OK, as I've posted on here before, I was a die-hard Prince fan... all the Vinyls, CDs, 12"s, anything I could get my hands on. Same for all the proteges.

Then Batman came and the end began. I hung on... hoping. until Come, and then I couldn't take anymore. I finally gave up at that point.

With all the publicity of a "come-back", I borrowed Emancipation from a co-worker... and I have to say... I made the right decision. 3 discs of cover songs and mediocre stuff??? what the hell??? Does anyone actually like this album???

I am curious about 2 songs though:

"In This Bed I Scream": Says in reverse type "To Wendy, Lisa, and Susannah". Is this his attempt at an apology? A plea to get together?? Wasn't he already with Mayte at this point? What's the deal? The lyrics are really nice.


"The Love We Make". When I posted that I hope P reunites with the Revolution at the Grammy's, someone said he should do TLWM in honor of Jonathan Melvoin. Looking at the lyrics, I'm not sure I get that. What's the deal with this song?
[This message was edited Fri Feb 6 21:32:38 PST 2004 by GaryMF]

GaryMF said:[quote]
"In This Bread I Scream" [quote]

HUH? Screaming into bread? Does he do that?

OK I edited my typos.

Prince's recent snubbing/absence from the Family Jam might answer your question

I think Emancipation is one of his best. Sure sure he could have cut it down to one "stronger" CD, but that wasn't the point was it? The point was over indulgence as much as he wanted. Their are a some definite classics on this album (Face Down anyone?). But don't take my word for it. Go to the Prince in Print web site and read some critics reviews.

For me it's one of his best 90's albums. I know there's a fair bit of filler (to be expected with a 3CD set) and some folk have "issues" with the production. But it's a diverse set with some of his last truly decent ballads and enough good material for an excellent one disc version.

gary, son, u need 2 get back 2 school!
emancipation jams...

Nah, i agree...there's about one album of good material. Little of it is downright bad, but his attempts at being "pop" again (Get yr Groove On, Jam of the Year) were a little embarrassing, and the more experimental stuff didn't go far enough. I do love Somebody's Somebody though. Why does everyone like Face Down so much, it's like a bad Young MC rap.

Have 2 agree. It's his worst album imo. i hardly listen 2 it anymore. i like Come a lot though, trc 2 btw.

Study, and u'll b back.

Its not even close to his worst. Diamonds and Pearls, Rave, Love Symbol, Batman, Grafitti Bridge, Come, and NPS are all weaker than Emancipation

MendesCity said:

I agree. Face Down isn't very good to me. I love the 2nd disc though. I wouldn't change a thing about it. That disc alone is one of my favorite P albums. Give me In This Bed I Scream, Damned If I Do, Sleep Around, One of Us, and of course The Love We Make and you can keep the rest. (Big White Mansion, Human Body, and Right Back Here in My Arms are okay too).

the whole second cd is Genius

4nowneway said:

I agree CD 2 is da bomb. I do not care 4 every song on this CD & we could have done without a lot of thew cuts here, but why not release it. I'd rather have a 3 CD set of Prince than not. People are now screamin, when will he release new or more music, then when he does people complain about it. We all know Emancipation was not his best ever, but damnit there was some good shit on the set.on every CD...take it or leave it, we all have a choice.

Savannah said:

Could you try to be a little more specific??

He released "In this Bed" in the 90s... with the inscriptions to W&L and Susannah.

In 2003 he doesn't show oup tot he the JAMM.

What are you trying to say? MY question was what was the song trying to say back then in the 90s? It seemed like he was asking them back or saying he was sorry...

He WAS invited to the JAMM but didnt' show.

And what's the meaning/significance of TLWM and any connection to Jonathan Melvoin?

GaryMF said:

2 these walls I talk
Tellin’ ’em what I wasn’t strong enough 2 say
2 these walls I talk
Tellin’ ’em how I cried the day u went away
How do we ever lose communication?
How do we ever lose each other’s sound?
Baby, if u wanna, we can fix the situation
Maybe we can stop the rain from coming down

Yeah

In this bed I scream
Lonely nights I lay awake thinking of u
And if I’m cursed with a dream
A thousand times I feel whatever I’ve put u through

Tell me, how’re we gonna put this back 2gether?
How’re we gonna think with the same mind?
Knowing all along that life is so much better
Living and loving 2gether all the time

Living and loving

In this bed i, in this bed i, in this bed I scream

In this car I drive
I’m looking 4 the road that leads back 2 the soul we shared
With my very life
I’d gladly be the body upon the cross we bear (cross we bear)

How do we ever lose communication? (how did we? )
How do we ever lose each other’s sound? (I don’t know)
Baby, if u wanna, we can fix the situation
Maybe we can stop the rain from coming down

Maybe we can’t, maybe we can
Stop the rain, stop the rain

In this bed i, in this bed i, in this bed I scream
I scream

maybe he lost his invitation

There are different interpretations of the whole ITBIS thing. Wendy and Lisa have fairly well dismissed that prince was trying to apologise to them or make amends. Prince seems to think he has reached out only to have his hand slapped away. The truth? Its probably somewhere in the middle. Likewise, Prince claims that he asked for their input on Roadhouse Garden, but never could get them to contribute (thus the reason for it never having been released). Is this true? again, only P and the girls know the truth.

"The Love We Make" was at least partially a response to the death of Jonathan Melvoin (from a heroine overdose). The specific line that refers to him:

"all that believe will cleanse and purify themselves
put down the needle, put down the spoon"

The whole song isn't about him, just this particular part. The song is about a spiritual re-awakening, more than anything.

JediMaster said:

Yes sir