Controversy (song)
Encyclopedia
"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 speculation about Prince at the time such as his sexuality, religion and racial background, and how he could not understand the curiosity about him.
The song has two main verses, a few chorus
es, 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 repeating chant of "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 grease" 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 two-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
.
"Controversy" is considered Prince's breakthrough hit in Australia, where it peaked at number 15.
's website on March 29, 2004. The single consists of a live performance of the song: "Controversy", recorded on tour in Hawaii
in 2003. The track also saw a limited release as a CD single
, only available as part of a Prince in Hawaii Gift Box, available from Prince's retail outlet.
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. One of his most respected classic funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
songs, "Controversy" addresses certain speculation about Prince at the time such as his sexuality, religion and racial background, and how he could not understand the curiosity about him.
The song has two main verses, a few chorus
Refrain
A refrain is the line or lines that are repeated in music or in verse; the "chorus" of a song...
es, with the title repeated throughout the track. Towards the middle he recites the Lord's Prayer
Lord's Prayer
The Lord's Prayer is a central prayer in Christianity. In the New Testament of the Christian Bible, it appears in two forms: in the Gospel of Matthew as part of the discourse on ostentation in the Sermon on the Mount, and in the Gospel of Luke, which records Jesus being approached by "one of his...
in full, which fueled the fire for some to say the song was blasphemous. Toward the end is a repeating chant of "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 grease" guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
and keyboards
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
. The song was backed with "When You Were Mine
When You Were Mine
"When You Were Mine" is a song written and released by Prince on his 1980 album, Dirty Mind. Though not released as a single, the song received a promotional 12" release...
", from his previous album, Dirty Mind
Dirty Mind
Dirty Mind is the third studio album by American musician Prince, released October 8, 1980 on Warner Bros. Records. Produced, arranged and composed primarily by Prince, it contains prominently sexual lyrics and incorporates musical elements of funk, dance and rock music. The album debuted at number...
.
In 1993, in support of The Hits/The B-Sides
The Hits/The B-Sides
-Disc 2 :-Disc 3 :...
, "Controversy" was once again released in the UK as a single, this time as a two-disc EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
containing several hits not on the collection. CD1 includes the edit of "Controversy", the William Orbit
William Orbit
William Orbit is an English musician, composer and record producer, perhaps best known to most for his work on Madonna's album Ray of Light. He has also co-produced several unreleased Madonna songs originally recorded for other albums...
remix of "The Future
The Future (song)
"The Future" is a song from Prince's 1989 Batman soundtrack, and the final single released from the album. The single was not the album version, but a remixed version by William Orbit. "The Future" was released as a single only in Europe...
", "Glam Slam
Glam Slam
"Glam Slam" is a song by Prince, and the second single from his 1988 album, Lovesexy. The title originates from the sexual quote "Wham, bam, thank you, ma'am". The song has sexual overtones with a spiritual undertone and fits the Lovesexy theme of integrating God and sex. The song is complex...
", and "D.M.S.R.". CD2 includes the edit of "Controversy", "Anotherloverholenyohead
Anotherloverholenyohead
"Anotherloverholenyohead" is a 1986 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album Parade, the soundtrack to the film Under the Cherry Moon. The song is essentially a solo performance by Prince, but with backing vocals from Susannah Melvoin, and the horn section of Eric Leeds and Atlanta Bliss....
", "Paisley Park
Paisley Park (song)
"Paisley Park" is a song by Prince and The Revolution. It was the first single in both the UK and Australia to be released from their 1985 album, Around the World in a Day. The song has a psychedelic feel, similar to some of The Beatles' later work with echoed guitar and finger cymbals...
", and "New Power Generation
New Power Generation (song)
"New Power Generation", or "N.P.G.", is a song by Prince from the 1990 album and film, Graffiti Bridge. It is an anthem for his backing band, The New Power Generation, who were officially co-credited on his album covers for a time, and continue to back him up, albeit with a changing lineup...
(Part II)". Like the "Peach
Peach (song)
"Peach" is a song by Prince from his 1993 compilations, The Hits 2 and The Hits/The B-Sides.The female moan heard on the track is that of Kim Basinger. The B-side was the live version of "Nothing Compares 2 U" in the U.S., while the UK backed the song with an edit of "My Name Is Prince"...
" 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
Picture disc
Picture discs are gramophone records that show images on their playing surface, rather than being of plain black or coloured vinyl.-Development:...
.
"Controversy" is considered Prince's breakthrough hit in Australia, where it peaked at number 15.
Official Versions
- "Controversy" (7inch Edit) / (Single Version) - 3:39
- "Controversy" (Album Version) - 7:14
- "Controversy" (2004 Release) - 6:06
Live in Hawaii
"Controversy (Live in Hawaii)" is a digital single made available for sale on PrincePrince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
's website on March 29, 2004. The single consists of a live performance of the song: "Controversy", recorded on tour in Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
in 2003. The track also saw a limited release as a CD single
CD single
A CD single is a music single in the form of a standard size Compact Disc, not to be confused with the 3-inch CD single, which uses a smaller form factor. The format was introduced in the mid-1980s, but did not gain its place in the market until the early 1990s...
, only available as part of a Prince in Hawaii Gift Box, available from Prince's retail outlet.
Samples
- Prince included a sample of this song in the opening of his 1992 song "My Name Is PrinceMy Name is Prince"My Name Is Prince" is a song by Prince and The New Power Generation, from the 1992 Love Symbol album. The song is about Prince himself, and his musical prowess...
". - The Jungle BrothersJungle BrothersThe Jungle Brothers are an American hip hop group that pioneered the fusion of jazz and hip-hop and also became the first hip-hop group to use a house-music producer. The group began performing in the mid-1980s and released its first album, Straight Out the Jungle, in July 1988...
track "Black is Black", from their 1988 album Straight out the JungleStraight Out the JungleStraight out the Jungle is the debut album from hip hop group Jungle Brothers. The album marked the beginning of the Native Tongues collective, later featuring popular artists like De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, and Black Sheep....
, features a sample of "Controversy".