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Reply #30 posted 11/08/19 10:59am

OldFriends4Sal
e

This SHOW:DVD/CD photos, background info everything etc, need to be released on 8.3.2020

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Reply #31 posted 11/09/19 9:38am

AnnaSantana

Dazza said:

I personally hate the studio version. Sounds much better in his lower register. I feel the same about Witness 4 the prosecution. The solo version is so weak

They're all solo versions.

I don't argue with people about my opinions. Scram. I said what I said.
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Reply #32 posted 11/09/19 10:01am

macaylasdad

people... be happy you have both.... the love version (which I prefer is more raw and emotional) and the studio is cleaner. Had we had the studio version first, people would be complaining about the lover version....so...

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Reply #33 posted 11/09/19 11:36am

violetcrush

mediumdry said:

different strokes. Could (and can) never listen to the live version all the way through. It just bores me to tears. The studio version I kind of dig. Not his best song ever, but solid.

I agree. No surprise to me why he pulled and replaced it with TBO. My favorite thing about this song is watching him perform it live at First Ave in '83. LOVE that entire iconic show, and I also agree that ALL of the First Ave shows (video) should be released as one package. I've seen the '83, '86, and '87 shows and they're all fantastic. Still waiting for the '84 birthday show (anybody...anybody??? org note me!!) and would love to see the '82 show if it was filmed.

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Reply #34 posted 11/09/19 12:33pm

Strive

Ramzoo said:

When the PR Deluxe was released, I saw that the Estate mentioned "Studio Version". This notation meant for me that the Estate was well aware that "a live version" was circulating. So why not then an official release?

First Avenue 83 was originally slated for Purple Rain Deluxe (it was the second live show that was mentioned in the press release) but the Estate decided auction it off separately along with the rights to make a documentary out of the rehearsal footage. Apple ended up winning so expect it on Apple TV+ eventually. As far as everybody knows, the concert is already "remastered" and the documentary is finished.


People with better connections than me also swear up and down that the concert will get a standalone CD/DVD release.


[Edited 11/9/19 12:34pm]

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Reply #35 posted 11/12/19 8:58am

Poplife88

avatar

Live/rehersal version is THE version imo. Studio one was so disappointing when I first heard it, but its grown on me.

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Reply #36 posted 11/12/19 9:25am

Genesia

avatar

Strive said:

Ramzoo said:

When the PR Deluxe was released, I saw that the Estate mentioned "Studio Version". This notation meant for me that the Estate was well aware that "a live version" was circulating. So why not then an official release?

First Avenue 83 was originally slated for Purple Rain Deluxe (it was the second live show that was mentioned in the press release) but the Estate decided auction it off separately along with the rights to make a documentary out of the rehearsal footage. Apple ended up winning so expect it on Apple TV+ eventually. As far as everybody knows, the concert is already "remastered" and the documentary is finished.


People with better connections than me also swear up and down that the concert will get a standalone CD/DVD release.



I got a free year of Apple TV+ with my iPhone 11, so I hope they hurry the f*** up with it. lol

We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves.
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Reply #37 posted 11/12/19 11:58pm

JorisE73

Genesia said:

Strive said:

First Avenue 83 was originally slated for Purple Rain Deluxe (it was the second live show that was mentioned in the press release) but the Estate decided auction it off separately along with the rights to make a documentary out of the rehearsal footage. Apple ended up winning so expect it on Apple TV+ eventually. As far as everybody knows, the concert is already "remastered" and the documentary is finished.


People with better connections than me also swear up and down that the concert will get a standalone CD/DVD release.



I got a free year of Apple TV+ with my iPhone 11, so I hope they hurry the f*** up with it. lol


A free year of Apple TV+ seems like a good reason to upgrade my iPhone. I find it odd that Apple is quiet abpout a eventual release of this doc/show.

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Reply #38 posted 11/13/19 3:27am

SanMartin

avatar

srodaz said:

Electric Intercourse is FAR superior than the studio version. Don't get me wrong the studio version is good but doesn't capture that emotion or passion that the live version does. I was a little underwelmed when I first heard studio version as I had huge expectations that it would be similar to the one performed live.


