of all of Prince's top 10 hits which song suprised you the most that it was such a hit?

i would have to say for me it was the song "7" i LOVE this song but i am surprised that it picked up enough airplay support on radio because it really sounds like nothing you ever hear on radio now AND then

Musicology....

Diamonds and Pearls - I think it's poorly written, half a song at best. I think it's unforgivably sappy as well, but that's never stopped a record from becoming a hit, I suppose.

batdance and when doves cry.nothing else sounds like those.i thought they were too crazy for general tastes.

I'd say 7, too, because of it's subject matter...it's sooo out there....

Don't know if it was top 10 or not but TMBGITW doing well was surprising It's an okay song but DAMN, that shit was everywhere. Not the sappy shit!

Thieves in the Temple...It was just one of those songs that GREW on everybody, Prince fan or not. The first time I heard it I thought there was no way it was going to be a hit. Not sure if it was the bleak lyrics or the harmonica solo but it just didn't seem like it was going to fly.

Alphabet St...Catchy as hell but there's so much going on in this song I though it would be too "busy" to be a hit.

Sign O the Times...Talk about bleak...this song was so ahead of its time it is not funny...I thought it would be way too depressing for mainstream consumption...people knew good songwriting when they heard it.

GottaLetitgo said:

Ditto everything you said!

'Theives' was really surprising. After hearing GB all I could think of was why "Cant Stop This Feeling" or "Question of You" were'nt released as lead-off singles.

Diamonds and Pearls

Way too much cheese, but radio liked it anyway.


.
[This message was edited Thu May 27 18:21:23 2004 by Universaluv]

I agree...'7' is before & after it's time...

..."The Most Beautiful Girl.....".....didnt really seem like a mainstream hit...
....."Raspberry Beret".... great song but so different than any of Purple Rains offerings...
..."Call My Name"...don't know about where u are, but that song is on fire in Savannah, Ga....

Take Me With You. I don't know if it was Top Ten or not, but I've never understood why he continues to play this piece of crap when there are other, much better songs on the album, like Computer Blue. I don't even think I remember him playing When Doves Cry live?

For me, it's Raspberry Beret. This song was radically different than anything I had heard on 1999 and Purple Rain. Come on! The Minelli haircut and the cloud suit. A drastic, sudden change from PR. A bold move coming off of such a successful album. I must admit. It took me a little while to warm up to it.

Starmist7 said:

I'd agree. Also, TMBGITW and Pop Life (no video that I can remember).

The most beautiful girl in the world.

gemini13 said:

Take Me with U is a crowd favorite and a pretty good pop song.
WDC has been played on more than a few tours including the current one.

For me it's Betcha By Golly Wow for sure. Wasn't gymnast Dominque Dawes in the video, too? I also agree with TMBGITW and 7. I remember doing a figure skating program to it and everybody liked it but didn't really know what it was at first.

7!

Even my friends that are non-Prince fans were loving that song

musicology.....who would have thought?

Thieves in the temple definitely. never thought much of that song, not my favorite album either though it's grown on me over the years

Diamonds and Pearls singles, Gett off, Cream, D&P. This always seemed to me that WB was giving him another marketing push and landed him on heavy VH1 rotation back then. I remember "comeback" being used a bit back then with this. I loved the Arsenio performances back then.

Musicology-same reasons as above, different label, no Arsenio.

I'd have to agree with "7", too. I always felt that the album was full of potential hits but thought MNIP and Sexy MF killed any real chance of radio picking up the better ones.

On a personal note, I'm shocked that Alphabet St. was such a hit... that seems like such a paper thin track to me. (It seemed especially weak coming after SOTT).

tuffycat said:

Yeah, that's Dominque. I miss the good days of gymanstics. Team USA don't really have any standout gymnasts anymore.

oh yeah....Diamonds and Pearls suprised me the most. I never really cared for that song.....I never hated either.

7

althom said:

why?

I remember hearing Cream and thinking that maybe some folks would like it but not go

crazy over it like they did.

flipwilson said:

agreed 100%

When Doves Cry: I remember listeneing to Kasey Casem's AT40 radio show when the song came on for the fist time (I think it was the weeks highest debut by far). I never thought this could be anything like a commercial hit, too risky... too different form the last album... and way out of the current chart sounds! Same with Kiss a few years later... hearing it for the first time I thought: fantastic! but that won't really have a chance at giving him another big pop hit.... damn wrong again!
.
[This message was edited Fri May 28 1:02:10 2004 by Dancelot]

.
[This message was edited Fri May 28 1:01:41 2004 by Dancelot]

I think Thieves In The Temple was only a hit because Prince was considered the greatest artist on the planet at that time.

If they had released The Question Of You, or Joy In Repetition, he would have been considered the greatest of his time a little longer.

If I had to say what hit, I would say Cream.

But, its all those songs I liked from Parade and Lovesexy that should have been hits.

Parade was a pretty good album. Better fit now almost then back then for a chart topper.