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PARADE - PART 2: THE SONGS
By @deejayumb (
)
&
@EdgarKruize (EK)
EK: Before going on to the songs I just want to comment on Part 1 & the comparisons we both drew between ATWIAD & Parade
By @deejayumb (
)&
@EdgarKruize (EK)
EK: Before going on to the songs I just want to comment on Part 1 & the comparisons we both drew between ATWIAD & Parade
EK: 86â Parade Tour was a testament of how the ATWIAD & the Parade songs worked so well together.
ATWIAD (song) merged into CTP and after New Position/I Wonder U Raspberry Beret was thrown in.
Elsewhere in the set Pop Life & Girls & Boys always worked back to back!
ATWIAD (song) merged into CTP and after New Position/I Wonder U Raspberry Beret was thrown in.
Elsewhere in the set Pop Life & Girls & Boys always worked back to back!
CHRISTOPHER TRACYâS PARADE
Originally âWendyâs Paradeâ but then changed to tie in with the movie.
EK: I always wondered if the name Christopher Tracy had five syllables so it would fit instead of âLittle girl Wendyâ, as it was originally sang.
Originally âWendyâs Paradeâ but then changed to tie in with the movie. EK: I always wondered if the name Christopher Tracy had five syllables so it would fit instead of âLittle girl Wendyâ, as it was originally sang.
This neo psychedelic number features the Clare Fischer (CF) Orchestra in all of its wondrous glory. EK: A few years ago @klopgrrr pointed out to me how the brass and the woodwinds sections are in a constant dialogue. Once you hear that you cannot unhear it.
Fascinating!
Similar in concept to ATWIAD (song). On both Prince is asking us to join him, one on a journey & the other to behold the Parade.EK: During the 1986 live shows both songs were played back to back in a continuous flow. They truly are one of a kind.
It also bears conceptual similarities to The Beatles song âBeing For the Benefit of Mr Kiteâ that Lennon wrote of events on a Victorian poster he had. The cosmic psychedelia, wouldâve been a perfect fit for ATWIAD too.
EK: The basic tracking of the drum part of this song and the three that follow was recorded in one swift take on April 17, 1985. The ATWIAD album would be released five days later.
Princeâs father John L Nelson is credited as co-writer - royalties $$$
Princeâs father John L Nelson is credited as co-writer - royalties $$$
Of course before Parade âChristopherâ had been used by Prince as his pseudonym as writer on the Bangles hit âManic Monday.EK: The name of the character is very much androgyny. âChristopherâ is male, âTracyâ is female.
U can hear the chugging of the ATWIAD train at the end of this track.The train was still on its journey from ATWIAD, had paused to watch the Parade and then was off again continuing on its journey to the Dream Factory.
NEW POSITION
This is Princeâs ânew funkâ except (as suggested in Part 1) it wasnât.
1 of my faves, it clocks in at just under 2:20 in length but it packs so much punch that it belies its length.
EK: This is the 1st (& probably only) time he uses a steel drum in a song.
This is Princeâs ânew funkâ except (as suggested in Part 1) it wasnât. 1 of my faves, it clocks in at just under 2:20 in length but it packs so much punch that it belies its length.
EK: This is the 1st (& probably only) time he uses a steel drum in a song.
That steel drum just kills me & then that bass just manoeuvres like a pair of hands all over your body:âHoney, we can't last (we can't last)
Without a shot of new spunk (ha)
Honey, forget your past (forget your past)
You've got to try my new funkâ
About experimentation & adventure & going fishing in the river of life.EK: The river of life is depicted in the Bible book of Revelations, which Prince has often used for inspiration in his songs.
Sexual experimentation-main draw of the song- He is talking about different sexual positions. Wendy & Lisa even mention the word âPussyâ.EK: During the Parade live concerts the word P.U.S.S.Y was spelled out loud on stage, whereas the studio version is much more subtle.
CF created orchestral arrangements for this track but in the end they were unused save for some arrangements subsequently being sampled & used on âRave un2 the joy fantasticâ 13 years later.The original version of NP stems back to the 1999 era of 82â & remains unreleased.
I WONDER U
Another one of my favourites & even shorter than New Position. This one clocking in at just under 1:40 but itâs an incredible 1:40, the best 1:40 in the history of short tracks.
Another one of my favourites & even shorter than New Position. This one clocking in at just under 1:40 but itâs an incredible 1:40, the best 1:40 in the history of short tracks.
