Btw, "I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man" hit #10 on the US Pop charts, not 11. And like "Forever In My Life", it was such a much better version on his "SOTT" Concert Movie than on the album.
@@stevennieves8308 yeah that Forever in my Life live/movie version is a beast. I didn't care for the album version but the live one is the spotlight of the movie. He takes it to church.
@@daingermouz2077 Thank you. Prince is one of the few artists that can perform better versions of his songs Live than on his albums. He recorded "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night" Live & it was Ok. But his Live Concert Movie version of "Forever In My Life" was INCREDIBLE & he decides to put a mediocre version of that great song on his "SOTT" album. Mistake! Hey, nobody's perfect but it didn't take a genius to see what versions were better & needed to be put on his album. "Sign Of The Times" was, in my opinion, not marketed & promoted as good as it deserved. I'll say it again, Why wasn't "Adore" released as a Pop or at least a R&B single? Why wasn't there a Live version of "Adore" included in his Concert Movie? Why didn't Warner Bros. promote the Hell out of his Amazing Concert Movie? "SOTT" should have sold Way More than just a little more than 2 million copies in the US. It deserved way more attention & publicity than Warner Bros Records gave it. It's a Classic!
in my opinion the best album ever made. no other musican who ever lived could compose and arrange and produce and perform all instruments and create something like this. prince was a musical genius without an equal
Bingo!!!!princes friend said or heard that it suppose 2 b cummin out on dvd n September..i have a dvd but it doesn't seem authentic on sumthing..i cant put my finger on it but sumthing just not rite..so in hoping wen this new dvd cums out n September it will b more real..the main reason im gettin it is 4 "its gonna b a beautiful nite"i wanna c them do that song live just like they did it n paris b4 they added some editing...I LUV THAT SONG!!!THEY JAMMING THEIR ACE'S OFF"...I wanna kno the history of "its gonna b a beautiful nite"
The best Prince album for me hands down was Sign O' the Times. It was a messy, eclectic, beautiful, ambitious, stunning, fun, and important album. It is a musical masterpiece.
As I've got older the similarities between this and electric ladyland is frightening both artists most ambitious albums like most great art as years go by the shadows they cast just get longer!
I totally agree.....ADORE....is still to this day carrying the same impact for me. I just love it. It impresses me as real-life Prince personality towards the woman who has overwhelmed him. Good example way back then before this song...could have been Vanity!
My favorites Prince album of all time. I recall buying it after graduating from Military Boot Camp in 1987. Throughout the yrs I'd loose it or it would get stolen or I'd leave it at home and have to purchase another one once I arrived at my next station. In 20yrs (1987-2007) I think I've purchased this album no less than 7 times. My favorite tracks are Sign O' the Times, Housequake, Ballad of Dorothy Parker, Starfish&Coffee, If I was your Girlfriend, Strange Relationship and Adore( his ultimate ballad imo only rivaled by Insatiable and Do Me Baby)
I agree. I think it's his best in terms of consistency. I don't know what happened after '89, but the quality started to dip. He still made great songs, but '86-'88 is still my favourite era.
Star Fish and Coffee was inspired by Susannah telling a story about an autistic classmate. She does an interview in which she tells the story about Cynthia Rose.
It's like mj thriller is clearly the better seller but Bad was a better album purple rain better seller but sign o the times better album imo I'm surprised about if I was your girlfriend and it's charts but charts doesn't really decide properly what a good song is
Well, to be honest, "Off The Wall" is definitely, absolutely, w/o a doubt MJ's best & greatest Album & way better than "Thriller" or "Bad". Now, "SOTT" is a brilliant album but NOT my favorite Prince album. "Lovesexy" is my Favorite Prince album with "Purple Rain" & "SOTT" closely following behind. To me, "SOTT" is amazing but could've been Way better if Prince didn't include "Play In The Sunshine" in the album or recorded a much better version & included his concert movie versions of "Forever In My Life" & "I Could Never Take The Place of Your Man" on the "SOTT" album instead of his chosen album versions. And why didn't Prince include a Live version of "Adore" & "The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker" in his Brilliant Concert Movie? Why didn't Warner Bros. better promote Prince's Great "SOTT" Concert Movie? Especially, after his underachieving "Under The Cherry Moon" movie.
