I had this thought when I first heard the opening Linn sounds of 'What Do U Want Me 2 Do', but I dismissed it after listening to the lyrics, but after re-listening, you could kind of interpret the song this way:

The lyrics are talking to fans who are expecting Prince to sound like he used to.

The Linn drum machine is the obvious link, and the melancholy-tinged whimsy of the melody.

The opening verse, to my ears, works on this other level of Prince personifying his long-time fans as a girl - asking them 'What do U want me 2 do - is it this?' and replies to his own question with this song with many of the elements of the Revolution-era.

I see U picked me out from the crowd ... the crowd of other artists.
Could it be the way I play guitar? .... the guitar/rock orientated Purple Rain that brought Prince to the global masses.
Master of the soft, not 2 loud
One day, maybe I will be a star ... One day, he'll be a star, singing from the past-tense.
I see U picked me out like U want something
But shame on U, baby, can't U see this ring? ... Married, metaphorically, to his own will, not the will of his fans.

Like I say, this is a metaphor, and probably just a brain-fart, but it works for me

Baby, you need to take that tinfoil off your head and step away from the crackpipe.

Number23 said:

Bare with me here, this IS the first time I've listened to the album since the day it came up for download!

You know what?

I think u r right Nouveau

Anxiety said:

I have thought the same thing.

I like it, I like it !