Perosonally, I guess that the lyrics (even this one, with its hints of weapons and murder) are all connected with Prince's growing social consciousness that he'd displayed in Tevin Campbell's and Mavis Staples' albums. It's actually the most interesting development in Prince's music for some time, in my opinion. He was getting deeper and smarter about things, like most people in their mid thirties, as he was, at this point.
Cherry Cherry: The sheer affection that this whole album shows for these older R&B styles is one of the things I really enjoy about it. They’re pastiches, so, inferior to the originals. But the enjoyment they’re clearly deriving from performing in these idioms is quite infectious. This song in particular, it’s not quite at the level of what they’re paying homage to, but it’s fun to hear, even when the lyrics take a darker turn. And I love that Prince was really thinking about social ills. A LOT. I think there was nowhere else to go with the sex god persona, especially in his mid-30’s, and thank goodness he found other lyrical concerns. 3/5
When I Lay My Hands On U is indeed an amazing song, just like the D’Angelo killer U Make My Sun Shine.
Musically, anyway. I found the subject-matter immediately a turn-off. Also a bit odd coming right around a collection called "High," something he most certainly did do, by the way, despite what Uber-fans like to think. But indeed, the funk on "Let's Work" is just utterly spectacular.
I also REALLY wish there were a Prince-vocal version of "Contest Song" in circulation. Love that tune.
This one was a very slow burn kind of song, one of his best from that era. Also enjoyed "Hallucination Rain" from that time, but I remember feeling like . . . is Prince getting into some stuff that might not do him well in the future? That's almost surely what was happening.
Cherry, Cherry I always loved the vibe of this song, a real 70s tribute (Smokey Robinson? George Clinton's early stuff?). The lyrics cover a serious subject (suicide), although it seems to start as a story about living life to the fullest... Sonny's vocals are pretty good. Prince is not very audible on this song (unlike most of the other songs on Exodus). The song was performed once at a Paisley Park one-off show. Nice song This is a 4 out of 5.
Yeah, I can enjoy The Rainbow Children without paying too much attention to the lyrics. That religious stuff alienates me, especially when it comes from a cult section. The Work is great although nearly every live version from the ONA tour smokes it.
Cherry Cherry... I dig the retro soul vibe of this track. It gets a bit too wordy sometimes, but overall this song is quite enjoyable. 3.5/5
"Georgia, Georgia"—sorry, "Cherry, Cherry"—whips up quite the quiet storm; you almost can't believe that the lyrics you're hearing belong to the same song. As with "Count the Days." 3/5
Today's song is "Return of the Bump Squad", written by , Sonny T., Michael B. Tommy Barbarella and Mr. Hayes; produced by (both credits attributed to The New Power Generation. The New Power Generation – Return of the Bump Squad Lyrics | Genius Lyrics Recorded at Paisley Park in December 1994 or early January 1995, with an overdub by Eric Leeds on January 16th. Sonny T: Lead and backing vocals, bass guitar : vocals, all instruments except: Eric Leeds: saxophone Mr. Hayes: keyboards Tommy Barbarella: keyboards Michael B: drums Mayté: backing vocals, Spanish vibes and hallucinations Eric Bradford, James MacGregor, Kathleen Bradford, Michael Bradford: backing vocals A live version, recorded at Paisley Park in October 1995 was released digitally on NPGMC#2 in 2001.
Sweet R&B, recalls some of Prince's 80s hard R&B classics with an updated sound that doesn't annoy even when Sonny T. raps. More socially conscious lyrics, but the emphasis is on fun. This is the kind of song that, had it been done in 1991 I would have found super annoying, but the melody is good enough for me to enjoy this quite a bit. 3.8/5
Return Of The Bump Squad Similar to Get Wild but it's another fun, slamming funk number. A bit monotonous. 3/5
Return of the bump squad - Not into the layered vocals that are fairly monotonous. Could do with a melody. Backing track could be from any number of other songs. Doesn’t go anywhere. 1/5.
Return Of The Bump Squad - Prince turning up the funk dial again. The looped beat is perhaps the least interesting thing about it, otherwise this is the essence of what the Exodus album is about. A band effort with the most traditionally funk band that he ever worked with. Yes, there are old-skool influences all over this, but I think that's exactly the point. Here's a live version from Paisley in 1995 3.5/5