These are just some random Prince songs I've been listening to a lot lately and wondered what you guys thought of these songs:

The Voice - Great funky little number, awesome funky little guitar lick from Levi and some cool lyrics from Prince. Should've been on D&P imo. 7/10

Trust - One of the highlights on Batman. Ridiculously funky. 8/10

Man O War - One of Prince's most underrated ballads. Simply stunning, and some of his most beautiful lead guitar work on record. 10/10

RNR Love Affair - Very smooth and mature and insanely catchy. 8/10

So Far So Pleased - One of his catchiest pop/rock songs, should've been a huge hit 8/10

Lemon Crush - Unfairly maligned. Not his best, but a fun little pop song. 6/10

Wherever U Go Whatever U Do - Really sincere and beautiful song. Again, should've been a hit. 9/10

Mad Sex - Dirty, post-BeBop jazzy funk at its best. One of his sleaziest, dirtiest songs of the 90s. 10/10

[Edited 2/13/18 12:18pm]

MattyJam said:

These are just some random Prince songs I've been listening to a lot lately and wondered what you guys thought of these songs:

The Voice - Great funky little number, awesome funky little guitar lick from Levi and some cool lyrics from Prince. Should've been on D&P imo. 7/10

Trust - One of the highlights on Batman. Ridiculously funky. 8/10

Man O War - One of Prince's most underrated ballads. Simply stunning, and some of his most beautiful lead guitar work on record. 10/10

RNR Love Affair - Very smooth and mature and insanely catchy. 8/10

So Far So Pleased - One of his catchiest pop/rock songs, should've been a huge hit 8/10

Lemon Crush - Unfairly maligned. Not his best, but a fun little pop song. 6/10

Wherever U Go Whatever U Do - Really sincere and beautiful song. Again, should've been a hit. 9/10

Mad Sex - Dirty, post-BeBop jazzy funk at its best. One of his sleaziest, dirtiest songs of the 90s. 10/10

I giggled because you said, "Again, should've been a hit". And it was Lenny Kravitz who damn near copied the chord structure on his song "Again". Even Prince noted it on NPGMC site.
I generally agree with your assessments here. I love "Rock N' Roll Love Affair", especially with the added horns on HnR.

I love most all of Batman, so I'm all aboard for those tracks. There are some layered, dark elements on Batman that people tend to overlook. And while "Lemon Crush" has its faults, if you listen there is a rough undertone texture on that song (and others like "The Future", and "Electric Chair") that really help it stay in the Gotham pocket. I believe 6/10 is a fair score for "Lemon Crush".

I remember people loving "So Far, So Pleased" when it leaked in early 1999 (on Dawnation.com no less). Arista, Clive, or Prince, or all mismanaged Rave. "So Far, So Pleased", "Prettyman", "Wherever U go, Whatever U Do", & "Baby Knows" should all have been serviced to Top 40 radio and "Man O War", "Tangerine" and/or "I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore" to Urban stations.

My problem with NewPowerSoul was pointedly flattened sound. Emancipation was getting there, but he poured aural resin over everything on NPS. It had good songs on it, but the production was less than stellar, especially compared to the live band approaches on the two previous New Power Generation projects. "Mad Sex", "Until U're In My Arms Again", "Freaks On This Side", "Wasted Kisses", and "The One" were the songs to be serviced to R&B radio. Prince has his own sound, but he was always relevant in the times. NewPowerSoul lacked a radio appeal. It confused me when he told Mel B., "This is the craziest record we've ever done", meaning it was the most hyped and wild. I'm like, "Has he heard it?!" But, it's still a nice record, and I don't mind it at all. I mean, who flattens music when you have Larry Graham in there or Chaka Khan singing? You have a wonderful band and the whole thing sounds like it was an early mono record from Motown (and even those sounded 'live' or fresh in mono).

TrivialPursuit said:

MattyJam said:

These are just some random Prince songs I've been listening to a lot lately and wondered what you guys thought of these songs:

The Voice - Great funky little number, awesome funky little guitar lick from Levi and some cool lyrics from Prince. Should've been on D&P imo. 7/10

Trust - One of the highlights on Batman. Ridiculously funky. 8/10

Man O War - One of Prince's most underrated ballads. Simply stunning, and some of his most beautiful lead guitar work on record. 10/10

RNR Love Affair - Very smooth and mature and insanely catchy. 8/10

So Far So Pleased - One of his catchiest pop/rock songs, should've been a huge hit 8/10

Lemon Crush - Unfairly maligned. Not his best, but a fun little pop song. 6/10

Wherever U Go Whatever U Do - Really sincere and beautiful song. Again, should've been a hit. 9/10

Mad Sex - Dirty, post-BeBop jazzy funk at its best. One of his sleaziest, dirtiest songs of the 90s. 10/10

I giggled because you said, "Again, should've been a hit". And it was Lenny Kravitz who damn near copied the chord structure on his song "Again". Even Prince noted it on NPGMC site.
I generally agree with your assessments here. I love "Rock N' Roll Love Affair", especially with the added horns on HnR.

