Controversial lyrics, to be sure, especially in woketopia. Amazing guitar riff, simple but pure. Decent vocals, no stupendous song but quite different from his other stuff. You wish he had a whole album with this guitar sound. Punk/funk up the arse. Whoops. Besta both worlds ya freaks. hugs.

That and Bambi. There are rumors about someone he had a crush on and we know about Coleman and Melvoin. I think he was curious about the scene....only to be "cool". Guys have fantasies about two women together (right?).

Prince played BAMBI on the Ellen Show.

Cheeky enough???

I would've liked to hear it fleshed out more, a solid album-ready take.

To me, it was Prince continuing to push and explore sexuality, gender, and what he could get away with. I believe the lyrics would've been controversial then, but maybe not now so much. Which says a lot, really. There was a lot of controversial stuff back then. Wendy O. Williams with electrical tape on her nipps, tits out. Iggy Pop naked on stage. The New York Dolls in glam drag. Bowie in whatever he was wearing that day. There were a lot of folks upsetting the conservative patriarchy.

Prince didn't invent that wave, he rode it in his own way, as many artists did. He was definitely a squeaky wheel. But on a positive tip, he inadvertently became an icon of sexuality for men. And for women. I remember a line from Austin Powers, where Vanessa's mother, Mrs. Kensington, remembered her affair with Powers. "Men wanted to be him, women wanted to be with him."

I think we're still unwrapping the levels of androgyny, inter-sexuality, and transgender people. That extends beyond "Vagina." "Sister" is almost dark humor or satire, instead of a true story. But it touches a few taboos beyond incest. it stabs at human trafficking, prostitution, child abuse, and statutory rape. "Sexuality" delves into hot topics, as do a slew of other songs.

"Vagina," had it been released back then, would've given the PMRC a community stroke.

Sometimes I feel like I could write a short book on just Prince's forays into sexuality and gender through songs like this.

nayroo2002 said:

Prince played BAMBI on the Ellen Show.

Cheeky enough???

If by cheeky you mean asshole-like, then yes.

I'm a big fan. Of the song, much less so.

The Truth is the truth

I remember seeing an interview and reading articles about how "Vagina" was originally going to be Denise's stage name. She rejected that concept, and "Vanity" was the final outcome.

Now, I don't see Denise Matthew's as "half boy, half girl". She was all woman! Just saying that the Vagina name was a concept that was noodling around in Prince's head during that time.

Se7en said:

I remember seeing an interview and reading articles about how "Vagina" was originally going to be Denise's stage name. She rejected that concept, and "Vanity" was the final outcome.

Now, I don't see Denise Matthew's as "half boy, half girl". She was all woman! Just saying that the Vagina name was a concept that was noodling around in Prince's head during that time.

Vagina was always in Prince's head, let's no mince words here.

Se7en said:

I like the song. It is also interesting from the perspective that there were not that many songs about people who were trans/other gendered at the time. I kind of wish he had released it in 1982.

rockford said:

nayroo2002 said:

Prince played BAMBI on the Ellen Show.

Cheeky enough???

If by cheeky you mean asshole-like, then yes.

As much as Ellen has Bullied People on Her Show, Prince Performing "Bambi" on Her Show is the ULTIMATE F**K U 2 the Bully!!!