1999 - review

"I don't wanna be a poet, cos I don't wanna blow it, I don't care to win awards, all i wanna do is dance..." - Prince, D.M.S.R.

Before Purple Rain, there was 1999. That's a bold statement if you know the album 1999. It's not about rationality, it's about the wild optimism of youth. It's not about melody, it's about funk. It's not a lesson, it's a holiday, echoed perfectly by the slowed down voice that introduces the album "I just want you to have some fun."

1999, one of the funkiest tracks he ever wrote. Just stop and think about what a simple idea this was for a song, and then remember every time you've heard something amazing in music, and thought to yourself, 'that's so simple, how come I didn't think of that?' Here was a man, in 1983 yes, I know it seems like so long ago, who wrote the words, "Tonight we're gonna party like it's 1999". Yes it's obvious, but it's still genius. The keyboards and drum beat make you move, jerk, sudden movements that only Prince-funk can do to you, a perfect example of the all dominant rhythm in this album is evident in much of the basslines, which quite often aren't really melodious, but just powerful slaps and blows, solely for the purpose of keeping the rhythm, and pumping more raw energy into the music. The funk goes on for a long time, you don't get tired of dancing, you better not, because it gets funkier!

Little Red Corvette! From a song-writing perspective, it was one of many Prince songs that likened women to cars ("It's you I want to ride" from the earlier album Dirty Mind) however it's the sheer depth of his metaphor that makes this a classic, as well as the amazingly passionate singing and sublime synths. What better opening line is there than, "I guess I shoulda known by the way u parked your car sideways
that it wouldn’t last, See you’re the kinda person that believes in makin’ out once love ’em and leave ’em fast." He goes off on a trip at the end and screams his way out of the track in a way only Prince could, letting all of his sincere emotion out along the way. Yes, sincere emotion, why else do you think this was such a hit?

D.M.S.R. Full stop, without a doubt, this IS the funkiest song he has ever made. There is nothing higher than this song in terms of out of this world funk, the type of music that makes you forget who you are and what the hell is going on around you once you get into it. There is no way you couldn't get into it, the first time I heard those synths, I thought they'd be a perfect hip-hop retro style sample, but once the guitars and funk dropped, I knew there was no way I could ever touch this song. At my old job, I used to crank the volume up to the max on the BOSE speakers, and dance a new, funky, unique dance that has never been danced in the history of man-kind before or since. This song might display some of Princes least imaginative lyrics, in fact I have very little regard for the lyrics, but as I stated at the beggining, the lyrics aren't important. The funk rides for a long time, and you really don't get tired of it. You really don't. If they played this kind of music in the clubs instead of Jennifer Lopez & Ja Rule then I probably wouldn't dislike clubs so much. You must experience this song.

Something in the Water (does not compute) showcased the side to Prince that constantly fought against the michael jackson-pop-star side, and the side that some would say, ultimately triumphed over the pop-star persona. That is the psychadelic side, his amazing ability to create drugged out, insane sounds, and somehow make them just as enjoyable and engaging as the straight funky cuts. Lyrically, this is a song in which Prince really shows his vulnerable side, with the brilliant lines, "Some people tell me I got great legs, can't figure out why you make me beg! You think you're special, well so do I, Why do special women make me cry?" In it's experimental genius, it's somwhat remeniscent of The Beautiful Ones, which was to make Purple Rain the classic that it was, both of these songs, whilst also being highly experimental, seem to long for those truly special women who seem so out of reach at times.

Lady Cab Driver. You want to hear what the 80's sounds like? This is it. Prince created this sound, the funky slap-bass, the up-tempo drums, the feel-good lyrics, and most importantly, those playful, smile-inducing synths. This song embodies all that is truly great about the album, a feel-good funk, a light subject matter with lyrics that really just seem like a bad excuse to get down and have some fun. It can't be described, none of these songs have been described adequately, none of them could be, like all works of art, they need to be seen/heard/experienced first hand, and not rationalised or described. Go and buy this album if you don't have it, I'll leave you with Princes passionate freestyle at the end of this great song.