ATWIAD - THE AFTERSHOW
Previously on my monster #thread on ATWIAD I covered many themes around that albums 9 tracks and I touched upon the following:
Psychedelic Phase
Musical & Conceptual Parallels
Loneliness
Sky Blue Phase
Finding & ascending the Ladder
The Protest Song
Previously on my monster #thread on ATWIAD I covered many themes around that albums 9 tracks and I touched upon the following:
Psychedelic Phase
Musical & Conceptual Parallels
Loneliness
Sky Blue Phase
Finding & ascending the Ladder
The Protest Song
You can revisit that tweet via the link below:
ATWIAD- THE B SIDES
Now we are at the AFTERSHOW to cover the B sides from that era:
1. She’s Always in my Hair
2. Hello
3. Girl
All of these form an integral part to the various themes of ATWIAD.
ATWIAD- THE B SIDES
Now we are at the AFTERSHOW to cover the B sides from that era:
1. She’s Always in my Hair
2. Hello
3. Girl
All of these form an integral part to the various themes of ATWIAD.
SHE’S ALWAYS IN MY HAIR
USA - B side to Raspberry Beret
Europe B side to Paisley Park
This is one of the greatest B sides there ever was in his whole catalogue.
USA - B side to Raspberry Beret
Europe B side to Paisley Park
This is one of the greatest B sides there ever was in his whole catalogue.
PSYCHEDELIC LOVE SONG
A psychedelic love song reputedly inspired by Jill Jones who had a habit of leaving food items lying around Prince’s yard which really annoyed the very orderly & organised Prince.
A psychedelic love song reputedly inspired by Jill Jones who had a habit of leaving food items lying around Prince’s yard which really annoyed the very orderly & organised Prince.
The melancholic vibe conveys his mixed feelings about Jill.
On one hand he really cares for her & loves her. She is fully committed to him & is always there for him regardless of the circumstances.
On one hand he really cares for her & loves her. She is fully committed to him & is always there for him regardless of the circumstances.
On the other hand, he becomes irritated by her presence & his feelings are just not strong enough to offer her a lasting commitment.
There is a deep sadness within his 💜about this because although he loves her, it is not the unrequited love he is searching for.
Or maybe he just has issues with being in a monogamous relationship:
Or maybe he just has issues with being in a monogamous relationship:
Maybe I'll marry her (maybe I'll marry her)
Maybe I won't (maybe I won't)
Maybe I will not (maybe I will not)
Lemme tell ya (even if I was a gigolo)
If I was a gigolo all my life (all my life)
She'd still be there (she'd still be there)
Tellin' me just how much she really cares
Maybe I won't (maybe I won't)
Maybe I will not (maybe I will not)
Lemme tell ya (even if I was a gigolo)
If I was a gigolo all my life (all my life)
She'd still be there (she'd still be there)
Tellin' me just how much she really cares
Prince feels deep blue on this track, sounds like he is on the verge of depression & a helplessness pervades his mood.
It must have been a period in his life when he felt things were not going right for him & everything was going wrong
It must have been a period in his life when he felt things were not going right for him & everything was going wrong
A positive aspect one can interpret from the lyrics is that Jill Jones always had his back, she was always a shoulder to cry on.
If he had to go into battle, I’m sure Jill Jones would always be his first port of call & that’s really saying something about her:
If he had to go into battle, I’m sure Jill Jones would always be his first port of call & that’s really saying something about her:
Whenever I feel like givin' up
Whenever my sunshine turns to rain
Whenever my hopes and dreams
Are aimed in the wrong direction
She's always there
Tellin' me how much she cares
She's always in my hair
Whenever my sunshine turns to rain
Whenever my hopes and dreams
Are aimed in the wrong direction
She's always there
Tellin' me how much she cares
She's always in my hair
LONELINESS REARS ITS UGLY HEAD
This is another track that ties in beautifully with the sound & theme of ATWIAD, traversing the reoccurring theme of loneliness:
This is another track that ties in beautifully with the sound & theme of ATWIAD, traversing the reoccurring theme of loneliness:
Whenever I feel like not to great at all
Whenever I'm all alone
And even if I hit the wrong notes
She's always in my boat, she's always there
Tellin' me how much she cares
She's always in my hair
Whenever I'm all alone
And even if I hit the wrong notes
She's always in my boat, she's always there
Tellin' me how much she cares
She's always in my hair
PRINCE SAMPLES
@Duane_Tudahl reveals in his amazing book “Purple Rain era” that Prince samples himself on this track.
