Some of my favorite Prince songs/albums didn't start out that way. In fact, it seems like I always have to listen to new Prince music at least three or four times before I actually get into it. Some songs that I hated on first listen became my absolute favorites.

When I first heard "Crucial," for example, I honestly could not see what the big deal was. It seemed silly and inconsequential. A few months and a few listens later, however, it got hold of me like a terminal disease! Now I can't say enough good things about this track.

Are there any songs you hated on first listen but came to love?

Come - the song & album
New Power Soul - the album

Sexual Suicide - that song took years to grow on me but now its one I consider it one of his best.

There are too many to list here, but I will go with Reflection and Calhoun Square.

"i would die 4 u" used to creep me out a bit...

What is it about Prince music? I find that this happens more with his music than anyone else's. I think it just takes time for all the layers and complexities to get under your skin.

On the other hand, "Come" (title track) was love at first listen for me!

Surprisingly looking back now, Computer Blue. I didnt care 2 much 4 it when I was younger but I think its cracking now. Particularly the full extended version.

FunkMistress said:

one of the things you gotta love about the brotha's music..


well um, yeah!!!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Maybe more like at first listen, but you get the picture...

'Come' - the album took a little while 2 grow on me
[This message was edited Wed Jul 16 9:48:41 PDT 2003 by r1ghteousone]

94-96.

With the exception of C&D he started to sound too much like everything else on the radio only with a distinct "Princely" touch.

The beauty of it though was that I got to 'rediscover' all these albums and am only recently coming off of an "Emancipation" kick that I don't think has completely ended yet!

LittlePill said:

I agree! I wouldn't call mine an Emancipation kick really, but when I bought the album in '97 and listened to it, I wrote it off as a bunch of shit. I've only recently picked it back up and there are several songs that I've really come to love. It's like having new Prince music all over again!

Many of them

Black album and Sign Of the Times I didn't really like at first, they are now my two favorites
UTCM
1999
Rave Un2
Madhouse 16

Albums that get worse after each listen to me are:

Emancipation
Diamonds and Pearls
Lovesexy
Grafitti Bridge

SIGN O THE TIMES

I listened to this album 2 times after rushing out to buy it in March 87.I heard the single SOTT on the radio a month later and listened to the album every day for 3 years.

savoirfaire said:

Totally agree with you about Diamonds and Pearls and Graffiti Bridge. I was listening to these albums a little while ago and almost puked. The ironic thing is that I LOVED both of these albums when they first came out.

My answer would be the "Batman" soundtrack. Thought it was overrated when it first dropped. It took a couple of years to grow on me.

There is actually a lot of Prince albums I heard then said OKAY ITS OKAY and then listened to it again after a while and was totally hooked.. but I'd say "Batman" and "For you".. I heard "For you" once and then thought.. hmm its okay, but probably not gonna hear it again... just heard it again and wow I'm crazy about this album! But there is actually a lot of Prince songs that needs to grow on you..

FunkMistress said:

I think maturity also has something to do with it. I've been into Prince since I was a little kid, so I was quite young when I first got into albums like Lovesexy and 1999. I didn't understand the music and the lyrics the way I did when I came of age.

Every album he's released.I seem have to listen at least 3 or 4 times to fully appreciate everything that's going on.

I've got a strange feeling that's why his sales dropped off after the mid 80's, not cause the music wasn't great, but cause music consumers have little patience and if they don't like it at first listen it's quickly dismissed.

I've heard people say he overproduces sometimes.

2 albums that took me a long time to appreciate are Grafitti Bridge and Choas & Disorder. Both aren't masterpieces by any stretch of the imagination, but still contain tracks that are great by anyone's expectations.

Albums that may take longer than my anticipated lifespan to grow on me are:
Emancipation
NPS
Come

But I don't suppose you can be all things to all people all of the time...

Parade & Sign O' The Times

actually, atwiad is slowly beginnin to grow on me a bit. when i first listened to a copy of it my sister had i wuz like, "uggg!" "raspberry beret" and "pop life" i've always loved, but the rest of it wuz just...bleh.

then a couple of months back i wuz over at a friend of mine's house for a bbq, and atwiad wuz playin in full. i sat listenin to it and it's like, "mmm, this album's awright after all, i guess." there's still a couple songs which i can't stomach: the title track still makes me retch and "temptation" is puke-worthy for the last minute of it--princey screamin like a bitch, errr! but the rest is startin to slowly grow on me.

haven't bought a copy of the album yet, cuz i ain't at that point.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

tell me it ain't true!

Dirty Mind.
And most of the 80's associated projects!

Long as you love Condition Of The Heart; cause that is a stone cold masterpiece. A lot of those songs were written by Wendy and Lisa, so that is why they have to grow on ya. lol.

dewmass said:

s'true. if i had a copy my official prince collection would be chronologically sound from 1978 to 1987.

Marrk said:

Great point and to expand on your remarrk,I think that is 90% the problem with most "nay-sayers" on this site.

Everytime Prince releases a new album the bitchin & moanin starts.2-3 years passes then ..."that ___ album was my favorite."

Newpowersoul, i tried to avoid it for as long as possible but the other nite i poped it in the player and i was like this aint that bad.

savoirfaire said:

ah yeah? lovesexy gets worse everytime you
listen to it?
wow. interesting. really.

"Cystal Ball" and "The Rainbow Children" are the two albums. Can't think of any songs though.

VinnyM27 said:

Cystal Ball? sounds like a medical condition!

2freaky4church1 said:

[This message was edited Thu Jul 17 1:07:56 PDT 2003 by lovebizzare]