I respect your opinion. I’d rank SOTT ever slow slightly better than Purple Rain. Lovesexy is fabulous you’re right, so underrated, but third place for me. And for what is it worth, I’d flip a coin between Thriller and Off the Wall. They’re both masterpieces. Nice to talk to a fan.
Definitely his best album for me. Purple Rain may be his most famous, loved, and accessible album, but I believe Sign “☮︎” the Times is his greatest artistic achievement!
Really good video, I really needed to see your theories and opinions of the whole album, you never dissapoint. By the way, I know its not of my buisness but who´s the person at the back at the 10.32 minute?????jajajajaja
Adore amazing song, I actually wrote the lyrics to a teenage girl friend, and in reference to "ride" I was talking about a Pinto LOL great take on this album
Everytime I hear "Hot Thing", I think of Lisa Bonet. In 1987, she was the "It girl" at the time this album came out and I saw of topless pic of her in a magazine while listening to this song when I first bought the album.
Sorry, late to the party again, having just discovered your channel. I read somewhere, that "If I was Your Girlfriend" was indeed a jealousy thing stemming from his relationship with Susanna Melvoin and the closeness she and her twin sister Wendy had and being jealous of that closeness. It's one of my faves from Sign O The Times (Nate...is me!). I remember hearing SOTT on the radio the first time, and freaking out because Prince said my name! On Strange Relationship, check out the bootleg with the sitar that Wendy plays in the intro. I think it makes the song a bit better
Thanks! This whole experience is fun for me too, cause it's forcing me to look at every detail and scrutinize it. And it's SO awesome to do with Prince's amazing music.
I've been waiting for this😆! sign o the times is so great, because there are different elements to it. Prince really showed his spiritual and sexual side in this record.
“IT” To me is the best, love the drama in his voice, the predominant non-stop beat all thru the end.. love it!! and “ADORE” just makes me cry. In the movie I LOVE when he takes over drums in “ITS GONNA BE A BEAUTIFUL NIGHT” there are little times when you can see Prince playing drums. 😘😘
His mastery of the Linn Drum (L1) on these tracks and throughout the 80s is beyond genius. And just imagine if the ORIGINAL Crystal Ball (3 record set) would have came out the way it was intended to be in 1987.... (check out the song listing in its proper sequence for the original Crystal Ball shelved project)
Oh dude! How much I love this album! Okay okay, this was my first album that I took from Prince when I was becoming a fan and to be honest when i first listened it I was like ,,Not bad but not his best album, I don't understand why a lot of people say that it's his best album" And especially the song ,,If I was your girlfriend" - Damn, I didn't get why so much people love this song! But then I listened to it a few more times and I became OBSESSED with it. Totally in love! After that I started listening to the album more and more and now it's one of my favorite albums by Prince (together with D&P and The Gold Experience). Agreed on everything with you, except for ,,Strange relationship", that hurt me hahahaha (just joking ofc, I just love the song :) ) So yeah, my fav on this album right now is ,,Adore" which in general is my favorite Prince song. But Starfish and coffee and I could never take the place of your man are also high on the list. Amazing album review, love it! 💜
One of my favorite prince’s albums, here’s my top 5: 5- If I was your girlfriend 4- Strange Relationship 3- The cross 2- Starfish and coffee 1- Sign o the times
Sign O the Times is Prince's glorious MASTERPIECE! My favorite album of his, a crowning achievement . It is such a sensational,full,bombastic and electric work of art. This album IS Forever in MY LIFE! I bought this one in the summer of 1987
also bought this album aged 18 in 87. played it over and over and over. before going to school. coming back from school. u got the look such an impossible song. i could never take the place....beautiful perfection. slow love...used to study that song. and adore..no words. Prince you were a gift from heaven
shaun schrikker I just heard SOTT for the first time last night, I'm 17 years old and I've heard everything since For You up to this point. Let me tell you. I was NOT ready. I thought 1999, Purple Rain, and Dirty Mind were classics. Then I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man came on and I was just sitting with my jaw agape. I didn't know how to feel, it was just the perfect pop rock song. I've never heard a record this good. Love ya Princey
oh NO problem! I am just so happy u did this review.. I really do love your reviews on his music..he was my all time favorite..his album was the first album i ever bought at 12 years old..Prince will always be my top artist on my Playlist, and your reviews are very in depth..I don't mind how long it takes I just love to watch them!.:) and now the movie review when you get time! we really do expect a lot from you don't we:) I guess we just truly enjoy this! thank you! !