@Duane_Tudahl reveals in his amazing book “Purple Rain era” that Prince samples himself on this track.
“Sex Shooter” - Appollonia 6
The 4 note riff at 0:09 is slowed down to create a recognisable sequence that comes at 0:43 between “she’s always in my hair” and “telling me how much she cares”.
The LM1 Drum programming, beat & phasing is also almost identical to Sex Shooter
The 4 note riff at 0:09 is slowed down to create a recognisable sequence that comes at 0:43 between “she’s always in my hair” and “telling me how much she cares”.
The LM1 Drum programming, beat & phasing is also almost identical to Sex Shooter
PSYCHEDELIC REPRISE
Beatles comparisons are there on 1 version - a dip in the audio at 6:15 - a brief fade 2 silence & then a resurfacing of the track.
The Beatles had used this same trick on Helter Skelter.
This song also gives a nod 2 Hendrix with the guitar sound
Beatles comparisons are there on 1 version - a dip in the audio at 6:15 - a brief fade 2 silence & then a resurfacing of the track.
The Beatles had used this same trick on Helter Skelter.
This song also gives a nod 2 Hendrix with the guitar sound
ATWIAD DELUXE
This track fits the mood of companion pieces Paisley Park & Raspberry Beret & would not at all have felt out of place on this album.
Without doubt the various mixes should feature on a future Super Deluxe release.
This track fits the mood of companion pieces Paisley Park & Raspberry Beret & would not at all have felt out of place on this album.
Without doubt the various mixes should feature on a future Super Deluxe release.
HELLO
USA - B side to Pop Life
Europe - B side to Raspberry Beret
USA - B side to Pop Life
Europe - B side to Raspberry Beret
MODERNAIRE
“Hello” is a pretty funky track and the synth lead has echoes of “Modernaire” by Dez Dickerson.
The same track that was played in the Purple Rain movie.
“Hello” is a pretty funky track and the synth lead has echoes of “Modernaire” by Dez Dickerson.
The same track that was played in the Purple Rain movie.
POLITICAL LEANINGS
It aligns itself with America, it’s a track with social commentary & with a political leaning.
I remember all the press buzz in the UK when it came out as Prince was directly addressing the press & they were going to town on him.
It aligns itself with America, it’s a track with social commentary & with a political leaning.
I remember all the press buzz in the UK when it came out as Prince was directly addressing the press & they were going to town on him.
WE ARE THE WORLD
It was written as a riposte to the complaints about him declining the invitation to participate in the recording of “We are the World”.
I recall a lot of negative press about him around this time because of this.
It was written as a riposte to the complaints about him declining the invitation to participate in the recording of “We are the World”.
I recall a lot of negative press about him around this time because of this.
He didn’t take part in the recording (Thank God) but he did instead contribute a song called “The Tears in your Eyes” to the album.
Even in spite of this, Prince continued to receive a lot of criticism from the press and those in the industry too.
The ridiculous, over pompous & thoroughly unattractive Bob Geldof called him a “creep” for failing to show up for the recording of “We are the World”
The ridiculous, over pompous & thoroughly unattractive Bob Geldof called him a “creep” for failing to show up for the recording of “We are the World”
Bob Geldof = Bob George
Maybe Bob George from his Black Album was also about Bob Geldof too & not just Bob Cavallo & Nelson George.
