Thread by @darlingnisi

Everybody’s here! This is the jam of the year! #PrinceEmancipationDay (video by Mark Jago of Molotov, Sydney Australia)

youtube.com/user/MolotovAU…

Before we start, be sure to check out this article by Mr. Duquette @Sir__Duque I got to say some things!

https://twitter.com/Sir__Duque/status/1172185995875442691

Now normally I would sit and listen to the whole album while putting out tidbits about each song that comes up, but that quite literally would take 3 hours or more (as I pause often).

So tonight YOU guys chose the songs we’ll focus on by what you tweeted with your #PrinceEmancipationDay tweets (and I’m adding a few more too) and we’ll get to see who wins their very own copy of Emancipation! To have and to hold! From when it’s delivered, forward!

We’re also going to hear from my friend Garland Burge, former National Director of Urban Sales, EMI, who actually worked the Emancipation release for Prince!

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451941

(Y’all were trying to take his Rainbow Children away from him. It was his stash I was digging through the other day btw…)

Okay let's get started!

(As usual album deets via Prince Vault)

Emancipation is the 19th full-length studio album by Prince & the 1st to be released following the end of Prince's contract with WB which ended less than a week prior to this album's release. It was released worldwide in November 1996 (just four months after Chaos And Disorder).

See the tweet and listen for Chaos and Disorder here.

twitter.com/i/moments/1119…

And a moment of love #Love4ChaosAndDisorder as it needs more love!

twitter.com/i/moments/1156…

Jam of the Year the pick of @grumpybookgeek was the third single from Emancipation.

2 be mashed at extreme deciballs, uptempo joints-Summer 97

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451941

(Song links have quotes from the liner notes as well)

Rosie Gaines is on this track, lending her voice while recording parts for Chaos and Disorder as well!

The Remix, Push it Up, contains a rap by Doug E Fresh! You can find it on the NPG’s (really Prince’s album) 1998’s NewPower Soul. (Also features Larry Graham, Chaka Khan, and Marva King on vocals)

youtube.com/watch?v=o6KvsZ…

Let’s head back to Garland to hear more about P’s priorities for promoting Emancipation, and about his first time meeting Prince!

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451948

Eye Can’t Make U Love Me was chosen by @montebrb! A cover of the song Bonnie Raitt, it truly does turn her version into a promise that Prince can probably in fact make you love him….

Bonnie’samericantreasure.

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451950

It was!

https://twitter.com/EthanGB/status/1172709557430312961

Next, In this Bed Eye Scream! Chosen By @Miss_EThompson and @RandomVids2012

2 Wendy and Lisa and Susannah (mirror text)

Songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451960

Erica included this tidbit in her tweet.

https://twitter.com/Miss_EThompson/status/1171150583782416384

P sent the song to Wendy and Lisa prior to its release for their input. They responded with some suggestions, but did not hear back from him & their suggestions were not included on the released track.

One Kiss At a Time was chosen by @PoshJoshie

C’mon getcha c’mon.

Songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451962

Garland’s back! Let’s hear more about how his team fulfilled their role in promoting Emancipation among P’s Black audience.

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451949

Next up, Soul Sanctuary as chosen by @MichaelBTanner!

Beautiful lyric by Sandra, Speaking 2 the heart…reflections live 4ever in mirrors

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451963

Dreamin About U! @mafaldakruss’s pick!

Addictions R many…

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451970

This song features Kat Dyson on guitar and Rhonda Smith on Bass.

(Funnily enough, I asked Rhonda Smith about her work on this album when I hosted the HerStory panel for @PrnAlumni last October. She said this album in particular was a blur! She remembered more about NewPower Soul though 👀)

What exactly does a Urban Sales promoter do anyway? Let’s find out! Take it away Garland!

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451961

Joint 2 Joint a popular choice! Chosen by @RighteousToad and @gavinlenaghan!

Wear a condom, SAFE!

Songlink :song.link/us/i/1421452241

The track features a rap by Ninety-9, and a tap dance performance by dancer Savion Glover (who had just finished performing in the musical Bring in 'da Noise, Bring in 'da Funk.

@RighteousToad @gavinlenaghan It won’t be the last time Prince and Savion cross paths..in a way. Savion provided the choreography for the dancing penguins of Happy Feet! Here’s a little of Prince in this movie!

And of course P earned a Golden Globe for his song, Song of The Heart!

songlink : song.link/us/i/202270826

Hey Garland! What was it like to be at Paisley Park for Emancipation Day?

Songlink : song.link/us/i/1421451968

And now we come to @jaytravel @pressrewind75’s pick and Holy River.

Ana Stesia / The Holy River….

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421452242

A few versions of this, the instrumental showed up via the NPG Music Club too! (and there’s a version of him singing over this slower instrumental as well…among others)

I want to spend a bit of time here though because Prince says A LOT in this song, and in the video!

