Prince – (1987) Sign 'O' The Times
| listen to this album |
When we talk about Jamie Starr, Christopher, Alexander Nevermind, The Purple One, Joey Coco, and/or Roger Nelson, we're talking about Prince. His ninth studio album, "Sign O' The Times," was released on March 31, 1987, and was a perfect example of the era in which it was released.
The songs on the double album originated from three other projects Prince was involved with during 1986. Most came from what was intended to be The Revolution's final album, "Dream Factory." In addition, a few songs were from a solo project, "Camille." These were combined, but also supplemented, on the album "Crystal Ball." However, the record company, considering the disappointing success of "Parade" and Prince's second film, "Under the Cherry Moon," disagreed with this excess of songs and forced him to shorten the album. This resulted in "Sign O' the Times," which quickly became widely regarded as one of Prince's best albums, both by fans and critics.
The album is noticeably more downbeat than any of Prince's previous albums, primarily referencing various socio-political issues such as AIDS, gang violence, natural disasters, poverty, and drug abuse.
With the title track, Prince describes the depressed state of the world. Through “If I Was Your Girlfriend" Prince advocates for gender equality/androgyny. But the "contemporary" (or: everyday) topic of sexual desire is also addressed, namely in "It”. The song “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man” reflects a woman's expectations for her next lover and the multifaceted album wouldn't be complete without a religious song about spiritual enlightenment, namely “The Cross”. In keeping with the album's content, the peace sign symbol has been added to the title, between "Sign" and "The Times".
In May 1987, Prince began his European Sign O' The Times tour with four concerts at the Galgenwaard stadium in Utrecht and three additional concerts at Rotterdam's Ahoy stadium.
SIGN O' THE TIMES FACTS:
- Prince wrote the song "Sign O' The Times" on a Sunday. According to Susan Rogers, this was the day of the week when Prince wrote many of his most reflective songs.
- Besides Prince there is also Sheena Easton to be heard on “U Got The Look”. Prince sings his part in his sped-up voice, also known as the voice of his alter ego Camille.
- As mentioned, a concert film of the same name was released following the “Sign O' The Times” tour. It was initially intended to consist of footage from live performances in Ahoy' Rotterdam (June 26, 27 and 28) and the Sportpaleis in Antwerp (June 29). However, due to the unusable material, it was decided to re-record it at Paisley Park Studios.
- If we have to regularly comfort our offspring after yet another broken heart by a so-called “player”, the latter could take an example from Prince with the song “I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" where he appropriately rejects a woman looking for a man to replace her ex-lover. He's direct, honest, and clear in saying that she wouldn't be satisfied with a one-night stand (and that he has nothing more to offer her than that).
- The album's corresponding colors were “peach and black,” which is also reflected in the song “U Got The Look”: “Color U peach and black, Color me takin' aback, Crucial, I think I wantchaSome tickets for the Sign “☮” The Times Tour also stated that guests should dress in peach and black:Wear something Peach… or Black.”
- In 1989, the album was named “Greatest Album Of All Time” by Time Out Magazine.