Who knows, its a possibility.
Maybe Bob George from his Black Album was also about Bob Geldof too & not just Bob Cavallo & Nelson George.
Who knows, its a possibility.
Is Mr. George home?
Hello, Mr. George?
This is your conscience, motherfucker
Why don't you leave motherfuckers alone, what's wrong with you?
Well, why can't we just dance, why can't we just dance?
No, fuck that, fuck that
I don't talk about you, I don't talk about you
Hello, Mr. George?
This is your conscience, motherfucker
Why don't you leave motherfuckers alone, what's wrong with you?
Well, why can't we just dance, why can't we just dance?
No, fuck that, fuck that
I don't talk about you, I don't talk about you
So Hello was a direct & personal response to all of this. He let his feelings loose about the way he was being castigated for not participating in the recording of “We are the World”.
They claimed “We are the World” but Prince was not part of that world, he did not recognise that world. He had his own world & he spoke of his world extensively on ATWIAD that same year.
Those two worlds did not align.
As he said on Hello:
Those two worlds did not align.
As he said on Hello:
“called me rude often
When I called their hand
judged me & told me that we're thru
"Why can't U be like the others?"
I cried out over & again
"Why can't U learn 2 play by the rules?"
But maybe at last it's the end
I am not like others
I'm unique in the respect I'm not U”
When I called their hand
judged me & told me that we're thru
"Why can't U be like the others?"
I cried out over & again
"Why can't U learn 2 play by the rules?"
But maybe at last it's the end
I am not like others
I'm unique in the respect I'm not U”
SHOES = WORDS
The extended version features a “Computer Blue Hallway Speech” kind of monologue which finds Prince ranting & shoes become a metaphor for words:
The extended version features a “Computer Blue Hallway Speech” kind of monologue which finds Prince ranting & shoes become a metaphor for words:
U see, words are like shoes
They're just something 2 stand on
I wish U could be in my shoes
But they're probably so high, U'd fall off and die
4 U words are definitely not shoes
They're weapons and tools of destruction
They're just something 2 stand on
I wish U could be in my shoes
But they're probably so high, U'd fall off and die
4 U words are definitely not shoes
They're weapons and tools of destruction
And your time is boring unless U're putting something down
What would life be if we believed what we read
And a smile is just hiding a frown?
Come now, isn't life a little better with a pair of good shoes?
What would life be if we believed what we read
And a smile is just hiding a frown?
Come now, isn't life a little better with a pair of good shoes?
MISUNDERSTOOD
For me the “Hello” refrain in the song is about him being misunderstood.
It is used like an “excuse me, wait a minute” i didn’t mean that, I meant this, I am being misunderstood.
For me the “Hello” refrain in the song is about him being misunderstood.
It is used like an “excuse me, wait a minute” i didn’t mean that, I meant this, I am being misunderstood.
It’s about how the media flips something 2 suit their own narrative & agenda.
The media were out 2 get him after the enormous success of Purple Rain. They had built him up & now was the time to bring him down.
The media were out 2 get him after the enormous success of Purple Rain. They had built him up & now was the time to bring him down.
Especially so as Prince was so vocal about his unhappiness at the reviews surrounding the release of ATWIAD.
At this point in time, the media were ready to jump on anything to bring him down & this “We are the world” incident provided the perfect opportunity for this.
At this point in time, the media were ready to jump on anything to bring him down & this “We are the world” incident provided the perfect opportunity for this.
LONELINESS
Prince was once again alone and this time he was alone in his refusal to participate in this project.
Prince was once again alone and this time he was alone in his refusal to participate in this project.