Here from "If I Were Your Girlfriend Is Not A Love Song". This is actually my favorite Prince album, and I'm really curious to hear your opinion. After I watch this, most likely I will make another comment.
Another amazing album. I can't find something bad here, is just perfect. Here's my ranking (Including B-Sides): 18- It 17- It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night 16- Slow Love 15- Play In The Sunshine 14- U Got The Look 13- Sign O The Times 12- Starfish And Coffee 11- Shockadelica 10- Hot Thing 9- I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man 8- Housequake 7- Strange Relationship 6- The Cross 5- Adore 4- Forever In My Life 3- The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker 2- La, La, La, He, He, He 1- If I Was Your Girlfriend
The heart sticker was awesome and the LaLaLa HeHeHe cover great too. His albums during MJ release years always best. This was the Bad vs album. I used to think they cancelled out to make U2 album of the year. But Joshua Tree was really good too.
My favorite Prince album, my Dad in 1992 almost... got his tape thrown out of the tourist bus window going down to Florida as a joke, but to this day i am unsure if they really did. LOL
The lovesexy band and 3rdeyedgirl are my two favorite bands that Prince had... NPG was really tight, and had amazing stage present. on LoveSexy and SOTT you can heard the drums more and I just love the fact of a all girl band and Hannah Welton
I read somewhere that Starfish and coffee is other about a Autistic Girl who Susannah knew in school which could be true or that it ok to be you, be diffident
strange relationship is an awesome track. if you would understand that she is with another man. hence the follow up i could never take the place of your man. strange relationship lyrics are easily explained from a point of view that you are dating a girl who has a man already. 'i just can stand to see you happy more than that i hate to see you sad' fits perfectly.
I'm going to say something controversial. I like this album, but its far from my favourite Prince album and...........I've always thought this album needed re-mastering as the production always sounded a little bit muffled to me, no matter what I play it on.
Good job! Love hearing your analysis. I checked this out after listening to your “If I was your GF” is not a love song. Esperanza Spalding played that song for Prince live on the BET. I wasn’t very impressed by her rendition but more so by Prince’s reaction. Prince was obviously emotional and slightly tearful after watching her play it for him. I’m thinking that song meant something very deep to him, more than anyone could know. Thanks for sharing your thoughts! 💜
This is the one for me. When I resisted Purple Rain and all the hype SOTT brought me crashing back to him. My friends thought I was nuts. Cannot say enough good things about this album. Not one so so track. I adore them all. Great review. Looking forward to your reviews on Emancipation and Rave Un2.
Great review! You really provided thorough background and deep insight into the songs. Some of the lyrical interpretations were fascinating. I always thought the lyric about naming the boy Nate was curious; explanation makes sense. I didn't think he bedded the girl in I Could Never.....It's not really clear, but I don't think so. If I Was Your Girlfriend is also one of my all time favorites. I never sensed (malicious) jealousy in the song, rather the longing for intimacy - the deeper intimacy his lover shares with her BFF, or sister. It's like when he said, "I wanna be your brother. I wanna be your motherland your sister, too" years before. Anyway, it's the quintessential Prince track to me. It's provocative, weird, and funky - love it. I also think SOTT is the quintessential Prince album - Mr. Nelson in a nutshell, and at the height of his powers. I love it, but it's not my favorite of his - either number 3 or 4, depending on mood. I bought it the day it was released - waited outside the wrecka stow for it open, so I could get the first copy! Probably got to school late, and had to wait all day to get home to play it.
Great review! I know an interesting fact about Starfish&Coffee. Prince wrote it about a girl with autism that either Susannah Melvoin or her sister knew, or had heard of. Sorry don't remember details exactly. The story he heard about the girl with autism inspired the song! I read it on one of the ladies' pages.
Sign of the times is a wonderful album title song, I didn’t know that the lyrics were talking about the hard stuff we “weren’t supposed to talk about” until recently with my last camping trip before this weekend when my dad told me about the song’s meaning. I agree with you whole heartedly about the song.
