independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > How would you change Grafitti Bridge?
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 07/24/20 4:15am

hhhhdmt

How would you change Grafitti Bridge?

What songs would you keep?

What songs wouldn't you keep?

Which songs from that era that went unreleased or ended up on Crystal Ball/other records should have been included?

IMO its a travesty that gems like Pink Cashmere were left off his main records and ended up elsewhere.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 07/24/20 5:13am

LoveGalore

How would I change it? Remove the cohorts' music. And tell him to go back with a cohesive mind and take it up a notch. The album is a GH of the vault at the time and I've never understood why he didn't use stronger songs. I don't see anything on GB that feels entirely essential to the movie or the story except the title track. Everything else is hodge podge so why not pull out epic numbers like Adonis, Come Elektra Tuesday, 9 to 5 People, etc? What exactly about Tick Tick Bang was so good he felt it compelling to remake for this album? Kinda fascinating.
[Edited 7/24/20 5:13am]
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 07/24/20 5:52am

RJOrion

...

[Edited 7/24/20 5:53am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 07/24/20 6:21am

emesem

The whole project was a bit of a mess and maybe proof you can't go home again. The movie should have never been green lit. The quite selling of this as a sequal to PR was a mistake. Would have worked better as a "video" album perhaps showcasing the current stable of Paisley Park artist and remove all the dialog.

The first track to remove would be the Title Track is its almost unlistenable. New Power Generation and Pt II are still corny AF and I still dont believe "Bold Generation" was written in 1982.

My Summertime Thang is 10x. better than the Latest Fashion.

I would remove Clinton from We can Funk

Shake! is boring and should swap it out for Jerk Out or Skillet

There fixed!

[Edited 7/24/20 6:23am]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 07/24/20 6:26am

databank

avatar

I wouldn't.
A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 07/24/20 6:32am

databank

avatar

What I think could have been interesting to promote Paisley Park, however, could have been to have the album with the Prince songs and a PP ost/sampler with the GB Time songs, Mavis' Melody Cool and/or My Tree, Tevin's Round And Round, TC's True Confession, George's Soul Psychodelicide, Ingrid's 7 Corners, Robin's Number One and/or Positive Place, Elisa's Ooo-bee-doo. But IDK, maybe it wouldn't have raised much interest either.
A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 07/24/20 6:37am

SPYZFAN1

One of the funniest jabs (by a critic) I read about the song "New Power Generation";...."What's new about this generation?..Aren't these guys all in their early 30"s?" smile ...I thought side one of the soundtrack was sequenced well.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 07/24/20 6:53am

RJOrion

wouldnt change a thing about the album

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 07/24/20 7:07am

PurpleColossus

avatar

I really love Graffiti Bridge, but I've never been a fan of the non-Prince tracks...so I would remove those. However, I would add 'Seven Corners' by Ingrid, as I think it would fit quite well. I would also include Prince's version of 'Melody Cool' and 'The Grand Progression'.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 07/24/20 7:13am

Se7en

avatar

I made a separate playlist for the album that removes the non-Prince song. Sometimes I'm just not in the mood to hear Morris Day or the others. The Time songs especially are sometimes jarring when they're juxtaposed against the poetic/ethereal/religious Prince songs.

For the movie . . . there is a "seed" of something there that I can appreciate even though it was not executed well at all.

Quite a few things I would change. Don't make it a Purple Rain sequel. Don't have The Time in it or even have a "rivalry". Make it about one man vs. himself, fighting his own demons. Hire a better actress to play Aura. Film more outdoors (the film feels very claustrophobic, having been filmed at PP).

So The Kid is feeling down, love life is gone and his career hasn't gone anywhere like he thought. He's contemplating suicide but then an angel comes down to steer him in the right path. This is the seed of the idea that I think Prince was going for, but once he shoe-horned in a "Purple Rain 2" it fell apart.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 07/24/20 7:14am

Se7en

avatar

SPYZFAN1 said:

One of the funniest jabs (by a critic) I read about the song "New Power Generation";...."What's new about this generation?..Aren't these guys all in their early 30"s?" smile ...I thought side one of the soundtrack was sequenced well.


Cool name for a song, but I never really cared for it as a band name.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 07/24/20 7:54am

fortuneandsere
ndipity

Even though Release It and Love Machine sonically fit the album, I'd still prefer Grafitti Bridge without them.

The world's problems like climate change can only be solved through strategic long-term thinking, not expediency. In other words all the govts. need sacking!

If you can add value to someone's life then why not. Especially if it colors their days...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 07/24/20 11:01am

TrivialPursuit

avatar

hhhhdmt said:

What songs would you keep?

What songs wouldn't you keep?

Which songs from that era that went unreleased or ended up on Crystal Ball/other records should have been included?

IMO its a travesty that gems like Pink Cashmere were left off his main records and ended up elsewhere.