EK: Lyrically one can wonder who the âUâ is in this song. I reckon it is the very same âUâ as in The Question Of U.. which was recorded around the same time and has strong ties with the next song on ParadeâŠ
The main synth line is reminiscent of the Art of Noise âMoments in Loveâ, a beautiful & classic synth pop track from 83âPerhaps the Art of Noise heard that lead synth part & thought theyâd return the favour & recorded Kiss with Tom Jones in 88â.
Who knows.
This is the first time that someone other than Prince sings lead vocal & Wendy has that honour on this track. EK: Unreleased versions of this song feature Princeâs vocals as well.
CF created 2 arrangements for this song, one consisting of a âflute familyâ & the other of a full orchestra. Prince only used the former. But you can listen to CF sessions here: https://www.mixcloud.com/rich-cranmore/i-wonder-u-prince-clare-fischer/
UNDER THE CHERRY MOON
EK: The is the title track of the movie & the only Prince movie that has a different title than the soundtrack album.
This is a clear indication that although the music and the film belong together, the album and film should be seen as a separate entities
EK: The is the title track of the movie & the only Prince movie that has a different title than the soundtrack album.
This is a clear indication that although the music and the film belong together, the album and film should be seen as a separate entities
Romantic song about living life to the ultimate high but also being content to die in the arms of your lover- wanting adventure & spectacular things.Cherry Moon could be a reference to the blood moon occuring during a full eclipse & is quite spectacular.
âWhy can't I fly away in a special skyâ.The second song to reference the sky in an apocalyptic context. The first being 1999.
âThe sky was all purple & people were running everywhereâ (1999).
EK: Also Prince describes himself/Christopher Tracy as a âpoor butterflyâ.
In many cultures a butterfly represents spiritual rebirth, being transformed and reborn into an entirely new way of being.
In many cultures a butterfly represents spiritual rebirth, being transformed and reborn into an entirely new way of being.
EK: That is exactly what happens if you follow Princeâs path up until 1985/86. He is âtransformedâ in Temptation on ATWIAD and returns as a different and more spiritual human being.
EK: The next time he transforms & emerges as a butterfly is in The Most Beautiful Girl era. âPrinceâ dies, âSymbolâ re-emerges and releases a cd with a butterfly shaped booklet.
Traditionally butterflies donât live long. This foreshadows Christopher Tracyâs fate in the movie.
Traditionally butterflies donât live long. This foreshadows Christopher Tracyâs fate in the movie.
EK: The word âpoorâ has a double meaning. Heâs got no money (thus âpoorâ), but also his fate seems inevitable. âPoor Tracyâ.
EK: The âpoor butterflyâ doesnât quite know what to do yet. He has re-emerged but lacks destiny.
Something Prince will find after he (âthe butterflyâ) leaves the chrysalis that was the Revolution.
Something Prince will find after he (âthe butterflyâ) leaves the chrysalis that was the Revolution.
His obsession with the moon resurfaces once again & after hearing what Edgar said about the butterfly, perhaps the Cherry Moon is not a reference to the Lunar Moon. Maybe Prince is referencing the Pink Moon which according to Native American spirituality is the April Moon.
The Pink Moon signifies ârebirth & renewalâ, just like in Edgarâs butterfly theory. As the Pink Moon shows up in Spring, after the misery of Winter, it is a reminder that life is a set of ups and downs, a cycle of hibernation and reawakening.
The CF orchestration is not used on UTCM and so that is another unreleased version to look forward to.Prince reused some of the melody of this track on the Q of U.
EK: The Question Of U was recorded only a few weeks later, most likely he was meditating on the âwhich road to chooseâ theme that also runs through UTCM and the âUâ in this song arguably is the same âUâ as in I Wonder U.
On UTCM, Princeâs father gets another co-writing credit but heâs not likely to have had any real input, just Princeâs way of ensuring he received some royalties.
GIRLS & BOYS
Signalling Eric Leeds first appearance on a Prince album (he previously appeared on Kiss B side 
or $) & featuring the Revolution on the first of 3 full band songs on this album.
Signalling Eric Leeds first appearance on a Prince album (he previously appeared on Kiss B side or $) & featuring the Revolution on the first of 3 full band songs on this album.
EK: Notice that when the full Revolution is playing as a band on this album, Prince does not use (or hardly uses in one case) Clare Fischer arrangements
Thereâs a strange squeaky synth sound that sounds like a duck being strangled to death 
EK: The instrument used is a Roland G-707, a guitar controller which connects to the Roland GR-700 synthesizer via a 24 pin cable. Wendy plays the instrument in the Girls & Boys video.
French is such a sexy language & the seduction is beautifully executed by clothes designer Marie France. 2 of Princeâs preoccupations make an entrance on this song:
Different Dimensions:
âMeet me in another world, space and joyâ
The Dawn:
âMeet me somewhere after Dawnâ
LIFE CAN BE SO NICE
Neo psychedelic number with a bomb of a kick drum.
