When the artist known as Prince died in 2016 he didn’t leave a Will, but he did leave a Vault full of hundreds of recorded songs. Welcome 2 America was just released although it was recorded back in 2010.
My favorite song is “One Day We Will All B Free,” an anthem type song. The only song that might get some airplay on radio would be “Hot Summer” which is about a hot summer. And, this being a Prince album, there’s “When She Comes,” a song about orgasms.
Many of the songs on Welcome 2 America have a political aspect or message. Rock critic Kory Grow wrote that Welcome 2 America contains ”stronger songs and sharper messages than much of the music he [Prince] released during his final years.” Grow maintains that the ”grooves are funkier, the sex jams are sexier, and the Curtis Mayfield homages are superflyier”.
I have a different opinion on Welcome 2 America than Grow. Many of the songs sound unfinished. I do agree with Grow that the music Prince released in his final years is weak. Perhaps drugs affected Prince’s performance and musical abilities. I probably won’t listen to Welcome 2 America again. Are you a fan of Prince? Do you have a favorite song? GRADE: C
TRACKLIST:
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | “Welcome 2 America” | 5:23 | |
| 2. | “Running Game (Son of a Slave Master)” | 4:05 | |
| 3. | “Born 2 Die” | 5:03 | |
| 4. | “1000 Light Years from Here” | 5:46 | |
| 5. | “Hot Summer” | 3:32 | |
| 6. | “Stand Up and B Strong” | Dave Pirner | 5:18 |
| 7. | “Check the Record” | 3:28 | |
| 8. | “Same Page, Different Book” | PrinceShelby Johnson | 4:41 |
| 9. | “When She Comes” | 4:46 | |
| 10. | “1010 (Rin Tin Tin)” | 4:42 | |
| 11. | “Yes” | 2:56 | |
| 12. | “One Day We Will All B Free” | 4:41 | |
| Total length: | 54:21 All tracks are written by Prince, except where noted. |
My favorite Prince songs are I’ll Never Take the Place of Your Man, When Doves Cry, Purple Rain and Little Red Corvette.
Steve, I’m a huge fan of “Little Red Corvette.”
“I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man” is my all-time favorite Prince song. (I see that Steve likes it too.) I liked quite a bit of Prince’s early stuff, from “I Wanna Be Your Lover” through songs like “Raspberry Beret.” I kinda lost touch with his music after that. Remember when he changed his name to a symbol? Good times.
I have no interest in this album—but what is it with big entertainment figures not having a will? James Brown, Aretha Franklin, Prince. I always say, if all you have is a car and ten dollars, you have more than someone who doesn’t have a car and only has nine dollars, so MAKE A WILL!!
Deb, I agree on the necessity of Wills. Celebrities must think they have plenty of Time to craft a Will…but they don’t.
Too bad they released an inferior album. But I guess if there’s money to be made….
Patti, Prince fans will buy anything that’s released from the Vault. It’s doubtful I’ll be making any more Prince purchases if this is the level of quality.
Prince Nelson released a Lot of his own music…I suspect if this was unreleased music, there was some reason it wasn’t considered by him Finished, Ready or otherwise up to his other work. He was an impressive guitarist, of course, and a polymathic multi-instrumentalist if less impressive on other “axes”…
Hm. Best song this morning: “Take Me With U”…
Todd, you’re right about Prince being a phenomenal musician. But I think his musical skills deteriorated over time.
Not a huge fan but I do like some of his stuff – 1999, Little Red Corvette, Raspberry Beret.
We did see Prince once as a surprise “special guest” at one al-star concert. He mostly stood to the side and played the guitar.
Jeff, I pretty much stopped listening (and buying) Prince CDs after 1999.
George-check out his guitar playing on While My Guitar Gently Weeps on You Tube. It is from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction of George Harrison.
Steve, I watched Prince on “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Wow!
Prince maybe should have concentrated on playing guitar -didn’t really like his singing, never bought a CD.
Eric Clapton is my wife’s favourite – mine is Steve Winwood.
Wolf, I was always impressed that Steve Winwood played ALL the instruments on ARC OF THE DIVER!
Never liked any Prince song, never understood the BFD made about him and his death, for months, years. As for guitar, I’ll take Clapton instead.
Rick, I like Eric Clapton, too.
I like Clapton but I Jeff Beck is my favorite.
I can’t stand Prince!
Since he’s passed away, I hear WAY more Prince music on the radio than when he was alive and kicking.
If I was forced to pick a favorite, it would be Little Red Corvette.
If I had to chose a song that makes me wish I was deaf, it would be Raspberry Beret.
Beth, I know a lot of people who dislike “Raspberry Beret.” Some of the Oldies stations here play Prince music, but almost all of it is from the 1980s.