Pandemic Playlist: Our Top 5 Prince songs are just perfect to entice all your senses in troubled times
Joining in the celebration over 'Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince', the star-studded concert that honored the iconic funk legend Prince, we thought it would be a fitting addition to recall some of our favorite Prince songs. Check out our list of powerful music for the coronavirus quarantine from Prince below.
'Musicology'
The '-ology' of music is the subject we want to hail The Prince of Funk as the best teacher for. A master musician who could play a multitude of instruments from his youth, Prince could sit down any musician and give them something profound to think about. A truly versatile maestro, it is said that he could play at least 27 instruments!
Around the time when Prince's fandom was diminishing and sales were lackluster, his 2004 LP 'Musicology' revealed that Prince was not only due for a comeback but proved his amazing ability to light up the fire that surrounds his music any time he wishes. Prince's lines in the song of the same name say it best; "Dancing hot and sweaty. Right in front of me. Call it what you like. I'm going to call it how it be. This is just another one. Of God's gifts. Musicology."
'When Doves Cry'
Beyond his sexual magnetism and larger-than-life stage presence, Prince was always conscious of revealing too much about himself. For someone who never really let the media get into his personal affairs, 'When Doves Cry' revealed a glimpse at something deeper about the commanding artist. The song brings in the back-and-forth clashes of two lovers while introducing the introspective pangs of questioning our upbringings.
Prince's parents divorced when he was ten years old, and the interesting thing about this intertwined family drama/love song is that Prince found hope in the pursuit of rectifying romance: a painful crossroads many of us can relate to.
'Sign O' The Times'
Hardcore Prince fans are probably wondering right about now where 'Raspberry Beret' or 'Little Red Corvette' features on this list, but the extraordinary thing about this cultural icon is that he affected people in different ways.
An artiste who relished in mystery and symbolism, Prince applied a combination of shapes, lines and blinking lights in the 'Sign O' The Times' video to send his message. With the chorus, "It's silly, no? When a rocket ship explodes. And everybody still wants to fly. Some say a man ain't happy. Unless a man truly dies. Oh, why? Time, time," Prince used 'Sign O' The Times' as a reference to the January 28, 1986 Space Shuttle disaster when The Challenger shuttle blew up.
In co-relation to his parents' Seventh-day Adventist faith, Prince felt it surprising that people would still be interested in space travel after the incident, especially when there were so many problems in the US at the time. In the race for technological advancement, we often forget the values of simplicity and humanity and that is why we chose 'Sign O' The Times' as a fitting message in the call for unity during the coronavirus crisis.
'You Got The Look'
Many fans can attest to the fact that Prince was a lyrical genius beyond his years. Managing to find a form of self-indulgence in the flattery of words and viewing the entity of linguistics as a form of lover in a two-way relationship, Prince would enjoy the time he spent getting that perfect phrase, that perfect lyrical jab that would leave audiences introspecting to their amazement while screaming their lungs out for his performances.
It's like The Purple one knew your every sense needed enticement when producing music. In 'U Got The Look', together with an alluringly funky tune, we see Prince's affections for the affairs of sight. Prince teases his listeners for near two minutes in the 5-minute track before the opening lyrics referring to that desired "it" factor.
'Purple Rain'
This list wouldn't be complete without the Prince classic 'Purple Rain'. Those who played the song for the first time all felt it, the stirring emotion that led to tears that lead to extended thought on human connection. According to NME, Prince explained the meaning behind the song: "When there's blood in the sky — red and blue = purple... purple rain pertains to the end of the world and being with the one you love and letting your faith/god guide you through the purple rain."
Imagine you hold your diary in your hand, you find the most private entry and in a state of uncontrollable compulsion to anthem it out for the entire world to hear, without fear of criticism or rejection, and just hanging on the hopes that at least one person would benefit from its message... that is 'Purple Rain'. There's no telling whether the song was his most personal, but the perfect marriage of intimate vocals and divine unction of the famous power ballad music is certainly a masterpiece in the message of unity.
Soul singer Mavis Staples gave a powerful performance of the song at the 'Let's Go Crazy: The Grammy Salute to Prince' concert. Read more here.
Watch the 'Purple Rain' music video here.
Read about Prince's influences on funk music, his sexuality and his cryptic symbolism here.