking about it, the connections are amazing, and you mentioned live shows. For me, getting the visual of Prince performing these songs is what really propelled all three into the stratosphere.

thisisreece said:

rednblue said:

These threads had some great descriptions of Automatic, e.g. this one from thisisreece:

"One of the absolute jewels of his discography. I love how dark and obsessive Prince sounds in this song. Like much of 1999 album it manages to be totally weird, experimental and indulgent, while somehow remaining completely accesible. A hynptoic, erotic, synth-soaked masterpiece."

My thoughts exactly!

LOL! It's automatic, baby.

rednblue said:

renfield said:

The original poster's comments aren't all that wild. Remember, 1999 failed at first with pop audiences, stalling at #44 on the Hot 100 (it went top 5 R&B). After LRC crossed him over, they re-released 1999 and it peaked at #12 pop. R&B was just left with a gap in promotion until Delirious.

.

After that, the risqué "Let's Pretend We're Married" was released as the 4th single and actually charted as high as #54. That 4th single slot could easily have been Automatic, which, when edited, was probably more radio-friendly than LPWM. If Prince hadn't been so busy working on Purple Rain at that point (this was the end of '83/early '84) Automatic could easily have been a minor Top 40 hit.

Thanks! The release of Let's Pretend We're Married definitely influenced my thinking. The first two words ("Excuse me") are very well mannered and polite, but let's face it, the risque is out of the bag by the end of that first sentence. : )

A later verse, that speaks of some sincere sentiments, doesn't show up in the four minute video I've seen, but it's kinda just a restatement of the opening line.

Look at Prince's US chart positions for all the singles before and after LPWM though; it scraped the top 50 based on who he was, not on airplay. Both Automatic and LPWM are brilliant tracks imho but i'm not the slightest bit surprised they weren't pop hits.

jaawwnn said:

rednblue said:

Thanks! The release of Let's Pretend We're Married definitely influenced my thinking. The first two words ("Excuse me") are very well mannered and polite, but let's face it, the risque is out of the bag by the end of that first sentence. : )

A later verse, that speaks of some sincere sentiments, doesn't show up in the four minute video I've seen, but it's kinda just a restatement of the opening line.

Look at Prince's US chart positions for all the singles before and after LPWM though; it scraped the top 50 based on who he was, not on airplay. Both Automatic and LPWM are brilliant tracks imho but i'm not the slightest bit surprised they weren't pop hits.

That's a great point about how it got to follow on success of other 1999 singles and about how Purple Rain singles topped the charts.

[Edited 2/1/17 12:25pm]

[Edited 2/1/17 12:26pm]

rednblue said:

OldFriends4Sale said:

yes 1999 era we really saw a full realization of Prince vision

lasciviousness

this song 4 me so connects with Computer Blue and a little Darling Nikki

Thanks for pointing those out. Thinking about it, the connections are amazing, and you mentioned live shows. For me, getting the visual of Prince performing these songs is what really propelled all three into the stratosphere.

Yes, I love the video performance.

And I love how he goes into the zone of the song during the 1999 tour PR tour Parade tour etc

renfield said:

The original poster's comments aren't all that wild. Remember, 1999 failed at first with pop audiences, stalling at #44 on the Hot 100 (it went top 5 R&B). After LRC crossed him over, they re-released 1999 and it peaked at #12 pop. R&B was just left with a gap in promotion until Delirious.

.

After that, the risqué "Let's Pretend We're Married" was released as the 4th single and actually charted as high as #54. That 4th single slot could easily have been Automatic, which, when edited, was probably more radio-friendly than LPWM. If Prince hadn't been so busy working on Purple Rain at that point (this was the end of '83/early '84) Automatic could easily have been a minor Top 40 hit.

Because Prince's minimalist funk has been so influential a track like Automatic might sound radio-friendly today, but I don't think it did in '82.

renfield said:

After that, the risqué "Let's Pretend We're Married" was released as the 4th single and actually charted as high as #54.

One thing that's really odd is that,in my area,I never heard this song on the radio or saw the video anywhere.In fact,it was only a few years ago that I found out that a video for this song even existed! I guess the song was too "nasty" to become a huge hit in 1983?

paulludvig said:

renfield said:

The original poster's comments aren't all that wild. Remember, 1999 failed at first with pop audiences, stalling at #44 on the Hot 100 (it went top 5 R&B). After LRC crossed him over, they re-released 1999 and it peaked at #12 pop. R&B was just left with a gap in promotion until Delirious.

