Remember the days when a new Prince single was a big deal? You have to go back quite a long way, but man do I miss them. I especially miss the usual reaction afterwards of picking yourself up off the floor after just having your ass kicked. See, I still get excited any time I hear Prince has something new out, but the post-listen reaction is a whole different experience from what it used to be. These days it can be any combination of beating your head against the wall in frustration, to tears of sadness at the recent mediocre output of this musical genius to resignation that he just doesn’t have it anymore.
So when Prince surprised us on Monday with a brand new song, that same old rush of excitement came over me. My body is conditioned to react that way to news of new Prince music. But then I read some fan descriptions of the tune and was scared to even listen to it, for fear of more disappointment. Curiosity got the better of me, as it always will when it comes to what the man is doing, and I checked out “Rock & Roll Love Affair”.
Let’s get this straight, put up against his classics this is a throw away track at best. But compare it to recent pap like “Hot Summer” and “Rich Friends” and this is a step in the right direction. Clearly written about current protege Andy Allo, “Rock & Roll Love Affair” is a light, breezy pop tune, originally intended to be released a few months ago, hence the summery vibe. Yes, it calls to mind “Take Me With U” mixed with the more recent “The One U Wanna C”, it is far from a groundbreaking song, and once again there is no chorus to speak of, but it ranks in the higher end of his most recent output. Not sure that is really even saying much these days but as a fan for almost 30 years, I’ll take it. I could do without the fake synth horn effects though, get some real damn horns back P.
There is no question Prince’s conversion to the Jehovah’s Witness faith has sapped his music of the raw sexuality and nasty, funky edge it once had, but it is nice to see him slip some obvious double entendres into this one. ‘If there’s some room I’d like 2 sit at your table. She said it’s tight, but I think I could fit U in’, he sings, with a perfect pause in between, where you can practically feel him winking at you. This one falls right in the middle of the road of the Prince catalog and sadly the middle of the road is where Prince seems to be stuck. I like it, but I don’t love it.
B-
9 comments
Terence says:
Sep 19, 2012
This sounds like a song that could grow stellar when played live, plenty of room for improvisation for all the sections, taking it’s time, growing to a minute or 10. Can’t wait!
Keith says:
Sep 19, 2012
Considering one of the best guitarists on the planet STILL has the chops, it breaks my heart whenever he releases lite pop like this. As he said on The View, he rarely listens to other artists’ music, so his own new music is completely removed from the relevancy spectrum. From Controversy thru Sign O The Times/Dream Factory, he was an innovator — from there onward, he has been trying to catch up to what the kids are grooving to, but he still thinks that sound is 90’s R&B.
Listening to the “Dance Electric” track Dr. Funkenberry posted makes me think the best thing he could do for his next album is go into a studio with no songs or agenda and just jam for 45 minutes.
blerd says:
Sep 19, 2012
I’d agree with that one.
Mike A. says:
Sep 19, 2012
Agree with everything you said Keith. You are spot on in your analysis.
He truly holds himself back from what we all know he is capable of. Thanks for reading and the feedback!
Gonzo says:
Sep 20, 2012
Agree with this thread. I’m a huge huge Prince fan, but I was actually kind of pleased a few years ago when he said he wasn’t going to record any new music. Alas.
blerd says:
Sep 20, 2012
Is it possible to have a reverse religious conversion?
Keith says:
Sep 22, 2012
I’m all for one pursuing whatever religious path that makes them happy, but the JW’s all but neutered Prince. I loved how in the genius era, love, sex and God were all intertwined. And now, he’s ashamed of sex and casts off a great portion of the art he created as a mistake. Even though it is not my religious POV, I still get weepy and moved when Prince rocks out “The Cross” in the film “Sign O’ The Times.” Now that he performs it as “The Christ”, I feel all universality of the message has been removed.
Unless he starts to think for himself again, Prince will never be relevant as an artist again. Like the Stones, he will always be a formidable force on tour, but that’s it. All I can do is thank him for the music he has created and move onto something new.
blerd says:
Sep 23, 2012
I don’t think he’s ashamed of sex…the rotating cast of ex-wives would indicate otherwise. Besides, many of his “love” songs are still full of hints and innuendo…he just can’t go *there* anymore. Unfortunately, the fact that he went *there* with wild abandon is why so much of his early work was so good. I wouldn’t say he’s been neutered or castrated, because I certainly believe it’s still there. I do believe that his association with the JWs has caused a great deal of conflict and because of that, he’ll never truly be himself again.
Dw Dunphy says:
Sep 24, 2012
George Carlin used to say there are no bad words. It is the context and the intent with which we use them that are bad, and I always thought that the charm of Prince was his lack of filter, imposed by the world surrounding him either by what he should or should not play (rock? pop? funk? gospel?) the words he should or should not say or the themes he should or should not pursue.