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Thread started 02/28/17 9:21am

laurarichardso
n

What about those backward messages on Prince’s songs?

What about those backward messages on Prince’s songs?

We all know about Darling Nikki but what about other songs with backwards messages.

I remember as a high school student hearing my friends and fellow Prince fans discuss a backward message in Controversy. I did not believe a backward message was in the song until I ran the record backward and you can hear him say. “Can you relate” over and over again. I am still not sure why he put this message on that song but I believe it was the first time he did it.

We know about “Girl” and we know something is backward in “Shortberry Strawcake” but what other songs have backward messages?

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Reply #1 posted 02/28/17 9:35am

OnlyNDaUsa

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the beginning of "Baby I'm a Star"

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #2 posted 02/28/17 9:39am

OnlyNDaUsa

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I have never heard about controversy... but I am going to try tp play it backward now.

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #3 posted 02/28/17 9:41am

purplethunder3
121

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"Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato

https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0
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Reply #4 posted 02/28/17 9:47am

OnlyNDaUsa

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some of the non-lyrical vocal stuff like ohhh and some yells sound like they may be backward...and some yeah's... "controversy" sounds more like "eat sandwich nut" but you might 'hear' "can you relate"


but it is fun the "people call me rude" part was cool too!

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #5 posted 02/28/17 10:02am

TrivialPursuit

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As reference post from the past: http://prince.org/msg/7/326217

There's backmasking on "Irresistible Bitch". Here's a copy and paste:

So we know a lot of the backwards stuff Prince has done on albums. But tonight, I was jamming to The B-Sides tonight, and had them cranked up in my headphones. As "Irresistible Bitch" came on, something didn't sound right. The whole intro, especially the 2nd section before the first verse seemed..different. I heard a voice, I know I did. Rewind, listen 20 more times volume up more each take. Then I just recorded the beginning of the track, and reversed it. Sure enough, Prince is singing/talking "I want you....I want you.....irresistible bitch.....irresistible bitch.....oh I want you".

Not sure if that's ever been brought up here before, but it's new to me.

Of course I also just noticed he said "A deeper voices answers....". I always thought he said, "A different voice answers..." Go figure.

The "Baby I'm A Star" thing isn't hard to hear if you just reverse the track on your own.

I've never heard anything on "Controversy".

"Shortberry Strawcake" isn't necessarily backwards, that I remember (it's been a minute). It could just be vocalizations through whatever filter or device. The last I heard about it, that's what it was. I've never researched much but maybe I should. It's an intriguing song for that reason alone.

[Edited 2/28/17 10:04am]

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
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Reply #6 posted 02/28/17 10:46am

IstenSzek

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there's something in "boom" about solomon, isn't there. not sure if anyone ever got
it completely.

there's the 'contracts make you smaller' line in "cause and effect"

there's the intro to "however much u want" with him and mayte talking

something in "u know", which has been discussed recently, thought might be nothing


and true love lives on lollipops and crisps
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Reply #7 posted 02/28/17 5:13pm

mediumdry

Of course, Paisley Park backwards is Love Is Here. Especially clear in the start of the 12" version, as it starts with it without any other distracting sounds. I am sure it is why the name held a special place is in his heart.

Paisley Park is in your heart - Love Is Here!
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Reply #8 posted 03/01/17 11:37am

FragileUnderto
w

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Straberry Shortcake does have backword lyrics, its just really hard to make out

Irrisitable bitch : That was pretty obvious too. As a kid i would spin my record backwords lol

Girl : has vanity saying a few lines hete and there
Cant believe my purple psychedelic pimp slap pimp2

And I descend from grace, In arms of undertow
I will take my place, In the great below
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Reply #9 posted 03/01/17 1:18pm

TwiliteKid

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mediumdry said:

Of course, Paisley Park backwards is Love Is Here. Especially clear in the start of the 12" version, as it starts with it without any other distracting sounds. I am sure it is why the name held a special place is in his heart.

No it's not.

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Reply #10 posted 03/01/17 1:23pm

OnlyNDaUsa

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TwiliteKid said:

mediumdry said:

Of course, Paisley Park backwards is Love Is Here. Especially clear in the start of the 12" version, as it starts with it without any other distracting sounds. I am sure it is why the name held a special place is in his heart.

No it's not.

i remember some dolphins or something but not really backwards stuff

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #11 posted 03/01/17 1:31pm

OnlyNDaUsa

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on baby I'm a star on the left channel wendy (I think) says something like: "Like what the fuck do they know? All their taste is in their mouth. Really, what the fuck do they know? Come on, baby Let's go crazy!"

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #12 posted 03/01/17 1:32pm

NorthC

Dnatsrednu ohw esoht 4 ereht era yeht
[Edited 3/1/17 13:33pm]
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Reply #13 posted 03/01/17 1:33pm

TwiliteKid

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NorthC said:

Dnantsrednu ohw esoht 4 ereht era yeht

How long did that take you?

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Reply #14 posted 03/01/17 1:35pm

NorthC

TwiliteKid said:



NorthC said:


Dnantsrednu ohw esoht 4 ereht era yeht


How long did that take you?


A few minutes including correcting the typo! biggrin
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Reply #15 posted 03/01/17 1:39pm

Spanky

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NorthC said:

Dnatsrednu ohw esoht 4 ereht era yeht
[Edited 3/1/17 13:33pm]

.esaelp, dlihC.
I wish u heaven
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Reply #16 posted 03/01/17 2:58pm

mediumdry

TwiliteKid said:

mediumdry said:

Of course, Paisley Park backwards is Love Is Here. Especially clear in the start of the 12" version, as it starts with it without any other distracting sounds. I am sure it is why the name held a special place is in his heart.

