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Forums > Prince: Music and More > Can I help you?! — a closer look at “stare”
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Thread started 01/29/19 5:32am

FUNKNROLL

Can I help you?! — a closer look at “stare”

This song’s musical self-references and Prince humor make it a top track bordering on classic.

The song’s funk vibe is up there with Let’s Work, and it manages to pull off some clever references to Kiss and Sexy Dancer. Prince’s unique humor is on full display, too, as he reminisces about proudly going on stage in underwear... then shouts “Can I HELP you?!” as if *we’re* rude for gawking at such a spectacle.

Miss you Prince. You were a lot of fun. RIP. lol
[Edited 1/29/19 5:35am]
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Reply #1 posted 01/29/19 5:49am

iZsaZsa

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Those horns could blow a sister's dress up! So hot and sexy right into Xtraloveable! music

What?
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Reply #2 posted 01/29/19 6:35am

joyinrepetitio
n

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I love how Prince let his bassline be the driving force of the song! Reminds me of Time on AOA. Just straight funk!
__________________________________________________
2 words falling between the drops and the moans of his condition
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Reply #3 posted 01/29/19 6:38am

jaawwnn

I enjoy it, but it's fairly throwaway, no?

I assume it grew from Prince playing Larry Graham's Hair and seeing what rhymed with it




The horns are cool though.

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Reply #4 posted 01/29/19 6:50am

TheFman

jaawwnn said:

fairly throwaway, no?


Indeed. And once 'can i help you' would have been enough, now it makes me cringe, i can't listen to it as it is.

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Reply #5 posted 01/29/19 6:54am

PFriendYT

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I did a video about this a while back on my youtube channel, so here's a link to that. There are a ton of reasons why STARE is pretty much my favorite song from Prince, but I list 5 here.

https://youtu.be/vWgd6TTv6WU (I tried to embed it, but didn't see the option to do so. Weird).

In short...

  1. The Bass Line
  2. The Horns
  3. It's Super Danceable
  4. Prince's Humor
  5. Callbacks to the Past

Cheers all!

Prince's Friend
http://YouTube.com/PrincesFriend
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Reply #6 posted 01/29/19 6:56am

dodger

Cool little song. Got to love the bass and the 'careful not to break it'

It does go nice with Extraloveable

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Reply #7 posted 01/29/19 8:21am

0uterageous

I really dig the live version at PP, especially when infusing 007 theme towards the end

guitar

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Reply #8 posted 01/29/19 9:14am

luvparade

0uterageous said:

I really dig the live version at PP, especially when infusing 007 theme towards the end

guitar

eye headbang

2Gether heart 4Ever
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Reply #9 posted 02/01/19 7:51am

owen

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I’m learning to play bass and it’s given me a whole new appreciation for so many Prince songs. Stare is one of them. It’s such a great bass riff. And the horns! Plus the production is spot on. The live version with Mono Neon at Paisley was a monster of a jam. Would love a soundboard recording of that.
O+>
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Reply #10 posted 02/01/19 3:40pm

thisisreece

The bass is incredibly funky, but the song is a bit of a let down. It doesn't deliver on the opening seconds.

I think Da Bourgeoisie is a much better song, with a similar bass driven earthy-funk production.

Hundalasiliah!
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Reply #11 posted 02/01/19 7:40pm

Chakradelica

Love, love. love this song. There is something special about the humor and refective aspects of this song that is not quite nostalgic but demonstrates growth and playful competition with his earlier self.

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Reply #12 posted 02/02/19 12:31pm

luvsexy4all

he got cheap with those good funk tracks at the end....didnt give us enough

[Edited 2/4/19 13:30pm]

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