This may or may not be a controversial opinion, but I think what you've said could be applied to Prince's music in general. There'll be a long list of exceptions of course, but again, in general, his live performances transmitted more energy and passion than his studio recordings, maybe 'cause he didn't have to go through playing all the instruments himself.


The best version of Electric Intercourse is the one he played in Birmingham, 2014. And no, I'm definitely not just saying that because I was there. (Cries pitifully).

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Reply #39 posted 11/13/19 6:07am

jaawwnn

SanMartin said:

srodaz said:

Electric Intercourse is FAR superior than the studio version. Don't get me wrong the studio version is good but doesn't capture that emotion or passion that the live version does. I was a little underwelmed when I first heard studio version as I had huge expectations that it would be similar to the one performed live.


This may or may not be a controversial opinion, but I think what you've said could be applied to Prince's music in general. There'll be a long list of exceptions of course, but again, in general, his live performances transmitted more energy and passion than his studio recordings, maybe 'cause he didn't have to go through playing all the instruments himself.


The best version of Electric Intercourse is the one he played in Birmingham, 2014. And no, I'm definitely not just saying that because I was there. (Cries pitifully).

The one people say was terrible and CENSORED BY LARRY because he didn't say the word "intercourse"? (I was there also)

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Reply #40 posted 11/13/19 6:06pm

violetcrush

Strive said:



Ramzoo said:


When the PR Deluxe was released, I saw that the Estate mentioned "Studio Version". This notation meant for me that the Estate was well aware that "a live version" was circulating. So why not then an official release?




First Avenue 83 was originally slated for Purple Rain Deluxe (it was the second live show that was mentioned in the press release) but the Estate decided auction it off separately along with the rights to make a documentary out of the rehearsal footage. Apple ended up winning so expect it on Apple TV+ eventually. As far as everybody knows, the concert is already "remastered" and the documentary is finished.


People with better connections than me also swear up and down that the concert will get a standalone CD/DVD release.


[Edited 11/9/19 12:34pm]


A release of the full ‘83 concert would be fantastic. Such a great show!!
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Reply #41 posted 11/13/19 6:10pm

violetcrush

SanMartin said:



srodaz said:


Electric Intercourse is FAR superior than the studio version. Don't get me wrong the studio version is good but doesn't capture that emotion or passion that the live version does. I was a little underwelmed when I first heard studio version as I had huge expectations that it would be similar to the one performed live.





This may or may not be a controversial opinion, but I think what you've said could be applied to Prince's music in general. There'll be a long list of exceptions of course, but again, in general, his live performances transmitted more energy and passion than his studio recordings, maybe 'cause he didn't have to go through playing all the instruments himself.



The best version of Electric Intercourse is the one he played in Birmingham, 2014. And no, I'm definitely not just saying that because I was there. (Cries pitifully).


Have you seen or heard his first live performance of the song at the ‘83 First Ave show? If so, I think you would have a different opinion. Watching him sit at the keyboard and ooze sexuality while he’s singing the song is fantastic. He sang the entire song in it’s original form - NO lyric replacement!!
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Reply #42 posted 11/13/19 8:04pm

purplepolitici
an

avatar

I dunno I like all the versions. Y everything gotta be released all the time now. Did decent quality boots go out of style all of a sudden? New generations get to hear it yadda yadda. Screw all that. You heard it? 😎
For all time I am with you, you are with me.
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Reply #43 posted 11/14/19 5:27am

violetcrush

purplepolitician said:

I dunno I like all the versions. Y everything gotta be released all the time now. Did decent quality boots go out of style all of a sudden? New generations get to hear it yadda yadda. Screw all that. You heard it? 😎

If you were asking me based on my post above - I’ve seen the video of the entire show. It’s amazing and needs to be released smile
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Reply #44 posted 11/15/19 2:20am

SanMartin

avatar

To jaawwnn and violetcrush: in reality what I said was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. When Prince played Electric Intercourse in Birmingham I didn't know what it was, and it was only later that I realised I'd seen a video of the 1983 performance, so it wasn't *technically* the first time I heard the song. I haven't heard either of the live versions since then. And there was me thinking that the first part of my comment was the bit people would take issue with, haha


For the record, if the only censored lyric in the 2014 version is that he removes the word 'intercourse', I don't imagine that would bother me very much. Another slightly off-topic comment I'll make is that I often see a strange double-standard on the Org. There are people who adore stuff like The Cross and Anna Stesia but are unreasonably intolerant of religious content in Prince's later songs, just because he was a JW. This is more of a general reflexion; I'm not saying it specifically applies to either of the users who replied to my post.

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Reply #45 posted 11/15/19 2:26am

jaawwnn

SanMartin said:

To jaawwnn and violetcrush: in reality what I said was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. When Prince played Electric Intercourse in Birmingham I didn't know what it was, and it was only later that I realised I'd seen a video of the 1983 performance, so it wasn't *technically* the first time I heard the song. I haven't heard either of the live versions since then. And there was me thinking that the first part of my comment was the bit people would take issue with, haha

ah dude, I was kidding as well! I just remember how good it was and then people started saying he was "censoring" himself and I was like, "no he wasn't! It was such an impassioned performance."


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Reply #46 posted 11/15/19 2:34pm

violetcrush

SanMartin said:

To jaawwnn and violetcrush: in reality what I said was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. When Prince played Electric Intercourse in Birmingham I didn't know what it was, and it was only later that I realised I'd seen a video of the 1983 performance, so it wasn't *technically* the first time I heard the song. I haven't heard either of the live versions since then. And there was me thinking that the first part of my comment was the bit people would take issue with, haha



For the record, if the only censored lyric in the 2014 version is that he removes the word 'intercourse', I don't imagine that would bother me very much. Another slightly off-topic comment I'll make is that I often see a strange double-standard on the Org. There are people who adore stuff like The Cross and Anna Stesia but are unreasonably intolerant of religious content in Prince's later songs, just because he was a JW. This is more of a general reflexion; I'm not saying it specifically applies to either of the users who replied to my post.


I actually have not heard the 2014 live performance of the song, and I’m sure it was good regardless of any lyric omission, although, if he did remove the word “intercourse” I would think it would be slightly “off”, as that is half of the title and main chorus of the song. I think the term intercourse is a bit of a “formal” term to use which is why it’s never been a favorite of mine. I just love the way he performed it at the ‘83 show. Very sensual.
*
Regarding his early religious songs vs his songs during his heavy JW period - his more religious songs are not my favorite, however, I would take any of the earlier songs over the ones during the JW period. My biggest issue with that phase was the preachy nature of the songs and live shows, as well as, his omitting or changing lyrics to many of his old songs. He edited DMSR so much that he should have just taken it out of the set list. Same with Peach.
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Reply #47 posted 11/15/19 3:47pm

FrankieCoco1

In the early 90s I got hold of a scratchy bootleg VHS copy of the 83 show with Electric Intercourse and was amazed by it then. I lost that tape in a house move soon after. So to be at the Birmingham show on 15 May 2014 and hear it played again was a jaw dropping moment. His voice was amazing on it, almost like it was too good to be actually live. Checking the set list, I feel privileged to have been at that show - the last I saw; I even forgot Empty Room was played too.
[Edited 11/15/19 15:48pm]
There may or may not be something coming!
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Reply #48 posted 11/16/19 6:56am

violetcrush

FrankieCoco1 said:

In the early 90s I got hold of a scratchy bootleg VHS copy of the 83 show with Electric Intercourse and was amazed by it then. I lost that tape in a house move soon after. So to be at the Birmingham show on 15 May 2014 and hear it played again was a jaw dropping moment. His voice was amazing on it, almost like it was too good to be actually live. Checking the set list, I feel privileged to have been at that show - the last I saw; I even forgot Empty Room was played too.
[Edited 11/15/19 15:48pm]