.

After that, the risqué "Let's Pretend We're Married" was released as the 4th single and actually charted as high as #54. That 4th single slot could easily have been Automatic, which, when edited, was probably more radio-friendly than LPWM. If Prince hadn't been so busy working on Purple Rain at that point (this was the end of '83/early '84) Automatic could easily have been a minor Top 40 hit.

Because Prince's minimalist funk has been so influential a track like Automatic might sound radio-friendly today, but I don't think it did in '82.

I think it would have done better than Let's Pretend We're Married. Even editing out the F word, that song is lyrically a little too much for top 40 radio. If you cut out the obsessive dark last-half of Automatic it wouldn't have sounded much different on pop radio in late 1983 than songs like Peter Schilling's "Major Tom (Coming Home)" or Peter Gabriel's "Shock The Monkey".

Automatic was a killer song, you could barely hear what he was saying tho. I see they have the whole video w/bondage scene up on Youtube now. He is so hot in that.

You could hear him singing he'd go down on you all night long, so maybe that's what kept it from radio lol.

ChanGirl said:

Automatic was a killer song, you could barely hear what he was saying tho. I see they have the whole video w/bondage scene up on Youtube now. He is so hot in that.

You could hear him singing he'd go down on you all night long, so maybe that's what kept it from radio lol.

LOL! Such a generous sentiment, and still not radio friendly.

He utters his lines with such irresistible perfection, then makes us strain to hear them...that Prince.

OldFriends4Sale said:

rednblue said:

Thanks for pointing those out. Thinking about it, the connections are amazing, and you mentioned live shows. For me, getting the visual of Prince performing these songs is what really propelled all three into the stratosphere.

Yes, I love the video performance.

And I love how he goes into the zone of the song during the 1999 tour PR tour Parade tour etc

Thanks for a visual to make my day!

I know I mentioned the 1983 MDT benefit. That version of Automatic has Prince flipping around a bit from woman having her way to him having his way. So many great performances of that song!

rednblue said:

ChanGirl said:

Automatic was a killer song, you could barely hear what he was saying tho. I see they have the whole video w/bondage scene up on Youtube now. He is so hot in that.

You could hear him singing he'd go down on you all night long, so maybe that's what kept it from radio lol.

LOL! Such a generous sentiment, and still not radio friendly.

He utters his lines with such irresistible perfection, then makes us strain to hear them...that Prince.

Yeah. they've already pulled the extended video. Those videos were so great with the dim lighting, the silhouette of his body, his legs, his heels and occasional glimpses of his face. He had us chicks hooked now

I hate AUTOMATIC. I skipped this song most of the time when I listened to 1999.

Moreover, this is not a radio friendly song, even with an edited version.

But I hate DELIRIOUS too, and it was a top ten in the USA ! I still wonder how.

If I were WB at the time, I would have released DMSR and LADYCAB DRIVER as a single instead of DELIRIOUS and LETS PRETEND.

RODSERLING said:

paulludvig said:

renfield said:

The original poster's comments aren't all that wild. Remember, 1999 failed at first with pop audiences, stalling at #44 on the Hot 100 (it went top 5 R&B). After LRC crossed him over, they re-released 1999 and it peaked at #12 pop. R&B was just left with a gap in promotion until Delirious.

.

After that, the risqué "Let's Pretend We're Married" was released as the 4th single and actually charted as high as #54. That 4th single slot could easily have been Automatic, which, when edited, was probably more radio-friendly than LPWM. If Prince hadn't been so busy working on Purple Rain at that point (this was the end of '83/early '84) Automatic could easily have been a minor Top 40 hit.

Because Prince's minimalist funk has been so influential a track like Automatic might sound radio-friendly today, but I don't think it did in '82.

In 1982, there wouldn't have been many places for it to play. College radio? Hmmm...maybe. There were a few New Wave stations that might have played it. (There is a radio-friendly 3:38 edit, according to Princevault.) But it definitely didn't fit Top 40, Adult Contemporary or AOR formats.