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Fan
Release Catalog # Release Year 2CD Length 78:45 | 79:17 Date/Venue NPGMC Studio Trax Source Soundboard Quality EX+ |
Comments
Mike's Comments(rates this release
5/5.0)
Fan release of all the NPGMC trax that were
available for download from 2001. It is really
nice to have all of them in one collection, and since Prince hasn't re-released
these tracks, this will be a high in demand bootleg. If you didn't join the club, this is
a MUST HAVE!
2045: Radical Man
A sample of this song was posted on NPG Online LTD in March 2000. It was
announced that the track was intended for a projected NPG album. However, the
album never emerged, but the song was released, now credited to Prince, on the
soundtrack of Spike Lee's media satire, Bamboozled, 26 September 2000. It was
also released with "Peace" as the A-side on a single that was sold on
the Hit N' Run tour, April 2001. The single says, "from the 4thcoming
Peace," which was a projected NPG album that was never realized.
Interestingly, the song is attributed to Prince on Bamboozled, whereas the
artist credit on the single is The New Power Generation. "2045: Radical
Man" is a laid-back, casual funk offering created around the bassline. It
is not too far removed from tracks like "Emale" on Emancipation,
"2morrow" on Crystal Ball and the 1995 outtake, "Feelgood,"
all of which showcase similar-styled "lazy" funk grooves. The song is
rambling and playful, with some nice production touches such as the occasional
backing vocals by the speeded-up Camille voice, and many unexpected instrumental
interjections along the way. While many of the musical details are interesting,
they cannot hide the fact that the underlying song is unspectacular. "2045:
Radical Man" poses a hypothetical situation, where it is now the year 2045,
and you are asked what you have done with your life. The lyric is mainly
concerned with the notion of fighting corporate greed and the need for people to
take a stand for the things in which they believe. Prince complains about the
sorry state of popular music and narrow-minded music executives being afraid of
artists uniting against them. He also condemns those who claim there is no cure
for the diseases ravaging the planet. Prince envisions the world where "the
brand new currency [is] taking care of one another, you and me."
Breathe
January 2002 was the final edition of the NPGMC year one and regular monthly
downloads and it yielded "Breathe", as well as "Madrid 2
Chicago". According to the NPG Music Club, "Breathe" was planned
for inclusion on an album entitled Madrid 2 Chicago, described as a "smooth
jazz album". It is not known whether this was a finished sequenced album or
if it didn't amount to more than a few songs. The project dates to 1998 and was
probably something Prince recorded after the completion of Newpower Soul. It may
at one point have been intended as the next O(+> solo album, as Newpower Soul
was attributed to The NPG. The musical backdrop consists of little more than a
bass drum and some synth touches. Prince combines a whispered spoken vocal with
his falsetto singing, creating an intimate atmosphere. The number clocks in at
just over 2 minutes. Describing an intense foreplay, Prince encourages his
partner to "breathe in, breathe out" and to take him "into the
deepest part of your emotion".
Cybersingle
"Cybersingle" was announced as a forthcoming interner-only single
during the press conference Prince held in new York on May 16th 2000. A 1.04
minute sample was posted on The vault page at NPG Online LTD on June 1st 2000
before an MP3 of the entire song was made available for download on July 14th
2000. It was also made available for download on www.real.com on October 29th
2000. The song is attributed to O(+>, having been written and recorded prior
to the name change back to Prince. The track is a rough, spontaneous-sounding
rock-oriented effort, with an upfront guitar, live drumming, and a snarling,
almost shouted vocal by Prince. He decries the dismal state of the world, where
television and the media rule people. Prince is the 'Cybersingle', a
Superman-like figure who encourages people to "get free" and show
"love for one another". It is rumored that some of the music may have
been recorded earlier in the 90's.