Sonically, similarities to Beatles âTomorrow Never Knowsâ. Same epic cosmic vibe about it
Neo psychedelic number with a bomb of a kick drum. Sonically, similarities to Beatles âTomorrow Never Knowsâ. Same epic cosmic vibe about it
EK: Lyrically it goes beyond âTomorrow Never Knowsâ. The Beatles song is a trip (âTurn off your mind relax and float down streamâ) and here true love (âyour embrace) is âbetter than a tripâ.
That Harpsichord is addictive & hypnotic. The Coda brings Sheila E to the fore in a cosmic Jazz fusion showdown.
This is a masterpiece. Dismissing this as no more than incidental music is insulting.
This beautiful instrumental, like the statue is strange & dreamlike, perfect but imperfect, beautiful but broken with a sense of enigmatic incompleteness.
EK: Venus de Milo can be seen at the Louvre in Paris.
The statue is placed in the Parade artwork, as if the Venus is part of the Revolution.
Around Parade, Prince was writing for Miles Davis (Can I Play With U?) and Miles has his own Venus De Milo on his Birth Of Cool album.
The statue is placed in the Parade artwork, as if the Venus is part of the Revolution.
Around Parade, Prince was writing for Miles Davis (Can I Play With U?) and Miles has his own Venus De Milo on his Birth Of Cool album.
MOUNTAINS
A eulogy to Love - that Love will conquer all if you just believe - is the cornerstone of the chorus of this song.
EK: Like The Ladder on ATWIAD this is a parable, starting with âOnce upon a time in a land calledâŠâ
A eulogy to Love - that Love will conquer all if you just believe - is the cornerstone of the chorus of this song.EK: Like The Ladder on ATWIAD this is a parable, starting with âOnce upon a time in a land calledâŠâ
Music by Wendy & Lisa & lyrics by Prince. Miko Weaver & Atlanta Bliss augment the Revolution forming the basis of the line up for the Parade Tour in 86â.
EK: This is the only song on which the entire 1986 Revolution can be heard.
EK: Atlanta Bliss, Eric Leeds and Miko Weaver were new members and what we hear is more or less a transitional band as Prince moves on with them (and Sheila E., also playing on Parade) and leaves most of the Revolution behind
EK: The song mentions the state of emergency in South Africa (âAfrica dividedâ) and hijack of flight TWA Flight 847 (âhijack in the airâ) in 1985.
Prince would go on to mention news events on Sign âOâ The Times.
Prince would go on to mention news events on Sign âOâ The Times.
DO U LIE
EK: The song starts with âLes enfants qui mentent ne vont pas au paradisâ, meaning âthe children that lie wonât go to paradiseâ.
A curious little number where Prince as chanteur appropriates French accordion music whilst surmising that his lover is telling lies.
EK: The song starts with âLes enfants qui mentent ne vont pas au paradisâ, meaning âthe children that lie wonât go to paradiseâ.
A curious little number where Prince as chanteur appropriates French accordion music whilst surmising that his lover is telling lies.
EK: The first time an accordion is used in a Prince song.
Yes played by Frank Marocco.
Brenda (Vanity 6) Bennettâs mother played accordion & she is also of French descent.
The 1st time he used an accordion was on Sheila Eâs âNext time wipe the lipstickâ in 84â.
Yes played by Frank Marocco.Brenda (Vanity 6) Bennettâs mother played accordion & she is also of French descent.
The 1st time he used an accordion was on Sheila Eâs âNext time wipe the lipstickâ in 84â.
On the Sheila E track, the accordionist was Nick DeCaroHe used the accordion again on Violet Blue from the Jill Jones album again played by Marocco.
He also used it on âWhen She Comesâ from Hitntun Phase 2, one of my favourite tracks from that album.
EK: The last time he mentions âUptownâ in a song. Yet the setting is different than in Uptown or Partyup. He, himself is not there anymore & feels lonely.
The song is directed not at one particular person. Prince asks the question to all the listeners. âDo you all think of meâ
The song is directed not at one particular person. Prince asks the question to all the listeners. âDo you all think of meâ
KISS
I think we all know by now the story behind Kiss & Mazaratiâs crucial involvement & so I wonât repeat that here.
WB said it sounded like a:
âdemo, no bass, no echo, thereâs nothing, it sucksâ
More fool them.
I think we all know by now the story behind Kiss & Mazaratiâs crucial involvement & so I wonât repeat that here.WB said it sounded like a:
âdemo, no bass, no echo, thereâs nothing, it sucksâ
More fool them.