Morris Day invented The Oak Tree, & the dance is featured in both the song & video from his debut solo album. In response, Prince invented The Wooden Leg, famously featured in the Detroit birthday concert video "Parade Live" & in the KISS video.
As a 'casual fan' I've just listened to this (the remaster) for the first few times today and it already grabs me as one of the very best albums I've ever heard in my life. I was saving this one because I'd heard so many rave about it - getting the limited remaster, it was irresistible not to listen. Parade took me a while to fall utterly in love with (very deep and subtle in places), Purple Rain about half really grabbed me immediately before I got to know it. As a whole, this blows everything else away imho (haven't heard most of Lovesexy but I don't expect it can match this...).
This album was AMAZING!! I totally wore out my cassette and got my first CD player that Christmas! I didn't buy it until the mid 90s but when I first heard it my head exploded! Play in the Sunshine.
I bought the vinyl right when it came out. My favorite Prince album with 1999 being a close second. According to the Greatest Hits/B-sides booklet, If I Was Your Girlfriend was a song to Susannah in relation to her relationship with Wendy. That's how close he wanted to be to her
This popped up in my feed so I decided to watch it again. Apparently, Prince asked Brown Mark to stay on as well but as we both know, he'd already quit. In terms of commercial success, I don't know where being nominated for Album Of The Year puts this, but it was along with Whitney and Michael. They all lost to U2
Favorite Songs on this: 1) It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night. 2) Starfish and Coffee. 3) The Cross. 4) U Got the Look. 5) Sign o the times. 6) I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man. 7) Hot Thing. 8) It. 9) Play in the Sunshine. 10) Adore. Such a strong, diverse, and beautiful album from an artist who changed his style and experimented as much as David Bowie bled into different genres.
OH. MY. GOODNESS. i was really feeling your review...until you got to Strange Relationship. as a *huge* Prince fan, i can say without reservation that it's one of my favorite songs by him, and possibly one of my favorite songs of all time. the fact that you called it "one of the weakest songs on the album" and said you "usually skip over" it made me wonder if you're really even a friend of Prince at all. ;) PREPOSTEROUS, my good man!
Great Review! Sign O The Times is the crown jewel of my vinyl record collection, it's been with me from day one, though all my moves and travels. I'll never part from it. I'm not into Springsteen but somehow I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man sounds like a Springsteen song, isn't that weird? I would give anything to travel back in time to catch Prince on the Sign O The Times tour to hear this song live, it's PHENOMENAL in the movie.
Great Review - Thanks man.. For me, the best Prince album bar Purple Rain (of course??) SOTT was such a heady mix of styles, it was like the Christmas Day of Prince music when it came out! There was something for everyone and every experience. No other Prince album did this...so well at least! For me, it was the pinnacle of his artistry. His height. Forever in my life is in my Top 5 Prince tunes of ALL time! The lyrics, harmony, groove and beat really were never matched again in one piece. You didn't seem to dig Strange Relationship much, but I found it a pleasurably simple stomping album track, which cornered a very tricky emotion so articulately - loved it. And Adore....possibly the most luxurious of all Prince ballads with its insane vocal arrangements... All in all...the movie, the dances, the clothes and the music - hard pressed to find a better era........but then came Lovesexy right! 😲😊 Thanks again....🙏💟
Yeah, Purple Rain is the tops for a lot of people, but for even more (mostly the people who weren't just swept up in the Purple hype) it's SOTT. For me it's the gold Experience, but we have a while before we're there. lol
This album was a staple in my trajectory. It was the first time I traveled to Europe back in 87. The same month the album was released back in March of 87. It was my soundtrack that whole period I spent in Europe. The troupe I came down with ,all owned a copy. Back then there were cassettes. Favorite tune for all of us was The Ballad Of Dorothy Parker. We would sing that all the way to the engagement. When you hear the story how he produced it with his then engineer Susan Rogers,you love that song even more. Your review overall was fair to one of is best albums in my opinion. What was amazing about the time the album came out few months later. Prince toured in Europe and traveled to Germany where I was working at the time. Sign O the Times tour plus the album. I couldn't ask for more. Great year 87 was for me. Looking forward to the next review.
