Controversy (song)

"Controversy"
1981 U.S 7" single
Single by Prince
from the album Controversy, The Hits 2
B-side	1981: "When You Were Mine" 1993: "The Future" (US) "Glam Slam", "D.M.S.R.", "Anotherloverholenyohead", "Paisley Park", "New Power Generation (Part II)" (UK CD)
Released	September 2, 1981 (original) 1993 (Hits 2) March 29, 2004 (2004 release)
Format	7" single, 12" single, CD single, cassette single, digital download
Recorded	Uptown, Sunset Sound, Hollywood Sound, 1981 (Original) Hawaii, December 2003 (2004 release)
Genre	Pop, funk, New Wave, synthpop
Length	3:39 (7inch edit); 7:14 (album); 6:06 (2004 release)
Label	Warner Bros. (original) NPG (2004 release)
Writer(s)	Prince
Producer	Prince
Prince singles chronology
"Dirty Mind" (1980) "Controversy" (1981) "Let's Work" (1981)
Prince (UK) chronology "Gotta Stop (Messin' About)" (1981) "Controversy" (1981) "Let's Work" (1981) Prince (1993) chronology "Peach" (1993) ... "The Most Beautiful Girl In the World" (1994) Prince (UK) (1993) chronology "Peach" (1993) "Controversy" (1993) "The Most Beautiful Girl In the World" (1994) Prince (2004) chronology "Bataclan" (2004) "Controversy (Live in Hawaii)" (2004) "Musicology" (2004) Alternative covers 1993 UK CD single 2004 CD single

"Controversy" is the title track and lead single to the 1981 album by Prince.^[1] One of his most respected classic funk songs, "Controversy" addresses certain speculation about Prince at the time such as his sexuality, religion and racial background, and how he could not understand the curiosity about him.

The song has two main verses, a few choruses, with the title repeated throughout the track. Towards the middle he recites the Lord's Prayer in full, which fueled the fire for some to say the song was blasphemous. Toward the end is a repeating chant of "People call me rude / I wish we all were nude / I wish there was no black and white / I wish there were no rules." The song is straight funk with a steady drumbeat, synthesized bass, "chicken grease" guitar and keyboards. The song was backed with "When You Were Mine", from his previous album, Dirty Mind.

In 1993, in support of The Hits/The B-Sides, "Controversy" was once again released in the UK as a single, this time as a two-disc EP containing several hits not on the collection. CD1 includes the edit of "Controversy", the William Orbit remix of "The Future", "Glam Slam", and "D.M.S.R.". CD2 includes the edit of "Controversy", "Anotherloverholenyohead", "Paisley Park", and "New Power Generation (Part II)". Like the "Peach" single, CD1 was a special foldout package with a place holder for CD2, which was sold separately. "Controversy" was also released on a 7" picture disc.

"Controversy" is considered Prince's breakthrough hit in Australia, where it peaked at number 15.

Official Versions

• "Controversy" (7inch Edit) / (Single Version) - 3:39
• "Controversy" (Album Version) - 7:14
• "Controversy" (2004 Release) - 6:06

Live in Hawaii

"Controversy (Live in Hawaii)" is a digital single made available for sale on Prince's website on March 29, 2004. The single consists of a live performance of the song: "Controversy", recorded on tour in Hawaii in 2003. The track also saw a limited release as a CD single, only available as part of a Prince in Hawaii Gift Box, available from Prince's retail outlet.

Samples

• Prince included a sample of this song in the opening of his 1992 song "My Name Is Prince".
• The Jungle Brothers track "Black is Black", from their 1988 album Straight out the Jungle, features a sample of "Controversy".

References

1. ^ http://www.discogs.com/Prince-Controversy/master/102385

Preceded by "Menergy" / "I Wanna Take You Home" by Patrick Cowley

Billboard Hot Dance Club Play number-one single (with "Let's Work") November 14, 1981

Succeeded by "You Can" / "Fire in My Heart" by Madleen Kane