Prince: The Albums - #26, 3121 (Done!)

[SHOOTER]

3121 (Reveals)

1. SHOOTER
2. tim
3. newpower
4. Ling-Ling
5. samo🦕
6. Zach
7. Linnethia Monique
8. @antigonerising
9. Kanenrá:ke
10. Mirago
11. CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker
12. LBTrocks
13. Glove Slap
14. .indulgecountry
15. Sir Benji



Prince had long had an affinity for certain numbers and numerical patterns, and in the mid-2000s, the numbers 3121 had begun to take on a special meaning.

At that time, Prince was renting a home in Los Angeles that he referred to as 3121 and it was the site of many parties and recording sessions. 3121 was also the title of Prince’s 31st album, which was released on March 21, 2006 in a unique one-album deal between his own NPG Records and Universal Music.

The lyrics of the title track speak to the party atmosphere Prince was cultivating at his 3121 house: “Through the gates / Knock on the door / Put your clothes in a pile, on the floor / Take your pick from the Japanese robes and sandals / Drink champagne from a glass, with chocolate handles.”

The album included collaborations with bandmates from the past and future of Prince’s career. Drummer Michael Bland and bassist Sonny Thompson, two of the original members of Prince’s New Power Generation, were tapped to perform on the title track, and the album marked the first time that Prince recorded with husband and wife duo Joshua and Cora Coleman (a.k.a. C.C.) Dunham, who would perform in Prince’s rhythm section for several years. The famed funk saxophonist Maceo Parker and his longtime collaborator Sheila E. also make appearances, as does Támar, an artist Prince would work closely work in the mid-2000s and even join on tour as her guitarist in 2006.

Because it was released on a major label and followed on the heels of 2004’s Musicology, 3121 was widely considered to be part of Prince’s “comeback” in the mainstream music industry. Remarkably, the album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard 200 with 183,000 copies sold - the first and only Prince album to debut at #1; his other three chart-toppers (Purple Rain, Around the World in a Day, and Batman) ultimately peaked at #1. Prince promoted the release with several television appearances, including Saturday Night Live, Good Morning America, and a surprise performance on the season finale of American Idol.

The album also received five Grammy nominations total and is Prince's last album to be certified Gold in the U.S. (in addition to going Gold in Switzerland and Silver in the UK).

Hoping to knock out the bottom-6 this evening so feel free to comment on what you think (or hope) will end up in the lower half.

[CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker]

I think 3121 might be in the first set of reveals though I loved how ambitious it was

I HOPE my last place goes in the first set. Only song I didn't really connect with

[SHOOTER]

Eye don't wanna go 2 fast
'Cause if eye do U just might stay (U just might stay)
Eye guess eye have a lonely dance
The longer that eye feel this way...





*LOWEST SD*

samo🦕 : 7
Zach : 7
Glove Slap : 9

@antigonerising : 10
.indulgecountry : 10
Kanenrá:ke : 10
LBTrocks : 11
Mirago : 11
Linnethia Monique : 12
tim : 12
Ling-Ling : 12
newpower : 12
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 12
Sir Benji : 12
SHOOTER : 12

The Dance was originally recorded in late 1999 and the OG version was included on The Chocolate Invasion, an compilation album of NPG Music Club tracks that Prince had contemplated turning into a 7-disc box set.

[SHOOTER]

#1 loss incoming...

SPOILER: Click to show

{3121}
@antigonerising Linnethia Monique tim LBTrocks Glove Slap Ling-Ling newpower CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker .indulgecountry Kanenrá:ke Sir Benji samo🦕 Mirago Zach

[CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker]

Knowing my luck it's me

[SHOOTER]

I ain't talking about nothing physical
'Cause foreplay starts in the mind (in the mind)
I'm just tryin' to get you to think about doing things
That you've always wanted but could never find...





CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 1

Linnethia Monique : 6
Ling-Ling : 6
.indulgecountry : 7
Kanenrá:ke : 7
newpower : 8
tim : 9
Sir Benji : 9
SHOOTER : 9

Glove Slap : 10
samo🦕 : 10
Mirago : 10
@antigonerising : 11
LBTrocks : 12
Zach : 12

Another one of Prince's forays into blues, Satisfied was recorded in early 2005 and first released as a live version available for download via the NPG Music Club.

[SHOOTER]

At 42,000 feet above the sea
That's where you and I first came to be
From the dust of the earth and the knowledge tree...





*LOWEST SD*

LBTrocks : 2
newpower : 3
Linnethia Monique : 4
Kanenrá:ke : 4
Ling-Ling : 5

Mirago : 7
Glove Slap : 8
@antigonerising : 9
Zach : 9

tim : 10
Sir Benji : 10
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 11
SHOOTER : 11
samo🦕 : 11
.indulgecountry : 12

Te Amo Corazón was released in December 2005 as the album's first single (although no mention was made of 3121's existence at that time); it replaced a still-unreleased record entitled Streets of Panama on 3121's final configuration.