The Daisy Chain
Considered for the High album, this song was available on the April 2001 edition
of the NPGMC and later as a CD single on the 2nd leg of the Hit'N'Run tour
(backed with "Gamillah"). the track is essentially a one-chord vamp,
interrupted only by a brief chorus. Prince's voice is treated at times, making
it sound as if he is singing through a megaphone. The lyric of "The Daisy
Chain" is rather vague. One reading is that Prince is condemning loose
sexual behavior, an interpretation supported by lines like, "a mouse to the
trap, the cheese is up, a little bit of pleasure for the guilty pain, think
about it sister, now you're living in shame". Along the same lines, the rap
at the end delivered by DVS (of the Fonky Baldheads) describes a dancer named
Kelly who was "steppin' out a gown" as he was delivering a pizza to
her house. The rap attempts to point out to the girl that she will never develop
relationships of commitment and respect if she is so willing to give her body up
to anyone. The meaning of the expression, "daisy chain" is not made
clear from the song. The song can have a sexual connotation: a "daisy
chain" is an orgy situation where all members are linked together
physically in various sexual positions, thereby creating a continuous
"daisy chain" of human bodies all "serving" one another in
various capacities. The chorus states, "Bless my soul, save my name, I
ain't never going down to the daisy chain" followed by the repeat of
"black girl givin' it up, white girl givin' it up". these lines can be
seen as a way of saying Prince will not fool around with the wrong kind of
women, refraining from quick encounters with women who want to take advantage of
him. However, another interpretation of the "daisy chain" expression
is that it refers top the music industry where radio stations, record companies,
executives are linked together. Without some of these key links, an artist won't
be able to get his songs on the radio. Prince may be saying that he is not going
to be part of the "daisy chain" of the music industry and the line
about black and white girls "givin' it up" could refer to all the
artists that sell their soul to the industry.
The Funky Design
This busy one-chord funk offering has mostly rapped lyrics. Prince ridicules all
the musical "rookies" that are "kickin' it with the groove folks
in the wrong key" and advises they find somebody who will hip them to the
"funky design." The chorus features the title phrase followed by a
high-pitched synth line while the song includes a base solo with Prince's voice
in an angry, accusatory tone. Prince replaced his vocals with Sonny T.'s and the
song was the closing track on the December 2nd 1994 sequence of Exodus. Sonny's
version also included a new phrase sung in the chorus. Prince's original version
was posted on NPG Online LTD on July 17th 2000 before the entire track was
released by the NPG Music Club on Feb. 20, 2001 along with "Mad." The
released version features Prince's lead vocals. Sonny T.'s version is in
circulation as an outtake.
Golden Parachute
The High leftover "Golden Parachute" is a calm, lazy jazz-tinged
number with a funky feel. Quite likely, the title was inspired by Clive Davis'
firing from Arista Records in May 2000. The expression, "golden
parachute" refers to top-level executives receiving monetary compensation
and bonuses when they leave or are fired from a position. The lyrics are
somewhat autobiographic - speaking of being paid for musical creations but not
retaining ownership of the work. After the main lyrics, the song simply repeats
the title over a foundation for various melodic "excursions", not
unlike many Madhouse tracks, and instrumental embellishments including flute
improvisations, trumpet fills, harp flourishes, wah-wah guitar licks and jazzy
guitar runs. The instrumental portion of "Golden Parachute" was in the
initial NPGMC "ahdio show" in February, 2001, but the full version
with lyrics wasn't released as an MP3 until August of the same year.
High
The title track for the proposed High album was originally played at the 2000
Celebration at Paisley Park. An edit was later available on the "NPG Ahdio
Show #1" in February 2001 and the full-length MP3 was finally released in
December 2001. A buoyant, upbeat pop number, "High" is one of the most
immediately accessible of the High tracks. It has a breezy, cheerful chorus,
spiced with Prince's unmistakable synth fills. According to a source who was
present at the recording session, Prince spent a great deal of time and effort
on the song, as he regarded it as an important track and a candidate for a
single from the planned High album. Prince assures the listeners that he has
"the music [to] get you high again", and the lightweight lyrics
concerns the uplifting power of his music. Thus, the message echoes the outtake
"Purple Music" which also stated that Prince's music made him high.
