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?

the beginning of "Baby I'm a Star"

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

http://prince.org/msg/7/439045

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!

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]

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

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.

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.

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

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!"

NorthC said:

Dnantsrednu ohw esoht 4 ereht era yeht

How long did that take you?

TwiliteKid said:

NorthC 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.

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]

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

mediumdry said:

.

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

i hear it

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...

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

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.

sulls said:

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.

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

mediumdry said:

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..."