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Single sleeve of "Let's Go Crazy/Erotic City" single by Prince
"Erotic City ("make love not war Erotic City come alive")" (usually referred to as "Erotic City") is a song by the musician Prince, released as the B-side to the 1984 single "Let's Go Crazy" and to the 12" version of the 1986 single "Girls & Boys". The track introduced Sheila E. to the public and is regarded as a funk classic.[citation needed] It is one of many Prince tracks that is generally recognised by the first note (a guitar string plucked and whammied) before dropping into the drum track.
The experimental number relies on a strong bass line and a simple but enticing keyboard riff. The song features Prince's voice both sped up and slowed down at various times to sound like different singers. Also featured is Sheila E., who would become a close associate with Prince and work with him extensively over the years. Even though the song was a B-side to a #1 hit, it received significant radio play itself and is almost as well-known as the songs on Purple Rain. The song was quite notable for its extreme sexual references and the use of the word "fuck", although people have claimed the word was actually "funk", allowing it to be played on the radio. It has been heard in the films Girl 6 and PCU (covered by George Clinton). The track was re-released on CD on The Hits/The B-Sides in 1993 and later on the Girl 6 soundtrack.
[edit] Trivia
- "Erotic City" borrows heavily from a track called "White Horse" by Denmark-based duo, Laid Back. Prince was a fan of the song and Warner Bros. actually released a 12" single featuring "White Horse" and Prince's "When Doves Cry" on the same platter. Many DJs have merged the songs together, sometimes along with a 1998 hit by Monifah, "Touch It", which samples "White Horse".[citation needed]
- George Clinton later sampled and covered this song for the film PCU. It was also covered by Arto Lindsay, Semisonic, Berlin and Supafly. Beck has covered the song live a few times.
- Although "Erotic City" was released in 1984 as a B-side, it is still one of several Prince tracks from his Warner Bros. period that enjoys longevity. DJ's around the world play the song to this day. Some mistakenly regarded it as the first Camille recording.
- This song is also sampled in Diddy's "Last Night (The Official Bad Boy Remix)" on his album Press Play.
- Also Ashanti's 2007 single, "Hey Baby (After The Club)" uses a sample from the drum beat as well.
- It is rumored that the inspiration for this track came from Prince attending a concert by George Clinton (funk musician and the P-Funk All-Stars at the Beverly Theater in Los Angeles, California in 1983.
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