Press Rewind: A Prince Lyrics Podcast

On Episode 75 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Todd Sanzone (@PRN4EVR) & I talk about the sexually charged lyrics to the B-side, “Girl.” As two middle aged, married men, we still manage to offer two different takes on what exactly is going on in this song…which begs the question, what do the women listeners of the song think? Are we on track or totally off base?...

On Episode 74 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Josh Norman from The Mountains & the Sea podcast ( https://www.facebook.com/TMATSPodcast/ ) joins me to discuss USA for Africa, tabloid culture, scandalous rumors & the lack of basic human decency in Prince’s clapback B-side, “Hello.” Here is the link to the article Josh mentions towards the end of the show. http...

On Episode 73 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I welcome Leslie Ballard back to the show to discuss the lyrics to the B-side “She’s Always In My Hair.” We talk at length about who the song’s inspiration is reported to be and whether this is a sweet thank you/apology song or something that misses the intended mark. Check out the Press Rewind discord at discord.g...

On Episode 72 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Erica Thompson ( APurpleDayInDecember.com ) and I discuss the duality of Prince’s manic sexual energy coupled with deep regret on the song “Temptation” from Around the World In a Day . Does Prince learn that love is more important than sex or is this just another exploration into his psyche at a time when his reach was n...

On Episode 71 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Eloy Lasanta from the  Prince’s Friend YouTube channel  joins me in discussing the powerful spiritual ballad “The Ladder” from Prince’s 7th album,  Around the World in a Day . We spend time discussing the song’s genesis in the wake of  Purple Rain’s  success, its inclusion towards the end of the album&#...

On Episode 70 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , author and blogger  Laura Tiebert  joins me to work through the snarky yet somewhat optimistic lyrics to Prince’s top 10 hit, “Pop Life” from Around the World In a Day . Laura also theorizes what the startling crowd noise stems from and how it relates to the song’s title. The goal of each episode of Press Rewind is...

On Episode 69 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , writer Zachary Hoskins ( princesongs.org ) joins me to discuss the “too patriotic for the left and too critical for the right” track, “America,” from Prince’s 7th album, Around the World In a Day . Why doesn’t Jimmy pledge allegiance? Let’s discuss. The goal of each episode of Press Rewind is to:...

On Episode 68 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Snax ( snaxonline.org ), and I talk about masturbation…as it relates to Prince’s funky metaphor-filled “Tamborine” from his 7th album,  Around the World In a Day . Some lines continue to confound us (“trolley cars?”) and lines that certainly make it clear Prince is in a sexual rut (“long days, lon...

On Episode 67 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Karen Shedrick & I chat about the lyrics to one of Prince’s most memorable and beloved ’80s tracks, “Raspberry Beret.” What new insight could possibly be gleaned from a song that everyone knows by heart? Well, how about some misheard lyrics? Or different interpretations of the song’s overarching theme (a...

On Episode 66 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Jerry Bonner (@JBonner71 on Twitter) and I get deep into our feels over Prince’s emotional and impactful ballad, “Condition of the Heart” from the Around the World In a Day album. Jerry relates a personal story of life imitating art, and we try to assess who these women could be, including the “woman from the ghett...

On Episode 65 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I am once again joined by Julian Long to help me parse through the at times whimsical & cheerful and other times dark & melancholy, but always fascinating, “Paisley Park.” The titular record label and studio/home/concert venue that Prince would soon have built for himself in Chanhassen, MN, was named after a song from...

On Episode 64 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Farooq Ansari (@anti_social on Twitter) and I join Prince on a trip “Around the World In a Day,” the first track from the album of the same name. “Open your heart, open your mind” as we attempt to digest how Prince got here and where he plans to take us throughout his 7th album. The goal of each episode of Press Re...

On Episode 63 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I take a somber approach in discussing the equally somber track, “4 the Tears In Your Eyes,” originally recorded for the We Are the World charity album. Prince uses the Bible as his primary lyrical inspiration while delivering beautiful acoustic guitar and vocal harmonies with Wendy & Lisa for the Live Aid performance. The...

