Prince Parade: Controversy (1981)
Prince Parade is UNHNGD's weekly column on the great Purple One: Highlighting key albums to initiate the newcomer and re-energize the existing fan to Prince's vast and mighty catalog, providing brief reviews and advice on how to complement your listening experience.
CONTROVERSY (1981)
Prince is performing sweaty & topless, in bikini briefs, often in a trench coat. He’s auditioning purple into his wardrobe - Singing about sex, questioning his gender, race, and politics. Something is shifting, and he’s bringing in musicians that would become The Revolution.
Perhaps the pieces are also falling into place for you. You’re coming up on something big. Sure, you’ve got your doubts, but things are about to change. Maybe you’re about to start a new job, perhaps you’re about to end an old one. A big move, moving in with someone, moving out; not everyone’s happy about it, but enough people support your decision.
There’s a lot to do before your big change so let this album be your soundtrack. You’ve got busy work: boxing things up and letting folks know what’s happening. But remember to take care of yourself; self-preservation – Controversy reminds you to move your body – dance, go for a walk, relieve some tension (perhaps with Prince on “Do Me, Baby”).
Controversy has sometimes been seen as a throwaway album with somewhat failing sales, but I think it’s more of a companion piece to Dirty Mind and a response to the attention he got from it. It’s a prolific period because the transitioning requires some double-dutying. Prince is garnering a lot of attention, but he’s withholding some of his best & new sounds for next year.
The ride ahead will be wild and unexpected so let Controversy remind you that you’re a badass and on the right track.
Listen to Controversy on Spotify, Apple Music, or YouTube