On Episode 110 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Snax (snaxonline.org) and I take a dark trip into the mind of a psychotic, jealous, violent, and misogynistic alter-ego on “Bob George” from the legendary Black Album. Despite the disturbing imagery presented in the song, there’s a lot of humor to lighten the mood between gunshots … Continue reading Bob George: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 109 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Scott Woods and I get busy, too scizzy while discussing anti-rap diss track, “Dead On It” from the infamous Black Album. Prince was clearly not impressed with some of the early rap songs he heard, and I have an unconfirmed theory as to which song might have set … Continue reading Dead On It: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 108 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Rhonda Nicole and I discuss the lyrics to the sometimes flattering but often disturbing “Cindy C.” The song comes off as a plea for attention from supermodel Cindy Crawford, but it also sounds desperate and a bit cruel. Like most Prince songs, any cringeworthy … Continue reading Cindy C: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 107 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Micah Simpson from the Purple Underground YouTube channel is back to help me talk about this nouveau dance called “Le Grind,” which served as the opening track on Prince’s legendary Black Album aka The Funk Bible. While the Black Album has its dark moments, … Continue reading Le Grind: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 106 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Leslie Ballard joins me to talk about the witchy, raunchy, female empowerment anthem, “Shockadelica,” the B-side to “If I Was Your Girlfriend.” We spend time trying to decipher if Shockadelica is Camille, someone wholly unique, or even human. There’s a lot of pronoun confusion going … Continue reading Shockadelica: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 105 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Richard Cole (@RichardCole_NOW) from the Amari Purple Talk Podcast (AmariCommunications.com) joins me to discuss the silly, fun, metaphor filled B-side “La, La, La, He, He, Hee.” Created on a dare, this song, especially the “Highly Explosive” version, has more funk and more in common … Continue reading La, La, La, He, He, Hee: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 104 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, fellow Ohio resident Scott Woods joins me to “rap” about “Adore,” the grand finale for the Sign o’ the Times album. Prince mostly (with a couple of notable exceptions) remains sincere and genuine throughout this mature ballad, a throwback to classic soul. Scott’s writing and where to purchase … Continue reading Adore: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 103 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Micah Simpson from the Purple Underground YouTube channel joins me in talking about “It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night,” the funky 9-minute jam performed live on stage during the Parade tour. Was this performance a tryout for The Revolution? What is Sheila E. talking … Continue reading It’s Gonna Be a Beautiful Night: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 102 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Erica Thompson (APurpleDayInDecember.com) and I dive right into Prince’s most overtly religious album track to date and talk through some of the imagery & nuance that he added to what seems like a pretty straightforward expression of faith. Why did “The Cross” turn into “The … Continue reading The Cross: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 101 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Josh Norman from The Mountains & the Sea podcast (https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/) and I talk about the crazy night Prince had at the club when he met a beautiful, heartbroken, pregnant woman looking for a rebound on “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man,” … Continue reading I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 100 (!!!) of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, writer Zachary Hoskins (princesongs.org) returns to the show to talk about the toxic mess that is “Strange Relationship” from the Sign O’ the Times album. Prince’s lines cut sharp and deep, but the amount of self-reflection and awareness that comes through in the lyrics shows … Continue reading Strange Relationship: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 99 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Christy Norman from The Mountains & the Sea and Killer Fun podcasts returns to the show to offer her perspective on the at times romantic, but mostly troubling, and brilliant “If I Was Your Girlfriend” off Sign o’ the Times. This BIG IMPORTANT PRINCE … Continue reading If I Was Your Girlfriend: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 98 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Jerry Bonner and I dive into the heck-a-slammin’ hit single from the Sign o’ the Times album, “U Got the Look.” This fun, silly, pop-rock smash featured Sheena Easton on co-vocals, Sheila E’s timbales, and a memorably humorous music video, but what are the … Continue reading U Got the Look: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 97 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Eloy Lasanta joins me to talk about the lyrics to the simple on the surface, but actually complex ballad “Forever In My Life.” Whether you prefer the original Sign o’ the Times album version, the Sign o’ the Times Super Deluxe “Early Vocal Run-Through” … Continue reading Forever In My Life: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 96 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, I’m joined by Prince scholar, author, and #PrinceTwitterThread co-founder, Edgar Kruize, to discuss Sign o’ the Times’ “Hot Thing.” Edgar and I overanalyze the hell out of what is primarily just a thumping dance track with a slammin’ beat and great Prince screams. Check out Edgar’s … Continue reading Hot Thing: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 95 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Farooq Ansari (@anti_social on Twitter) joins me to discuss the romantic throwback ballad, “Slow Love” from the Sign o’ the Times album. We also explore the song’s fascinating history from its origins as a Carole Davis penned composition and what compelled Prince to include a … Continue reading Slow Love: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 94 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Karen Shedrick and I discuss the real story behind the whimsical, child-like story song, “Starfish and Coffee.” Who is Cynthia Rose anyway, and how was Prince able to take a few stories related to him by his girlfriend at the time and turn them … Continue reading Starfish and Coffee: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 93 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, I welcome Roy Turner (@TrickyKid2 on Twitter) of Tricky Kid Media (https://www.facebook.com/TrickyKidRadio/) back to the show to talk with me about the thumping, sexually driven “It” from Sign o’ the Times. Is “It” simply about sexual obsession, or is there more to what Prince … Continue reading It: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 92 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, I welcome a new guest, Angel Monique, to chat about one of the greatest story songs in Prince’s career, “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker,” from Sign O’ the Times. We navigate the dream-like stream of consciousness lyrics, debate whether Prince actually knew who Dorothy … Continue reading The Ballad of Dorothy Parker: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 91 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Julian Long returns to help me answer the primary question of the show. Does anybody know about the quake? Yeah! We do! I mean, really, really? Julian certainly helps guide me towards the Southern Baptist traditions that Prince was leaning heavily on as Camille, … Continue reading Housequake: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 90 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Rhonda Nicole returns to talk to me about one of the more fun and funky songs to follow a dark and ominous opener in album tracklisting history. The ying to “Sign O’ the Times'” yang, it’s “Play in the Sunshine!” Make sure to check … Continue reading Play In the Sunshine: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 89 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, the co-authors of The Rise of Prince: 1978-1988, Alex Hahn & Laura Tiebert, join me to talk about “Sign o’ the Times.” This lead single from the double album of the same name used a ripped from the headlines approach to calling out troubling aspects … Continue reading Sign o’ the Times: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 88 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Richard Cole (@RichardCole_NOW) from the Amari Purple Talk Podcast (AmariCommunications.com) joins me to chat about the “Kiss” B-side, “Love or Money.” The song is notable as it scores the fun shopping montage scene in Under the Cherry Moon as well as winning the 1986 Golden … Continue reading Love or Money: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 87 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Jerry Bonner (@JBonner71) joins me to discuss the somber, wistful ballad, “Sometimes It Snows in April” from Parade. We discuss a few lyrical question marks that the song asks as well as connection to the film and the accidental eulogy that the song became … Continue reading Sometimes It Snows in April: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 86 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, I welcome first-time guest, musician Rhonda Nicole (rhondanicole.com) to the show to talk with me about the uber-funky penultimate track off Parade, “Anotherloverholenyohead.” Check out the Press Rewind discord at discord.gg/f8Ueuym and join us in discussing all things Prince. The goal of each episode … Continue reading Anotherloverholenyohead: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 85 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, author, blogger and speaker Laura Tiebert (lauratiebert.com) joins me to talk about one of Prince’s biggest hits, “Kiss.” Despite a complicated and messy origin story, “Kiss” is most well-known for its stellar guitar work, Prince’s impeccable falsetto, simple, yet fun lyrics and that startling … Continue reading Kiss: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 84 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Karen Shedrick joins me again to discuss the lyrics to one of the essential tracks for the Under the Cherry Moon Soundtrack, primarily due to its prominence in the film. We try to capture the song’s intent in the context of the movie while also … Continue reading Do U Lie?: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 83 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, Leslie Ballard and I chat about one of our favorites from the Parade album, the second single, “Mountains.” This superior collaboration with Wendy & Lisa is meant to uplift and bring joy to whoever hears it. We chat about some of the current events … Continue reading Mountains: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →
On Episode 82 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, I take a break from lyric dissection so I can talk about two instrumental tracks from the Parade era. The beautiful piano and orchestral album track, “Venus de Milo,” and the bombastic guitar rocker, “Alexa de Paris.” Check out the Press Rewind discord at … Continue reading Venus de Milo & Alexa de Paris: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
On Episode 81 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast, I welcome a brand new guest to the show, Roy Turner (@TrickyKid2 on Twitter) of Tricky Kid Media (https://www.facebook.com/TrickyKidRadio/), to talk with me about his favorite song, “Life Can Be So Nice.” This jubilant and chaotic Parade track soundtracks a memorable scene in Under the Cherry Moon, and it brings … Continue reading Life Can Be So Nice: Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast →...
