Phase3 said:

purplepolitician said:

Personal preference: Insatiable, that alt version with kookier spoken parts bumps 2. Scandalous is good 2, loved when he sang it the lone time I saw him live . I remember when I first heard Batman, I was like y come he singing like that, he sick or something?

That takes me back to the concert I saw.He kinda combined scandalous, Insatiable,and adore in a medley one after the other.
Great times

Wolfie87 said:

Marvellous

They are both so close . . . but for me it's Insatiable. Both great songs though!

As someone else said, Insatiable might be one of the last in a run of great Prince ballads.

I'm not sure we're all comparing apples to apples here.


If you compare the single version of Scandalous to Insatiable, Scandalous is beatable.


If you compare the Scandalous Sex Suite to Insatiable, I don't think it's even close. It's Scandalous [Sex Suite] by a mile. It's 3 remarkably different, but incredibly delivered songs expertly connected by a common theme. Ding Dong!

I love Insatiable, but I'd put the Scandalous Sex Suite in Prince's Top 20, especially in showcasing Prince's skill at reworking a song. An original ballad with vocals (The Crime) to a reworked ballad with vocals (The Passion) to an electric guitar-lead ballad (The Rapture)? That was a BAAAAAAD MAN.

The Scandalous Sex Suite got Me in some "Trouble" back in the Day!!!!

woogiebear said:

Scandalous

pdiddy2011 said:

I'm not sure we're all comparing apples to apples here.


If you compare the single version of Scandalous to Insatiable, Scandalous is beatable.


If you compare the Scandalous Sex Suite to Insatiable, I don't think it's even close. It's Scandalous [Sex Suite] by a mile. It's 3 remarkably different, but incredibly delivered songs expertly connected by a common theme. Ding Dong!

I love Insatiable, but I'd put the Scandalous Sex Suite in Prince's Top 20, especially in showcasing Prince's skill at reworking a song. An original ballad with vocals (The Crime) to a reworked ballad with vocals (The Passion) to an electric guitar-lead ballad (The Rapture)? That was a BAAAAAAD MAN.

Well Put! Its crazy that this brilliant suite is so hard to find. Not even on YT...why?

LoveGalore said:

dodger said:

Scandalous and it's not even close.

TrivialPursuit said:

"Insatiable" is Prince slightly losing his mojo with ballads. It felt like a stretch, trying too hard.

In contrast, "Scandalous" has life and power in it. The lead in hook to the "ding dong" moment is what's catchy. The chord structure, the synths, it's all well layered and produced.

The expanded Sex Suite is amazing.

While he's known for using his falsetto in a ballad, I think "Insatiable" suffers because of it. It's a decent written song, but his falsetto is ear shattering. It renders the song unremarkable, bland, and uninspired. It fades into the distance even more with something like "Diamonds and Pearls" on the same album.

So for me, "Scandalous" wins by a batmile.

This is 100% bona fide correct.

It's a close call, but "Scandalous" by a nose. They both are awesome ballads. I think that "Scandalous" feels more genuine somehow, for lack of a better word. the emotion cuts deeper. "Insatiable" is more playful what with the "tonight we video" stuff, but honestly it just feels more superficial. I wouldn't say he's going through the motions on "Insatiable," but "Scandalous" just feels like the tighter composition, stronger melody, and more committed vocal.

.

Someone mentioned the "Spirits rise, spirits fall" part of "Scandalous" and, I'm not quite sure EXACTLY why, but that moment elevates the song for me.

SCANDALOUS by a mile. Its so sexy, but not vulgar. I read a review that said the music sounds like body heat...if it had a sound...lol. He is right, there is such a rich, warm beautiful tone to scandalous. Love it so much, always have.

wilmer said:

Spirits rise, spirits fall / Everything you ever dreamed of I'm willing to be ...

That string section during and right before that part is pure heaven in musical form! Everytime it comes on, I have to stop what I'm doing, bring the ipad closer to my ear, and just breathe it in.

Scandalous easily wins, by a country mile. The Scandalous Sex Suite alone pushes it but just the song alone, album version, is fantastic. It's the sound of lust and fever pitch sexual tension, it is the perfect example of a Prince ballad. Insatiable is so similar to Damn U that they kind of blend together, while Insatiable is a good song, it sounds skeletal compared to Scandalous. Scandalous has layers and he turned it into a suite that might be one of his best edits.

Se7en said:

They are both so close . . . but for me it's Insatiable. Both great songs though!

As someone else said, Insatiable might be one of the last in a run of great Prince ballads.

Not by far.

"Call My Name" is up there.
So is "Damn U".
So is "The Most Beautiful Girl In The World" (single version), even though I understand
why all the schmaltz may end being too much for some (but that's precisely the point).
So is "Eye Hate U".
So is "The Dance" (the 3121 version).
So is "She Loves Me 4 me".
So is "Circle Of Amour".
So is [insert another contender]...

Even obscure stuff like "Snowman" make a decent rival to "Insatiable" (except if, by "ballad", only Wanna-get-laid-Prince are accepted).

"Insatiable" is simply put, boring.
After two minutes, the song said all it had to say.
Which isn't much, and kinda vulgar (how he would drink every drop is a mystery: a straw? A flute?).
Speaking of flute, the cheap synth presets nail the coffin.

In terms of composition, lyrics, and arrangements, "Insatiable" is not that great a song.
What good is homemade pr0n if you "erase the naughty bits"?
It's 2:45 alright. It's not sensual, it's soporiphic.

It was the first ballad, and possibly the only, that made me think of self-plagiarism.

"Scandalous" has more depth, the gloomy orchestra arrangements are top notch (but this is to be expected from Clare Fischer), the low "Babe" is a staple, and so are the synth choir and the sobbings (which end up with a perfect "Mmmmh" on the Suite).

As for the videos, I have little tolerance whenever Skipper does such self-enamored shootings. It's embarassing. Even there "Scandalous" manages to be better than the "I get off looking at my navel" feeling that exsudes from "Insatiable".

I can't help yawning, Martha.

bonatoc said:

I vote for insatiable, a lush and seductive zephyr of music, warm and gentle. I think the Scanadlous sex suite version is miles above the single, but still overall I go for insatiable.

I do consider these songs twins, songs that have a similar take or sensibility. Like It and Hot thing are twins.

Everything a contest here.


Clearly none of you has ever used either for their intended purpose.

Phase3 said:

woogiebear said:

The Scandalous Sex Suite got Me in some "Trouble" back in the Day!!!!

In the words of the great musical "Grease" Tell me more,tell me more

Scandalous by miles and miles! Some great memories on that one.