This, along with crystal ball, is my favorite album from him. If I had to rank the songs on here, I’d go with: #1 If I was your girlfriend #2 U got the look #3 Ballad of Dorothy Parker #4 Sign o the times #5 Housequake #6 Hot Thing #7 Play in the Sunshine #8 Adore #9 Forever in my life #10 I could never take the place of your man #11 It #12 Starfish and Coffee #13 Slow Love #14 Strange Relationship #15 the Cross #16 gonna be a beautiful night
I love this and I can listen all the way through.... also I love Strange Relationship even though it's not a great message but the beat gets in ur head and Just stays there. If I was your girlfriend is one of the greatest songs. I could never take the place of your man, I know people that aren't HUGE Prince friends that love this song. Housequake... makes everyone wanna move. This is up there as one of his greatest albums. I follow u on twitter, I'm Shellie by the way... just so u know. love what u do n I follow both ur channel and on twitter. Love the reviews.
To me, Housequake is Prince on stage in record form. Watch his Purple Rain and Parade concerts and see that Housequake captures Prince on stage in the mid-to-late 80's.
I love the original "Strange Relationship" from SOTT, but if you don't maybe you'll like the live version that is halfway through the "4 those of u on valium" live recording.
I remember the Pet Shop Boys had a song on Actually, which came out the same year, about AIDS spreading in UK. It Couldn't Happen Here.Aside from that, I guess no one talked about it really.
Strange to consider UTCM a failure in any way... Sales may not have been great, but Kiss was a number one, the album was cohesive, the tour, which included the Detroit birthday show (my city, my show), kicked untold ass, and although the movie was certainly not Oscar-worthy, but it was fun, and very re-watchable. All that adds up to a success in my mind.
My favorite Prince album of all time. Fav song is I could never take the place of your man. The live guitar solo is better than the PR solo. (Try not too hate me). Also love all of cd one
It was good to see Prince recover in a BIG way with "Sign 'O' The Times" after the failure of the "Parade" venture both album and film. For a moment like he seemed destined to become a thing of the past. There was already significant ground given up prior to this with "Around the World In a Day" to make one begin to draw that conclusion. However, considering his run up till then, even if if he decided to never put anything out again, he would still be considered an all-time legend. Although I equally love "Sign 'O' The Times" as well, I have a somewhat of a gripe about this album. The data-funk production on the tracks that mostly populate the 1st album, do not survive repeated listening like his other work. Without the added human dynamic of the layered instrumentation we've come to love and expect from Prince, it's all surface and there's nothing really new to discover afterwards. Rather you are simply revisiting your first impressions with each subsequent listen. However, I do think he did later mastered this formula beautifully on the "Batman" soundtrack.
For my tastes, Sign 'O' The Times is Prince's third best album. Purple Rain and 1999 are first and second in my book. 1999 is chockful of the high octane, charismatic and unadulterated sexual energy that fueled Prince early in his career, while Purple Rain...well.... Purple Rain is my favorite all-time album by any artist ever, so nothing is gonna compare to that. SOtT features some of Prince's most mature leveled work, especially when the themes are delving into relationships, but it lacks the cohesive momentum of the other two albums, and the some of the songs aren't as tightly woven as I like when he does his best work. That said, I still think it's the best album that was released for that year. Forever In My Life, It, and especially Adore get alot of attention on my playlist.
The cross I can actually say something about it because I have some feelings toward it unlike some of the kamile tracks I don’t have familiarity with. I love the cross dispite the religious undertones and the rock anthem. The build is awesome. It’s simple and I like it for that too.
Another one of great Prince's albums. One of the songs that I like are "Sign O' the Times", Starfish and coffee", If I was your girlfriend", and some others. One of the things that I didn't know was that there was a movie of it. I'll go see that online if they have it. It's a pretty good album to listen and jam to.