I love most all of Batman, so I'm all aboard for those tracks. There are some layered, dark elements on Batman that people tend to overlook. And while "Lemon Crush" has its faults, if you listen there is a rough undertone texture on that song (and others like "The Future", and "Electric Chair") that really help it stay in the Gotham pocket. I believe 6/10 is a fair score for "Lemon Crush".

I remember people loving "So Far, So Pleased" when it leaked in early 1999 (on Dawnation.com no less). Arista, Clive, or Prince, or all mismanaged Rave. "So Far, So Pleased", "Prettyman", "Wherever U go, Whatever U Do", & "Baby Knows" should all have been serviced to Top 40 radio and "Man O War", "Tangerine" and/or "I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore" to Urban stations.

My problem with NewPowerSoul was pointedly flattened sound. Emancipation was getting there, but he poured aural resin over everything on NPS. It had good songs on it, but the production was less than stellar, especially compared to the live band approaches on the two previous New Power Generation projects. "Mad Sex", "Until U're In My Arms Again", "Freaks On This Side", "Wasted Kisses", and "The One" were the songs to be serviced to R&B radio. Prince has his own sound, but he was always relevant in the times. NewPowerSoul lacked a radio appeal. It confused me when he told Mel B., "This is the craziest record we've ever done", meaning it was the most hyped and wild. I'm like, "Has he heard it?!" But, it's still a nice record, and I don't mind it at all. I mean, who flattens music when you have Larry Graham in there or Chaka Khan singing? You have a wonderful band and the whole thing sounds like it was an early mono record from Motown (and even those sounded 'live' or fresh in mono).

And also when he played it during the acoustic set at Xenophobia.

The Voice - Kinda weak, I know this was meant for Mavis Staples, but even her version sucked. 4/10

Trust - Weak asf. 2/10

Man O War - One of the best tracks on Rave. 7/10

RNR Love Affair - A little adult contemporary for my tastes. 5/10

So Far So Pleased - Not a favourite 4/10

Lemon Crush - Rubbish in every sense. 1/10

Wherever U Go Whatever U Do - Sweet song, from the heart. I dig. 7/10

Mad Sex - Funkay asf! Me likes. Best song in this random list. 8/10

The Voice - Meh, never got into it - inoffensive 4/10
.
Trust - Dreadful filler, decent melody but drifts no more than a rhythm - NEXT 3/10

.
Man O War - Good ballad, like the lyrics and its a highlight on a dull album - But Do Me Baby and Adore it's not, still it is a song I love to come back to and I love that falsetto - 8/10

.

RNR Love Affair - Always loved, nice contemporary Robert Cray feel and more pop feel on HNR2 version, eitherway this is a highlight of modern Prince music for me - 8½/10

.
So Far So Pleased - Not bad, accessible pop but a bit too cute and cheesy for me, Prince and Gwen could have done better, this is like a cut rate Roxette impression - 6/10

.
Lemon Crush - Absolutely dreadful godawful and painful filler. Prince was scraping the bottom of the barrel. The worst song on Batman and his very worst of the 80s, maybe his worst song ever, a pile of complete smouldering crap - ½/10

.
Wherever U Go Whatever U Do - Prince by the numbers pop ballad, boring and bland as hell, not helped by the minutes of silence before Prettyman - 5/10

.
Mad Sex - Funky and dirty jazzique type song, great for dancing and f**king but little else. Inoffesnive get down filler party music - 5/10

.

Overall Mattyjam, not an inspired lot of cherry picking - but still a fun exercise after telling everyone for the umpteenth time how much I love Adore and Mountains But I love your positivity for these songs and it seems your taste in Prince is similar to your taste in Michael Jackson (RE: Not liking the way you make me feel) and I respect your individuality.

[Edited 2/14/18 2:59am]

It's hard to come up with songs that haven't been discussed several times in this Forum since I've been here (2003), but here are a few in rough chronological order:

"Crazy You," For You (1978) -- simple country-infused ballad, with a drip-drop backbeat. 7/10

"Still Waiting," Prince (1979) -- a young ingenue country artist should cover this great song. 8/10

"Dance On," LoveSexy, (1988) -- relentless power-funk. 8/10

"Elephants and Flowers," Graffiti Bridge (1990) -- pop ditty with new jack flavor. 8/10

"Damned If I Do," Emancipation (1996) -- guitar driven pop. 7/10

"Fascination," The Truth (1998) -- great song, portrait of the Artist at the time, with a frantic pace. 8.5/10

"Lavaux," 20TEN (2010) -- 6.5/10

"What It Feels Like," Art Official Age (2014) -- vintage MPLSound. 8/10

[Edited 2/14/18 8:22am]

namepeace said:

Adorecream said:

The Voice - Meh, never got into it - inoffensive 4/10
.
Trust - Dreadful filler, decent melody but drifts no more than a rhythm - NEXT 3/10

.
Man O War - Good ballad, like the lyrics and its a highlight on a dull album - But Do Me Baby and Adore it's not, still it is a song I love to come back to and I love that falsetto - 8/10

.

