funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

like someone else said, it sounds like an intro, not a proper song.

so its strange that its getting a proper single release, gold vinyl even!

its cool, one of prince's talkathon songs, like the war, prince in preachy mode.

not my favourite style of his, hes not gil scott heron or george clinton to sustain that kind of thing.

but hey ho, it is what it is.

def cant imagine hearing this and thinking 'wow, prince was still doing great stuff in the 2010s!' though.

its more for completists.

[Edited 4/8/21 9:50am]

agreed! gave me the The War vibes which is not necessarly a bad thing. but it's certainly a specific mood, right?

rap said:

^ I would have Chapter and Verse would have fitted nicely with these jams

Number23 said:

It's less a single, more an intro - but I get why they've put it out first. Fits the strategy of framing W2A as a 'political' album, which indeed it may be - for Prince - but such a warning flare sends a forboding signal to those of sound mind that they risk their testicles retracting into their belly in all out cringe at anti-evolution/anti-democracy/anti-choice/pro-God-will-sort-it-all-out-u-hellbound-sinner-MFs fully-certified insanity in the lyrics. But I guess - to my perception of reality - this one doesn't embarass itself in terms of its manifesto. Less a song more of a bassline cuing vocal riffs and runs. Nice mellow electrofunk vibe sweetened by the three part harmony choral line - but I'd prefer it being a bit more claustrophobic - meaning, Prince doing all those parts himself. The words he gives others often sound clunky as all fuck, only he can pull them off. The fact 'God is coming like a dog in heat' ever eminated from Mavis Staples' mouth should shame us all as a species. However, the wee Shelby scat bit can stay, that's seriously cool and quirky, but let's hear the original track before these overdubs which no doubt was far superior and edgier sonically. Fuck the Sly vibe, I'm here for Prince. And the 'no arguing with the book' bit does my head in, he can shove that book up his arse until it papercuts his tonsils, no-one sane goes to Prince for revelatory analysis of theology and the enduring mystery of homosapians' elevated conciousness. I go to him for unsettling oddness, idiosyncratic sonic anomolies and his humourous vibe of wry awe at his own freakish musical proficency - pimping himself out, essentially. And there's a wee bit of that here. So, bring it on, I'm ready. 1000 Light Years From Home and When She Comes are worth the trip alone. Hot Summer is an atrocity that should have seen him in the The Hague, however.

[Edited 4/8/21 10:23am]

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Could not agree more with all of it.

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I also feel a sense of ''The War'' too.

And I also have a demo feel.

There's also a lameness to the pianopart, but htat probably is just me.

That 'no argument with the book', didn't he already started to go away from jehova trouble ?

Love the sextape mention as a school for celebreties to begin with... Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and the rest.

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RODSERLING said:

This " Song" Is everything I hate from that era. Prince doesn't even bother to do the chorus and background vocals anymore. It fails to be sonically interesting, and the chorist is not on the level of Rosie Gaines, that s the least we could say Then the " Video" Is terrible. Can't they at least release archives video, make an assemblage with the live performance, or a lyric viseo like they do with every other artists? Common, that doesn't cost a thing! Why is the estate being such a miser? Same thing could have been done for, let s say, Everybody Wants what they Don't Got, it was perfect for a little cute lyrics video, to give tribute yo the SOTT music viseo and to promote the SDE. Or editing the footage with Miles Davis to promote Can I play with U?

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Those three are just great and powderful female singers.

But just a bit too prominent in the mix of this song imho.

Indeed Prince's own harmony vocals mixed in with this great trio could've been a better move.

Now it's just Prince in parlando.

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But you think Rosie's better ? Serious ?

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Great song, but too short.

BanishedBrian said:

Yawner, musically.

The lyrics are lazy, chemtrails-style Prince, which is basically Prince at his worst.

I agree. It's cringetopia and better left unreleased.

Production sounds cheap and tired. Female vocals give me a headache. Lyrics are beyond bland, pseudo-political nonsense. He was so out of touch.

goosepumble said:

BanishedBrian said:

Yawner, musically.

The lyrics are lazy, chemtrails-style Prince, which is basically Prince at his worst.

I agree. It's cringetopia and better left unreleased.