I caught the ‘83 show on YT after he passed, and just love it so much for many reasons - one of which is how he performed EI at the keyboard along with it being Wendy’s first show with the band (she did great but you can see how her confidence grew from there to the PR tour), the more intimate setting, Prince still a year away from being #1, and it’s hands-down the best performance of DMSR with Prince back into his bikini, leg warmers and long coat and he's just having a ball calling out band members to play their parts (“Wendy and Bobby!”), doing funny bits - “telephone!” (phone ringing sound effect) “hello? What’s that? You want some what?? Some horns?! Gimme some horns!!! Whhhaasaa!!!” Just a fantastic and iconic show.
*
Great that you got to see that 2014 show, because by 2015 he had slowed down quite a bit and was not on guitar as much. I’ll have to look for the audio of that show. I love all of his performances of Empty Room, with the 2009 Montreux show being my favorite.
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Reply #49 posted 11/16/19 4:13pm

SquirrelMeat

avatar

99.9% of the time, I prefer the studio versions of songs, but in this case, I think the live version is far superior. The lower vocal choice nails it for me.

Interestingly, when Prince pulled it out of the bag live in 2014, he went for the lower 'live' sound than the studio take.

.
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Reply #50 posted 11/16/19 8:26pm

violetcrush

SquirrelMeat said:

99.9% of the time, I prefer the studio versions of songs, but in this case, I think the live version is far superior. The lower vocal choice nails it for me.

Interestingly, when Prince pulled it out of the bag live in 2014, he went for the lower 'live' sound than the studio take.


Oh wow, I’m the exact opposite. I think many of his songs sounded better live. All the extras and improvisation that he put into the live performances were so good. Always better live.
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Reply #51 posted 11/16/19 9:50pm

purplepolitici
an

avatar

violetcrush said:

purplepolitician said:

I dunno I like all the versions. Y everything gotta be released all the time now. Did decent quality boots go out of style all of a sudden? New generations get to hear it yadda yadda. Screw all that. You heard it? 😎

If you were asking me based on my post above - I’ve seen the video of the entire show. It’s amazing and needs to be released smile

Nah I was just being a jerk (sarcastic) 😃. Meant to add "right" after "you heard it". I feel you. Haven't seen whole show myself, with the exception of EI, PR n A Case of You n yes they r slamming. I was just trying to say, yes release everything in the vault (right now! 😤) If not then start with stuff that isn't already readily available 😀🙏. They gotta make monies I guess n give us what they want it's whatever.
For all time I am with you, you are with me.
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Reply #52 posted 11/17/19 5:09am

bonnie184

Isn't a series or box set ideal for all the shows at First Avenue?

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Reply #53 posted 11/17/19 5:28am

Wolfie87

And there is no way he knew that The Beautiful Ones would have an greater impact on the album than Electric Intercourse based on that performance in '83. No fucking way. He gave as much energy in that performance as he did in The Beautiful Ones. I truly believe there was a 50/50 situation on which song that should've been on PR. He got lucky there.
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Reply #54 posted 11/17/19 7:17am

bonatoc

avatar

Wolfie87 said:

And there is no way he knew that The Beautiful Ones would have an greater impact on the album than Electric Intercourse based on that performance in '83. No fucking way. He gave as much energy in that performance as he did in The Beautiful Ones. I truly believe there was a 50/50 situation on which song that should've been on PR. He got lucky there.



Such bold and ridiculous assumptions.

It doesn't take Stevie Wonder to understand how much "Electric Intercourse" is second cousin to "Do Me Baby", whereas "The Beautiful Ones" is revolutionary, starting with its structure (the absence of a chorus), and a coda that still has no equivalent in pop.

Whereas the chorus of "Electric Intercourse" is him repeating "Electric Intercourse, don't U wanna?".
Well, errr... Yes, but No.

The lyrics, as funny as some imagery is ("Technicolor climax" sounds like a seventies porn series name, the kind saturated with browny pinks and bushes of hair), get knocked out on the first round with just "If we got married, wouldn't that be cool?", a line that aims at the fifties, Elvis and Jerry Lee, the sixties even ("Wouldn't It Be Nice" by Brian Wilson).