I wouldn't have had the other artists on it. Strange Tales from the Purple Rain was this type of compilation, where the other artists were on the album. But for GB, it seems like filler. Had The Time's songs been on Pandemonium, it would have had more attention on it. Not sure what to do about Mavis, George, or Tevin, and while their songs were fine, the album feels littered.

However, Prince should've never put his name on it as the main artist. If it's a true soundtrack, just list it as the official motion picture soundtrack. Let the songs fall where they may.

For just Prince songs, it's good as is. I'm still 50/50 on "Elephants and Flowers." Same with "Tick Tick Bang." Fite me. As bad as the whole project is, to put a song like "Pink Cashmere" on it would've cheapened the song. Songs like "Joy In Repetition" and "The Question of U" are strong enough to stand in the midst of the muck. But "Pink Cashmere" maybe isn't.

With the movie, Militant noted how there's a whole intro of him singing "Can't Stop" that is this big show number where he goes from his apt down to the street. The arrangement, etc. are fantastic. To have cut that out seems criminal considering the snoozer opening sequence of the movie.

The whole movie isn't a movie. It's a longform video, at best. Let's just call it what it is, not pretend it's something else. It's no more a movie than Diamonds and Pearls Video Collection or 3 Chains O' Gold. Hell, "Partyman" is more of a movie than anything else noted here.

"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 #13 posted 07/24/20 11:06am

LoveGalore

My one vote of confidence for Elephants and Flowers is that awesome effect he did with the background vocals. I love whenever P would do weird shit like that, shame he pulled that trick on such an otherwise bland song.
[Edited 7/24/20 11:06am]
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 07/24/20 12:11pm

BlueShakooo

I like the Graffiti Bridge Album.
For me the "Time" tracks work better with the "Pandemonium" songs.
So, my GB Playlist is quite simple:

Can’t Stop This Feeling I Got
New Power Generation
The Question Of U
Elephants & Flowers
We Can Funk
Joy In Repetition
Tick, Tick, Bang
Thieves In The Temple (Extended)
Still Would Stand All Time
Graffiti Bridge
New Power Generation (Pt. II)
Melody Cool
Round And Round
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 07/24/20 12:23pm

Poplife88

avatar

BlueShakooo said:

I like the Graffiti Bridge Album. For me the "Time" tracks work better with the "Pandemonium" songs. So, my GB Playlist is quite simple: Can’t Stop This Feeling I Got New Power Generation The Question Of U Elephants & Flowers We Can Funk Joy In Repetition Tick, Tick, Bang Thieves In The Temple (Extended) Still Would Stand All Time Graffiti Bridge New Power Generation (Pt. II) Melody Cool Round And Round

My playlist is somewhat similar but more of a hodgepodge. This has been my mix for GB for as long as I can remember (but my mix is titled Joy in Repetition as its always been the best song on there).

Can't Stop This Feeling

New Power Generation Extended remix

Release It

The Question of U

Elephants and Flowers

We Can Funk '86

Girl o my Dreams

Data Bank '86 (I HATE the Times version of this)

Round and Round

Joy in Repetition

Grand Progression (REALLY wish I had this in better quality)

Moonbeam Levels (curve ball I know but it fits for me)

Thieves in the Temple Extended

Still Would Stand All Time

[Edited 7/24/20 12:23pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 07/24/20 2:36pm

funkman88

avatar

hhhhdmt said:

What songs would you keep?

What songs wouldn't you keep?

Which songs from that era that went unreleased or ended up on Crystal Ball/other records should have been included?

IMO its a travesty that gems like Pink Cashmere were left off his main records and ended up elsewhere.

I would take prince out of it,Put Jesse Johnson the star

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #17 posted 07/24/20 2:49pm

TwiliteKid

avatar

emesem said:

and I still dont believe "Bold Generation" was written in 1982.

[Edited 7/24/20 6:23am]

Why not? And when do you think it's from?

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #18 posted 07/24/20 3:20pm

emesem

TwiliteKid said:

emesem said:

and I still dont believe "Bold Generation" was written in 1982.

[Edited 7/24/20 6:23am]

Why not? And when do you think it's from?

No idea but it just sounds too "New Jack" to me. 88 or after? I cant think of any other Prince song of the early 80s that sounds like that. Open to be convinced otherwise.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #19 posted 07/24/20 4:31pm

databank

avatar

emesem said:



TwiliteKid said:




emesem said:


and I still dont believe "Bold Generation" was written in 1982.



[Edited 7/24/20 6:23am]



Why not? And when do you think it's from?




No idea but it just sounds too "New Jack" to me. 88 or after? I cant think of any other Prince song of the early 80s that sounds like that. Open to be convinced otherwise.


Nonsense. BG was known to exist long before the SDE, and it clearly sounds like something from 1982,it would have been ridiculously outdated in the new jack Era or by comparison to anything P recorded in the late 80s, despite having this somewhat ahead of its time Jam/Lewis vibe.
A COMPREHENSIVE PRINCE DISCOGRAPHY (work in progress ^^): https://sites.google.com/...scography/
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #20 posted 07/24/20 6:04pm

VaultCurator

avatar

Point One:

Replace 'Still Would Stand All Time' with 'The Grand Progression'


Point Two:

Remove the guest tracks from the album (with the exception of ‘Melody Cool’).


