I’ve never given much thought to what my dream job would be. I can tell you one thing I’ve always loved: Being the DJ. Always trying to find the right song for the moment. I constantly have a soundtrack to my life playing in my head. I analyze the situations I’m in to determine which song would fit what I’m doing at any given time. I love sharing that with people. As I type this I’m sitting on a bed in the dark. It’s 1:39 AM and it’s so hot that I can’t sleep. The appropriate Prince song for this moment is clearly “June.” It’s got a super chill nighttime vibe and it’s actually June.
I’m not listening to “June” right now. I’m listening to an underrated Prince classic called “D.M.S.R.” and I’m dreaming about DJ’ing a party with a bunch of fun people and spinning this classic. If I was indeed a DJ I would spin this song during every set. Hulu recently released the first season of High Fidelity, a fresh take on the book and movie of the same name. The new version stars the fantastic Zoe Kravitz. There’s an amazing scene when Kravitz’s character is about to start a DJ set at a club and she’s discussing her top five songs to start a DJ set. She mentions how you can’t come out of the gate with something like Beyonce because then the Beyhive will be demanding more all night. She ultimately lands on “Automatic” by the Pointer Sisters, which is a surprisingly great choice. If I was at that club I would hit the dance floor immediately. That groove is dope.
My song to start a DJ set would be “D.M.S.R.” It’s got a solid tempo for dancing. Easy to sing along to. Some wild party lyrics like, “work your body like a whore,” “screw the masses, we only want to have some fun,” and “girl it ain’t no sin, strip right down to your underwear.” Great call and response and a chorus everyone can sing along to. Classic Prince funk guitar. What more could you want? Actually, the more I think about it, screw being the DJ. I’d rather be in a cover band that plays that song.
OK, enough of my bullshit. Here are some facts. “D.M.S.R.” (Dance, Music, Sex, Romance) is the fifth track on Prince’s 1982 classic 1999. Strangely, when 1999 was originally released on CD “D.M.S.R.” was left off of the album because the entire double album wouldn’t fit on a 74-minute CD. When CDs increased to 80 minutes the song was re-added. All I know is I would’ve been PISSED to get a disc of 1999 without “D.M.S.R.” I’m not sure which song I would’ve left off, but it wouldn’t have been that one. That might be a good debate someday: If you had to remove one song from (insert album name here) which one would it be?
“D.M.S.R.” is great early-80’s Prince. Fun, funky, kind of nasty, a few cringeworthy lyrics. It checks all the boxes. I encourage you to play it at a party, bar, disco, club, barbecue, pool, or anywhere you want to have fun.
mookiefantana 