On Episode 62 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Todd Sanzone & I experience a sad and depressing Christmas in May through the lyrics to Prince’s B-side, “Another Lonely Christmas.” We drink some banana daiquiris, have a good cry and try to figure out what this poor girl died from (pneumonia? stress? strep?) The goal of each episode of Press Rewind is to: Take a tr...

On Episode 61 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I pore over the biblical lyrics in the strange yet arresting vocal acrobatic exercise that Prince gives us on “God,” the B-side to the massive pop hit, “Purple Rain.” Is Prince sermonizing, teaching Bible Study or finally…finally….giving us a completely naked example of his spirituality without all the...

On Episode 60 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I am again joined by Farooq Ansari to discuss the sleazy, robotic funk of “Erotic City.” Arguably Prince’s best and most well-known B-side to the iconic “Let’s Go Crazy.” Enter the Garden of Hedonism with us to talk about this Prince and Sheila E masterpiece. The goal of each episode of Press Rewind is...

On Episode 59 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Karen Shedrick & I talk at length about one of Prince’s most popular B-sides, “17 Days.” Let the rain come down, down and wallow in the misery with us. Just grab those 2 cigarettes first. The goal of each episode of Press Rewind is to: Take a track by track look at the lyrical content of Prince’s discography Discuss...

On Episode 58 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Eloy Lasanta from the Prince’s Friend YouTube channel joins me to discuss his own journey into some of the deeper meanings behind the lyrics to “Purple Rain.” As the title track to the soundtrack and film of the same name, there’s plenty here to discuss. The Purple Pied Piper implores us to join him in the purple r...

On Episode 57 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Josh Norman from The Mountains & the Sea podcast joins me to chat about the self fulfilling prophecy that Prince puts forth on the fun exercise that is “Baby I’m A Star” off the Purple Rain soundtrack. The goal of each episode of Press Rewind is to: Take a track by track look at the lyrical content of Prince’s discog...

On Episode 56 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Erica Thompson ( APurpleDayInDecember.com ) and I talk about the various interpretations of one of the more surprisingly complex songs from Purple Rain . “I Would Die 4 U” has fascinating lyrical content (and a pretty damn catchy beat and dance moves) so we try to cover as many angles as we can when discussing what Prince may...

On Episode 55 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , fellow Prince writer Zachary Hoskins of the DMSR blog ( princesongs.org ) joins me to discuss the familial and romantic dramas presented to us for the Purple Rain film in the musically compelling and massively popular “When Doves Cry.” What does it sound like when doves cry? Beautifully strange as it turns out. The goal of eac...

On Episode 54 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , author and blogger Laura Tiebert and I talk about the infamous, scandalous, and downright sexy “Darling Nikki” from Prince’s Purple Rain album. We dig into the cultural significance of the lyrics as both a spark towards the “explicit lyrics” labeling for the music industry AND its depiction of female sexualit...

On Episode 53 of the  Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , Jerry Bonner and I discuss the longer, alternate “Hallway Speech” version of “Computer Blue,” originally released on the  Purple Rain  soundtrack. Wendy & Lisa set the progressive & experimental tone for the track with their iconic spoken-word opening before Prince & the Revolution take this song to epic highs. What exactly i...

On Episode 52 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I welcome Leslie Ballard back to the show to discuss the emotionally intense “The Beautiful Ones” off Prince’s Purple Rain album. We both agree that this particular song is a highlight not only for the album and the film but as one of Prince’s most memorable tracks over his entire career. Is it the lyrics, the musi...

On Episode 51 of the Press Rewind – Prince Lyrics Podcast , I am joined by new podcast guest, Julian Long, to geek out on the sweet ballad “Take Me With U” from Purple Rain . Is Apollonia able to reach that place in Prince/The Kid that is calling out her name? Does Prince/The Kid sweep Apollonia off her feet and take her away, possibly to a frigid Minnesota lake? We dissect this classi...