Point Three:

Drop the film entirely. Keep the sets for music videos.

.

Edit: Format issues

[Edited 7/24/20 18:05pm]

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #21 posted 07/24/20 11:03pm

ian

Personally I think there is no saving or fixing GB, because the movie it is associated with is or derived from is so broken. There are some great songs of course but as a whole the project is so worthless. If we're rewriting history here, let's scrap the movie entirely so that Prince can work on a better record between Batman and Diamonds and Pearls. Maybe some of the better songs will survive of course.

Funny about people talking about removing the associated artist tracks. I agree although I was personallydisappointed the remaster Purple Rain super delixe didn't include tracks from The Time, Vanity 6 and Dez. I know what you mean though, you could make a pretty solid single-LP album from GB by removing the other artists, and the title track.

I'd still essentially burn the whole project and start again, tbh.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #22 posted 07/24/20 11:17pm

SoulAlive

I agree.....scrap the movie entirely.Take the best songs from this project,add several other strong tunes (someone mentioned “Pink Cashmere”) and Prince could’ve had a great album in the summer of 1990.Do a big tour with the reunited Time and kick ass! 1990 would have been a big year for him.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #23 posted 07/24/20 11:34pm

BlueShakooo

ian said:

Personally I think there is no saving or fixing GB, because the movie it is associated with is or derived from is so broken. There are some great songs of course but as a whole the project is so worthless. If we're rewriting history here, let's scrap the movie entirely so that Prince can work on a better record between Batman and Diamonds and Pearls. Maybe some of the better songs will survive of course.



Funny about people talking about removing the associated artist tracks. I agree although I was personally disappointed the remaster Purple Rain super delixe didn't include tracks from The Time, Vanity 6 and Dez. I know what you mean though, you could make a pretty solid single-LP album from GB by removing the other artists, and the title track.



I'd still essentially burn the whole project and start again, tbh.



I missed the Associated Artists on Purple Rain Deluxe, too.
But I'd like to have them on extra discs.
And yes: the GB-movie is terrible.
But the album is a different thing IMO.
It's Prince's way of looking back at ideas he had in the 80's, isn't it?
And I agree with those, who say that a GB Super Deluxe could be great:
A trip through a decade (if it's well done).
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #24 posted 07/25/20 1:06am

bluegangsta

avatar

1. Graffiti Bridge (with Clare Fisher Strings)
2. Joy in Repetition (Kick Drum Intro)
3. The Question of U
4. Thieves in the Temple
5. We Can Funk
6. New Power Generation
7. Elephants & Flowers
8. Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
9. Tick, Tick, Bang
10. Still Would Stand All Time

Always cry 4 love, never cry 4 pain.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #25 posted 07/25/20 4:28am

Dandroppedadim
e

I'd remove all/most associate songs and release as a single vinyl.

a side

Joy in Repetition (original long intro with no crowd)

Can't Stop This Feeling I Got (longer earlier mix)

Thieves In The Temple

The Question of U

Elephants & Flowers original lyrics version)

b side

We Can Funk (no GC overdubs)

Tick, Tick Bang

Melody Cool (w/ Mavis Staples)

Still Would Stand All Time (original lyrics version)

New Power Generation

Graffiti Bridge

Round and Round released as solo Tevin Campbell Single

All Time songs on Pandemonium (Latest Fashion vs My Summertime Thing?)

Other sattelite acts songs used as 12"/EP tracks (a la New Power Generation 12")

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #26 posted 07/25/20 4:36am

Romeoblu

I would have the following tracks with Prince singing lead vocals on all of them

I Can't Stop This Feeling I Got
New Power Generation
The Question Of U
Elephants and Flowers
Round And Round.
We Can Funk
Joy In Repetition
Love Machine
Shake
Tick Tick Bang
Thieves In The Temple
Melody Cool
Still Would Stand All Time
Graffiti Bridge
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #27 posted 07/25/20 3:41pm

mediumdry

Personally, I would remove the eurovision-alike song Graffiti Bridge. Maybe release it as a b-side to a Jesse Johnson track a bit later. The album is a bit strange to me. It has many great songs, but it just never works as a whole for me. It has to do with the awful movie, as well as with the awful cover (Parke has done some interesting things, but he can't design an album cover to save his life), but mostly about the weird sequencing and too many songs that just don't work.

Paisley Park is in your heart - Love Is Here!
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #28 posted 07/25/20 4:32pm

TKO

avatar

Remove every song from the other boring artists nobody cares. Focus on Prince and his music.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #29 posted 07/25/20 6:48pm

VaultCurator

avatar

I'm sure a lot of fans have a playlist which is 'Graffiti Bridge' without the guest tracks. I think as a fandom we should all adopt the title of ‘Graffiti Abridged’ for such a playlist.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Page 1 of 3 123>
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > How would you change Grafitti Bridge?