LoveGalore said:

I'm unclear what he was going for here specifically. Twice he mentioned the crystal ball as an event - Hot Thing and The Ball. The song Crystal Ball indicates it is also a thing - "ever had a Crystal Ball" (as opposed to "ever HELD a crystal ball"). One could interpret some of the lyrics for The Ball to indicate it's a verb (the "Ball!" callbacks akin to saying "Party!"). I forget if he mentioned it any other places or in other forms. Thoughts?

A "ball" is a huge party, obviously. Implies use of a ballroom.

However in the song he states "expert lover, my babe, have you ever had a crystal ball?", which implies it has something to do with sex or a sex act

...& the song itself is kind of about having sex before or during the end of the world

So you kind of have to draw your own conclusions from there

Another thing to consider

At the beginning of Lovesexy, he states "the reason why my voice is so clear, is cause there's no smack in my brain"

Camille, Crystal Ball, SOTT, Black Album all featured songs altering his voice. So you could imply that he was not only referencing the Black Album with that line, but also the entire era before it & after Parade. & even songs like "Love or Money" from Parade era featured altered vocals.

So if he was high while making it, maybe there really is no coherent, consensus meaning.

[Edited 6/18/20 6:46am]

[Edited 6/18/20 6:47am]

What is the Crystal Ball? Thread started 06/16/19 luv4u said -

https://www.urbandictiona...tal%20ball

poppys said:

it means really good sex... so good you will see the future.

[Edited 6/18/20 7:25am]

LoveGalore said:

poppys said:

What is the Crystal Ball? Thread started 06/16/19 luv4u said -

https://www.urbandictiona...tal%20ball

crystal ball

after a girl squirts her load into her lover's mouth, her lover spits it back into her mouth. if they care to, they can orally pass the squirt load back and forth. it's similar to snowballing, however, girl cum is clear, making it a crystal ball, instead of a snowball.

"After I found out my girlfriend could squirt, I wanted to crystal ball her!"

#squirt#snowball#crystalball#snow ball#crystal ballin#crystal

by cathlex May 27, 2009

Wow, prince was cheeky af LOL

Well that could explain it. I kind of wonder if that was truly it though. Would be kind of odd for him to keep that name in 1998 when he was closer to 40, if that act is what he was really referencing.

222 said:

LoveGalore said:

Wow, prince was cheeky af LOL

Well that could explain it. I kind of wonder if that was truly it though. Would be kind of odd for him to keep that name in 1998 when he was closer to 40, if that act is what he was really referencing.

Oh lort, u r kidding me, right? U must be young. Likely mulitple meanings, as alway with his lyrics. Artist don't just change the names of their songs either, Tipper.

222 said:

LoveGalore said:

poppys said: Wow, prince was cheeky af LOL

Well that could explain it. I kind of wonder if that was truly it though. Would be kind of odd for him to keep that name in 1998 when he was closer to 40, if that act is what he was really referencing.

it wasn't

In the context of The Crystal Ball song, it seems like he is really using the term crystal ball accurately in a moment of depression, as in he can't see the future, or he can see the future and it is bleak.

I've alway imagined this song as a response to all the flack and fallout he was receving after the We are the World PR fiasco, and then relationship breakups.

And then he got one of those Tesla type novelty balls for the SOTT photos and movie, and even staged drawing power from it.

Now using it as an event too: "Tell em you're going to the crystal ball" (which could still mean a lonely visit to a little globe of power that tells you truths) gets trippy.

________________

"Welcome 2 the Crystal Ball
U got any notions about the way things are?
Give'em up and come on y'all... oh!"

That is a hint that the crystal ball provides some truth that overrides your previous intel.

I thought everyone knew that a Crystal Ball is the opposite of a blue ball.

Just want to make sure the idea of a grand event isn't lost in the various other plays on words here.

A ball, like Cinderella's Ball, is a big exclusive gathering where you dress your best.

Prince in general was pretty obsessed with gatherings and the idea of an enlightened utopian community spot. Paisley Park...the Dawn references, "welcome 2 the dawn", "May u live to see the dawn"...but there's countless examples, and then the celebrations, and other ambigious events he'd hold at PP and before that.

SOTT as a live show also seems like it might have been related to some bigger conceptual idea, and Lovesexy also had more of a show with it, and he repurposed songs like The Ball into Eye No.

I always assumed he was talking about an actual crystall ball to see the future.

ufoclub said:

Clearly, I don't know what was in Prince's head, but here's some of how it strikes me when I hear "crystal ball" in P's music.

YES to the folks who noted that one meaning of a ball is a grand celebration. Also, crystal can bring thoughts of fancy, sparkly things. I get visions of a fancy party with lots of people, lots of dancing, and lots of dressy clothes. A very Princely party. : )

My thoughts also go to layers of meaning to include sexual references. Again, Princely?

