Let me be honest tonight. I had a long day at work. I watched the entire Democratic National Convention this week. I’m basking the glow of that phenomenal Biden speech. I have to leave my house at 5:15 tomorrow morning. I’ve painted myself in to a corner. This is the argument for stockpiling a few of these posts so I can just have one ready for a night like tonight. Instead midnight is here and I have nothing written about today’s song, “X’s Face.” I’m going to be brief.
“X’s Face is from Prince’s penultimate album, 2015’s Hitnrun Phase One. The song was recorded in the summer of 2014, which means Prince was 56 years old when he recorded it. 56! Call me ageist, but this is not music I expect from a 56-year-old. This song is a banger. “X’s Face” is a collaboration with Joshua Welton, husband of 3rdEyeGirl drummer Hannah Welton. Welton is credited with keyboard and drum programming and he brought it, because this track bangs. The kind of song with bass that you can feel in your chest. On many songs like this throughout his career Prince tended to rap, but instead here he unleashes the falsetto leaving listeners with an interesting contrast.
“X’s Face” is yet another demonstration of Prince’s superhuman ability. When I think of people making music as they’re nearing 60 I expect it to sound like James Taylor. That’s not necessarily a knock on James Taylor as there’s a time and place for that kind of music, but Prince was going for something else. Prince was still making people get on the dance floor and shake their ass. He was still getting parties started. It’s a damn shame we never got to see what 60-year-old Prince could’ve done.
OK, I’m gonna try to get a few hours of sleep. Happy Friday, y’all.
mookiefantana 