No it's not.

.

take the 12" versions start, the "Paisley Park", put it in an audio program, reverse it and you will hear "Love is here" clear as day. (unlike the controversy song, where I did not hear anything playing the entire song back)

.

Paisley Park is special anyway. It is especially clear in the ATWIAD music book where it is written down in music notation. The song is mostly symmetrical, meaning, the music notation is the same forwards as backwards, for large parts. The song has forwards/backwards all over it, like much of the ATWIAD, such as the song Girl, with lyrics for "Boy" being recited backwards by Wendy.

Paisley Park is in your heart - Love Is Here!
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Reply #17 posted 03/01/17 5:44pm

TwiliteKid

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^ Yeah, I did. It's not there -- and it would be pretty much impossible anyway, as backwards words don't sound like other words.
[Edited 3/1/17 18:22pm]
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Reply #18 posted 03/01/17 6:43pm

mediumdry

TwiliteKid said:

^ Yeah, I did. It's not there -- and it would be pretty much impossible anyway, as backwards words don't sound like other words.

.

It seems you have missed backmasking and especially phonetic reversal 101.

.

Besides, check this and tell me you cannot hear it.

[Edited 3/1/17 18:45pm]

Paisley Park is in your heart - Love Is Here!
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Reply #19 posted 03/01/17 8:12pm

Xarina

I think this thread has motivated me to turn all my Prince songs inside out one day just for fun. smile I've just listened to a few backwards and it's like...ehehhehe
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Reply #20 posted 03/02/17 11:24am

sulls

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Interesting. How about the backwards segue between Darling Nikki and The Beautiful Ones during the Purple Rain concert? I was just listening to it.

"I like to watch."
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Reply #21 posted 03/02/17 12:09pm

IstenSzek

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mediumdry said:

.

Besides, check this and tell me you cannot hear it.


i hear it eek eek eek eek eek eek eek

and true love lives on lollipops and crisps
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Reply #22 posted 03/02/17 12:14pm

OnlyNDaUsa

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sulls said:

Interesting. How about the backwards segue between Darling Nikki and The Beautiful Ones during the Purple Rain concert? I was just listening to it.

oh...i remember... it had "the beautiful ones you always seem to lose" as well as some backwards stuff...

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #23 posted 03/02/17 12:25pm

lynx

Ashamed to say I never knew the Baby I'm a Star message, although I've heard it a thousand times

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Reply #24 posted 03/02/17 12:30pm

OnlyNDaUsa

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lynx said:

Ashamed to say I never knew the Baby I'm a Star message, although I've heard it a thousand times

it is funny when it is played on the radio and i giggle knowing what is being said.

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #25 posted 03/03/17 5:53am

FragileUnderto
w

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sulls said:

Interesting. How about the backwards segue between Darling Nikki and The Beautiful Ones during the Purple Rain concert? I was just listening to it.


What you hear is "The Dance Electric" being played backwards
Cant believe my purple psychedelic pimp slap pimp2

And I descend from grace, In arms of undertow
I will take my place, In the great below
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Reply #26 posted 03/03/17 6:36am

sulls

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FragileUndertow said:

sulls said:

Interesting. How about the backwards segue between Darling Nikki and The Beautiful Ones during the Purple Rain concert? I was just listening to it.

What you hear is "The Dance Electric" being played backwards

I should know that. I made a backward copy of that track that I have listened to multiple times now.

"I like to watch."
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Reply #27 posted 03/05/17 11:04pm

FragileUnderto
w

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sulls said:

FragileUndertow said:

sulls said: What you hear is "The Dance Electric" being played backwards

I should know that. I made a backward copy of that track that I have listened to multiple times now.

ive done it a few times my self lol

Cant believe my purple psychedelic pimp slap pimp2

And I descend from grace, In arms of undertow
I will take my place, In the great below
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Reply #28 posted 03/06/17 5:50pm

luvgirl

mediumdry said:



TwiliteKid said:




mediumdry said:


Of course, Paisley Park backwards is Love Is Here. Especially clear in the start of the 12" version, as it starts with it without any other distracting sounds. I am sure it is why the name held a special place is in his heart.




No it's not.



.


take the 12" versions start, the "Paisley Park", put it in an audio program, reverse it and you will hear "Love is here" clear as day. (unlike the controversy song, where I did not hear anything playing the entire song back)


.


Paisley Park is special anyway. It is especially clear in the ATWIAD music book where it is written down in music notation. The song is mostly symmetrical, meaning, the music notation is the same forwards as backwards, for large parts. The song has forwards/backwards all over it, like much of the ATWIAD, such as the song Girl, with lyrics for "Boy" being recited backwards by Wendy.



I've read that it was Vanity's vocals on the backwards part in "Girl", does anyone know what she is saying?
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Reply #29 posted 03/06/17 6:03pm

OnlyNDaUsa

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luvgirl said:

mediumdry said:

.

take the 12" versions start, the "Paisley Park", put it in an audio program, reverse it and you will hear "Love is here" clear as day. (unlike the controversy song, where I did not hear anything playing the entire song back)

.

Paisley Park is special anyway. It is especially clear in the ATWIAD music book where it is written down in music notation. The song is mostly symmetrical, meaning, the music notation is the same forwards as backwards, for large parts. The song has forwards/backwards all over it, like much of the ATWIAD, such as the song Girl, with lyrics for "Boy" being recited backwards by Wendy.

I've read that it was Vanity's vocals on the backwards part in "Girl", does anyone know what she is saying?

"boy you excite me so..."

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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