Press Rewind: A Prince Lyrics Podcast

On Episode 100 (!!!) of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcas t , writer Zachary Hoskins ( princesongs.org ) returns to the show to talk about the toxic mess that is “Strange Relationship” from the  Sign O’ the Times  album. Prince’s lines cut sharp and deep, but the amount of self-reflection and awareness that comes through in the lyrics shows vulnerability and maybe, ju...

On Episode 99 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Christy Norman from The Mountains & the Sea and Killer Fun podcasts returns to the show to offer her perspective on the at times romantic, but mostly troubling, and brilliant “If I Was Your Girlfriend” off Sign o’ the Times . This BIG IMPORTANT PRINCE SONG deserves all the attention we give it and then some. This son...

On Episode 98 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Jerry Bonner and I dive into the heck-a-slammin’ hit single from the Sign o’ the Times album, “U Got the Look.” This fun, silly, pop-rock smash featured Sheena Easton on co-vocals, Sheila E’s timbales, and a memorably humorous music video, but what are the lines from this song that everyone seems to recall al...

On Episode 97 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Eloy Lasanta joins me to talk about the lyrics to the simple on the surface, but actually complex ballad “Forever In My Life.” Whether you prefer the original Sign o’ the Times album version, the Sign o’ the Times Super Deluxe “Early Vocal Run-Through” version with additional instrumentation, or the com...

On Episode 96 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I’m joined by Prince scholar, author, and #PrinceTwitterThread co-founder, Edgar Kruize , to discuss  Sign o’ the Times’  “Hot Thing.” Edgar and I overanalyze the hell out of what is primarily just a thumping dance track with a slammin’ beat and great Prince screams.  Check out Edgar’s Sign o&#821...

On Episode 95 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Farooq Ansari (@anti_social on Twitter) joins me to discuss the romantic throwback ballad, “Slow Love” from the Sign o’ the Times  album. We also explore the song’s fascinating history from its origins as a Carole Davis penned composition and what compelled Prince to include a song co-written by another artist on h...

On Episode 94 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Karen Shedrick and I discuss the real story behind the whimsical, child-like story song, “Starfish and Coffee.” Who is Cynthia Rose anyway, and how was Prince able to take a few stories related to him by his girlfriend at the time and turn them into such a fun and strangely uplifting song? Check out the Press Rewind discord at...

On Episode 93 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I welcome Roy Turner (@TrickyKid2 on Twitter) of Tricky Kid Media ( https://www.facebook.com/TrickyKidRadio/ ) back to the show to talk with me about the thumping, sexually driven “It” from Sign o’ the Times . Is “It” simply about sexual obsession, or is there more to what Prince is laying down? Check out Roy...

On Episode 92 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I welcome a new guest, Angel Monique, to chat about one of the greatest story songs in Prince’s career, “The Ballad of Dorothy Parker,” from Sign O’ the Times . We navigate the dream-like stream of consciousness lyrics, debate whether Prince actually knew who Dorothy Parker was when he wrote the song, and generally...

On Episode 91 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Julian Long returns to help me answer the primary question of the show. Does anybody know about the quake? Yeah! We do! I mean, really, really? Julian certainly helps guide me towards the Southern Baptist traditions that Prince was leaning heavily on as Camille, the pulpit-pounding funk exhorter in “Housequake.” It’s the...

On Episode 90 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Rhonda Nicole returns to talk to me about one of the more fun and funky songs to follow a dark and ominous opener in album tracklisting history. The ying to “Sign O’ the Times'” yang, it’s “Play in the Sunshine!” Make sure to check out Rhonda’s music on Spotify, Bandcamp, or through her website, r...

On Episode 89 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , the co-authors of  The Rise of Prince: 1978-1988 , Alex Hahn & Laura Tiebert, join me to talk about “Sign o’ the Times.” This lead single from the double album of the same name used a ripped from the headlines approach to calling out troubling aspects of our society while also ensuring it stayed quirky enough to be a...