Although it failed to chart in America, even with a music video directed by Salma Hayek, it did crack the top-10 in both Spain and Italy. Swedish jazz singer Viktoria Tolstoy also covered the song on her 2006 album Pictures of Me.

[SHOOTER]

Pretty sure this might be the lowest peak for a proper single in this series yet.

[LBTrocks]

The song is gorgeous, stay hating

[SHOOTER]

Next #1 loss incoming...

SPOILER: Click to show

{3121}
@antigonerising Linnethia Monique tim LBTrocks Glove Slap Ling-Ling newpower CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker .indulgecountry Kanenrá:ke Sir Benji samo🦕 Mirago Zach

[SHOOTER]

All across the nation
People doing what they can
To avoid the tribulation
That will be great throughout the land...





Glove Slap : 1
.indulgecountry : 3
newpower : 4
samo🦕 : 4
@antigonerising : 5

CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 7
SHOOTER : 7
tim : 8
LBTrocks : 8
Kanenrá:ke : 8

Linnethia Monique : 10
Zach : 10
Ling-Ling : 11
Sir Benji : 11
Mirago : 12

Prince brought the tale of Noah's Ark to the modern-day with this funky grand finale to 3121 that was originally a 10-minute jam session (with an extra verse) before it was pared down for the album's release.

[Glove Slap]

[SHOOTER]

A constant battle to stay ahead of the game
Is anybody famous when everybody wants fame?
Always trying to break you down thinkin' that it'll raise 'em up
I just wanna be happy, come, take this bitter cup from me...





CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 3
Sir Benji : 3
Mirago : 3
.indulgecountry : 4
Kanenrá:ke : 5

@antigonerising : 6
samo🦕 : 6
Linnethia Monique : 7
newpower : 7

LBTrocks : 10
Ling-Ling : 10
SHOOTER : 10
tim : 11
Zach : 11
Glove Slap : 12

Beautiful, Loved and Blessed, featuring one-time Prince protégé Támar (Davis), was initially released as the B-side to Black Sweat and earned enough unsolicited airplay to peak at #25 on the Adult R&B chart. It also earned the duo a 2007 Grammy nomination for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group (losing to John Legend, Joss Stone and Van Hunt's cover of Family Affair by Sly and the Family Stone).

Beautiful, Loved and Blessed was also the title of Támar's debut album, executive produced by Prince, that he originally wanted to release in tandem with 3121 in March 2016. The album was then re-titled as Milk & Honey and pushed to summer 2016 before being shelved altogether. It's been speculated that Prince's divorce and refusal to do all of the agreed-upon promotion for the album complicated his relationship with Universal who shelved Támar in retaliation. She revealed in a recent interview that she requested the rights to it from Prince's estate so she can re-release it on her own but they denied her.

[SHOOTER]

Look over there, there's another turn-on
Butterflies scared that they're going to be awake all night long
Dancing in your belly like a ballerina
In spite of your efforts to calm them down...





Mirago : 2
Zach : 2
tim : 3
Glove Slap : 5
SHOOTER : 5

Ling-Ling : 7
Sir Benji : 7
samo🦕 : 8
Linnethia Monique : 9
LBTrocks : 9
newpower : 9
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 9
.indulgecountry : 9

Kanenrá:ke : 11
@antigonerising : 12

3121, titled after an L.A. mansion Prince was renting and inspired by his legendary house parties, was one of the album's oldest songs, recorded in fall 2004. His drummer, Michael B., confirmed it was part of a batch of approximately a dozen songs they recorded within a 3-hour session. The song earned a 2007 Grammy nomination for Best Urban/Alternative Performance (losing to Gnarls Barkley's Crazy).

[tim]

This should’ve been in the top 5. C’mon y’all.

[SHOOTER]

3121 (Top-6)

Black Sweat
Fury
Incense and Candles
Lolita
Love
The Word

SPOILER: Click to show

{3121}
@antigonerising Linnethia Monique tim LBTrocks Glove Slap Ling-Ling newpower CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker .indulgecountry Kanenrá:ke Sir Benji samo🦕 Mirago Zach

[SHOOTER]

What is this new exaltation that I just can't explain?
What are these new inspirations that I can't get outta my brain?
How am I going to sleep with this feeling rushing all through my veins?
Get up, come on, let's do something, don't you wanna go get saved?





@antigonerising : 2
Linnethia Monique : 2
LBTrocks : 4
SHOOTER : 4
.indulgecountry : 5

Mirago : 6
Zach : 6
tim : 7
Glove Slap : 7
Ling-Ling : 8
Sir Benji : 8
samo🦕 : 9

newpower : 10
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 10
Kanenrá:ke : 12

Prince's version of a Jesus Jam. He actually wrote several songs and submitted them to the Jehovah’s Witness headquarters during this period for consideration (and was kindly turned down).

[Deleted]

Surprised The Word made it to the top half tbh. Pulse doesn't usually care for the Jesus Jamz.

