I would imagine no one noticed. After all it's not exactly an issue really is it.

After all there are loads of tracks that don't have a bass but there are more songs that don't use a triangle or glockenspiel.

... or is this the most amazing thing ever?

darkroman said:

I would imagine no one noticed. After all it's not exactly an issue really is it.

After all there are loads of tracks that don't have a bass but there are more songs that don't use a triangle or glockenspiel.

... or is this the most amazing thing ever?

people have said that on here but I'm not aware of any that have the bass missing, unless your counting stuff where a bass isn't suppossed to be there like maybe a piano ballad or a folk song. It would be more accurate though to say that the bass has generally been the most ignored part of music anyways.

darkroman said:

I would imagine no one noticed. After all it's not exactly an issue really is it.

After all there are loads of tracks that don't have a bass but there are more songs that don't use a triangle or glockenspiel.

... or is this the most amazing thing ever?

It depends on how old you were in 1984. If you're an Old like me (59), then this was the first - or at least the first memorable - pop/rock hit without a bass line. (I hope nobody wastes their time and finds some song without a bass from 1962 that hit #73 on the Hot 100 and says YOU WRONG, OLD MAN!)

On the other hand, if you're, say, 45 years old or younger then the novelty of the bassless "When Doves Cry" was probably not something you picked up on or understood. And the younger you are now, the more that applies.

PeteSilas said:

ThatWhiteDude said:

Thanks for posting that poem Pete. Never read it before, it really is awesome. Prince was a very giftet writer.

it's so prince, funny, wierd, deep, mysterious, loopy;Prince.

joyinrepetition said:

We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.

and what a funky bassline it is, one of his best in my opinion, In fact, i stole it for one of my songs. don't see how anyone could not notice it, it's outstanding.

joyinrepetition said:

We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.

Yes, but we're talking about the studio version.

..and that shit written isnt 'poem' ...lol gawd

rdhull said:

..and that shit written isnt 'poem' ...lol gawd

well, what is it laueritis mf?

I did not notice, until it was talked about.
But when BrownMark did come in with the bass on the Parade tour rendition, it KILLED it.
So I would love to hear what Prince did with the bass on the song before he removed it.

RodeoSchro said:

darkroman said:

I would imagine no one noticed. After all it's not exactly an issue really is it.

After all there are loads of tracks that don't have a bass but there are more songs that don't use a triangle or glockenspiel.

... or is this the most amazing thing ever?

It depends on how old you were in 1984. If you're an Old like me (59), then this was the first - or at least the first memorable - pop/rock hit without a bass line. (I hope nobody wastes their time and finds some song without a bass from 1962 that hit #73 on the Hot 100 and says YOU WRONG, OLD MAN!)

On the other hand, if you're, say, 45 years old or younger then the novelty of the bassless "When Doves Cry" was probably not something you picked up on or understood. And the younger you are now, the more that applies.

LOL, that made me chuckle, but you do have a good point.

I'm wondering if some of this could be down to what people expect. For example, I am no expert but I'd imagine lots of funk and soul music from the 70s and early 80s probably had a bass at it's core - but I'm surmising.

Now take for example, electronic music from the very early 80s. Depeche Mode and Yazoo don't have a bass in their tracks.

So when WDC was released, it may have appeared unusual from a funk perspective but not from a synth pop perspective.

Interestingly Prince spanned both of these sounds in WDC so maybe that is the answer!

rdhull said:

Lovejunky said:

No..I didnt even notice until people started talking about it.

In other words

When Doves Cry lacks nothing..

My sentiments exactly.

There is a sense of bass from the Linn toms and kick.

ThatWhiteDude said:

SkipperLove said:

When I was a kid, I noticed the lyrics more than anything. Am I alone in thinking that WDC has some of his best lyrics. Even as an adolescent, I thought they were profound.

Nah, you're not alone I love the lyrics.

Same. The first stanza alone is amazing and so vivid with imagery. "Animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat between me and you." AMAZING. TBH, in my opinion the drums are so unique and instantly recognizable on the song, that it takes away any thought of "Where's the bass", as well.

khill95 said:

ThatWhiteDude said:

Nah, you're not alone I love the lyrics.