On Episode 88 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Richard Cole (@RichardCole_NOW) from the Amari Purple Talk Podcast ( AmariCommunications.com ) joins me to chat about the “Kiss” B-side, “Love or Money.” The song is notable as it scores the fun shopping montage scene in Under the Cherry Moon  as well as winning the 1986 Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Original So...

On Episode 87 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Jerry Bonner (@JBonner71) joins me to discuss the somber, wistful ballad, “Sometimes It Snows in April” from Parade . We discuss a few lyrical question marks that the song asks as well as connection to the film and the accidental eulogy that the song became after Prince’s passing in 2016. Check out the Press Rewind disco...

On Episode 86 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I welcome first-time guest, musician Rhonda Nicole ( rhondanicole.com ) to the show to talk with me about the uber-funky penultimate track off Parade , “Anotherloverholenyohead.” Check out the Press Rewind discord at discord.gg/f8Ueuym and join us in discussing all things Prince. The goal of each episode of Press Rewind is to:...

On Episode 85 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , author, blogger and speaker Laura Tiebert ( lauratiebert.com ) joins me to talk about one of Prince’s biggest hits, “Kiss.” Despite a complicated and messy origin story, “Kiss” is most well-known for its stellar guitar work, Prince’s impeccable falsetto, simple, yet fun lyrics and that startling scream...

On Episode 84 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Karen Shedrick joins me again to discuss the lyrics to one of the essential tracks for the  Under the Cherry Moon Soundtrack , primarily due to its prominence in the film. We try to capture the song’s intent in the context of the movie while also looking at the lyrics as having a dual purpose. Check out the Press Rewind discord at d...

On Episode 83 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Leslie Ballard and I chat about one of our favorites from the Parade album, the second single, “Mountains.” This superior collaboration with Wendy & Lisa is meant to uplift and bring joy to whoever hears it. We chat about some of the current events of 1985-1986 that led to writing the song’s lyrics and how its placem...

On Episode 82 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I take a break from lyric dissection so I can talk about two instrumental tracks from the Parade era. The beautiful piano and orchestral album track, “Venus de Milo,” and the bombastic guitar rocker, “Alexa de Paris.” Check out the Press Rewind discord at discord.gg/f8Ueuym and join us in discussing all things Prin...

On Episode 81 of the  Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I welcome a brand new guest to the show, Roy Turner (@TrickyKid2 on Twitter) of  Tricky Kid Media  ( https://www.facebook.com/TrickyKidRadio/ ), to talk with me about his favorite song, “Life Can Be So Nice.” This jubilant and chaotic  Parade  track soundtracks a memorable scene in  Under the Cherry Moon , and it brings the n...

On Episode 80 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I’m joined by Christy Norman from The Mountains & the Sea and Killer Fun podcasts to test our French on the fun and funky “Girls and Boys” from Parade . Is this the first-ever officially recorded Prince rap? Let me know! Check out the Press Rewind discord at discord.gg/f8Ueuym and join us in discussing all things Pri...

On Episode 79 of the  Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Todd Sanzone (@PRN4EVR on Twitter) joins me again to discuss the  Parade  track that also shares the title of the film it was featured in, “Under the Cherry Moon.” A Baroque-pop masterpiece with connections to  Graffiti Bridge  AND  Purple Rain , this romantic song has tragedy, poetry, and possibly even sex written all over i...

On Episode 78 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Farooq Ansari (@anti-social on Twitter) and I talk about the mood piece that is “I Wonder U” off the  Parade  album. The song is notable not necessarily for its lyrics but as the first officially released song on a Prince album that was not sung by Prince! We still have plenty to say about this short segue. Check out the Press...

On Episode 77 of the  Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Eloy Lasanta and I talk about the short, funky, innuendo-filled  Parade  track, “New Position.” Is there more to this song than meets the ear, or is this a classic case of overthinking the lyrics? We’ll let you be the judge! Make sure to check out Eloy’s  Prince’s Friend YouTube channel  to get your Prince f...

On Episode 76 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I am once again joined by Julian Long to talk about the lyrics for “Christopher Tracy’s Parade”, the first track from Parade , which served as the soundtrack to the film, Under the Cherry Moon . For a song without many lyrics, there is a lot to talk about in terms of the song’s purpose as the opening song on the al...