This simple line brings the subject of marriage as a bargain, a trick that has been in the rockers sleeves since the beginnings. We're exactly at the crossing of the profane and sacred, and our hero is playing with fire, he sure must be the subject of real, unarrestable passion to play the last card in the game.

Compared to this dangerous tension, lines such as "This is the kind of love that takes two" don't stand a chance and seems to be taken straight out of a 16 year old Skipper’s notepad.

The problem with "Electric Intercourse" is precisely that. It never goes anywhere ; as exciting as the tension created is, there's no resolution. And the affected pose the live version displays, when considering the weak lyrics, is borderline ridiculous.

OK, SKipper has a boner. It's an emergency. He obviously suffers.
But there's nothing more to get from the song. It's just a big wank.

On the studio version, it's an excellent wank, because the climax climbs and climbs and all of a sudden Prince leaves the falsetto and turns into a Purple crooner in the ad lib.
Cleverly, instead of replicating "Do Me Baby",
it does the opposite, the excitement turning Prince back into macho man.
Still, the song has no point outside of Prince claiming his frustrated desire over and over, something he was about to achieve much better lyrically in later songs ("Tamborine", "Temptation").

What makes the live version even weaker is the exaggeration on the synth counterpoint, so levelled up it sounds like a gag. It seems to imply those two notes are the ultimate riff since, I don't know, "Satisfaction"? Sorry, but far from it. It's just a gimmick.

"...gave as much energy in that performance as he did in The Beautiful Ones".
That's a laugh. Very few songs, in all gargantuesque Prince's repertoire,
approach the coda in TBO.

Energy? Really?
Prince was always energetic.
There was no difference between live and studio, false debate.
Given his speed in the studio, they're all live takes.
This claim that he was better live has no grounds.
You confuse video and audio, dearly beloved.

Any performance of "God" from the Purple Rain Tour sends EI down the drain in terms of passion or energy.
"How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" does the same, and it started with the 1999 tour.
Of course it's fascinating to see Prince believing in such a sub-par song so much, but again, he always did believe in his songs, and that is one defining aspects of Prince.
The Man had always love for his babies.
Even the dumb, deformed ones, like, with a head like a jug.

So yeah, you can fantasize to death on Your Own Private Purple One sweating his mascara off while he's panting "I want U and I'm not afraid" (since when Prince has been afraid of sex? All of a sudden we're in MJ territories here, and it just makes no sense), but the song is not legendary, sorry. It's just a very good testimony of Prince starting to find this perfect balance between Soul, Blues, Electro and Rock, in other words perfecting the composition style that glues the album "Purple Rain" in one cohesive opus.


You want to rewrite history, but the truth is "The Beautiful Ones" came almost a year after "Electric Intercourse", and it was one of the songs specifically written for the movie.

The Org has always spread some mysticism around it, saying it was for Susannah Melvoin, for Vanity. As always, Prince's experiences and his songs are intertwined, and he says himself the initial inspiration comes from Denise's departure from the project.

Like "When Doves Cry", "The Beautiful Ones" was born out of script necessity, and not some divine intervention.
And this fact makes them even more astounding, and Prince's abilities jaw-dropping.
"Electric Intercourse", fine sexual ballad as it is, got shelved in The Vault with no second thought when considered staying next to these two gems (not to mention the other ones on the album).

50/50? Mph.


[Edited 11/17/19 7:29am]

[Edited 11/17/19 8:14am]

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #55 posted 11/17/19 7:52am

Wolfie87

bonatoc said:



Wolfie87 said:


And there is no way he knew that The Beautiful Ones would have an greater impact on the album than Electric Intercourse based on that performance in '83. No fucking way. He gave as much energy in that performance as he did in The Beautiful Ones. I truly believe there was a 50/50 situation on which song that should've been on PR. He got lucky there.



Such bold and ridiculous assumptions.

It doesn't take Stevie Wonder to understand how much "Electric Intercourse" is second cousin to "Do Me Baby", whereas "The Beautiful Ones" is revolutionary, starting with its structure (the absence of a chorus), and a coda that still has no equivalent in pop.