RNR Love Affair - Always loved, nice contemporary Robert Cray feel and more pop feel on HNR2 version, eitherway this is a highlight of modern Prince music for me - 8½/10

.
So Far So Pleased - Not bad, accessible pop but a bit too cute and cheesy for me, Prince and Gwen could have done better, this is like a cut rate Roxette impression - 6/10

.
Lemon Crush - Absolutely dreadful godawful and painful filler. Prince was scraping the bottom of the barrel. The worst song on Batman and his very worst of the 80s, maybe his worst song ever, a pile of complete smouldering crap - ½/10

.
Wherever U Go Whatever U Do - Prince by the numbers pop ballad, boring and bland as hell, not helped by the minutes of silence before Prettyman - 5/10

.
Mad Sex - Funky and dirty jazzique type song, great for dancing and f**king but little else. Inoffesnive get down filler party music - 5/10

.

Overall Mattyjam, not an inspired lot of cherry picking - but still a fun exercise after telling everyone for the umpteenth time how much I love Adore and Mountains But I love your positivity for these songs and it seems your taste in Prince is similar to your taste in Michael Jackson (RE: Not liking the way you make me feel) and I respect your individuality.

[Edited 2/14/18 2:59am]

I didn't pick these songs because they're my favourites per se (although I would put Mad Sex right up there). They're just songs I've been playing a bit lately that I was curious to see peoples opinion on, that's all.

OK, I'll take a stab at it.

The Voice - It's OK. 6/10

Trust - I love it, but it's nothing extraordinary musically. I give it 7/10

Man O War - Agreed, great ballad. 8/10

RNR Love Affair - One of his best pop songs IMO. 9/10

So Far So Pleased - Yes, would have been a hit if the teens still listened to real music 8/10

Lemon Crush - Never struck a chord with me. 4/10

Wherever U Go Whatever U Do - Absolutely wonderful song! Some his best lyrics for real life 10/10

Mad Sex - Kind of funky but not really my cup of tea 5/10

Man O War - is an absoulute stunner. No one but Prince could pull that off. Not sure do i like Orig. or Remix better, but each way - genius, genius, genius. Rave as an album is a bit weak imo, always leaves me craving for more, like something is missing in the whole piece. But, having this song and remix ver. + Beautiful Strange, makes it appealing to me, to the point i would take Rave over some more appreciated 90's work.

sonshine said:

namepeace said:

It's hard to come up with songs that haven't been discussed several times in this Forum since I've been here (2003), but here are a few in rough chronological order:

"Crazy You," For You (1978) -- simple country-infused ballad, with a drip-drop backbeat. 7/10

"Still Waiting," Prince (1979) -- a young ingenue country artist should cover this great song. 8/10

"Dance On," LoveSexy, (1988) -- relentless power-funk. 8/10

"Elephants and Flowers," Graffiti Bridge (1990) -- pop ditty with new jack flavor. 8/10

"Damned If I Do," Emancipation (1996) -- guitar driven pop. 7/10

"Fascination," The Truth (1998) -- great song, portrait of the Artist at the time, with a frantic pace. 8.5/10

"Lavaux," 20TEN (2010) -- 6.5/10

"What It Feels Like," Art Official Age (2014) -- vintage MPLSound. 8/10

[Edited 2/14/18 8:22am]

I like this list way better. I'm no musicologist. I only know what my ears take a shine too. Love Rock n Roll Love Affair from the 1st list, but the rest routinely get skipped over. In comparison Crazy You, Still Waiting, and This Is What It Feels Like never get skipped, and even get the repeat button occasionally. Pretty basic but thats how i "judge" music

We're in the same boat.

MattyJam said:

The Voice - love love love it! 9/10
Trust - agree 100%: One of the highlights on Batman. Ridiculously funky. 9/10
Man O War - agree again:One of Prince's most underrated ballads. Simply stunning, and some of his most beautiful lead guitar work on record. 10/10
RNR Love Affair - a lil bit too catchy for my tastebuds 6/10
So Far So Pleased - well yes: One of his catchiest pop/rock songs. 8/10
Lemon Crush - this might come as a surprise but it's not one of my most beloved ones. 5/10
Wherever U Go Whatever U Do - again: a lil bit too much trying to become a hit imo. 6/10
Mad Sex - alltime high 9/10

The Voice A seductive groove that doesn't hit that higher echelon. I give it a solid 6, but is not a strong song in my opinion.