Hypno Paradise
A breezy, uptempo number, "Hypno Paradise" is clearly one of the most
appealing of Prince's internet-only tracks, with an addictive trance-like hook
line as a key ingredient. The song is similar in tempo and overall feel to
"Sleep Around" on Emancipation. It is not known when "Hypno
Paradise" was tracked, but the overall sound is close to that of many
Emancipation tracks, so it is quite possible that it was considered for
inclusion in Emancipation. Asking "Am I in heaven on Hypno Paradise?"
the lyric concerns a woman or a spirit, Prince's savior, who is always there
when he is scorned, offering support. He describes "hypno paradise" as
his destiny. Prince introduced a fast, house-influenced instrumental number on
the December 1998 tour of Europe by repeating the words "hypno
paradise". The instrumental was performed twice. This has led many to
assume that "Hypno Paradise" was a title of a number that he came up
with on the tour. However, the instrumental may have been an improvisation since
it has little musically in common with the track "Hypno Paradise" made
available from the NPG Music Club in July, 2001.
Judas Smile
"Judas Smile" is a fast one-chord funk number, sporting a busy,
stuttering rhythm track that Prince recycled for use on "High". The
verses and chorus of the song are sung over the same basic theme. A bubbling
synth sound runs persistently throughout. The song changes direction halfway
through, going into a punchier vamp, with slapped bass and chanted group vocal.
The sound resembles many High tracks, including a thin snare drum sound, and a
rubbery, plastic-sounding bass drum, indicating that it is a post-Rave recording
from 2000 or the latter part of 1999. Considering the group vocal, it is
possible that it was intended for Peace, the projected NPG album, along with
"2045: Radical Man" and "Peace". The track was originally
posted as "Judas Kiss". The first part of the lyric finds Prince
bitterly criticizing an ex-lover for trying to "put [him] down". He
feels that she has taken advantage of him; he gave her love but only received a
"Judas smile" in return. Each chorus opens with the phrase,
"You've been bamboozled", making this a more likely candidate for the
title of the song, rather than "Judas Smile", which is mentioned only
once. The "Bamboozled" phrase also indicates that the song could have
been written with Spike Lee's Bamboozled film in mind. Interestingly, the lyric
is laced with autobiographical details, including the line, "I changed your
name, it didn't suit ya, I did the same for a little while". the song could
be about several of Prince's protégés, including Mayte and Carmen Electra with
lines like "I gave you love, led to revenue" and "like you being
funky, it will never be". The second part of the lyric is more vague and
seems to address the music industry and its poor treatment of Afro-American
artists. Prince is "comin' with the old school", proclaiming "the
chocolate invasion starts here". He gives props to Common, Curtis (most
likely Curtis Mayfield), Maceo (Parker) and Erykah Badu.
Jukebox With A Heartbeat
"Jukebox With A Heartbeat" is a playful pop number that sounds like it
could have been written during the High sessions. Featuring an infectious chorus
and drum-machine, Prince explains that he's not trying to play what's expected
to be popular in New York or LA, but rather be true to himself and the Twin
Cites music scene. The song was released as part of the November, 2001 "ahdio
show" on the New Power Generation Music Club.
Mad
This 1994 track is an appealing funky uptempo effort with a catchy chorus,
similar to "Acknowledge Me" and "Mr. Happy." Prince
incorporates a high-pitched synth line that comes to the fore on the chorus. The
lyrics speak of Prince going mad if he ever gets the female protagonist into
bed. Prince replaced his vocals with Sonny T.'s and the song was included on the
December 2nd 1994 sequence of Exodus. Prince's original version was finally
officially released as an MP3 on the New Power Generation Music Club on Feb. 20,
2001 along with "Funky Design." Sonny T.'s version is in circulation
as an outtake.
Madrid 2 Chicago
A sample of "Madrid 2 Chicago" was made available on the Love 4 One
Another website along with "U're Still The One" on January 26, 1999.