Production sounds cheap and tired. Female vocals give me a headache. Lyrics are beyond bland, pseudo-political nonsense. He was so out of touch.

well its good that it has split opinions!

andrewm7 said:

^ I would have Chapter and Verse would have fitted nicely with these jams

Agree! i hope a studio version of Chapter & Verse exists in the vault. But i love the Dakota jam based on it.

antonb said:

goosepumble said:

I agree. It's cringetopia and better left unreleased.

Production sounds cheap and tired. Female vocals give me a headache. Lyrics are beyond bland, pseudo-political nonsense. He was so out of touch.

well its good that it has split opinions!

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I will remember this, that 'he was so out of touch.'

True.

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The lyrical content of the song 'Sign 'O' The Times' was far much stronger and hit nails.

This here is incoherent at least, and only hits lukewarm air.

Thing is, whenever Prince tried out something new, like the internet (or people) and if it (they) didn't respond immediately to his demands, all became instantly a sort of enemy.

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And what about paying taxes (i know the americans hate that, but without paying taxes you live in a badly maintained country), did he had to pay too much ? Is that what he means ?

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"(The sales tax for the following items will be raised immediately... cigarettes...)
We will not raise your taxes
Read our lips"

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etc

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Although this song is basically a novelty, I still like it better than than Hot Summer and Same Page, Different Book.

Vannormal said:

antonb said:

well its good that it has split opinions!

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I will remember this, that 'he was so out of touch.'

True.

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The lyrical content of the song 'Sign 'O' The Times' was far much stronger and hit nails.

This here is incoherent at least, and only hits lukewarm air.

Thing is, whenever Prince tried out something new, like the internet (or people) and if it (they) didn't respond immediately to his demands, all became instantly a sort of enemy.

-

And what about paying taxes (i know the americans hate that, but without paying taxes you live in a badly maintained country), did he had to pay too much ? Is that what he means ?

-

"(The sales tax for the following items will be raised immediately... cigarettes...)
We will not raise your taxes
Read our lips"

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etc

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I've heard interviews with a few people who said that politically Prince was all over the map. On social issues he could be very liberal, but on fiscal issues he could be fairly conservative. So I wouldn't be surprised if he disliked high taxes.

Alternatively, he may simply be commenting on the duplicity and dishonesty of policiticans. They promise not to raise taxes, and then they do. Even if you favor higher taxes, you can still fault politicians for lying about it.

It's cool. Not was I hoping for. Some of the lyrics are lame. "Slave"? Gimmie a break. Compared to "Sign O The Times" this utter shit tho.

I wonder if this was edited in some ways lyrically. Becasue the live version's lyrics come off as more conspiracy theory inspired than this one. This one is tame by comparison.

It's alright...the bass throughout is cool. After the first 35 seconds I was expecting a 'Joy In Repetition' or 'Beautiful Strange' type of track. Like others have said, it seems more like an Introduction.

Not sure what everyone is smoking.. to me this is the most exciting posthumous release since Deliverance (closely tied with SOTT vault tracks). It's a smoker of a track which sounds like a cross between The War and Musicology, with a bit of the vibe of the Rainbow Children album thrown in (and to my ears a bit of the coda to Sexuality).

.

Sure, it's grown folks music and not yet another forced effort at chart success. If he had music like this, why did he release the albums he did release??????????????

.

Can't wait to hear more of this album. It's such a breath of fresh air to hear something that is not 80s music!

Actually I think it's meant to be "Oops, I mean 'Land of the fee, home of the slave'" the second time (?), making a good point.

Land of the free, home of the brave
Oops, I mean
Land of the fee, home of the slave
Get down on your knees

andykeen said:

