independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > what do you think was prince's best studio vocal?
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 1 of 2 12>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 07/29/18 12:11pm

lonelyalien

what do you think was prince's best studio vocal?

In terms of performace and recording techniques and manipulation and production?

I'm just like everybody else I need love.....and water.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 07/29/18 1:16pm

SkipperLove

Kind of depends on how you define best.

Vocal harmonizing?

Clearness?

Range?

Phrasing?

Dramatics?

Intensity?

Production/effects?


I can't pick, but I will say that the vocal I have been into lately was his version of "I can't make you love me". It doesn't overshadow Bonnie Raitts bluesy original due to being so different. The vulnerabilty and beautiful tones are in the verse, he plays with the melody and harmonies a bit and gives its sensuality. He croons with vibrato and breath control. Its lovely only marred by a unnecessary 'pornographic' spoken part.

[Edited 7/29/18 13:22pm]

[Edited 7/29/18 13:24pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 07/29/18 1:30pm

TheEnglishGent

avatar

Damn U

RIP sad
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 07/29/18 2:05pm

jdcxc

For U
Beautiful Ones
One Kiss at a Time
Soul Sanctuary
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 07/29/18 2:11pm

coldasice

Extraordinary
Still Would Stand All Time
Scandalous
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 07/29/18 2:35pm

TrivialPursuit

avatar

The Love We Make

Adore

The Beautiful Ones

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 07/29/18 3:02pm

rednblue

Wow...could spend forever deliberating on a pick for best.

For off the top of my head starters, like multiple live versions, the Do Me Baby studio version is something else.

Damn U, and others listed above, are spectacular.


  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 07/29/18 3:22pm

soladeo1

The best Prince vocal I ever heard was the live version of Do Me, Baby from the New Orleans stop of the 1999 Tour.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 07/29/18 3:35pm

paraded

It's hard to avoid the ballads, especially Do Me Baby and Adore - both jaw-dropping.

But my vote is the one where his voice sucks out all the space and stops you dead: The Cross.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 07/29/18 4:06pm

rednblue

dup

[Edited 7/29/18 16:17pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 07/29/18 4:11pm

SkipperLove

I love Extraordinary. I didn't think I could be surprised by Prince's singing anymore and then I heard that vocal.

coldasice said:

Extraordinary Still Would Stand All Time Scandalous

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 07/29/18 4:16pm

rednblue

rednblue said:

paraded said:

It's hard to avoid the ballads, especially Do Me Baby and Adore - both jaw-dropping.

But my vote is the one where his voice sucks out all the space and stops you dead: The Cross.



Great one. The Cross is so powerful. Like Do Me Baby, it's a studio listen that also brings to mind jaw-dropping live performance.

Plus, there are so many different ways his vocals shine. As you point out, powerful ballads will burst into many of our minds.

For me, the quieter vocals on She Spoke 2 Me are another favorite.


  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 07/29/18 4:34pm

OperatingTheta
n

I Hate U
Curious Child
Damn U
Solo
Somewhere Here on Earth
Money Don't Matter 2night
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 07/29/18 11:48pm

BlueShakooo

I Hate U

Insatiable

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 07/30/18 12:32am

dodger

Damn U is the first song that comes to mind. A reviewer described it as 'vocal gymnastics'

.

The Beautuful Ones would have to be up there for both the falsetto and the angst filled screaming

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 07/30/18 4:56am

donnyenglish

Private Joy
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 07/30/18 5:49am

RJOrion

Condition Of The Heart
My Love Is Forever
Still Would Stand All Time
Something In The Water
Love 2 The 9s
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 07/30/18 7:29am

PURPLEIZED3121

Solo

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 07/30/18 7:34am

PURPLEIZED3121

The Truth - Christ he spits those lyrics out & that scream!

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 07/30/18 8:20am

lonelyalien

soladeo1 said:

The best Prince vocal I ever heard was the live version of Do Me, Baby from the New Orleans stop of the 1999 Tour.

Sorry maybe Im not explaining myself to well I meant in the what he achieved in the studio as a vocal track recording on record either by sheer performance or by manipulating the vocals using effects mixed in with old school effects layering harmonizing etc for example on one of his tracks I cant remember which one he does an amazing job harmonizing with himself using multiple vocal tracks very much like elliott smith used to do and its sounds amazing wish I could remember the name of it.

I'm just like everybody else I need love.....and water.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 07/30/18 8:49am

soladeo1

lonelyalien said:

soladeo1 said:

The best Prince vocal I ever heard was the live version of Do Me, Baby from the New Orleans stop of the 1999 Tour.

Sorry maybe Im not explaining myself to well I meant in the what he achieved in the studio as a vocal track recording on record either by sheer performance or by manipulating the vocals using effects mixed in with old school effects layering harmonizing etc for example on one of his tracks I cant remember which one he does an amazing job harmonizing with himself using multiple vocal tracks very much like elliott smith used to do and its sounds amazing wish I could remember the name of it.

Okay, got it! What about PINK CASHMERE then??

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 07/30/18 10:36am

lonelyalien

soladeo1 said:

lonelyalien said:

Sorry maybe Im not explaining myself to well I meant in the what he achieved in the studio as a vocal track recording on record either by sheer performance or by manipulating the vocals using effects mixed in with old school effects layering harmonizing etc for example on one of his tracks I cant remember which one he does an amazing job harmonizing with himself using multiple vocal tracks very much like elliott smith used to do and its sounds amazing wish I could remember the name of it.

Okay, got it! What about PINK CASHMERE then??

Pink Cashmere is definitely up there but I know there are better vocal tracks done in the studio I just cant remember what they are he's done so many songs. lol

I'm just like everybody else I need love.....and water.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 07/30/18 10:41am

OperatingTheta
n

OperatingThetan said:

I Hate U
Curious Child
Damn U
Solo
Somewhere Here on Earth
Money Don't Matter 2night


Also, Revelation. Some beautiful falsetto there.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #23 posted 07/30/18 11:04am

mtlfan

Too many. I'm noticing a lot of ballads mentioned here though, so I'll throw these into the soup: "3 Chains o' Gold," and "We Can Fuck" from the Purple Rain bonus tracks. The screams on the latter made it the best track I've heard in years.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #24 posted 07/30/18 11:19am

Poplife88

avatar

There are so many...

But The Beautiful Ones stands out in my mind at the moment

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #25 posted 07/30/18 12:46pm

PliablyPurple

It isn't my favorite P slow jam, but God is my favorite P vocal performance in the studio.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #26 posted 07/30/18 1:25pm

dave1dmarx

My answer for this question will ALWAYS be Adore. Just perfection, though The Beautiful Ones puts up a good fight.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #27 posted 07/30/18 2:58pm

TheGloved1

avatar

Delirious

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #28 posted 07/30/18 3:11pm

Silvertongue7

PliablyPurple said:

It isn't my favorite P slow jam, but God is my favorite P vocal performance in the studio.


I can see why you think that, but I absolutely hate the vocals in that song. To me it’s one of the most ridiculous things he ever recorded - sorry neutral !
Damn U is my obvious answer. As someone mentioned, vocal gymnastics!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #29 posted 07/30/18 3:13pm

rdhull

avatar

Annie Christian and Jughead

"Climb in my fur."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 1 of 2 12>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > what do you think was prince's best studio vocal?