[SHOOTER]

You're much too young to peep my stash
You're trying to write checks your body can't cash
(You can't hang with this, girl, look out)
Lolita, you're sweeter but you'll never make a cheater out of me...





tim : 2
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 2
samo🦕 : 2
Ling-Ling : 3
Sir Benji : 4
Mirago : 4
Zach : 5

Kanenrá:ke : 6
SHOOTER : 6
LBTrocks : 7
@antigonerising : 8
.indulgecountry : 8

Linnethia Monique : 11
Glove Slap : 11
newpower : 11

With much of the album written and recorded during his separation from his wife (who officially filed for divorce just two months after its release), it's been speculated that Prince wrote Lolita as his way of indicating that infidelity did not play a part in the demise of their marriage.

[SHOOTER]

Another #1 loss incoming...

SPOILER: Click to show

{3121}
@antigonerising Linnethia Monique tim LBTrocks Glove Slap Ling-Ling newpower CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker .indulgecountry Kanenrá:ke Sir Benji samo🦕 Mirago Zach

[Deleted]

me probs

[SHOOTER]

I'm glad we're compatible, mature and grown
'Cause this is not something you can do alone
Oh, there's a dance floor, but we can use a table
I've gotta have a partner that's willing and able...





@antigonerising : 1
.indulgecountry : 2
Kanenrá:ke : 2
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 4
Linnethia Monique : 5
tim : 5
LBTrocks : 5
newpower : 5

Glove Slap : 6
Sir Benji : 6
SHOOTER : 8
Zach : 8
Ling-Ling : 9
Mirago : 9

Glade and Flashlights
samo🦕 : 12

This was the first record Prince and Támar recorded together and one of the very few tracks he never performed live.

[tim]

“Lolita” is a bop!

[Deleted]

lmao, glade and flashlights. Is there a power outage in Samo's area?

[SHOOTER]

The #1 losses continue with a song that missed out on a top-2 finish by 5 points.

SPOILER: Click to show

{3121}
@antigonerising Linnethia Monique tim LBTrocks Glove Slap Ling-Ling newpower CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker .indulgecountry Kanenrá:ke Sir Benji samo🦕 Mirago Zach

[SHOOTER]

Stop telling me what you want me to hear
Stop telling me what you want me to fear
Stop trippin' on something you overheard
Love is winning without a word...





Ling-Ling : 1
Glove Slap : 2
newpower : 2
@antigonerising : 3
LBTrocks : 3
Kanenrá:ke : 3
SHOOTER : 3
Zach : 3
Sir Benji : 5
samo🦕 : 5
Mirago : 5

tim : 6
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 6
.indulgecountry : 6
Linnethia Monique : 8

Love was written originally for Támar's debut album but Prince decided to keep it for himself. In exchange, he took the same drum pattern and used it to craft her intended lead single Holla & Shout.

[SHOOTER]

With 8 points, 11 #1s and just one bottom-3 between them, the winner is...

SPOILER: Click to show

{3121}
@antigonerising Linnethia Monique tim LBTrocks Glove Slap Ling-Ling newpower CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker .indulgecountry Kanenrá:ke Sir Benji samo🦕 Mirago Zach

[SHOOTER]

Y'all must have dug it, when you did your thing
It's like a song, everybody wanna sing
When the music's over, your ears ring
With a voice that says, "Queen got no King"





Linnethia Monique : 1
.indulgecountry : 1
Kanenrá:ke : 1
samo🦕 : 1
Ling-Ling : 2
Sir Benji : 2
SHOOTER : 2
tim : 4
Glove Slap : 4
Zach : 4

LBTrocks : 6
newpower : 6
@antigonerising : 7
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 8
Mirago : 8

A last-minute addition to 3121, Fury was released as the album's third and final single exclusively in the UK where it peaked at #60.

---

I don't want to dance too hard, baby
But this is a groove (yes it is, funky)
I'm hot and I don't care who knows it
I got a job to do...





tim : 1
LBTrocks : 1
newpower : 1
Sir Benji : 1
SHOOTER : 1
Mirago : 1
Zach : 1
Linnethia Monique : 3
Glove Slap : 3
samo🦕 : 3
@antigonerising : 4
Ling-Ling : 4
CagedJuggalo The Third Tanker : 5

Musty
Kanenrá:ke : 9

.indulgecountry : 11

The oldest track on the album, Black Sweat was written in early 2004 and first premiered as part of the acoustic set on the Musicology Live 2004ever tour. Released as the album's second single worldwide, its month-long iTunes promo campaign helped it debut at #1 on the Hot 100 Singles Sales chart and (#60 on the main chart - Prince's final entry there). It also peaked at #25 on Adult R&B and earned two 2007 Grammy nominations for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance (losing to John Legend's Heaven) and Best R&B Song (losing to Mary J. Blige's Be Without You).

[SHOOTER]

PLANET EARTH is now open (and only 10 songs)!!!

pulsemusic.proboards.com/thread/206628/prince-albums-planet-earth-due

[Kanenrá:ke]

I adored this album only “The Word” didn’t work for me everything else was stellar! I’ve long loved the artwork and that alone made me want to listen to the album, after hearing it I wish I had listened a lot sooner! My top 6 all were added to my favorite songs playlist!