BETTER PLACE TO GO
Another interesting part of this track is where Prince says the following:
“I'm not afraid 2 die cuz I know there's a better place 2 go
(Don't be afraid cuz there's a better place 2 go)”
Prince had found Paisley Park In his 💜& so was not fearful of death
Another interesting part of this track is where Prince says the following:
“I'm not afraid 2 die cuz I know there's a better place 2 go
(Don't be afraid cuz there's a better place 2 go)”
Prince had found Paisley Park In his 💜& so was not fearful of death
He was searching 4 Paisley Park in his earlier work. He had not found it in Moonbeam Levels:
“So he says please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die”
“So he says please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
Please send all your moonbeam levels 2 me
I'm lookin' 4 a better place 2 die”
Moonbeam Levels was at one point considered for inclusion on ATWIAD but didn’t make it on there in the end.
Perhaps because now the search was over as that better place to die, Paisley Park, had been found.
Perhaps because now the search was over as that better place to die, Paisley Park, had been found.
GIRL
“Girl
Don't u ever get lonely sometimes?”
USA - America B side
Europe - Pop Life B side
“Girl
Don't u ever get lonely sometimes?”
USA - America B side
Europe - Pop Life B side
This is one of his & also one of my most beloved tracks.
It transfixed me from the moment I heard it on the Pop Life B side.
It also appeared in edited form on the Hits & B Sides where most people are likely to have heard it.
It transfixed me from the moment I heard it on the Pop Life B side.
It also appeared in edited form on the Hits & B Sides where most people are likely to have heard it.
The edited version does the song no justice, it’s like only hearing half of a great song. I really feel for those who have only heard the edited version.
Conversely I’m glad most people only heard the edited version because it stayed personal to me & remains a hidden gem.
Conversely I’m glad most people only heard the edited version because it stayed personal to me & remains a hidden gem.
BLUE SKIES & WHITE FLUFF CLOUDS ⛅️ ☁️
The whole atmosphere of this song most perfectly encapsulates everything about the ATWIAD album. When you listen to this song you see clouds, a beautiful clear blue sky & you can feel Paisley Park in your heart.
The whole atmosphere of this song most perfectly encapsulates everything about the ATWIAD album. When you listen to this song you see clouds, a beautiful clear blue sky & you can feel Paisley Park in your heart.
It evokes a trippy image of Prince surfing on a cloud in the beautiful clear blue sky, cloud chasing the girl of his dreams.
The lyrics are just amazing on this song, so personal & intimate in the same way that they were with ”If I Was Your Girlfriend”.
The lyrics are just amazing on this song, so personal & intimate in the same way that they were with ”If I Was Your Girlfriend”.
Caress the flower
warm, warm
bring it to the garden
the garden
be poetic
tell me what it feels like...
a sea of electricity?
now that's wonderful
talk 2 u? talk 2 u?
what do u wanna hear?
if i was anything else i'd be the water in your bath, darling
warm, warm
bring it to the garden
the garden
be poetic
tell me what it feels like...
a sea of electricity?
now that's wonderful
talk 2 u? talk 2 u?
what do u wanna hear?
if i was anything else i'd be the water in your bath, darling
Best part of this song is after it fades on the edit, the most potent part of the song, the climax which contains so many interesting parts including where it sounds like the lovers are falling from one cloud to another ....the ahhhhh part.
This is Prince on Cloud 9.
This is Prince on Cloud 9.
LONELINESS
It also ties in with the overriding theme of loneliness which is ever present throughout ATWIAD:
girl
don't u ever get lonely sometimes? (girl)
girl, don't u ever-
don't u ever want someone-
don't u ever want someone just 2-
don't u ever want someone just 2 talk 2?
It also ties in with the overriding theme of loneliness which is ever present throughout ATWIAD:
girl
don't u ever get lonely sometimes? (girl)
girl, don't u ever-
don't u ever want someone-
don't u ever want someone just 2-
don't u ever want someone just 2 talk 2?