David Rivkin aka David Z (Bobbyâs brotherâ) played a huge part in the tracks arrangement.What many donât know is that he also stole the piano part from Bo Diddleyâs âSay Manâ and the Mazarati background vocal was taken straight from Brenda Leeâs âSweet Nothinsâ -Go & listen
EK: During the song Prince ad libs the original title of the opening track. âLittle Girl Wendyâs Paradeâ.
The music video is somewhat misleading as Wendy is not playing on the track.
The music video is somewhat misleading as Wendy is not playing on the track.
I have already commented on the cultural impact of this song & video in real time in Part 1.There was an impact too upon fellow artists who emulated the skinny motherfuckerâs falsetto & the sonic acoustic arrangement of the track.
My Birmingham homies, Duran Duranâs âSkin Tradeâ, is clearly influenced by Kiss as Le Bon wears his tightest pants to emulate Princeâs vocal. That came out in early 87â.Le Bon said he was channeling his inner Jagger but Le Bon is not from Birmingham so...lies
George Michaelâs âfaithâ wouid not exist were it not for Kiss.Sonically, the arrangement follows a similar pattern & it came out just a year later.
Similarly, Fine Young Cannibals âShe Drives Me Crazyâ takes cues from Kiss with Roland Gift (another one of my Birmingham homies) adopting the falsetto on this track in 88â.David Z (Rivkin) produced & engineered this track as he did with Kiss & so now it all makes sense.
ANOTHERLOVERHOLENYOHEAD Another track using that same weird Roland G-707 guitar & creating a Middle Eastern sounding riff taking us back to ATWIAD.
A Funky Purple Gospeldelia number which features some, not all, of CFâs orchestration on this final all band number.
EK: This is the bandâs swan song.
âWe were brothers and sisters, united all for loveâ
Yet Prince is trying to fight it. He has had enough. He has to move on, even though he knows it will never be as special as what he had. He doesnât need a ânew loverâ, but he has to.
âWe were brothers and sisters, united all for loveâ
Yet Prince is trying to fight it. He has had enough. He has to move on, even though he knows it will never be as special as what he had. He doesnât need a ânew loverâ, but he has to.
EK: Brilliant song, Prince and the Revolution at the peak of their powers.
The title is a so called portmanteau based on the lyrics of the chorus.
The idiom âYou need [âŠ] like you need a hole in your headâ signifies that the subject is unnecessary or damaging.
The title is a so called portmanteau based on the lyrics of the chorus.
The idiom âYou need [âŠ] like you need a hole in your headâ signifies that the subject is unnecessary or damaging.
EK: Prince might have been inspired by the Jazz classic âI Need Ya Like I Need a Hole in the Headâ by Pearl Bailey.
SOMETIMES IT SNOWS IN APRIL
Princeâs most Joni moment.
The rubato intro mimicks Joniâs âCotton Avenueâ which the song surely took its inspiration from.
Another co-credited to Wendy & Lisa, fellow Joni enthusiasts.
Princeâs most Joni moment. The rubato intro mimicks Joniâs âCotton Avenueâ which the song surely took its inspiration from.
Another co-credited to Wendy & Lisa, fellow Joni enthusiasts.
I love the prologue & had they just continued with that for 4-5 minutes with variations & kept it as an instrumental, it wouid probably be one of my favourite Prince tracks ever. CF did an orchestration which was used on the closing credits on movie version instead.
For many this song holds even more sway than ever as it was recorded on April 21, 1985, 31 years to the day before Prince's own transition.EK: The recording took place a mere four days after that of the first four tracks on Parade.
EK: The âTracyâ character was already developed, even though the opening track at that point was still Wendyâs Parade.
On April 2 85â he announced he would retire from performing live.
In his statement he said heâd be âlooking for the ladderâ & âsometimes it snows in Aprilâ.
On April 2 85â he announced he would retire from performing live.
In his statement he said heâd be âlooking for the ladderâ & âsometimes it snows in Aprilâ.
EK: 20 days later the ATWIAD album was released, including The Ladder.
Roughly a year later (March 31, 1986) Sometimes It Snows in April was released and Prince started touring again.
Roughly a year later (March 31, 1986) Sometimes It Snows in April was released and Prince started touring again.
So this brings us to the end of Part 2.
Next is Part 3 which will find @EdgarKruize (EK) going solo & discussing the possible track list to a Parade Super Deluxe.
Next is Part 3 which will find @EdgarKruize (EK) going solo & discussing the possible track list to a Parade Super Deluxe.
