The original (well, the Stylistics version technically a remake too, but same writer/producer so same architect/license) is an example of a truly 100% perfect song and Prince's version added absolutely nothing new. I appreciate all of Thom Bell original renditions of "Betcha By Golly Wow" completely and totally.

I really would genuinely like to know what some Prince fans see in his later version that makes it great or "better", other than the fact that it has Prince singing over a 90s karaoke machine backing track.

It feels like every single other ballad on Emancipation was an infinitely more successful delivery/execution of the same sentiment he's attempting with "Betcha By Golly Wow", only without drawing on the Mona Lisa as it were. His career is cool as is, but it'd be even a couple notches cooler if his studio output was solely original material.

[Edited 7/2/23 0:48am]

Personally, I always preferred the Stylistics version as Prince's voice sounds a little stretched on his cover of it. But it's romantic and cute, and the video is kinda heartbreaking given how things ended up. This might be one of those songs that is impossible to separate from that period of his life with Mayte - maybe that explains why so few Emancipation tracks ever got played live later on.

WhisperingDandelions said:

MsNia said:

For me personally, it was a very low point in Prince's career. He had avoided releasing cover versions officially, and had kept covers exclusively to concert performances. Emancipation had not one, not two, not three, but FOUR covers.

On the album he was "born to make." It was very disappointing, because clearly these tracks, including "Betcha By Golly...", were filler.

The video, of course, would end up being a very sad document of what could have been. The original, an absolute classic, that should have been left alone.

But the recording itself is not bad.

Good or Bad.. all subjective, I guess

BUT why in HELL was this the first single??????

GOOD LORD!

The original was, as people have said, perfect. Prince didn't do anything new with it which should have precluded him from putting it on an album. What's worse it was pure schmaltz as was La, La, La... means I love you.

I'm with everyone else, Prince's version is VASTLY inferior to the Thom Bell-produced Stylistics version. I love love love Prince, but I really dislike this cover. In my opinion, Thom Bell was one of the greatest writer/producers who ever lived. His melodies were TOP NOTCH and his productions swallowed you up into a different world. He was so original and so accomplished and so humble of his enormous talents. His songs are timeless. Rest in power, Thom Bell.

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

Face Down would have made sense as a first single, even as just a promo video,
just to set up the narrative.

moonbeam levels? as bad as face down or p control?

RJOrion said:

funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

ah, not many takers for the Face Down single, I see

all the singles sucked, except holy river, but thats just not 'big' enough as a song to really be a hit

its like a single you release after one or two big singles, but emancipation didnt really have those either

betcha... nice vocals, corny production and band effort, only good if you wanted to announce that prince had become your favourite middle of the road artist

somebodys somebody - a really solid song, but kinda generic for prince, he should have given it to TLC (i could actually see t-boz doing it well tbh) or someone else to do instead - if it was 1981, hed have given it to the time

holy river - one of his greatest 90s songs, and one of the best springsteen songs not by springsteen, but idk, i think it was just more of an album cut than single

face down - god this just sucked (reasons already mentioned)

LILpoundCAKE said:

RJOrion said:

Love Face Down. Easily one of the best tracks of Emancipation. The live version recorded at the Roseland in NYC is amazing.Prince was not trying to sound 'attitudy.' The guy was fukcing pissed and he'd tell you as much every time he played that song live. Lucky to see it happen myself 3 times. Fire.

Betcha By Golly Wow single handledly killed any chance Emancipation had of being even remotely successful. I could name 12 tracks that wouldve been great first singles.

[Edited 7/4/23 19:56pm]

[Edited 7/4/23 19:58pm]

It's one of Prince's great vocal performances.

I have no appreciation for it. Never liked Emancipation as an album either. Too bland, too middle of the road for me. Badly produced. Listening to it in the record store was one of the most painful experiences I ever had as a Prince fan. I felt embarrassed to be a Prince fan. It was the first time I didn't buy a new Prince album on the day of its' release. Only bought it a few years later for 5 euro from the bargain bin just to complete my collection.

funkaholic1972 said:

I have no appreciation for it. Never liked Emancipation as an album either. Too bland, too middle of the road for me. Badly produced. Listening to it in the record store was one of the most painful experiences I ever had as a Prince fan. I felt embarrassed to be a Prince fan. It was the first time I didn't buy a new Prince album on the day of its' release. Only bought it a few years later for 5 euro from the bargain bin just to complete my collection.

Agreed.