Controversy is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on October 14, 1981 by Warner Bros. Records.
Music and lyrics
According to Blender Magazine's Keith Harris, Controversy is "Prince's first attempt to get you to love him for his mind, not just his body", as it "refines the propulsive funk of previous albums and adds treatises on religion, work, nuclear war and Abscam. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic also remarked on its music in how it "continues in the same vein of new wave-tinged funk on Dirty Mind, emphasizing Prince's fascination with synthesizers and synthesizing disparate pop music genres". Controversy begins with its title track, which raises questions that were being asked about him at the time, including his race and sexuality. The song "flirts with blasphemy" by including a chant of The Lord's Prayer. "Do Me, Baby" is an "extended bump-n-grind" ballad with explicitly sexual lyrics, and "Ronnie, Talk to Russia" is a politically charged plea to President Ronald Reagan. "Private Joy" is a bouncy bubblegum pop-funk tune, "showing off Prince's lighter side", followed by "Annie Christian", which lists historical events such as the murder of African-American children in Atlanta and the death of John Lennon. The album's final song, "Jack U Off", is a synthesized rockabilly-style track. This was the first of his albums to associate Prince with the color purple as well as the first to use sensational spelling in his song titles.
In a contemporary review for Rolling Stone Magazine, music critic Stephen Holden wrote that "Prince's first three records were so erotically self-absorbed that they suggested the reveries of a licentious young libertine. On Controversy, that libertine proclaims unfettered sexuality as the fundamental condition of a new, more loving society than the bellicose, over technologized America of Ronald Reagan." He went on to say, "Despite all the contradictions and hyperbole in Prince's playboy philosophy, I still find his message refreshingly relevant." Robert Christgau was less enthusiastic in a generally favorable review for The Village Voice, in which he wrote that its "socially conscious songs are catchy enough, but they spring from the mind of a rather confused young fellow, and while his politics get better when he sticks to his favorite subject, which is s-e-x, nothing here is as far-out and on-the-money as 'Head' or 'Sister' or the magnificent 'When You Were Mine.' Controversy was voted the eighth best album of the year in the 1981 Pazz & Jop, an annual critic’s poll run by The Village Voice.
[Verse 1] 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)
[Chorus] 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, were all just the same...(do you wanna play?) Controversy, controversy, controversy Controversy, controversy, controversy
[Bridge] 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
[Refrain] Controversy, controversy, controversy Love him, love him baby Controversy, controversy, controversy Controversy, controversy, controversy
[Verse 2] 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 People call me rude, I wish we were all nude I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules People call me rude, I wish we were all nude I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules (Yeah!) Controversy (Oh Yeah...) Controversy
[Chorus] 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, were all just the same...(don't ya wanna play?) Controversy controversy controversy controversy
Controversy is the fourth studio album by American recording artist Prince. It was released on October 14, 1981 by Warner Bros. Records.
ResponderEliminarMusic and lyrics
According to Blender Magazine's Keith Harris, Controversy is "Prince's first attempt to get you to love him for his mind, not just his body", as it "refines the propulsive funk of previous albums and adds treatises on religion, work, nuclear war and Abscam. Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic also remarked on its music in how it "continues in the same vein of new wave-tinged funk on Dirty Mind, emphasizing Prince's fascination with synthesizers and synthesizing disparate pop music genres".
Controversy begins with its title track, which raises questions that were being asked about him at the time, including his race and sexuality. The song "flirts with blasphemy" by including a chant of The Lord's Prayer. "Do Me, Baby" is an "extended bump-n-grind" ballad with explicitly sexual lyrics, and "Ronnie, Talk to Russia" is a politically charged plea to President Ronald Reagan. "Private Joy" is a bouncy bubblegum pop-funk tune, "showing off Prince's lighter side", followed by "Annie Christian", which lists historical events such as the murder of African-American children in Atlanta and the death of John Lennon. The album's final song, "Jack U Off", is a synthesized rockabilly-style track.
This was the first of his albums to associate Prince with the color purple as well as the first to use sensational spelling in his song titles.
Critical reception
ResponderEliminarIn a contemporary review for Rolling Stone Magazine, music critic Stephen Holden wrote that "Prince's first three records were so erotically self-absorbed that they suggested the reveries of a licentious young libertine. On Controversy, that libertine proclaims unfettered sexuality as the fundamental condition of a new, more loving society than the bellicose, over technologized America of Ronald Reagan." He went on to say, "Despite all the contradictions and hyperbole in Prince's playboy philosophy, I still find his message refreshingly relevant." Robert Christgau was less enthusiastic in a generally favorable review for The Village Voice, in which he wrote that its "socially conscious songs are catchy enough, but they spring from the mind of a rather confused young fellow, and while his politics get better when he sticks to his favorite subject, which is s-e-x, nothing here is as far-out and on-the-money as 'Head' or 'Sister' or the magnificent 'When You Were Mine.'
Controversy was voted the eighth best album of the year in the 1981 Pazz & Jop, an annual critic’s poll run by The Village Voice.
ResponderEliminar[Verse 1]
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)
[Chorus]
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, were all just the same...(do you wanna play?)
Controversy, controversy, controversy
Controversy, controversy, controversy
[Bridge]
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
[Refrain]
Controversy, controversy, controversy
Love him, love him baby
Controversy, controversy, controversy
Controversy, controversy, controversy
[Verse 2]
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
People call me rude, I wish we were all nude
I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules
People call me rude, I wish we were all nude
I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules (Yeah!)
Controversy (Oh Yeah...)
Controversy
[Chorus]
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, were all just the same...(don't ya wanna play?)
Controversy controversy controversy controversy