The 1999 tracks are like a delicious, uber rich dessert that someone forces you to overeat like that giant chocolate cake in Matilda.

The tracks fitting on a single disc coupled with less # than a typical single LP kinda convoluted to legacy on that one. I maintain it's as bloated and scattered as any other double LP in history, but it doesn't get evaluated like that, like how by constrast every mention of Emancipation has to mention it's a triple album within 1/4 an opening sentence.

[Edited 12/28/23 4:26am]

You are high, all the tracks you mentioned are top Prince songs imo.

The only one I really never warmed up to is Temptation. But even that, its the ending I hate. The actual song is ok.

lustmealways said:

You're insane hot thing is BIBLICAL

And hot take, that Shep remix on the ICNTTPOYM single is fire.

MattyJam said:

What are your 80-88 hot takes?

...that Prince didn't release more songs that you dislike!

Historically only 'When 2 are in love' on the Black Album. Only because I like it on Lovesexy. I've always been one of those commited to listening to the whole album types once it's on.

Poplife88 said:

You are high, all the tracks you mentioned are top Prince songs imo.

The only one I really never warmed up to is "Temptation." But even that, its the ending I hate. The actual song is ok.

I'll have to send you my version. It's slightly sped up, and that ending is removed. It's literally half the length and has a bit more of a swing to it.

"Slow Love" grinds on me. I think it's maybe just a tad too long, is all. "It" feels a bit too much. Seems like "Moonbeam Levels" could have finally found a home in "It"'s place. Also, "The Question of U" could easily take the place of "Slow Love."

Things like "Automatic" and "Delirious" are great. "Automatic" is long as fuck, but it really lends to Susan or Peggy saying he couldn't stop himself. He just kept going. He was in love with that Linn and the utter speed it gave him to create. You sort of have to appreciate the unadulterated nature of such a long song. There is zero wrong on 1999.

"Dance On" is great just because of the musicianship of it.

If I had one issue with a shitastic miss-the-mark song, it's "Life Can Be So Nice." Goddamn what a shit show of a song. That's my go-to-miss-the-mark song.

Also controversial take: "Scandalous" > "Insatiable"

TrivialPursuit said:

Poplife88 said:

You are high, all the tracks you mentioned are top Prince songs imo.

The only one I really never warmed up to is "Temptation." But even that, its the ending I hate. The actual song is ok.

I'll have to send you my version. It's slightly sped up, and that ending is removed. It's literally half the length and has a bit more of a swing to it.

i hate to say it, T.P., but you are the forerunner of a.i.

I was never that crazy about "Dance On".It's the only song on Lovesexy that I sometimes skip.

RJOrion said:

Delirious Jack U Off Darling Nikki Paisley Park The Cross Anna Stesia

epic Prince songs.

not really sure if you completely thought this through, my friend.

Can we agree that "Purple Rain" is a total shit show?

Free - I've already said my piece on this song in past threads but it's gotta be THE weakest ballad Prince put out in his golden era

The Ladder - this is the only flat out miss on ATWIAD and I don't understand what people hear in it. just another meandering and preachy "message" song that sounds like "Purple Rain 2.0" but without any of the magic or cathartic highs.

Adore - I know this one's gonna be controversial "Adore" is objectively an all around better song than the last two I chose, there's not really anything wrong with it per se. It just doesn't connect with me for some reason, that's all.

nayroo2002 said:

nayroo2002 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

I'll have to send you my version. It's slightly sped up, and that ending is removed. It's literally half the length and has a bit more of a swing to it.

i hate to say it, T.P., but you are the forerunner of a.i.

HA!

I have never been a fan of Delirious. Skip it almost every time.

I love Automatic (plus added fun of irritating even Prince fans who say this song lasts forever )

JackUO is a pass for me. Skip it every time.

I can't really think of any majors (hits or near hits or quasi hits) that I feel definitely missed the mark.

Btw, Scandalous Sex Suites ---> Insatiable, but Insatiable ---> Scandalous (single)

I'm gonna go ahead and say Free is the only song that actively grates on me enough for me to even think about it being less than perfect.

Fuck all y'all. "Free" is a virtual prelude to stuff like "Purple Rain," and "Gold." It's fantastic.

TrivialPursuit said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Fuck all y'all. "Free" is a virtual prelude to stuff like "Purple Rain," and "Gold." It's fantastic.

it's completely over the top sappy with a melody and production that does not save it

i don't completely hate it or anything, but being the sole song on the album in that style (international lover maybe veers close in terms of not being a mechanical synth funk feel, BUT obviously it's a totally different vibe to free) as well as the fact that i think he was being earnest with the messaging, it's hard to not feel like it's lacking compared to the rest of the album. i just don't think it's that strong of a song, and when we know moonbeam levels was floating around, which may very well be one of the greatest songs he ever wrote ever, free feels silly and fluffy.

the weird part is that of course i hear little stems of what makes his ballad piano stuff so perfect, but something just feels off about free.

[Edited 12/28/23 16:50pm]

A lot of people are listing Delirious. The funny thing is, for most of my life I disliked it and skipped it myself. Had this question come up a few years ago, it would have made my list too. But over the last few years I've warmed to it. I still don't love it, but I can enjoy it for what it is and not skip it.

Thankfully he used the edited version on the album. I've not warmed to it enough to appreciate the extended version that appeared on the SDE. I realize it's only slightly longer, but as it is, the album version almost outlives its welcome.

lustmealways said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Fuck all y'all. "Free" is a virtual prelude to stuff like "Purple Rain," and "Gold." It's fantastic.

it's completely over the top sappy with a melody and production that does not save it

i don't completely hate it or anything, but being the sole song on the album in that style (international lover maybe veers close in terms of not being a mechanical synth funk feel, BUT obviously it's a totally different vibe to free) as well as the fact that i think he was being earnest with the messaging, it's hard to not feel like it's lacking compared to the rest of the album. i just don't think it's that strong of a song, and when we know moonbeam levels was floating around, which may very well be one of the greatest songs he ever wrote ever, free feels silly and fluffy.

the weird part is that of course i hear little stems of what makes his ballad piano stuff so perfect, but something just feels off about free.

[Edited 12/28/23 16:50pm]

It sounds like a proto version of "God Bless The U.S.A." or one of those other lame ass patriotic ballads from the 80s, I genuinely don't understand why people like it enough to defend it around here. People would probably rightfully be clowning on the song if someone else like MJ had done it.

"Jack U Off"

"Annie Christian"

That's it. "Batman" was released in 1989.

lustmealways said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Fuck all y'all. "Free" is a virtual prelude to stuff like "Purple Rain," and "Gold." It's fantastic.

it's completely over the top sappy with a melody and production that does not save it

But in 1982, it tracked perfectly with the times.