Prince's pop life, song by song, in chronological order.
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The Belle of St. Mark
While “Glamorous” sounded tailor-made for Sheila’s particular talents (even if it wasn’t), “Belle” is well-crafted but faceless, embodying the essentialist cynicism of the publishing imprint Prince used for his female side projects: “Girlsongs.”
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Nightingale
Perhaps the clearest early evidence of the “soft rock” influence on Prince’s songcraft.
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Rock Me, Lover
Prince’s character stands in awe of the woman: in the song’s raunchiest line, he even humbly gives her full responsibility for her orgasm.
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Don’t You Wanna Ride?
Prince spins a yarn about hooking up with a “foxy lady down in New Orleans” that sounds for all the world like a Penthouse Forum letter set to music.