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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When Doves Cry (Why the Butterflies)
More perhaps than anything else, “When Doves Cry” existed for Prince as a symbol of what he was capable of when he pushed his artistry to its absolute limits.
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Love and Sex (1984)
When Prince mentions “the upper room,” he seems to be literally referencing Heaven; and when he sings, “Will He let you hurt me in the upper room?”, he’s asking if God will allow him to fuck there.
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Another Lonely Christmas
It’s tempting to assume that its weird, maudlin narrative is what’s kept “Another Lonely Christmas” from becoming a seasonal radio staple.