I hear playing with multiple "ball" meanings leading to playing with opposites, e.g. a ball party crowd vs. a couple being "alone" at a ball:

"Hot thing, maybe U should give ur folks a call
Hot thing, tell 'em U're goin' 2 the Crystal Ball
Hot thing, tell 'em U're comin' home late if U're comin' home at all
Hot thing, U can tell'em U found a brand new baby doll

Hot thing
I can't... I can't wait 2 get U home
Hot thing
Where we can b alone
Hot thing
I could read U poetry and then we could make a story of our own..."

...or appropriate attire for various "balls," e.g. presence (vs. absence) of dressy clothes.

from Crystal Ball:

"Darlin', darlin', U know U want a crys... crystal ball

Crystal ball
I don't know, I have 2 ask my mommy 1st

As bombs explode around U and hate advances on ur right
The only thing U can b sure of is the love we make 2night
{scream}

Expert lover, my baby, U ever had a crystal ball?
Take off ur clothes, baby, come on, get the crystal ball
Oh expert lover, my baby, have U ever had a crystal ball? (Oh)
Come on, take off ur clothes, baby, come on, get the crystal ball (Oh)
Come on!"

Then there's something as simple as putting a grand-dance-party ball together with how P sometimes uses "ball" (and "dance," too, IMO) in the way of Let's Pretend We're Married:

"...c'mon, baby, let's ball!"

Got one more bit with how "fine" crystal balls are often made of quartz crystals. But this, especially, might be over the top.

Anyway, FWIW, there's this take on "striking features" of quartz crystals: "Hardness, crystal forms, striations on crystal faces, and frequent appearance of conchoidal fractures on crystal faces."


https://www.minerals.net/mineral/quartz.aspx

Another topic re: Hot Thing with its lyrics about a Crystal Ball. In this same song, P asks if he's the smile-sparker with these words : "Tell me what you see." Kinda fun.

"Hot thing, tell me what U see
Hot thing
When U smile, when U smile, when U smile
R ur smiles, r ur smiles 4 me?"


Well, that was a wordy post. So long from the innuendo deep end. : )

wasn't it expined it the Crystal Ball liner notes?

OnlyNDaUsa said:

wasn't it expined it the Crystal Ball liner notes?

I don't have them in front of me, so take my recollection with a grain of salt.

Do they include talk about depression about the nature of the music business, and making love through the apocalypse?

Can someone correct me or improve on this?

So what do you think the liner notes say is the definition of (P's) Crystal Ball?

rednblue said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

wasn't it expined it the Crystal Ball liner notes?

I don't have them in front of me, so take my recollection with a grain of salt.

Do they include talk about depression about the nature of the music business, and making love through the apocalypse?

Can someone correct me or improve on this?

So what do you think the liner notes say is the definition of (P's) Crystal Ball?

yeah that's pretty spot on

I think Ball meant Sex... and crystal ball is quality sex. expert lover

LoveGalore said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

OnlyNDaUsa said:

rednblue said:

I don't have them in front of me, so take my recollection with a grain of salt.

Do they include talk about depression about the nature of the music business, and making love through the apocalypse?

Can someone correct me or improve on this?

So what do you think the liner notes say is the definition of (P's) Crystal Ball?

yeah that's pretty spot on

I think Ball meant Sex... and crystal ball is quality sex. expert lover

A sex verb is a big takeaway for me. See my super longwinded reply above.

I also think P was riffing on double, triple, (maybe more? ) entendres.

Then there's "crystal" bringing to mind the whole Cinderella-ball glass-slipper imagery. Some would say there's a sexual take on that imagery.

Some would also say that the slipper fit goes along with showing Cinderella's worthiness and inner and outer beauty, all denied by her family.

Again, obviously got no idea what was in actually in genius Prince's head. His genius would leave me in the dust. But song lyrics, poetry, etc. can send a person wondering about an artist's intent, and also send a mind wandering to (nutty or not) connections of its own.

222 said:

LoveGalore said:

poppys said: Wow, prince was cheeky af LOL

Well that could explain it. I kind of wonder if that was truly it though. Would be kind of odd for him to keep that name in 1998 when he was closer to 40, if that act is what he was really referencing.

This really has me wondering how old you are Because your thoughts on how a 40 year old should act are, well, naive?

The opposite of Shockadelica.

jaawwnn said:

The opposite of Shockadelica.

And what's Shockadelica anyways?

slyjackson said:

jaawwnn said:

The opposite of Shockadelica.

And what's Shockadelica anyways?

Shockadelica is a feeling, the lonely cold.



Ah I mean, who knows exactly, I wouldn't go too literal on any of this but if Shockadelica is bad sex then the Crystal Ball is good sex.

Nouveaudance had a good definition of Crystal Ball in the previous incarnation of this thread:

The climax of a metaphor that he had used for many years. Encompassing erotica, futurism, apocalyptic imagery and funk.

LoveGalore said:

What is a Crystal Ball?

I can't help but wonder what happens if you ask Alexa

https://www.youtube.com/w...epKVUym9Fg