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If Dirty Mind is Prince's most erotic album, Controversy, on the other hand, represents his most "political" record: in different ways from one another, at least 4 songs present address themes that deliberately depart from the "mainstream thought" that characterized the previous records (sex, of course, and love affairs) to tackle new themes, unsuspected until just a moment before. Perhaps for this reason, the entire album appears more interesting from a conceptual point of view, rather than a musical one. A case in point is the title track: based once again on a funk structure, "Controversy" is light years away from the relaxed atmosphere of Dirty Mind. It is almost a menacing track: the guitar riffs and keyboards are abrasive, tight, and throughout the piece, the percussive part, reinforced by repeated "uuwh" from the voice, suggests the idea of punches to the stomach, while Prince wonders in amazement why there's so much clamor around him. Ideally, the song is divided into three parts: the initial examination of the controversies raised ("am I black or white, straight or gay?"), followed by the recitation of the Lord's Prayer (!), and, finally, a clear declaration of intent ("I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules"). Within the brief space of a song, he has laid out the main issues that will henceforth always be present in his lyrics: the liberating power of the sex/love combination, the conviction of having God on one's side, and the message of emancipation that springs from such awareness.
I insist a little more on the meaning of "Controversy": the curious Princian theology, which finds its philosophical peak in Lovesexy (with the equation God=Love), has always seemed to me an element that Prince considered very seriously in his music, and not a gimmick to spark controversy and draw attention to himself. Well, that theology is already entirely present in this piece and in the entire album, as demonstrated by the next two tracks. "Sexuality" expresses, in the very speed of the music, the urgency of the message: it is, more than any other, literally an anthem, a call to action. It directly addresses his followers, who appear as the chosen ones of a new, carnal religion, and targets the potential culprits of society's ills, branding them as "tourists," who peek at the world through the keyhole of a camera, and raise children in sexual repression. The result of such polemic fervor, in a way that may seem inconsistent, is the stratospheric celebration of eros, represented by "Do Me Baby": a ballad so splendidly kitsch, (and at times embarrassing, even for the most ardent fans) that only Prince could have convincingly interpreted it. In the Seventies, it was said that the private had to be subordinated to the political. Prince resolves the issue by continuously blending the two planes: thus, the masturbatory fantasy of "Private Joy," which possesses a melody and progression impossible to resist (with the guitar forced at the end to produce unimaginable sounds), is followed by the anti-Soviet nursery rhyme of "Ronnie Talk To Russia," which musically is an oddball rock 'n roll with added choruses and little keyboards, giving the piece the appearance of a general mockery. "Let's Work" sees the reemergence of adults-only content and a rough and robust funk - where the primary role is assigned to the bass, with a brief touch of similar-rap towards the end. But it is the next track that astonishes: "Annie Christian" is finally a track where compositional mastery goes hand in hand with an "important" text. It is noteworthy as the first song where Prince does not appear as the protagonist, as that role is usurped by a disturbing figure, a kind of sociopathic mass murderer, who roams America spreading innocent blood and shining with the luciferous splendor of the Antichrist. Around these lyrics, Prince constructs a musical fabric that magnificently evokes the sense of bewilderment and fear conveyed by the words: the rhythms are dissonant, the singing seems slightly out of time compared to the music, and the electric guitar, working throughout the track in a submerged and dark way, explodes in the most beautiful solo Prince has produced so far. It is then almost with relief that the album's finale makes way for the light and lively "Jack U Off," with the reassuring return to more "earthly" concerns, but also, inevitably, less disturbing and fascinating than the previous one.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Controversy (07:16)
I just can't believe all the things people say -- Controversy
Am I black or white? Am I straight or gay? -- Controversy
Do I believe in God? Do I believe in me? -- Controversy
Controversy Controversy
I can't understand human curiosity -- Controversy
Was it good for you? Was I what you wanted me to be? -- Controversy
Do you get high? Does your daddy cry? -- Controversy
Controversy Controversy
Do I believe in God? Do I believe in me?