Same. The first stanza alone is amazing and so vivid with imagery. "Animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat between me and you." AMAZING. TBH, in my opinion the drums are so unique and instantly recognizable on the song, that it takes away any thought of "Where's the bass", as well.

it is vivid, as if HE REALLY DID IT and was recalling things that he would have not just imagined for a song.

joyinrepetition said:

We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.

Exactly. It's an incredibly lame and pointless bassline and he right to not use it.

steakfinger said:

joyinrepetition said:

We've all heard WDC with bass and many probably didn't realize it. Whenever Prince played WDC in concert he always had a baseline. So essentially it is the baseline he took out of the studio version.

Exactly. It's an incredibly lame and pointless bassline and he right to not use it.

is it the same one that he played live? it's one of my favorites.

That June 1984 birthday show performance of it with the bass is badas. I dont know what some of you are saying its bad (bad meaning no good not bad meaning good -Run/DMC).

In hindsight, yes, because the song was so hypnotic I never bothered to notice before I was told.

I loved When Doves Cry's spare, minimalist sound - but it did not register for me as a lack of bass.

Nope, a great song is a great song. If you use sticks and twigs, I'm cool with that. What did stand out to me was that early vocal sound that has P sounding like a bee. A king bee, baby, buzzin' 'round your house. That sound fascinated me to no end. For a guy who likes strange sounds, that brief presentation was monumental. I can't tell you how many times I impersonated that sound in an attempt to perfect it .

PeteSilas said:

khill95 said:

Same. The first stanza alone is amazing and so vivid with imagery. "Animals strike curious poses, they feel the heat between me and you." AMAZING. TBH, in my opinion the drums are so unique and instantly recognizable on the song, that it takes away any thought of "Where's the bass", as well.

it is vivid, as if HE REALLY DID IT and was recalling things that he would have not just imagined for a song.

LMAO. "Animals strike curious poses." I'm imagining a cat giving him the death stare while making out with some chick on the couch

khill95 said:

Never thought of it until someone pointed it out!

However, I think it would also be very funky with one too, although not as distinctive.

PeteSilas said:

callmynameH87 said:

PeteSilas said:

also, i think it was a whole lot more than "no bass line" the opening with those wierd animalistic noises, the scattery guitar sounds that mimic the confusion our narrator feels, the simple vintage minneapolis keyboard riff, Prince's screams, lots of stuff special about the song. ad in the video and alot of us alienated, lonely teens found our kindred spirit.

What an exceptionally-worded post.💜

I can say as easy as that.....this is the BEST SONG EVER RECORDED IN MODERN HISTORY OF MUSIC....a WEIRD & ATYPICAL THING ...FULLY INVENTIVE...PURE GENIUS....A GIFT OF GOD....this is the ONLY ONE SONG I TAKE WITH ME IN THE AFTER WORLD & THIS ONE 2 !!

MY LOVE 4 IT...EVER&EVER

love2thenines2003 said:

callmynameH87 said:

PeteSilas said: What an exceptionally-worded post.💜

I can say as easy as that.....this is the BEST SONG EVER RECORDED IN MODERN HISTORY OF MUSIC....a WEIRD & ATYPICAL THING ...FULLY INVENTIVE...PURE GENIUS....A GIFT OF GOD....this is the ONLY ONE SONG I TAKE WITH ME IN THE AFTER WORLD & THIS ONE 2 !!

MY LOVE 4 IT...EVER&EVER

calm down..geeze

love2thenines2003 said:

callmynameH87 said:

PeteSilas said: What an exceptionally-worded post.💜

I can say as easy as that.....this is the BEST SONG EVER RECORDED IN MODERN HISTORY OF MUSIC....a WEIRD & ATYPICAL THING ...FULLY INVENTIVE...PURE GENIUS....A GIFT OF GOD....this is the ONLY ONE SONG I TAKE WITH ME IN THE AFTER WORLD & THIS ONE 2 !!

MY LOVE 4 IT...EVER&EVER

So you like it, huh? A little bit?

EddieC said:

love2thenines2003 said:

I can say as easy as that.....this is the BEST SONG EVER RECORDED IN MODERN HISTORY OF MUSIC....a WEIRD & ATYPICAL THING ...FULLY INVENTIVE...PURE GENIUS....A GIFT OF GOD....this is the ONLY ONE SONG I TAKE WITH ME IN THE AFTER WORLD & THIS ONE 2 !!

MY LOVE 4 IT...EVER&EVER

So you like it, huh? A little bit?