I love this album however it has taken on a world of its own in terms of cult status amongst the hardcore. I don't believe this has as much to do with the aesthetic of the music as it has to do with the greatness of the message Prince was conveying.

The lyrics touched people on a very personal level and actually outweighed the musical content. I've heard so many people say 'Lovesexy saved my life.' That's amazing, however, musically the album is not as powerful as the uplifting, spiritual vibe it contained and that is the reason for its cult status.

As Prince proclaimed, 'This is not music, this is a trip...'

You goddamn right Lovesexy is overrated...Prince sending this to the masses after SOTT. The nerve.

Seriously it's the music. The lyrics on that record are gay and unmetal. Still the music is fantastic as was the music on the record that SHOULD have been released; The Funk Bible. If Prince could've kept up that flow... damn... but no we got saddled with Batman...

The fact that it has touched so many people means that it is NOT overrated. The ecstasy of the message is carried in the music as well. Just listen to the bombast and celebratory tone of the title track...it's all there.

"Lovesexy" if anything is criminally underrated.

Moonbeam said:

It didnt touch a lot of people--it was his first release to "not" crack th e top ten since 1999. Not saying it didnt touch anyone but that those it did were few in number at the time. In retrospect is another story.

I think it was a definite turning point.

rdhull said:

I'd say it had a much more significant impact on people than most of his top 10 records to that point. It may not have sold as much, but its impact has remained strong in virtually everyone who it touched.

Moonbeam said:

I have to assess this..because I think the impact it had was mainly due to the tour that followed it. Folks had to get into it since it was the cd of the moment with a tour. Im not sure how much folks back then (besides Supa...) that actually fell for the goobly-gook he was preaching about on record.But it does have a long lasting impact on some folks in retrospect ..not sure if it was there at the present time though or that strong.

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[This message was edited Sun Mar 9 20:48:54 PST 2003 by rdhull]

rdhull said:

creepycornerman said:

Anji said:

Im not kidding Anj..afte r the greatnes that was the whole SOTT project he came with this..at the time it was majorly dissappointing to me. It seemed almost elementary and lacking..lacking in substance, or no meat n potato to it..it took a long damn time to appreciate it. It didnt have th e full force that SOTT did when I first heard it..it seemed like Prince-lite at the time..sitting listening to it in May 1988. But now its the shit...and that may be because it was the last essence of Prince release.

rdhull said:

You may be right. I didn't get into this record until I was about 18, but it has stayed with me ever since as a legitimate favorite with "1999," and we both now how great THAT one is.

rdhull said:

Great point, Rd. Yet another pertinent reason why Lovesexy has, in retrospect, risen to cult status amongst the hardcore.

Don't get me wrong,I love Lovesexy. I just didn't think that was the cd that warranted a tour behind it. Especially after SOTT material had come just before it. I realize I didn't get to have the songs like deep cuts like Positivity and that vocal delivery sink in as time has let it, but back then it was a letdown to me seriously...I kept reading about it being his most accessible album since 1999 and PR and about all the nightlife sounds on it..I was hyped! I got it and was like "wtf is this"..especially Glam Slam. However! there is the truly essence of Prince moment that is in the segue between Eye NO and Alp St with that catholic Preacher, or just ominus preacher stating his"...with the fruit of the vine" sermon. Now this is what Prince was about. This is what Lets Go Crazy was described in print before PR was released was supposed to be. An actual man of the cloth with Prince there playing music in the profane etc. This was the culmanition of the Contorversy Cross,Jesus Christ Pose, religion of PR was about. It was just put on the wrong album, but thank god Prince did it finally.



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[This message was edited Sun Mar 9 21:10:21 PST 2003 by rdhull]

Hmmm... Lovesexy overrated? Bullshit.

I'm gonna sleep on this one and return with my post.

Let me flip your argument on its ear and say that this is one of those records that needs a hardcore fan to put it in its proper perspective. I would argue that it’s not a bias or cult-like thing happening with “Lovesexy” at all (See “Under The Cherry Movie” for that), but rather that this is the type of creation that screams out for a deeper level of focus and familiarity than most critics or music lovers are likely willing to dedicate in the now.

All the great artists have works like “Lovesexy”; that is, works that are almost completely ignored or misunderstood in their time, but later are hailed as masterpieces. And certainly in most of these cases those closest to the art already knew the truth from the get go and were simply mocked for their knowledge due to their closeness to the subject. Decades from now the music historians will catch up.

Lyrically while this album certainly did not change or save my life, I could really relate to the complex mix of sound and energy that melded the sexual with the spiritual, suggesting that the two were not merely compatible, but that they were in fact one in the same.

Just as one cannot properly digest “Lovesexy” without a great pair of headphones, one cannot truly move sex beyond the physical without intimacy.

There’s a great litmus test for this album. Ask someone for his or her reaction to the line, “Come a butterfly straight on your skin.” If they think that’s dirty or nasty, they probably won’t ever be able to fully relate to this creation.

It’s no great surprise that this album received far more praise in Europe where sexuality is generally much more evolved.

