Just going through some old Jesse Johnson grooves and listened to his song "Jump For It" from the White Men Can't Jump soundtrack for the first time in decades. It's a nice early 90s groove that immediately made me think of the song "Musicology." They are 2 completely different songs (no plagiarism here) but that guitar work running throughout "Jump For It" reminds me of "Musicology" quite a bit. I wonder if Prince was influenced after hearing this. Whatch'all think?

It's not an uncommon riff. Prince played it on bass, Jesse's is on guitar. But it's not unusual.

And I doubt he even knew about that song, much less though, "oh hey, that 12 year old song funky, let me write a new song in 2004."

TrivialPursuit said:

LoveGalore said:

You could tell Prince did just that sometimes though. Isn't "Colonized Mind" basically a very close facsimile of a song from the 70s? I forget what song but it's been posted here. And of course "Erotic City" is inspired by "White Horse." "Purple Rain"'s inspiration has been talked about. Prince was full of references, he just was good at making it sound like he dreamt his songs up himself.

No doubt. Let's call a thing a thing: he stole a lot of stuff. I'd hear fills or riffs in his concerts, then hear some older and my brain goes "WAAAAIT A MINUTE!"

I forget the "Colonized Mind" reference.

I'm never quite sure about that Laid Back reference, though. Sure, they sound the same, but is it really a lift of their song for "Erotic City?" Just a happy coincidence? It was the 80s after all, and as much as music was different and evolving, there was still a lot of cross pollenation and heavy borrowing.

Every time I hear "Faithfully" by Journey, I now think of "Purple Rain." Because I was always impressed that Prince thought enough of them to call Jonathan Cain and say, "Hey, is this too much like your song?" And Cain said they were fine.

In short, I don't think he was "inspired" or otherwise from an obscure Jesse song. I believe, moreover, it says how funky and inventive they both were as musicians. Jesse still never quite gets the credit he deserves. He's the troubled soul of the group (there's always one that jumps ship or causes an uproar in some way, and Jesse was that guy for The Time).

There's a song even more like Jump For It (as far as the sounds and overall vibe) on SOTT Super Deluxe. I thought of Jump For It the minute I heard it. Most of us hadn't heard it before SOTT SDE. Anyone else noticed which song?

alphastreet said:

My friend knows jesse, I’m going to ask her if he thinks prince has heard it/sampled it and let you know [Edited 10/4/21 22:06pm]

And just what you think jesse will say? LMAO.

He's going to say Prince stole it from him, he didn't get any $$ for it, blah blah blah.

PennyPurple said:

PennyPurple said:

FWIW, I hear "I WIll Follow" by U2 in "Guitar"

herb4 said:

FWIW, I hear "I WIll Follow" by U2 in "Guitar"

YOU AIN'T WRONG ON THAT ONE!

TrivialPursuit said:

LoveGalore said:

You could tell Prince did just that sometimes though. Isn't "Colonized Mind" basically a very close facsimile of a song from the 70s? I forget what song but it's been posted here. And of course "Erotic City" is inspired by "White Horse." "Purple Rain"'s inspiration has been talked about. Prince was full of references, he just was good at making it sound like he dreamt his songs up himself.

No doubt. Let's call a thing a thing: he stole a lot of stuff. I'd hear fills or riffs in his concerts, then hear some older and my brain goes "WAAAAIT A MINUTE!"

I forget the "Colonized Mind" reference.

I'm never quite sure about that Laid Back reference, though. Sure, they sound the same, but is it really a lift of their song for "Erotic City?" Just a happy coincidence? It was the 80s after all, and as much as music was different and evolving, there was still a lot of cross pollenation and heavy borrowing.

Every time I hear "Faithfully" by Journey, I now think of "Purple Rain." Because I was always impressed that Prince thought enough of them to call Jonathan Cain and say, "Hey, is this too much like your song?" And Cain said they were fine.

In short, I don't think he was "inspired" or otherwise from an obscure Jesse song. I believe, moreover, it says how funky and inventive they both were as musicians. Jesse still never quite gets the credit he deserves. He's the troubled soul of the group (there's always one that jumps ship or causes an uproar in some way, and Jesse was that guy for The Time).

Miriam Makeba's Quit It

He sampled himself in this song, taking a line from Come Elektra Tuesday from 1986