Welcome to America Where you can fail at your job, get fired, rehired And get a seven hundred billion dollar tip Come on in, sit right down And fill up your pockets, yeah Mass media, information overload Welcome to America (The following message is brought to you by Viacom) Distracted by the features of the iPhone (Got an application for each of situation) In other words, taken by a pretty face Somebody's watching you (I see you, I see you) Welcome to America Hook up later [?] iPad And we can meet at my place (welcome to America) Welcome (welcome to America) Welcome to America Where everything and nothing that Google says is hip (The sales tax for the following items will be raised immediately... cigarettes...) We will not raise your taxes Read our lips Welcome to America (America) Welcome to the big show (to America) Everybody's looking for something When there ain't no place to go (welcome to America) Except inside America (America) That's the only place I know (to America) Transformation happens deep within: yes or no? Yes Welcome to America One of our greatest exports was a thing called jazz You think today's music will last? (Dismantle all monopolies Dismantle all monopolies) Welcome to America Welcome Hope and change, everything takes forever And truth is a new minority (truth) Oh, welcome to America Welcome to America Today we'd like to discuss America's plan to fix the educational system The pledge of allegiance will now read as follows: I pledge allegiance to the earth of the United States of the Universe Welcome to America There is no arguing with the book (when am I gonna learn something new?) There is no arguing with the book (who's gonna teach it to me, you?) There is no arguing with the book (what's that [?]) There is no (could it be?) arguing (our free will?) You say yes, I say no, yet love flows America can provide many opportunities for the young female who wishes to work (for the state) For her own advancement up from the underclass to become one Welcome to America Go to school to become a celebrity (F.A.M.O.U.S.) but don't be late And everybody and they mama got a sex tape Welcome to America We snatch bass players, not purses Keep playing, it gets worse Land of the free, home of the brave Oops, I mean Land of the free, home of the slave Get down on your knees Welcome to America Welcome to the big show Everybody's looking for something When there ain't no place to go Except inside America That's the only place I know Transformation happens deep within: yes or no?

[Edited 4/9/21 8:17am]

[Edited 4/9/21 8:26am]

[Edited 4/9/21 8:39am]

mediumdry said:

Not sure what everyone is smoking.. to me this is the most exciting posthumous release since Deliverance (closely tied with SOTT vault tracks). It's a smoker of a track which sounds like a cross between The War and Musicology, with a bit of the vibe of the Rainbow Children album thrown in (and to my ears a bit of the coda to Sexuality).

.

Sure, it's grown folks music and not yet another forced effort at chart success. If he had music like this, why did he release the albums he did release??????????????

.

Can't wait to hear more of this album. It's such a breath of fresh air to hear something that is not 80s music!

mediumdry said:

Not sure what everyone is smoking.. to me this is the most exciting posthumous release since Deliverance (closely tied with SOTT vault tracks). It's a smoker of a track which sounds like a cross between The War and Musicology, with a bit of the vibe of the Rainbow Children album thrown in (and to my ears a bit of the coda to Sexuality).

.

Sure, it's grown folks music and not yet another forced effort at chart success. If he had music like this, why did he release the albums he did release??????????????

.

Can't wait to hear more of this album. It's such a breath of fresh air to hear something that is not 80s music!

Honestly, I think the issue is that it isn't grown up music at all but more a failing attempt. It has no focus, no weight, both lyrically as musically. I'll order the CD but I'm not ready to put up the big money for his 2010s catalogue. Welcome2america, Hot Summer... this is where I draw the line and rather spend money on other artists I appreciate as well.

zobilamouche said:

ThirdStrike said:

mediumdry said:

Sure, it's grown folks music and not yet another forced effort at chart success.

This is the opposite of grown up.

We should also talk about the BSide! THAT AWESOME VERSION OF Dreamer. That live version is excellent! It also gives me hope that their might be extras from the rest I the LA residency, or even Oakland or the Carolinas

I am very fond of 2011 shows;he had a great band and he was at a stage in his career where he had such a deep back catalogue to draw on.Sure, it is more laid back than the hyper energetic Controversy tour shows, but when I listen to these 2011 shows, I really see him growing up with us.

If anyone is any doubt, seek out the fan made video from Stad De France with Maceo guesting.itis fire.

MattUK said:

mediumdry said:

Not sure what everyone is smoking.. to me this is the most exciting posthumous release since Deliverance (closely tied with SOTT vault tracks). It's a smoker of a track which sounds like a cross between The War and Musicology, with a bit of the vibe of the Rainbow Children album thrown in (and to my ears a bit of the coda to Sexuality).

.

Sure, it's grown folks music and not yet another forced effort at chart success. If he had music like this, why did he release the albums he did release??????????????

.

Can't wait to hear more of this album. It's such a breath of fresh air to hear something that is not 80s music!

yep.

v10letblues said: