•
Rating:
There are songs, so famous and "representative," capable of overshadowing an artist's entire career, while others have the ability to only overshadow those contained within the same album. Fortunately, only the most distracted listeners consider "Kiss" as "the song" of Prince; many other gems have been given to us by the artist from Minneapolis over the years. However, it is undeniable that the album containing it, "Parade," is predominantly remembered as "the album of Kiss," thus diminishing the beauty of the other tracks within. Certainly, "Parade" does not have the rock drive that permeates "Purple Rain" nor the almost encyclopedic variety that characterizes the subsequent "Sign O'The Times," but it is probably the album that most resembles its creator, witnessing the full maturity of his unique mix of musical styles and languages, and above all, it is the record from his golden period that still sounds current and modern.
The album, born as the soundtrack of the film "Under The Cherry Moon," starring Prince himself (a box office flop), is more essential and sparse (in the arrangements) compared to its predecessors but sounds just as extravagant (if not more), combining sound experiments with smooth melodies and always remaining on the edge between kitsch excess and cultured reference. Thus, in just over half an hour, Prince showcases his talent by creating arrhythmic solutions that still sound daring today ("New Position," "Life Can Be So Nice"), embodies the role of the chansonnier for the cabaret of "Do U Lie?" and the melodrama of "Under The Cherry Moon," refines his idea of funky-pop ("Mountains," "Anotherloverholenyohead," "Girls & Boys") that has never been as infectious as this time, and demonstrates his compositional skills in the languid and cinematic instrumental "Venus De Milo." And if a sumptuous and playful orchestral pastiche opens the album, Prince closes it with what is still his most intimate and heartfelt ballad, the "Sometimes It Snows In April" that unexpectedly brings him closer to American singer-songwriters and seals his most simply complex and genius work.
For once, try to forget "Kiss"...
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Christopher Tracy's Parade (02:11)
Everyone come behold Christopher Tracy's Parade
The show will proceed, unless it should rain strawberry lemonade
Hopefully, that will not occur; the man above has been paid
Give what you can, all you can stand, and all of your life will be made
Everyone should come and dig Christopher Tracy's piano
The chord strikes, the devil no like, so he runs 2 his evil car
Everyone come behold Christopher Tracy's Parade
Goodness will guide us if love is inside us
Christopher Tracy's Parade (Christopher Tracy's Parade)
Christopher Tracy's Parade (Christopher Tracy's Parade)
Christopher Tracy's Parade
03 I Wonder U (01:40)
I, how u say, I wonder u, I wonder u
I, how u say, I wonder u, I wonder u
I, dream of u, 4 all time, 4 all time
Though, u are far, I wonder u, u're on the mind
I, how u say, I wonder u, I wonder u
I, how u say, I wonder u, I wonder u
08 Mountains (03:57)
Once upon a time in a land called Fantasy
17 mountains stood so high.
The sea surrounded them and together they would be
The only thing that ever made u cry
U said the devil told u that another mountain would appear
Everytime somebody broke your heart
He said the sea would 1 day overflow with all your tears,
And love will always leave u lonely
But I say it's only mountains and the sea
Love will conquer if u just believe (oh yeah)
It's only mountains and the sea
There's nothing greater, u and me
Once upon a time in a haystack of despair,
happiness sometimes hard 2 find. (yeah)
Africa divided, hijack in the air,
it's enough to make you want to lose your mind
But I say it's only mountains and the sea
Love will conquer if u just believe (Oh yeah)
It's only mountains and the sea
There's nothing greater, u and me
Guitars and drums on the 1
(Bobby on the drum - ah!)
It's only mountains (oh yeah) and the sea. (and the girls sing)
There's nothing greater, u and me
[starvation]
Mountains
09 Do U Lie? (02:44)
(Les enfants qui mentent ne vont pas au paradis)
[Translated: The children who lie don't go to paradise]
(Ok) Ok, Merci
When I lie awake in my boudoir I think of u dear
Do u think of me, or do u lie, do u lie?
When I'm in a sad and lonely mood dear, I cry 4 u dear (I cry 4 u)
Do you cry 4 me, do u cry, do u cry?
When I need someone 2 talk 2, u're not around
When I need another human's touch, I wear a frown
'cause u're uptown
Going down, going down, going down
I, I, I don't lie to u (i i don't lie)
When I say that I'm in love mama (mama, mama)
I feel so good when u're near (mama, mama)
Tell me do u feel it 2
Do u lie, do u lie? (or do u cry)
Do u cry from the inside out dear
Or are they only artificial tears? (artificial tears)
Do u really mean it when u cry,
When u cry, when u cry?
When I need someone 2 talk 2, (do u lie)
u're not around (u're not around)
u're not around (I wear a frown)
When I need (tell me why)
another human's touch,
I wear a frown (tell me why u wanna go)
Cause u're uptown (and leave me all alone)
Going down, going down, going down (goin' down)
Going down, going down, going down (down, down, down)
Going down, going down, going down (down, down, down)
When I lie awake in my boudoir (I think of u)
I think of u dear (do u)
Do y'all think of me,
Or do u lie, do u lie?
11 Anotherloverholenyohead (04:00)
I gave my love, I gave my life
I gave my body and mind
We were inseparable
I guess I gave U all of my time
And now U plead insanity
And U don't even know the score
Why can't U learn 2 play the game, baby?
Don't U know that U need more? (More, more, more, more)
U need another lover
Like U need a hole in yo’ head (Baby, baby)
U know there ain't no other
That can do the duty in yo’ bed (Yeah, yeah)
We were brothers and sisters {lines repeat in BG}
United all 4 love
Now all of a sudden U try 2 fight it
U say U’ve had enough
Even though we had (big) fun
U want another someone, yo’ happily ever after be
(As sure as there’s a sun)
Sho’, sho’ as the sun, I wanna be the one
U don't understand? Face 2 face, baby, I'll tell U down on my knees
Yeah yeah
U need another lover
Like U need a hole in yo’ head (Baby, baby)
U know there ain't no other
That can do the duty in yo’ bed (Solo, solo)
(Sinkin’)
Yeah, oh Lord
U need another lover
U know there ain't no other
U need another lover
Like U need a hole in yo’ head
Hole in yo’ head {x2}
[(I do believe U’re on the rebound now)]
U need another lover
Like U need a hole, a hole, a hole, a hole, uh
U need another lover (Well)
U know there ain't no other
There's gonna be a riot if U don't clap your hands
If U don't make that funky stand
Everybody... {fade out}
U know there ain't no other
Loading comments slowly