Whereas the chorus of "Electric Intercourse" is him repeating "Electric Intercourse, don't U wanna?".
Well, errr... Yes, but No.

The lyrics, as funny as some imagery is ("Technicolor climax" sounds like a seventies porn series name, the kind saturated with browny pinks and bushes of hair), get knocked out on the first round with just "If we got married, wouldn't that be cool?", a line that aims at the fifties, Elvis and Jerry Lee, the sixties even ("Wouldn't It Be Nice" by Brian Wilson).

This simple line brings the subject of marriage as a bargain, a trick that has been in the rockers sleeves since the beginnings. We're exactly at the crossing of the profane and sacred, and our hero is playing with fire, he sure must be the subject of real, unarrestable passion to play the last card in the game.

Compared to this dangerous tension, lines such as "This is the kind of love that takes two" don't stand a chance and seems to be taken straight out of a 16 year old Skipper’s notepad.

The problem with "Electric Intercourse" is precisely that. It never goes anywhere ; as exciting as the tension created is, there's no resolution. And the affected pose the live version displays, when considering the weak lyrics, is borderline ridiculous.

OK, SKipper has a boner. It's an emergency. He obviously suffers.
But there's nothing more to get from the song. It's just a big wank.

On the studio version, it's an excellent wank, because the climax climbs and climbs and all of a sudden Prince leaves the falsetto and turns into a Purple crooner in the ad lib.
Cleverly, instead of replicating "Do Me Baby",
it does the opposite, the excitement turning Prince back into macho man.
Still, the song has no point outside of Prince claiming his frustrated desire over and over, something he was about to achieve much better lyrically in later songs ("Tamborine", "Temptation").

What makes the live version even weaker is the exaggeration on the synth counterpoint, so levelled up it sounds like a gag. It seems to imply those two notes are the ultimate riff since, I don't know, "Satisfaction"? Sorry, but far from it. It's just a gimmick.

"...gave as much energy in that performance as he did in The Beautiful Ones".
That's a laugh. Very few songs, in all gargantuesque Prince's repertoire,
approach the coda in TBO.

Energy? Really?
Prince was always energetic.
There was no difference between live and studio, false debate.
Given his speed in the studio, they're all live takes.
This claim that he was better live has no grounds.
You confuse video and audio, dearly beloved.

Any performance of "God" from the Purple Rain Tour sends EI down the drain in terms of passion or energy.
"How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore?" does the same, and it started with the 1999 tour.
Of course it's fascinating to see Prince believing in such a sub-par song so much, but again, he always did believe in his songs, and that is one defining aspects of Prince.
The Man had always love for his babies.
Even the dumb, deformed ones, like, with a head as a jug.

So yeah, you can fantasize to death on Your Own Private Purple One sweating his mascara off while he's panting "I want U and I'm not afraid" (since when Prince has been afraid of sex? All of a sudden we're in MJ territories here, and it just makes no sense), but the song is not legendary, sorry. It's just a very good testimony of Prince starting to find this perfect balance between Soul, Blues, Electro and Rock, in other words perfecting the composition style that glues the album "Purple Rain" in one cohesive opus.


You want to rewrite history, but the truth is "The Beautiful Ones" came almost a year after "Electric Intercourse", and it was one of the songs specifically written for the movie.

The Org has always spread some mysticism around it, saying it was for Susannah Melvoin, for Vanity. As always, Prince's experiences and his songs are intertwined, and he says himself the initial inspiration comes from Denise's departure from the project.

Like "When Doves Cry", "The Beautiful Ones" was born out of script necessity, and not some divine intervention.
And this fact makes them even more astounding, and Prince's abilities jaw-dropping.
"Electric Intercourse", fine sexual ballad as it is, got shelved in The Vault with no second thought when considered staying next to these two gems (not to mention the other ones on the album).

50/50? Mph.


