Ok, some won't like this, but I have to bring it up with you because it's been bothering me for sometime. Did Prince lift (accidentally or intentionally) the beginning of Eye Hate U from the Stylistics song Children Of The Night? I've always thought that they've sounded similar. Here's something related that I also think is strange, Emancipation includes two covers, The Delfonics' La La Means I Love You and The Stylistics' song Betcha By Golly Wow. All three songs (children, betcha and La La) were written by Thom Bell and published by Mighty Three Music. Is it possible Prince included covers of those songs on Emancipation as payment for lifting Children Of The Night? Anyone have any insight on this, or am I grasping at straws?

There are somewhat similar phrases to "Children of the Night," but there are also another 100 songs with the same phrasing that you're probably referring to here. Those aren't uncommon in old soul type songs, and "Eye Hate U" certainly has an old soul sound overall despite the slicker production.

If anything, he sounds like himself, since he lifted a major phrase from "Baby" and put it in this one.

The music at the beginning sound like Children of the Night. Only reason I brought it up was because I was curious if anyone else picked up on it. No knock against Prince intended.

TrivialPursuit said:

If anything, he sounds like himself, since he lifted a major phrase from "Baby" and put it in this one.

That's what I always thought, too. I also thought Mary J. Blige's Jam & Lewis track The Love I Never Had kind of aped that motiff as well. You can almost sing Eye Hate U over it until the chorus comes.

I Hate U is a standard R&B chord progression. Prince used stock chord progression all through his career. Nothing special here.

TrivialPursuit said:

If anything, he sounds like himself, since he lifted a major phrase from "Baby" and put it in this one.

Just like "Alphabet St." uses that run from "Just As Long As We're Together".

But, then, there's "Baba O Riley" from The Who vs. "Bitch" from Meridith Brooks vs. "The Beautiful Ones"...

Who's zoomin' who???

nayroo2002 said:

Just like "Alphabet St." uses that run from "Just As Long As We're Together".

But, then, there's "Baba O Riley" from The Who vs. "Bitch" from Meridith Brooks vs. "The Beautiful Ones"...

Who's zoomin' who???

I don't know what any of that means.

TrivialPursuit said:

nayroo2002 said:

Just like "Alphabet St." uses that run from "Just As Long As We're Together".

But, then, there's "Baba O Riley" from The Who vs. "Bitch" from Meridith Brooks vs. "The Beautiful Ones"...

Who's zoomin' who???

I don't know what any of that means.

Someone doesn't realize there are only so many notes and chords that can be combined .

But Baba O'Riley sounds nothing like The Beautiful Ones.

12 notes, yeah.

I was just typing about that three chord run in each of those songs.

...could be faster, could be slower, but they are there.

I cursed myself by learning how to play music!!!

Bitch

Baba O' Riley

The Beautiful Ones

(hint: it's in the bassline)

Noone copied anyone.

These are all stellar, epic songs.

Superfreak and Talking In Your Sleep also share a similar bassline.

12 notes, indeed