We’ve got a mysterious track today. In yesterday’s post I mentioned Prince’s pair of March 2009 albums. Yesterday’s track “No More Candy 4 U” was from MPLSound and today’s track “The Morning After” comes from Lotusflow3r…sort of. We’ll get back to that in a minute. Two albums released on the same day with two different sounds. Lotusflow3r is the more rock/guitar album of the two and from what I’ve seen, also the more critically acclaimed.
“The Morning After” is the 3rd track on the download version of the album that was released on Prince’s website lotusflow3r.com. The CD version that was released five days later removed “The Morning After” and replaced it with “Crimson and Clover.” Apparently “The Morning After” is something of a rarity because I’m looking all over the internet for a version to post on this page, but I can’t find it. I didn’t realize it was difficult to find until now because I have it. I was a member of lotusflow3r.com and purchased the original mp3 version. Here I’ve actually had access to this desirable Prince song and didn’t even realize it. I stumbled across a Reddit post on my search where someone had said how they’re trying to find the song because they heard it’s polarizing. Wow. I had no idea. So is it polarizing? Not really.
“The Morning After” is a nice song. It’s not unlike a lot of songs Prince did over the course of his career. It’s brief, clocking in at just 2:06. It has a peppy upbeat feel to it. In fact, it feels exactly like something you’d listen to in the morning to start your day. Well played, as always, Prince. This song should be background music during a movie montage showing someone happily getting ready for their day, then walking through a park on a sunny morning with a latte and a big happy smile. It would fit perfectly.
Ironically, once you dig in to the lyrics you realize the message to the song is the exact opposite. Prince has just woke up from a one night stand that seems to have ended awkwardly with a woman who has left him and made it obvious that she doesn’t want to see him again. Now he’s missing her and thinking he’s fallen in love with someone he just spent the night with, but she made it clear she wants nothing to do with him. I’ve seen this scenario a thousand times in TV and movies, but the genders are usually flipped. A guy leaving a woman and her day being ruined because she thought she met the one. Prince had a habit of flipping gender roles throughout his career. This song is no different. The juxtaposition of happy music and melancholy lyrics is what makes this song interesting. Too bad you can’t listen to it. I couldn’t find it, except in my own music library. You’ll have to come over if you want to check it out.
Instead, I posted a link to the Trailer for Episode 2 of The Story of Sign ‘O’ The Times Podcast. I know I said this yesterday, but it’s worth saying again: If you like Prince and you’re not listening to this podcast you’re missing out. As for “The Morning After,” it’s not a great Prince song, but it’s solid. If I didn’t have access to it I’m guessing I’d be driving myself crazy to hear it, even if it is everyday work by Prince’s standards. Still worth a listen.
Have a happy Saturday. Stay safe out there.
mookiefantana 