I think the message is what makes it as great as it is.
I also think musically it's great too. I think when it comes to drums and percussion, he did a fantastic job.
Guitars are mostly hidden, but when you notice them, you notice the greatness too.

And don't tell me Anna Stesia is overrated. It's probably one of his greatest songs.

Anji said:

Lovesexy was huge to me at one time in my life, like in 1988! Man, that was so long ago. Prince hasn't blown me away like that for many years. I guess we both got older.

The fact that it took me longer than usual (several years, in fact) to appreciate 'Lovesexy' is what makes this album so special, IMO.

There are SO many Prince songs that, on first impression, blew me away - and whilst I still love them - they don't have the same impact or resonance that they once had. (Mostly P's late 90's output).

'Lovesexy' is like a musical rollercoaster; such a trip! It's an amazingly complex album. But I will admit that sometimes I do wonder whether my appreciation of it relates more to OTHER peoples' reverence of it. Does that make sense? I only say this as before I actually got 'into' it, I used to wonder what the hell was wrong with me! Everyone else seemed to salivate over it but I couldn't understand the fuss. Now, though, it's DEFINITELY in my Top 5 Prince albums. Can't get enough of it.

Incidentally, does anyone actually think Prince meant what he said re: Lovesexy? Didn't he say something like "after 'Lovesexy', I had nothing left to prove". Do you think he meant that, as a musician, he had touched every musical base, every genre, every style by the time 'Lovesexy' was released? Or that he considered 'Lovesexy' to be the absolute zenith of his career? (Funny, considering he called 'Emancipation' "the album I was born to make" several years later).

Anyone's thoughts on this?

onenitealone said:

Actually, he said that about SOTT.

You're certainly right in saying that part of the magic of the record is its extraordinary effervescence and energy. But that's not just a matter of its philosophy-- it's also embedded in the music. There's layers and layers of energy and they combine in its best moments for one hell of a party. Lyrically it's one of the more cogent representations of his fusion of the spiritual and the secular, but that wonderful sentiment- divine wordly enjoyments- is captured by the incredible elan of the music as well.

But, yeah, Lovesexy is probably overrated (by his fans). It saddens me to say that because in many ways it captures perfectly what I love about Prince-- complex, layered, buzzing songs where the potential for the listener is inexhaustible. It's just that some of the songs that best exemplify this-- Lovesexy and Positivity for example -- are somewhat of an overdose. In the case of the former it just seems as if the dynamics are a bit awry-- too much bombast and not enough nuance. That said I like the song when I'm in the mood to join in the excess.

There's also a plasticity about the arrangements that is slightly grating, especially if you come at the album after a period of listening to more organic music. The layers compensate for this to a large extent, filling out the empty spaces. But I think it's the end of his golden touch in respect of sonics- it's a long way from Sign in this respect especially.

Lovesexy is without doubt among my favourite Prince albums. Alphabet Street is utter genius, Glam Slam is utter genius; Eye No and I Wish U Heaven are works of minor genius. But it is lauded to such an extent here that I think it is reasonable to say that it is overrated amongst his fans. NOT outside of that, though. And it's by no means the most overrated- The Gold Experience will probably always hold that honour.
[This message was edited Mon Mar 10 3:11:58 PST 2003 by fairmoan]

Probably because as a whole experience.. the world tour, the whole 1988 ying yang with the black album, visualization, players and the "Lovesexy" feeling it created was never better.

The album alone is indeed "unique" but I would agree that in some ways its a tad overrated.

God, I did his last week! Posting thoughts, in work, without back-up! I'm going to get a reputation...

You could be right (and you're usually very knowledgeable, Supernova) but I'm sure I read this about 'Lovesexy'

Either way, do you really think he felt he had nothing left to prove? I'm sure he didn't really believe this and was simply giving an to the critics. (One of the reasons I thought he said it about 'Lovesexy'; at the time, it didn't get the same level of critical acclaim or reverence that its' predeccesor received).

onenitealone said:

I didn't hear him say it, but I saw him quoted as saying it about SOTT. So I kept reading it over and over, because at the time I couldn't believe he could actually come to that conclusion. It seems to me that that attitude was played out during most of the '90s, but I also have an added theory that it wasn't the only reason for his creative slump starting in the early '90s. That's another thread.

It could have been an F U towards the critics, but ... I have a feeling it was said more out of cockiness, or maybe complacency than anything else. I could be totally wrong. But I have no problem with The Great Ones being cocky once in a while.

I should add; if he really did believe that, then I'm sure it was out of complacency.
[This message was edited Mon Mar 10 1:42:59 PST 2003 by Supernova]

Well, if HE can't be cocksure or brag about his talents/achievements WHO can??? Hell, that man has NOTHING to answer for.

I'm sure I read his comments on one of the webchats he had on the old Love 4 1 Another website. Does anyone have any transcripts of these??

Musically it's F@cking amazing ! So many layers of sounds and voices, it's just incredable. It sounds like nothing else.

theSpark said:

I agree.

Lammastide said:

coulda sworn that sott is a lot mo' overrated than lovesexy...