Trust A phenomenally catchy "Joker song" from Batman. One of Prince's trust issue songs (do u liie, the truth, thieves in the temple etc). An addictive song that fits the film with Joker Jack throwing cash amid 200 balloons of pernicious gas. I give it an 8.5 and don't look back.

Man O War I don't like the metaphor, clutching and clumsy like his con-tract (what about con-fidence, did Prince use con-diments. It is Prince so there is a touch of melody that is nice at times. I would go 6.3

RNR love affair. Meeeh, one of the remixes is a bit better. She believed in Prince's, he believed in voices on the radio (paraphrase) is a nice continuation of the Prince mythos. A pleasent snoozer. I liked it when Prince singles had some magic and difference Raspberry Beret, Alphabet Street. I give this song a 6.2 It makes me feel like Prince's music is jogging rather than sprinting, 2nd gear.

So far so pleased. Loved this as a lost summer time single and driving song. Needed to be a big video with Gwen looking glam rather than the pretty but dull Greatest Romance... I liked the playful duet, the in and out get the job done guitar solo. I give it an 8.4 out of 10.

Lemon Crush. Not often does a Prince song have to grow on me. I like this song more than when I first heard it. Robber jobber rhyme I can forgive as the lascivious little lust groove (should have/could have been a camiile song) I think there are some real funky Prince touches, so I give it a retrospective reavaluation. Like a contracted Rick James this song blows my mind 6.9 times.

Wherever u go whatever u do. I never picked the Lenny kravitz "Again" plagarism. Confession, I think again has a bridge and a suitably adult orientated guitar solo and background vocals that makes it a better song than wherever u go whatever u do. I would say a nice song but 6.6 is where it sits. The one time Lenny got one over on Prince after Rock and Roll is alive and it lives in Minneapolis. Prince owned him on his own songs like fly away and american woman (guess who cover) at the Rave gig.

Mad Sex. Amazing track. The New Orleans flavor, is slight but piquant. I love the sparse funk song and the keyboard is of the hook. I will take away some points as it may be about Mel B (ick), but the lyrics work on the track. I give it a 8.5.

MattyJam said:

These are just some random Prince songs I've been listening to a lot lately and wondered what you guys thought of these songs:

In cases like this, there are no right or wrong opinions, just matters of taste.

Trust - One of the highlights on Batman. Ridiculously funky. I agree -- 7/10

Man O War - One of Prince's most underrated ballads. Simply stunning, and some of his most beautiful lead guitar work on record. It's a real visceral song, I like it. 7/10

So Far So Pleased - One of his catchiest pop/rock songs, should've been a huge hit I'm not that crazy about it. 6/10

Lemon Crush - Unfairly maligned. Not his best, but a fun little pop song. I agree -- 6/10

Wherever U Go Whatever U Do - Really sincere and beautiful song. Again, should've been a hit. Liked it when it came out, not as big of a fan now. 6.5/10

[Edited 2/13/18 12:18pm]

robertgeorge said:

MattyJam said:

robertgeorge said:

Mad Sex. Amazing track. The New Orleans flavor, is slight but piquant.

Intrigued what you mean by New Orleans flavor. Care to elaborate? [Edited 2/14/18 14:36pm]

The piano to my ears has a New Orleans feel to the piano. Like someone who listened to professor longhair or Dr John and then applied it to his own vibe.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcIThsI-RnA

The Voice - 6 okay but below par for a Prince song

Trust - 7 - Good but not a standout track from Batman.

Man O' War - 10 - Now were talking! One of my favorite Prince ballads from the 90s. I love his voice and vulnerability here.

RNR Love Affair - 7 - Good song but a somewhat bland version of it on HnR2. Rock n' Roll should

never be this smooth. I prefer the rawer P & M versions.

So Far, So Pleased - 7 Similar to my above critique....a bit bland for Prince but good.

Lemon Crush - 6 Don't particularly like this song but I do give it Kudos for sounding so unique.

Most soundtracks have filler, which this is for Batman.

Whenever U Go, Whatever U Do - 8 - Perhaps too MOR but still find the song comforting.

Mad Sexx - 9 - Oh yes! When I heard in advance how watered down the funk is on NewPowerSoul

that this song was such a pleasant surprise. One of funkiest from the 90s.

Hold up, how can anyone say "Lemon Crush" is one of the absolute worst Prince songs?! I know it ain't that special, but the layered vocals sound pretty damn cool, at the very least