The full version wasn't available until the 12th edition of the NPGMC in January
2002. According to the Music Club the track was going to be included on an album
entitled Madrid 2 Chicago. The title refers to Prince's flight to see Mayte
after she moved to Spain. "Madrid 2 Chicago" is a gentle, subdued and
somewhat mellow soul number, starting off with a slow, intricate drum machine
pattern. The arrangement is very sparse, focusing on the drums and some synth
touches. Prince is longing for his woman, "I got you on my mind, you on my
mind, nothing but you on my mind."
My Medallion
Considered for the 2000 High album, this song was available as an edit as part
of the "NPG Ahdio Show #1" in February, 2001and later released in its
full version as an MP3 in September, 2001. Prince used the backing track for his
sung "thank you" during the Yahoo Internet Life Awards on July 24th
2000. "My Medallion" begins with Prince speaking the lyrics as if he
were relating the story to a friend. He tells a story about a girl, "this
pretty thang" who snatches his medallion and calls him a bitch. However, he
finds out where she works and confronts her, telling her, "I don't know
what your name or your game is". he says that he is "in the mood to do
something koo koo" to her. She gives him a kiss and runs out the back door.
"My Medallion" is a slow, taut funk offering sporting a stripped-down
arrangement consisting of a drum machine beat, a few bass notes, and some
clipped guitar stabs. A flute provides additional favor on the chorus. The
chorus is quite contagious, consisting of the repeated phrase, "I don't
know why I want that girl". While not an outstanding composition, the track
is playful and original enough to make for compelling listening.
Northside
This smooth, funky horn-boosted, mid-tempo offering is slightly run-of-the-mill
by Prince's standards, containing few remarkable melodic or rhythmic ideas. This
James Brown homage has a live feel with live drumming and bass guitar, as well
as some sharp horn stabs provided by Najee. Stating that "we got something
freaky for you", the lyrics essentially praise the power of live music on
the north side of Minneapolis - the area of the city where Prince grew up. The
song was recorded in the latter part of 2000 or in 2001. (Najee came to work for
Prince in early September, 2001). It was released in April, 2001 on the NPGMC.
One Song
"One Song" was posted on www.love4oneanother.com on December 31st
1999. The video of the song was later made available in the July 2001 edition of
the NPGMC. The song was preceded by almost six minutes of sermonizing from (the
recording is 8:54 minutes with the speech included). His speech has as its
general theme the notion that mankind is creating artificial barriers between
itself and God, with much of popular culture working to fill the void left by
the absence of God from our lives. "One Song" continues the theme of
's speech, dealing with man's union with God. Having become one with God, is
"the universe, the sun, the moon and sea." Musically, "One
Song" is a slightly run-of-the-mill soul ballad, yet 's vocal delivery is
impassioned and gospel-tinged. The song has a reasonably strong chorus and an
anthemic quality, but the music is rather sterile-sounding, with a slick and
somewhat lifeless production.
Peace
A sample of "Peace" was posted on www.npgonlineltd.com on in March
2000 along with "2045: Radical Man". The track was announced as a
forthcoming NPG single, though it has since been released on the NPGMC on March
22, 2001 and later released as a CD single available on the Hit'N'Run Tour
(backed with "2045:Radical Man"). A video for the song was released on
NPGMC as well. The track was originally planned for an aborted fourth NPG album
(the CD single is credited to the New Power Generation). "Peace"
starts and ends with some good-humored ridiculing by Morris Hayes about the
pretentiousness of the name "the artist formerly known as Prince". He
repeats the phrase amidst much laughter. Obviously, this recalls the Exodus
segues, indicating that the track was indeed going to be included on a NPG
album. The song itself is an uptempo funk/pop offering with a pumping bass and
an insistent drum machine beat. Prince sings accompanied by a group vocal. Larry
Graham takes over the lead vocal during a brief passage. The track has some of
the hypnotic monotony of songs like "It" (Sign 'O' The Times) and
"Pheromone" (Come), although it is much lighter in tone. The lyrics
speak of racial ills and a desire for peace. The chorus simply states that
"peace that's what we're here for, and not to war."
Props N' Pounds
"Props N' Pounds" was part of the fourth edition of the NPGMC
downloads, available in May, 2001. The song begins with a lone drum (similar to
"Mutiny") and quickly becomes a bass driven number with layered vocals
and drum programming that could be from the Emancipation or Newpower Soul era.