SEXUALITY vs SPIRITUALITY
It also incorporates the underlying themes of sexuality vs spirituality:
i don't know, i, i guess u frighten me
'cuz i've never wanted anyone like this before
to feel this way it's like, i don't know, it's like a sin
It also incorporates the underlying themes of sexuality vs spirituality:
i don't know, i, i guess u frighten me
'cuz i've never wanted anyone like this before
to feel this way it's like, i don't know, it's like a sin
'cuz sometimes i feel bad
sometimes i want u so much i can--
god. all i have 2 do is think about u and i can have an orgasm
that sounds funny, doesn't it? ha-ha
marry me
yeah that's right, marry me
sometimes i want u so much i can--
god. all i have 2 do is think about u and i can have an orgasm
that sounds funny, doesn't it? ha-ha
marry me
yeah that's right, marry me
SECRETS
A lot of people, even amongst the Prince hardcore, don’t know about this song.
Fewer still even talk about it.
Even fewer know that Vanity also appears on this song.
A lot of people, even amongst the Prince hardcore, don’t know about this song.
Fewer still even talk about it.
Even fewer know that Vanity also appears on this song.
If you only heard the edited version then you only knew part of the secret.
If you had heard the whole version then you knew some of the secret.
However, there is another part of this song that reveals the “whole” secret & even fewer know about that!
If you had heard the whole version then you knew some of the secret.
However, there is another part of this song that reveals the “whole” secret & even fewer know about that!
BACKWARD MASKING
The element of this song which is the “whole secret” is the backward masking on this track.
If you play this track backward from around 1:42 from the end, you can hear Vanity singing her version of the same song & it’s called “Boy”.
The element of this song which is the “whole secret” is the backward masking on this track.
If you play this track backward from around 1:42 from the end, you can hear Vanity singing her version of the same song & it’s called “Boy”.
VANITY - “BOY”
Playing Girl in reverse I could make out the following lyrics but not in this exact order:
Boy you excite me so
Boy I like u so much
Boy I want you next to me
Boy I would love to take you home
Won’t u kiss me on my lips
Boy I can’t resist you
Playing Girl in reverse I could make out the following lyrics but not in this exact order:
Boy you excite me so
Boy I like u so much
Boy I want you next to me
Boy I would love to take you home
Won’t u kiss me on my lips
Boy I can’t resist you
Boy, my flesh is on fire
Boy I would love to see you naked
The backward masking goes all the way back to that marvellous mid-section of the song.
Boy I would love to see you naked
The backward masking goes all the way back to that marvellous mid-section of the song.
Now this raises many unanswered questions.
Does this mean this song was originally a Vanity 6 song called “Boy”? that is still in the vault but Prince decided to take it back & record his own version?
Does this mean this song was originally a Vanity 6 song called “Boy”? that is still in the vault but Prince decided to take it back & record his own version?
Did Prince record 2 versions from the male & female perspectives, just like his glyph, meant as companion pieces that he proposed to release together?
If a complete Vanity 6 version of this song does indeed exist, I would explode at the thought of it being released on a future Super Deluxe edition of this wonderful album.
PARALLEL UNIVERSE
Another theory about the backward masking on this song is that it represents Prince’s interest in parallel universes.
This is something that I & @EdgarKruize a renowned Dutch author on all things Prince, briefly discussed recently.
Another theory about the backward masking on this song is that it represents Prince’s interest in parallel universes.
This is something that I & @EdgarKruize a renowned Dutch author on all things Prince, briefly discussed recently.
Edgar suggested amongst other things that the ATWIAD album cover is the same place as that on the Emancipation cover but they are set in different dimensions, parallel universes & this revealed Prince’s interest in the theory of Different Dimensions.
This kinda blew my mind.
This kinda blew my mind.
However, although this blew my mind, it did tie in with the theme of time travel that I covered in brief on my 1999 #megathread where I said 1999’s reoccurring theme was time travel & metaphoric transportation.
We both concluded & agreed on how the 1999 cover is the Purple Galaxy (Prince’s Multiverse) that hosts all of these alternate universes & that’s where it all started.