Video here : youtube.com/watch?v=YnFXBl…

U can still see the picture upon the wall
1 eye staring at nothing at all
The other 1 trying 2 focus through all your tears
U can try & try but there's nothing 2 hide
U can't run from yourself & what's inside
You got 2 find the answers 2 the questions that U most fear

Surrounded urself w/ all the wrong faces
Spending your time in all the wrong places
Putting ur faith in things that only make U cry
People say they love U when they want 2 help
But how can they when U can't help yourself
The more they say they love U,
The more U just want 2 die

So here we go again, the self-analysis
Have another glass of Port and forget this
The band's playing at the club tonight and they're bound to groove
There you are, you think you're high
You can't ask yourself because you'd only lie
If you had a dollar for every time you tried

U can't call nobody because they'll tell U straight up
Come & make love when U really hate them
Relationships based on the physical are over & done
U'd rather have fun
With only 1

& then it hit U like a fist on a wall
Who gave U life when there was none at all?
Who gave the sun permission 2 rise up everyday?
If U ask God to love U longer
Every breath U take will make you stronger
Keeping U happy & proud 2 call His name
Jesus

So over and over you ask your soul
Why'd U come down 2 a world so cold?
& the voice inside says tonight the truth will be told
& this time I was listening, hear me

Let's go down 2 the holy river
If we drown then we'll be delivered
If we don't then we'll never see the light
If you die before you try
You'll have to come back and face the light
When you believe it, you got a good reason to cry

So I went on down to the holy river
I called my girl and told her I had something to give her
I asked her to marry me and she said yes, I cried
Oh, that night I drowned in her tears and mine

And instead of a glass of sorrow and wine
Looking back you all, I don't miss nothing except the time
And when I see that picture upon the wall
The one eye staring at nothing at all
My eyes trying to focus but these are much different tears

“Give me back the time…you can keep the memories” – Prince Breakdown, Art Official Age 2014

Phew right? Again spend some time with Holy River guys, gosh…let him tell you all that himself! 💜

Songlink : song.link/us/i/1421452242

This next song is my choice. Gorgeous gorgeous song…and goals to feel this way about someone or receive this kind of adoration. To be so in love with someone, you want to create new life with them? Goals and aspirations. Those of you who have felt this are blessed!

Let’s Have a Baby.

After the reception, she took one look at the crib, and he pushed the button marked play. 9 months later…

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421452243

Okay let’s have a break shall we? The emotions!

As promised, all of the folks contributing songs tonight actually did so as part of a drawing to win the Emancipation album in the format of their choice! Let’s see who the winner of this drawing is...

The winner of their very own Emancipation album in the format of their choice is.... @grumpybookgeek! Send me a DM and we’ll get you sorted away! Congratulations!

@grumpybookgeek Okay! Garland take us away! What’s up with that contraption behind you?

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421452258

Next up Savior chosen by @EthanGB!

Thank u, thank u, thank u…

Songlink : song.link/us/i/1421452245

@EthanGB Friend Lover Mother Sister Wife chosen by @sethzowader!

Written in Tokyo while she slept, Recorded in secrecy and showcased at the reception. 1st dance…

Songlink : song.link/us/i/1421452247

@EthanGB @sethzowader This is my favorite picture of them btw. It's such a sweet picture wow. Someone hold my hand like that! 😓

So Garland. What did your team do after the album was released?

Songlink : song.link/us/i/1421452246

Slave chosen by @bjfaria!

Inside the box was a picture of a box with a picture of a box in it...

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421452251

Face Down chosen by several people! @PurpleBarb3121, @wemeaningme, Josh of @TMATSPodcast @FOHPhoto, @laytonian

Car horn by Parke’s jeep. Vox sample by the poet 99.

songlink : song.link/us/i/1421452260

The orchestra here is sampled from an unreleased Jill Jones song Killin’ at the Soda Shop!

Also the one time this was performed on Chris Rock’s show…. lordt....

I love that performance so much, wow.

Sleep Around was @IntvPrime and @kimtv’s pick!

Musta been the get Wild cologne.

It contains a sample of Squib Cakes by Tower of Power!

youtube.com/watch?v=E7T5rV…

So um Garland…you took something out of that folder behind you before…WHAT ELSE IS IN THERE?!

songlink : song.link/t/92986261

I took a closer look at the NPG letter he had. Here it is so you can see too! “In the spirit of ‘Emancipation’ I have priced the 3-CD set to allow consumers to receive one full disc of music free…”

Also while we’re here, CHECK OUT THIS GIGANTIC BANNER POSTER THING HE HAD WOW!

And check out these promo singles and videos too!

Okay back to the music….

Joining the thread....

https://twitter.com/darlingnisi/status/1172709730734792704

Again...

https://twitter.com/darlingnisi/status/1172718528702627840