Some people wanna die so they can be free
(I said) Life is just a game, we're all just the same...do you wanna play?
Controversy Controversy Controversy
Controversy Controversy Controversy
Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be thy name
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses
As we forgive those who trespass against us
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever
Controversy Controversy Controversy Controversy
Love Him, Love Him baby
Controversy Controversy Controversy
Controversy Controversy Controversy
Listen
People call me rude, I wish we were all nude
I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules
(repeat 3 times)
Controversy Controversy
Do I believe in God? Do I believe in me? Let me tell ya...
Some people wanna die so they can be free
(I said) Life is just a game, we're all just the same...don't ya wanna play?
Controversy Controversy Controversy Controversy
03 Do Me, Baby (07:43)
Here we are in this big old empty room, staring each other down
U want me just as much as I want U, let's stop fooling around
Take me baby... kiss me all over... play with my love
Bring out what's been in me for far too long
Baby, u know that's all I've been dreaming of
Do Me Baby, like u never done before
Give it to me till I just can't take no more
Do Me Baby, like u never done before
I want u now, I just can't wait no more, can't wait...
Here we are looking for a reason for u to lay me down
For a love like ours is never out of season, so baby please stop teasing me
what ya do, I can never love no other, u're the best I ever had
Whenever we're not close to one another, I just want u so bad
So Do Me Baby, like u never done before
Give it to me till I just can't take no more
C'mon, Do Me Baby, like u never done before
I want u now, I just can't wait no more
I said ooo...ooo...oooo...ooooooo
Do Me Baby, Do Me Baby, give it to me
Do Me Baby, I want u now
Do Me Baby, give it to me
Do Me Baby, Do Me baby, don't wanna do it all alone
I want your love.
Do Me Baby, give it to me
Do Me Baby, This feeling is too strong, make me wait 2 long, I want u now
You're leaving me no choice
OK, what are u gonna do...u just gonna sit there and watch? alright...
are u sure u don't wanna close your eyes?
...well, isn't it supposed to take a long time?
I'm not gonna stop till the war is over...
Help me! there...ok...ok
I'm so cold....just hold me
05 Ronnie, Talk to Russia (01:51)
Ronnie talk to Russia before its too late
before its too late
before its too late
Ronnie talk to Russia before its too late
before they blow up the world
You go to the zoo, but you can't feed guerillas
can't feed guerillas
Left-wing guerillas
You can go to the zoo, but you can't feed guerillas
who wanna blow up the world
Ronnie if you're dead before I get to meet ya
before I get to meet ya
before I get to meet ya
Ronnie if you're dead before I get to meet ya
don't say I didn't warn ya
Ronnie talk to Russia before its too late
before its too late
before its too late
Ronnie talk to Russia before its too late
before they blow up the world
before they blow up the world
dontcha.
don't you blow up my world
07 Annie Christian (04:23)
Annie Christian wanted
2 be number one
But her kingdom never comes
Thy will be done
She couldn't stand the glory
She would be second 2 none
The way Annie tells the story
She's His only Son
Annie Christian wanted
2 be a big star
So she moved 2 Atlanta
And she bought a blue car
She killed black children
And what's fair is fair
If U try and say U're crazy
Everybody say, "Electric chair!" (Electric chair!)
CHORUS:
Annie Christian, Anti-Christ
Until U're crucified
I'll live my life in taxicabs
Annie Christian, Anti-Christ
Until U're crucified
I'll live my life in taxicabs
Annie Christian was a whore
Always lookin' 4 some fun
Being good was such a bore
So she bought a gun
She killed John Lennon
Shot him down cold
She tried 2 kill Reagan
Everybody say, "Gun control!" (Gun control!)
CHORUS
"Liar, liar, liar!"
Gotcha in a jam
Put your head on the block
Somebody say, "ABSCAM!" (ABSCAM!)
CHORUS
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