[Edited 11/17/19 7:29am]



Wow, the best reponse I've ever got. I respect your opinion, and hell, even go so far in saying that I have nothing to reply on that. You won that argument fair and square.
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Reply #56 posted 11/17/19 4:54pm

violetcrush

^^^ Agree to just about everything Bonatoc stated - as I usually do - with the exception of the inspiration for The Beautiful Ones.
*
As Prince stated, there is no question that part of the inspiration came from Denise leaving the camp - “ the beautiful ones always smash the picture”...”the beautiful ones you always seem to lose” - clearly he’s speaking to, and reflecting on Denise’s departure. However, the majority of the song is his heart-wrenching lament about not being able to have the girl he wants, because she is with someone else. By the end of the song he is down on his knees screaming and begging her to choose him over the other guy. It is a beautiful and desperate plea, because he just can’t wait any longer - “don’t make me waste my time, don’t make me lose my mind, babe.”
*
We now know that Prince had been pursuing Susannah from the time that he first met her in Dec ‘82 or early Jan ‘83 - whenever the WB Christmas party was held, so that is 8 months before TBO was recorded. Quite a long stretch of time, especially for Prince, to wait for a girl he wanted.
*
Yes, during the infamous Ebony interview which Prince pulled immediately upon its release, Prince stated the “do you want him or do you want me?” portion was for the scene in the film. However, during his first P&M show, just before playing the song, he stated “Some singers have the courage to tell you...and if they’re male don’t let them lie to you. We all write songs to “cop” girls.” It seemed he was, in his own way, confirming the long-held story about the song.
*
I think there were multiple inspirations for this exceptional song - the girl that just left, the girl that he wanted but could not have, and the upcoming film. It’s just too intense to have been written only for the film.
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Reply #57 posted 11/18/19 1:51am

bonatoc

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To be clear, I love the song!

I just don't think it deserves this kind of legendary status it's been given over the years.
It's a very fine tune, but not "extraordinaire" (everything Prince does is.
I'm saying "extraordinaire for Prince" here).

If "Purple Rain" had been a double album and the movie cut differently,
I think it could have fit perfectly in the barn scene.
Maybe even in the basement crotch grabbing one.
But as it is, of course "God (Instrumental)" helps laying down (hum) a romantic layer
over an explicit scene and turns it into a passionate one, not an x-rated one.

The whole "Purple Rain" project is a big intertwining
of Prince's personal life and... a script that resembles Prince's personal struggles.
If you add to that Prince being adamant about writing songs born out of experiences,
of course, it appears "The Beautiful Ones" is very autobiographic.
But its genesis could also be very pragmatic.
We only have contradictions to mess with.
Clever Kid.

The Colors R brighter, the Bond is much tighter
No Child's a failure
Until the Blue Sailboat sails him away from his dreams
Don't Ever Lose, Don't Ever Lose
Don't Ever Lose Your Dreams
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Reply #58 posted 11/18/19 2:28pm

PliablyPurple

You absolutely can, and should, compare the two EI's - studio v/s live. Let's accept the fact that the song is not as good as its PR replacement, The Beautiful Ones, AND that the lyrics are a bit dated - thanks technicolor! But this idea that both versions of EI are the same is ridiculous. It's the difference, if I may run with the technicolor here for a sec, is a boy who just learned his dick gets hard, and a man who knows what to do with it. The studio version sounds like a wank w/ no pay off, a boy quick diddling his way through a new feeling and reaching into his toy bag thinking that if he throws it all on the table, he's a stud. Meanwhile, with far less energy as the studio version, by the way, the live version brings soul, baby. Gone is the rushed, almost fractured vocal phrasings of the horned up studio version. This man singing, he wants to take his time and feel the electricity jump from your body to his in a slow, hypnotizing, distraction-free grind and sings it like he don't care what you're wearing because it's all hitting the floor anyway. You can't help it, he can't help, it's just the way it's gonna be tonight. Sing live to me, P, this is romance, baby.

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Reply #59 posted 11/18/19 6:24pm

violetcrush

^^^ Agreed!! The ‘83 live version is a slow, sultry, sexy, sweaty and superbly sung performance biggrin
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