Since I'm a longtime Prince fan, I thought I'd point out the lyrics to the funkiest song from his most recent album 3121.
I bought the album on Tuesday, been listening to it, and really enjoy it (big surprise). No purple ticket though (a select few copies have a purple, Wonkaesque ticket that admit the lucky recipient to a 'private' concert at the mansion featured in the photos throughout the liner notes, also the same place that was the subject of court papers).
Something that surprised me about this album is Prince's reliance on a lot of 'dirty' sounds. Many of the synth sounds are heavy on decay and sound as if they were heavily altered, and distorted. It's surprisingly effective, and sounds oddly fresh. Clearly Prince has access to all the tools to have made this sound 'clean' but he chose to go with a lot of mildly distorted sounds. It gives the whole album an intentionally 'basement', DIY feel (until he starts wailing on his guitar in a way that few humans have ever been capable, but that's another digression, he doesn't get enough credit for being amongst the absolute best rock guitarist of all time, probably since he adds his rock guitar to soul music, it's incongrous to many people's ears and experiences).
There's a lot of funky songs on 3121, and blessedly, a lot of Maceo (and yes, Maceo, he can still BLOW his horn, just like James used to say) too.
As far as funkiest song on the album, I'm going with the closing track Get On the Boat.
The bass line is absolutely incredible (and it's Joshua Dunham on bass, instead of Prince, if he releases a solo album, I'll be first in line to buy it). Maceo (you don't really need me to tell you his last name do you?) gets some room for a solo, and to top it all of you get Sheila E. (watch out, loud drumming loads automatically at link) adding a latin flavor to the percussion. How could all that not add up to FUNKY? I'll tell you, it's impossible, for all that to not be funky, and fantastic.
And Tamar (who provides backing vocals on this track, too) is probably his most promising ingenue, protege, female doppleganger to date (she has her solo album due on May 2nd)
If you haven't already noticed, great funk doesn't require great lyrical content, but really I post these lyrics to point you to the music, not to suggest that there's great poetry in the words (though there have been exceptions).
Without further ado, here's the lyrics (with Princean spelling pulled directly from the liner notes)
Get on the boat
Get on the boat, people
Get on the boat now
We got room 4 a hundred more
Look outside Ur window
Tell me now what U c
Coming up the mountain 4 a new philosophy
Every single color
Every race and every creed
Lookin' 4 the truth U'all that's gonna set somebody free
Get on the boat
Get on the boat, people
Get on the boat now
We got room 4 a hundred more
All across the nation
People doing what they can 2 avoid the tribulation
That will b great throughout the land
Everything in darkness must come out in2 the light
When we love each other
That's the only way that's gonna b right
Get on the boat
Get on the boat, people
Get on the boat now
We got room 4 a hundred more
We were meant 2 live 2gether underneath the sun
(eye symbol) can't think of nothing better Don't U wanna come?
Get on the boat
Nevermind what time it is
The party's just begun
No te alejes de esto
No te alejes de este momento de inspiracion
U can let Ur hair down
Let the music move Ur feet
Panamama bring the drama (my note - how can you not love that line)
Dancin' 2 the beat
What's the harm in listening 2 the hopeful words we say
If it moves Ur (heart symbol)
U know U better get in without delay
Get on the boat
Get on the boat, people
Get on the boat now
We got room 4 a hundred more
Produced, Arranged, Composed and Written by Prince
(c) 2006 NPG Records
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