The lyrics express Prince's new Jehovah's Witness beliefs and lambaste the use
of condoms, perhaps birth control in general. Also featured are samples from
MTV's Kurt Loder with a mainly favorable commentary.
Reflection
The first full song of 2003 released by Prince, "Reflection" was made
available as a download on NPGMC in April 2003. The song is a light number with
acoustic guitars, similar in style similar to old Motown love songs. Many have
noted the similarity to "Circle Of Amour" (from The Truth), as well,
with it's light airy sound and catchy melody. The song has no chorus but seems
to be more like random thoughts - reflections from Prince's mind. The lyrics
relate Prince talking to an old friend about the "good ole' days" and
also mention his recently deceased mother.
S & M Groove
Originally titled "Sadomasochistic Groove", this 1997 Newpower Soul
leftover is an urgent funk/dance track driven by a relentless drum machine beat.
Prince's voice is treated so it sounds machinelike. He repeats a chant of
"freaks gonna bob to this" which recalls "get freaky, let your
head bob" from "Big Fun" on Exodus and "Newpower Soul"
on Newpower Soul. The track is far more adventurous and experimental than the
majority of Newpower Soul which probably explains why it was left off the album.
A sample of the track was posted on the Love 4 One Another website in June 1997.
A slightly different sounding version was taped by a fan during an aftershow in
October 1997 when a DJ played it over the speakers. The complete track, now
re-titled "S & M Groove" was made available by the NPG Music Club
in July, 2001.
Sex Me, Sex Me Not
"Sex Me, Sex Me Not" was originally part of the "NPG Ahdio Show
#3" in April of 2001 and was later released as an MP3 in June 2001 on the
NPGMC. The song recalls the classic Prince theme of sex without consequence, and
is quite graphic in some parts. Musically, the song is straight funk, recalling
Parliament/P-Funk. This is a coiled and tense funk effort with a stripped-down
instrumentation. The arrangement, with a low, rubbery synth bass pulsing against
a "thin", trebly snare drum, bears many similarities to High tracks,
most likely dating the song to 2000.
Silicon
Prince's unsettling spoken words, "Welcome to the slaughterhouse,"
sets the somewhat eerie tone for "Silicon", which is a tense, jagged
funk number, emphasizing a rhthmically intricate, pulsating drum machine pattern
that owes something in style to "Big Tall Wall" and Sign 'O' The
Times' "If I Was Your Girlfriend". In addition to the drums, the stark
arrangement includes a low-frequency bass and some brisk, metallic-sounding
synth fills. The dark, clastrophobic atmposphere brings to mind "Strange
But True" on Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic. Prince sing-speaks the lyrics,
which seem to echo "The War" to some extent, talking about the
decadence of society. Some of the lyrics are rather ambiguous, but one reading
of the song is that it is about how we have all been sucked into the "silly
con" of eating meat and processed foods, which is ultimately bad for our
health. A repeated phrase is "rope of silicon, just a rope of
silicon". Since silicon is used in electronics, possibly Prince is saying
that with all our technology we are hanging ourselves on a rope of silicon. The
first verse of the song is the same as Prince's second rap in "The Greatest
Romance Ever Sold (Adam & Eve Mix)," which possibly dates the song to
1999. The track was released as part of the March, 2001 "ahdio show"
and later as a full MP3 in December 2001 on the NPGMC.
Splash
A sample of "Splash" was posted on www.npgonlineltd.com's "The
Vault" page in May 2000. The full version was made available as a MP3
download on Mar. 22, 2001 on NPGMC. The song was recorded in August 1985, when
Prince also taped songs like "Empty Room," "Sexual Suicide,"
and "Go." At the time, Parade was essentially completed although
Prince added "Mountains" and "Anotherloverholenyohead,"
recorded in November and December 1985. "Splash" was sent to Clare
Fischer for his input in July 1986, but it was never placed on any
configurations of Prince's 1986 projects: Dream Factory, Crystal Ball, and
Camille. The song is a reasonably strong pop/rock number sung in a falsetto
vocal by Prince. The verses have an unusual, reggae-ish rhythm. The chorus is
very effective and lifts the song considerably. Fischer's strings are very
evident throughout. The track appears to be a live recording with parts of The
Revolution, including Wendy and Lisa. The lyrics have Prince singing the praises
of his lover, who fulfills his every fantasy. "Splash" was mentioned
as a posible track for the aborted Roadhouse Garden album in 1999.