Some people overuse the word “genius,” but ‘Sign O’ the Times’ provides indisputable evidence that Prince is worthy of that label. Largely produced, arranged, composed, and performed on his own, he encompasses all the emotions and struggles of his life into a diverse collection of sounds that whirl and twist in almost every direction imaginable. Grooves that put the listener in motion at both ends of the spinal column (“Housequake,” “Hot Thing”), artful storytelling that sent his peers back to the drawing board (“Sign O’ the Times,” “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker,” “If I Was Your Girlfriend,” “I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man”), and vocal performances that remind people of what made his voice such a revelation in the first place (“Forever in My Life,” “The Cross,” and “Adore”). The album cover-seemingly poking fun at the idea of his best years being behind him-signifies a new self-awareness and depth. With 16 songs clocking in at roughly 80 minutes, ‘Sign O’ the Times’ is a masterclass on how pop music can matter when it needs to.
I’ve known about this album since middle school, thanks to CrazySexyCool, but I’m just recently really bathing in this albums water. This album, along with Hounds of Love by Kate Bush are, in my opinion, the absolute best albums of the 1980s. It’s so ahead of it’s time in so many ways. So so many ways.
Spot on review, My Friend. I really love this album. Some of my FAVORITE SONGS ALL TIME are on here. House quake just so killer, Dorothy Parker, was one that grows on me I love it more as time goes on.....Starfish is just one of the best songs. EVER and so is Beautiful Night..... that live performance is one of the best VISUAL ABD AUDIO performances. Ever. PERIOD. I am just w huge Prince fan and sad he is gone.
+Prince's Friend I don't disagree. I'm only saying compared to OTHER artists live performances. For me, Beautiful Night is a best live performance compared to any other artist live performance. Love ur reviews and ready for more
Since you mentioned the 320 songs of what started as “the vault” I asked you in the livestream, what’s your opinion of the vault? Should the vault stuff stay inside?
The forever in my life and Adore my favorites from this album equally . I love that Prince bold enough and put her first name into this album to make sure nobody guess the wrong women about his feelings. To me definitely the best passionate romantic true love songs. I like Slow love ,Hot thing and If I was your girlfriend also . To me If I was your girlfriend means he want with all level be with his lover to know truly her feelings. lot's of times a women tell her gf her true feelings about the boyfriend but acting with him in a little different and not telling him or doing everything as she would to her gf. Prince want it all from her . Like he said before I want to be your lover : mother ,brother,sister and now your gf too.
Even without the movie, listening to this album gives you a visual appeal with all the words spoken. My favorites is IT, The Ballod of Dorothy Parker, and I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man. I can listen to IT all day, the beat alone is crazy!. I like the live version of strange relationship but I get what your saying for the album version. Live it's way better.
+Prince's Friend There is a short version from The Lovesexy piano medley. But you got to here the Version from The One Nite Alone Box Set, it's so dope
Great review, I agree with you about Housequake leading to fits of involuntary ass shaking. I Lurrrvvveee this album and it is so clever. Adore is the greatest song ever written and was wrapt when Prince played 9 songs including Adore off it on the Piano and Microphone shows he played here in Auckland.
I remember that album going triple platinum and most small artists would kill to sell 3 million copies! Play was my favorite song on this album. Actually Man peaked at no 10.
Adore has always been one of my fav prince songs of all time. Along with forever in my life..one or the other will be my future wedding song! And if i was your girlfriend of course is just so sick, nothing like it ever done. Great album, one of my favs!
Prince didnt do many interviews and was very mysterious in the early days. This was b4 the internet so info was scare. Then trying to figure out what was rumored and what was fact. I tryed to make sense of whatever I got from magazines, radio stations, and tv. So there was a lot of buzz and rumours about this album. I remember I was in young high school when it came out. Back then I was into cassettes with the walkman. I remember playing the cassettes to these albums a lot. I also saw the concert movie when came out. This album was my vibe for the whole summer. The music videos, even the live tv performances. Over the yyears I always come back to this album and listen all the way thru. It still amazes about the new things I learn about the how musicianship and the lyrics. Prince a masterpiece with this one. Is it his greatest? Maybe. It's definitely in the top 5 of his greatest.
I love this album but it never flowed like his previous albums where it seemed every song was hand picked and had a purpose for it's placement on the albums. The songs are great but the album always felt like a group of random songs to me. I could never put a time stamp on this album. When I hear Purple Rain I'm automatically taken back to 1984. This was the beginning of Prince being so ahead of his time that his music no longer connected with a particular place in time. His music no longer sounded like 80s 90s or 2000s... it just sounds like Prince
