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CRYSTAL BALL * LOVE THREAD *
"LOVE YOURSELF AS ALL PEOPLE" | |
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The song is very cool...It reminds me of a submarine recording...or an underwater view or something....
Seas are the field of combat for the winds, but when they sweep along some flowery coast, their wings move mildly, and their rage is lost.~Dryden | |
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I don't understand the reference to Crystal Ball -- can someone explain?
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The song is very inconsistent for me...
I'm only in it for the music. | |
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Twinkly1 said: I don't understand the reference to Crystal Ball -- can someone explain?
 frist of ahll u cant realy sen into a crystal ball ut it is about his gutar love ant he is ahlso talking about i sex toy then can get them both off i think but sence he whant her to see what he does but not though the ball but thoe his eyes as well cause it is realy in the heart thoe u will see then love and peace | |
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Prince' best song! Unique! Groundbraking! A trip in itself!
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Sander said: Prince' best song! Unique! Groundbraking! A trip in itself!
I love the way it builds up, especially when the snare drum enters (As little babies in make-up). Also the prayer and the way the song starts up again is brilliant (In your name we pray)! I am assuming it's Prince on all instruments. Even still, it's classic Prince, at the hight of his powers, effortlessly shifting through the song, changing melody, tempo and energy. But most of all it's his voice. And layers of it. I'm still not sure what the feeling is he's getting at in this song, but it's strong. My favorite vocal delivery right here: "I can't remember my baby's voice cuz she ain't talkin' no more Only the sound of love and prayer echo from the yellow floor, yellow floor " Also, bootleggers mistook the title as Crystal Ball. This song is called Expert Lover. Crystal Ball is Eye No with different lyrics... And last, but not least. I prefer the version without the Clare Fischer strings. Most of the times I prefer his additions, just not on this track and Old Friends For Sale. I'm sorry Clare, do love your work though!  If the song is really called "Expert Lover", then why in the official release is it called "Crystal Ball"? I would assume Prince had the final say as to how it was titled in the official release. Isn't the "Eye No" track with different lyrics called "The Ball?" I agree that what you stated is probably true, I just wonder why the title "Expert Lover" wasn't used in it's release. | |
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bigben07 said: If the song is really called "Expert Lover", then why in the official release is it called "Crystal Ball"? I would assume Prince had the final say as to how it was titled in the official release. Isn't the "Eye No" track with different lyrics called "The Ball?" I agree that what you stated is probably true, I just wonder why the title "Expert Lover" wasn't used in it's release.
Whoops! No, you're right! I messed up, like the bootleggers once did! Bootleggers named this track 'Expert lover', because they called 'The Ball' 'Crystal Ball'. This track is definitely officially called 'Crystal ball'. My bad. | |
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Sorry to go against the grain, but I think this is one of Prince's most over-rated tracks.
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NouveauDance said: Not to say I don't like it, but I've come to like it less and less as time has gone by and find it rather overblown, meandering and pompus. It's really only the last third that does much, and I think with concerns to CB/SOTT, it's one of those occasions where Prince's self-editing was on good form, and cutting the title track from the set when it was shrunk to 2LPs was a smart move, I don't think this track would've been looked upon particularly favourably had the 3LP been released back when. Okay, now listen to the nine minute version without Clare. Still pompus? He did went a bit overboard with the tempochanges and solo's, therefor it probably wasn't suited for an album/the masses. Good move. It really isn't much of a song either, I'm not quite sure how to edit this mother to make it a single. Nor do I really care, since this thing is perfect Prince.
Crystal ball isn't really discussed much, so I'm guessing the org is kinda divided on this one? | |
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NouveauDance said: My favourite word for this track has always been: masturbatory. Isn't masturbation sex with someone you love? Don't knock it | |
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Handel said: Isn't masturbation sex with someone you love?
Only at the height of narcissism. | |
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NouveauDance said: Only at the height of narcissism. Don't knock narcissism... oh well | |
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Crystal Ball is one of the gems. Juizy Boyz®
My eternal grattitude to Phil & Val. Herman said "We want sweaty truckers at the truck stop! We want cigar puffing men that look like they wanna beat the living daylights out of us" | |
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It's an ambitious and dareIsay epic experient that really comes off well. That's not to say it should've been on any album.. it is, after all, as far away from being commercial as possible. It got slated when it was eventually released as part of the NPG Crystal Ball set after all.
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It's such an original take on depression.... the futility of having to wish to look into a crystal ball for hope...