Supercute
This track was made available as a CD single backed with "Underneath The
Cream" on the second leg of the Hit'N'Run tour and later offered as a
download on NPGMC (in June 2001). Opening with the sound of an airplane landing,
the High leftover "Supercute" is something of a pop masterpiece,
boasting a haunting, vaguely wistful melody and a contagious chorus. It also has
a striking rhythmic groove created by interplay between a reggae flavored
bassline and a marimba-style keyboard motif. Musically, "Supercute" is
one of the strongest tracks planned for inclusion on High. The lyrics concern
Prince's fascination for a woman from East L.A., who is flying out for a
rendezvous. His interest seems primarily physical, as he gets excited about
seeing her "body on display". He also pays her a visit, watching her
at play with her sexual toys, including a vibrator. The song was recorded in the
summer of 2000.
U Make My Sun Shine
"U Make My Sun Shine" and "When Will We B Paid?" were made
available as MP3 downloads at NPGonlineLTD on Dec. 21, 2000. A limited run of CD
singles containing the 2 tracks were pressed and sold at Brother Jules' record
store, Music Emporium, in Minneapolis. A video was also available on NPGMC in
Feb. 2001. A duet with rising R&B star Angie Stone, the High leftover
"U make My Sunshine" is an old-school soul ballad. With its
call-and-response backing vocals by the girl group Millennia and the stop start
structure of the music, it is one of the most overtly gospel-influenced songs
Prince has ever written. The song seems to be directly influenced by D'Angelo's
"Untitled". Stone sings the second verse and joins Prince on the
chorus. The verses are rather meandering building slowly towards the chorus.
Owing a passing nod to "The One" on Newpower Soul, the lyrics of
"U Make My Sunshine" is a tender expression of devotion. Prince is
trying to convince a woman to leave her man, offering comfort and reassuring her
"In this trusted place you can erase every tear that rolled down your weary
face." She has been "in the dark much too long" having let
"them devils define what it takes to be a woman". The lyric do not
specify what she has been through, but it is implied that she is a prostitute,
as Prince says, "I could tell you what the 'I' in the pimp stands
for."
Underneath The Cream
Planned for inclusion on High, "Underneath The Cream" is a relaxed,
swooning song that recalls some Prince's most smooth and 'silky' remixes,
featuring the fluid high-pitched synth decorations that Prince is fond of
incorporating into these type of songs. The drumbeat, meanwhile, bears
similarities to "Pink Cashmere" from The Hits/The B-sides. The
arrangement is synth-based with occasional flickers of electric piano providing
some spice. The phrase "underneath the cream" was first mentioned in
"Hot Wit U" on Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic. The lyrics finds Prince
fantasizing about his woman, "Thinking about [her] thighs," wishing he
was "deep inside [her] ocean." Recalling some of the early
declarations of desire and lust found on For You and Prince, the lyric could be
from almost any of Prince's previous albums. The track was originally released
as a CD single on the 2nd leg of the Hit'N'Run tour (backed with "Supercute")
and later as an MP3 in Nov. 2001 on the NPG Music Club.
Van Gogh
A collaboration with Sandra St. Victor spawned several songs in the summer of
1995, one of which being "Van Gogh". The synth-driven number compares
the subject's love for a girl to "loving a rare Van Gogh". The song
was updated in later and some synth parts were replaced by horn parts by Eric
Leeds in May 1986. This revised version was intended for Emancipation at one
point, but ended up being not actually being released until July 7,2001 as part
of the 6th edition of the NPG Music Club. In March 1998, the song was given to a
professional grade artist with a disability, who just happened to be named Van
Gogh! The group, being more rock-oriented, totally re-recorded Prince's version
and released it on their 1998 self-titled album. For some reason, when the song
was posted on the NPGMC, it was titled "Van Gough", but it's not known
if this was a typo or intentional.
