I was thinking about songs that are utterly unique in Prince's catalog - ie in their production style, or arrangement, or just their overall vibe.

To me, "I Love U In Me" has always stood alone in it's vibe. It really doesn't sound like much or anything else he ever did. Obviously with some of the sounds you can determine the era even if you didn't know, but other than that it is a really unique vibe.

What comes to mind for you guys?

Girls & Boys

Do You Lie, Bambi and, thankfully, Wedding Feast.

Solo

Poem #1

There are elements in it that came (no pun intended) from other songs, and elements that were used in still other songs, but as a whole, it's definitely unique in his canon.

Mountains

ForbiddenFruit said:

Girls & Boys

Sounds very similar to Sexual Suicide

Batdance

Condition of the Heart

Joy in Repetition

Question of U

[Edited 5/9/17 7:38am]

5 women

Annie Christian

Off the top of my head i would say Others Here With Us, Dance With The Devil and In A Large Room.

Moonbeam said:

Not sure he ever went as full-on electronic as in "Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)". That song stands out as among his most original, IMO. He has had many other songs that serve as a polemic and a love song simultaneously (starting with "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?"), but that tortured world created in "Something in the Water" stands alone. It's as if Prince painted a brand new color with that song, and all versions, whether studio or live, diverse as they are, all function in service of that color.

SITWDC is something else.

Nothing was created more sunshine-y and colorful from Prince than Good Love. There might as well had been a psychedelic cartoon to go with it. It's very gay, fun, sexual, weird, loud and rambunctious...boisterous. "you know what to do....don't cha??" LOL. I just love his voice in this tune. Sped up, slowed down, dog barks, Susannah and Jill giving shade in the studio. This song just wins with me.

Strollin.....

If they count as songs, but Affirmation I, II, and III were a big departure from anything he had done b4!

One Song

TheEnglishGent said:

rdhull said:

One Song

BUT

I think we can conclude that Prince has more then ONE SONG that stands alone

214 said:

Moonbeam said:

Not sure he ever went as full-on electronic as in "Something in the Water (Does Not Compute)". That song stands out as among his most original, IMO. He has had many other songs that serve as a polemic and a love song simultaneously (starting with "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?"), but that tortured world created in "Something in the Water" stands alone. It's as if Prince painted a brand new color with that song, and all versions, whether studio or live, diverse as they are, all function in service of that color.

SITWDC is something else.

.

yeah, like Annie Christian!

Love 2 the 9s. Absolutely unique and a great example of "Prince, being Prince".

Strange Relationship. Another unique song with clever lyrics and a great hook.

[Edited 5/10/17 3:24am]

Strange But True

East

Loose!

Xpedition

Cuts

The Truth

Pearls B4 the Swine