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ufoclub said: It's such an original take on depression.... the futility of having to wish to look into a crystal ball for hope...
and the sound design and pacing and transitions from quiet to loud are just like the thoughts of someone lost in depression. A reference to the "deepbluefunk" mood Prince referred to in the liner notes, no doubt. To my knowledge, the track's creation was inspired by the bombing of Lybia by the Reagan administration, when they were hoping to get Gadaffi. The line "little babies in make-up terrorise the Western World" could be a direct reference to that episode. "You don't frighten us, English pig dogs. Go and boil your bottoms, sons of a silly person." | |
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truleyloved said: Twinkly1 said: I don't understand the reference to Crystal Ball -- can someone explain?
frist of ahll u cant realy sen into a crystal ball ut it is about his gutar love ant he is ahlso talking about i sex toy then can get them both off i think but sence he whant her to see what he does but not though the ball but thoe his eyes as well cause it is realy in the heart thoe u will see then love and peace  um yeah!This is my voice, My weapon of choice | |
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Twinkly1 said: I don't understand the reference to Crystal Ball -- can someone explain?
I believe it means the best/last sex you'll ever have before the world ends. Ball = Sex This is my voice, My weapon of choice | |
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NouveauDance said: Sorry to go against the grain, but I think this is one of Prince's most over-rated tracks.
The mystic around it can be accounted for because it was unreleased for 12 years, it was the title track to an unreleased album, has been circulating for almost as long as it has existed, it's lengthy and from the Revolution era. Not to say I don't like it, but I've come to like it less and less as time has gone by and find it rather overblown, meandering and pompus. It's really only the last third that does much, and I think with concerns to CB/SOTT, it's one of those occasions where Prince's self-editing was on good form, and cutting the title track from the set when it was shrunk to 2LPs was a smart move, I don't think this track would've been looked upon particularly favourably had the 3LP been released back when. My favourite word for this track has always been: masturbatory. Sorry. I think it's Epic in scope. Similar to All My Dreams. Overblown, pompous, complex, and really all over the place. I don't think it would hhave worked on SOTT, but it would have on Dream Factory, which I find more of the songs a lot more whimsical than the pared down SOTT. This is my voice, My weapon of choice | |
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Sander said: NouveauDance said: Not to say I don't like it, but I've come to like it less and less as time has gone by and find it rather overblown, meandering and pompus. It's really only the last third that does much, and I think with concerns to CB/SOTT, it's one of those occasions where Prince's self-editing was on good form, and cutting the title track from the set when it was shrunk to 2LPs was a smart move, I don't think this track would've been looked upon particularly favourably had the 3LP been released back when. Okay, now listen to the nine minute version without Clare. Still pompus? He did went a bit overboard with the tempochanges and solo's, therefor it probably wasn't suited for an album/the masses. Good move. It really isn't much of a song either, I'm not quite sure how to edit this mother to make it a single. Nor do I really care, since this thing is perfect Prince.
Crystal ball isn't really discussed much, so I'm guessing the org is kinda divided on this one? Still pompous w/out the strings. Though I think I like sans strings better...with the purple underground part. This is my voice, My weapon of choice | |
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superspaceboy said: but it would have on Dream Factory, which I find more of the songs a lot more whimsical than the pared down SOTT.
Mmmm, definately.  | |
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giotto said: ufoclub said: It's such an original take on depression.... the futility of having to wish to look into a crystal ball for hope...
and the sound design and pacing and transitions from quiet to loud are just like the thoughts of someone lost in depression. A reference to the "deepbluefunk" mood Prince referred to in the liner notes, no doubt. To my knowledge, the track's creation was inspired by the bombing of Lybia by the Reagan administration, when they were hoping to get Gadaffi. The line "little babies in make-up terrorise the Western World" could be a direct reference to that episode. I always thought it was a song to express epic depression (or maybe dread?) when I first heard it on a vinyl bootleg. That scream, and just the concept of a mantra about a crystal ball to see the future. The way I interpreted it, even his girl is a depressing thing, and even the sex is desperate. I think its the tone of the music and sound effects as well that leads me to that. | |
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Best part of the song 4 me is "i don't know i have 2 ask my mommy 1st" I'm on the phone with Clarence Willliams III 2 bitch slap Prince again. Then I'm going 2 tie Prince up and let Apples have her revenge and bitchslap him again! |
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I enjoy this song a great deal..it's probably in my top 10 of favorites.  Memaw loves her Seyhan | |
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L4OATheOriginal said: Best part of the song 4 me is "i don't know i have 2 ask my mommy 1st"
Oh yes. So tongue in cheek, so incredibly sexy. Lip biting, finger pulling. | |
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I like it a lot, the truth is my favorite. If God one day struck me blind, your beauty I'd still see | |
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One of my all time favorite P songs, esp. the pared down version without the strings. I wrote a really long thread on it a while back... | |
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Great Song Crystal Ball Check | |
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it´s too long. some parts are brilliant, others just a mess. it summarizes
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