Vavoom
Another track from the High sessions, "Vavoom" became available as a
download in November 2001 as part of the 10th edition of the NPGMC. Previewed
during a Paisley Park concert on July 8th 2000 (am), "Vavoom" was
described as "rock and roll dipped with 'Cream'" on Prince's website,
NPG Online LTD. "Vavoom" is more polished and restrained, substituting
the raw bluesy guitar style of "Cream" for a thick,
"synthetic" guitar sound. Out of the High sessions, this track is one
of the best pop offerings: no agenda, just playful sexy lyrics and distorted
guitar. The song is somewhat reminiscent of "Baby Knows" from Rave Un2
The Joy Fantastic. It would have been a good single had the High album been
released commercially.
What Do U Want Me 2 Do?
Offered to the New Power Generation Music Club in November 2003, "What Do U
Want Me 2 Do" is a jazzy offering with a prominent Linn drum-machine that
recalls "The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker" from Sign 'O' The Times. The
track starts with the Linn drum and branches out with jazzy guitar, keys and
later a short piano solo. Lyrically, the song concerns a woman pursuing Prince
while he rebuffs her advances since he's now a married man.
When I Lay My Hands On U
Intended as High's closing track, "When I Lay My Hands On U" is a slow
rock offering that radiates quality, showcasing a dramatic melody and a tense,
obsessive atmosphere. It alternates between gentle verses with Prince almost
whispering the words and a more forceful chorus with loud drums, and an odd,
echo-like disruptive guitar sound. A bridge section introduces a new melody,
providing a change of pace. Prince also delivers a Santana-like solo in the
final chorus. Not unlike another High track, "Underneath The Cream",
the song concerns Prince's lust for a woman. He describes how he wants to make
love to her, asking "Are you ready for the touch that makes you go
insane?" While the song is clearly addressed to the woman, the lyric also
has religious undertones. Jesus would lay his hands on his followers, and the
idea of "the laying of hands" is common in evangelical Christian
practices; a preacher lays his hands on infirm people and 'heals' them. The
track was made available as a MP3 download in Feb. 2001 on NPGMC, along with an
accompanying video.
When Will We B Paid?
"U Make My Sun Shine" and "When Will We B Paid?" were made
available as MP3 downloads at NPGonlineLTD on Dec. 21, 2000. A limited run of CD
singles containing the 2 tracks were pressed and sold at Brother Jules' record
store, Music Emporium, in Minneapolis. This track is slow downbeat song with an
anthemic sing-along chorus. Prince's vocal is passionate and expresses a barely
controlled anger and frustration over African-American hardships and his guitar
interjections give the song urgency and energy. Originally titled "When
Will We Be Paid?", this High leftover was written by Randall Stewart and
performed by The Staple Singers on their 1970 album We'll Get Over. Prince has
performed it live a few times, beginning in late 1999.
Y Should I Do That When I Can Do This?
An excerpt from "Y Should I Do that, When I Can Do This?" was posted
on Prince's NPG Online LTD website on June 1st 2000, and later made available as
a MP3 download in June 2001 on NPGMC. The track is an outtake from the 1999 Rave
Un2 The Joy Fantastic sessions. The Hornheads added a jazzy horn arrangement in
May 1999. The song recalls "Strange But True" on Rave Un2 The Joy
Fantastic, featuring rapped lyrics by Prince over a fast, propulsive and highly
percussive beat. The theme of the song recalls "Undisputed" on Rave
Un2 The Joy Fantastic, with Prince bragging about his musical abilities, putting
down people who don't play instruments and use computers, "Until you're
playing in front of 70,000, you'll never know, this is a grown folk's job, all
young dogs need to recognize". Towards the end Prince calls out a few names
of certain controversial associates.
Copyright 2004 UG2P