Controversy (song)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| "Controversy" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| U.S 7" single | ||
| Single by Prince | ||
| from the album Controversy | ||
| B-side(s) | "When You Were Mine" | |
| Released | 2 September 1981 | |
| Format | 7" single 12" single |
|
| Recorded | Uptown, Sunset Sound, Hollywood Sound, 1981 | |
| Genre | Pop, Funk | |
| Length | 7" edit: 3:39 Album/12": 7:14 |
|
| Label | Warner Bros. Records | |
| Writer(s) | Prince | |
| Producer(s) | Prince | |
| Chart positions | ||
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| Prince singles chronology | ||
| "Dirty Mind" (1980) |
"Controversy" (1981) |
"Let's Work" (1981) |
| Prince (UK) singles chronology | ||
| "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" (1981) |
"Controversy" (1981) |
"Let's Work" (1981) |
| "Controversy" | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| UK CD single | ||
| Single by Prince | ||
| from the album The Hits 2 | ||
| B-side(s) | "The Future" (US) "Glam Slam" (UK CD) "D.M.S.R." (UK CD) "Anotherloverholenyohead" (UK CD) "Paisley Park" (UK CD) "New Power Generation (Part II)" (UK CD) |
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| Released | 1993 | |
| Format | 7" single picture disc Cassette single Double CD single |
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| Recorded | Uptown, Sunset Sound, Hollywood Sound, 1981 | |
| Genre | Pop, Funk | |
| Length | 3:35 (Edit) | |
| Label | Paisley Park Records/Warner Bros. Records | |
| Writer(s) | Prince | |
| Producer(s) | Prince | |
| Chart positions | ||
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||
| Prince singles chronology | ||
| "Peach" (1993) |
… | "The Most Beautiful Girl In the World" (1994) |
| Prince (UK) chronology | ||
| "Peach" (1993) |
"Controversy" (1993) |
"The Most Beautiful Girl In the World" (1994) |
"Controversy" is the title track and lead single to the 1981 album by Prince. One of his most respected classic funk songs, "Controversy" addresses certain rumors about Prince at the time (particularly the rumor about his sexual preferences) and how he can't understand the curiosity about him. The song has 2 main verses, a few choruses, with the title repeated throughout the track. Towards the middle he recites the Lord's Prayer in full, which fueled the fire for some to say the song was blasphemous. Toward the end is a repeated "singalong": "People call me rude, I wish we all were nude. I wish there was no black and white, I wish there were no rules." The song is straight funk with a steady drumbeat, synthesized bass, "chicken scratch" guitar and keyboards. The song was backed with "When You Were Mine", from his previous album, Dirty Mind.
In 1993, in support of The Hits/The B-Sides, "Controversy" was once again released in the UK as a single, this time as a 2-disc EP containing several hits not on the collection. CD1 includes the edit of "Controversy", the William Orbit remix of "The Future", "Glam Slam" and "D.M.S.R.". CD2 includes the edit of "Controversy", "Anotherloverholenyohead", "Paisley Park" and "New Power Generation (Part II)". Like the "Peach" single, CD1 was a special foldout package with a place holder for CD2, which was sold separately. "Controversy" was also released on a 7" picture disc.
[edit] External link
- "Controversy" lyrics