It was an intriguing but brief discussion but I won’t delve into that too deeply other than to say that for the moment that discussion has been vaulted 🤣
I am hopeful @EdgarKruize will do a monster thread/video on that in due course because he has some fascinating theories.
I am hopeful @EdgarKruize will do a monster thread/video on that in due course because he has some fascinating theories.
However, since then & whilst I was watching @NightEthereal & @antski74 video on the “For You” album I was reminded of the inside sleeve which I had completely forgotten about.
The Prince multiverse first appeared on “For You”.
Right at the beginning.
At the outset.
So perhaps this MF has been playing with us since day one.
Not only does it appear on For You but on it there are 3 Prince’s representing different dimensions of time.
Right at the beginning.
At the outset.
So perhaps this MF has been playing with us since day one.
Not only does it appear on For You but on it there are 3 Prince’s representing different dimensions of time.
Perhaps it does go all the way back to the debut album & all the albums that followed after that are in various ways a depiction of the different dimensions.
This also ties in with 3rd Eye Girl concept!
“The third eye (also called the mind's eye or inner eye) is a mystical and esoteric concept of a speculative invisible eye, usually depicted as located on the forehead, which provides perception beyond ordinary sight.”
Let me just stop there otherwise I’ll get totally carried away.
I’ll just say TO BE CONTINUED!
We just have to piece together the puzzle.
I’ll just say TO BE CONTINUED!
We just have to piece together the puzzle.
But the point of mentioning that here was to tie it in to the Vanity track Boy & how that could be an attempt by Prince to represent the existence of a parallel universe.
In this universe Prince is singing Girl but in another parallel universe Vanity is singing Boy.
Somehow the convergence of these two different dimensions end up together:
-on these 2 tracks
-on the same recording
-at the exact same time
Somehow the convergence of these two different dimensions end up together:
-on these 2 tracks
-on the same recording
-at the exact same time
Maybe Vanity is travelling back in time & Prince is moving forward in time & that is represented here.
How mind blowing is that!
How mind blowing is that!
Prince liked to play games as we all know & if he did deliberately use this track as a metaphor for parallel universes, it’s a genius stroke.
Then again, it could be as simple as Prince thinking, oh I’ll stick that unused Vanity “Boy” on this track but have it play backwards.
As a way to humour himself and 2 toy with his fans as backward masking did have quite an impact with Darling Nikki.
As a way to humour himself and 2 toy with his fans as backward masking did have quite an impact with Darling Nikki.
Backward masking has featured a number of times throughout his career and it also featured most prominently in the Purple Rain movie.
In the basement scene in the movie Prince plays Apollonia a tape of what sounds like a woman moaning with pleasure but then he reveals it is in fact the sound of a woman crying as it is recorded backwards.
I’m not an Astro physicist & so don’t shoot me if my thoughts on different dimensions is inaccurate from a theoretical perspective or if the terms I have used are wholly incorrect.
All you mad scientists can correct me if you wish 🤣
All you mad scientists can correct me if you wish 🤣
Whatever the actual truth about It is, this just demonstrates that one can really go down a rabbit hole with the Prince discography which reinforces his absolute genius.
THE END
The Aftershow is now officially over & this now concludes my edited monster #thread on ATWIAD.
I might flesh out some of the themes in greater depth & more detail in the future at some point.
But for now this edited version is well suited for the Twitterverse.
The Aftershow is now officially over & this now concludes my edited monster #thread on ATWIAD.
I might flesh out some of the themes in greater depth & more detail in the future at some point.
But for now this edited version is well suited for the Twitterverse.
If you check back here another time & you are lucky enough to find our worlds are aligned, you might just find yourself in an alternate universe reading my monster #thread on the Funk Bible - The Black Album 🤣🤣
Until then, another place, another time, a different dimension.
Until then, another place, another time, a different dimension.
May u live 2 c the Dawn
