Difference between revisions of "United States Of Division"
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|first released = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 4|4 July 2004]] - [[NPG Music Club]] download | |first released = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 4|4 July 2004]] - [[NPG Music Club]] download | ||
|album(s) = None | |album(s) = None | ||
− | |writer(s) = [[Prince]] (assumed) | + | |writer(s) = [[Prince]] <small>(assumed)</small> |
|producer(s) = [[Prince]] | |producer(s) = [[Prince]] | ||
|previous song = [[Undisputed]] | |previous song = [[Undisputed]] | ||
|next song = [[Uno]] | |next song = [[Uno]] | ||
− | |introduction = '''United States Of Division''' was released on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 4|4 July 2004]], Independence Day in the USA, as a "virtual b-side" to [[Single: Cinnamon Girl|Cinnamon Girl]]. Four months later, it was included on the European CD single of [[Single: Cinnamon Girl|Cinnamon Girl]], but was not included on the US edition of the single, for unknown reasons. | + | |introduction = '''United States Of Division''' was released on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/July 4|4 July 2004]], Independence Day in the USA, as a "virtual b-side" to [[Single: Cinnamon Girl|Cinnamon Girl]]. Four months later, it was included on the European CD single of [[Single: Cinnamon Girl|Cinnamon Girl]], but was not included on the US edition of the single, for unknown reasons. |
− | Specific recording dates are unknown, but the track was recorded in January 2004, likely at [[Paisley Park Studios]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota. | + | Specific recording dates are unknown, but the track was recorded in January 2004, likely at [[Paisley Park Studios]] in Chanhassen, Minnesota. The song quotes the line ''O say can you see'' from the patriotic song [[The Star Spangled Banner]]. |
− | On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 5|5 April 2024]], a slightly different mix of the song with more prominent horns was released as a stand alone digital track by [[Prince]]’s estate (in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the [[Album: Musicology|Musicology]] album). | + | On [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/April 5|5 April 2024]], a slightly different mix of the song with more prominent horns was released as a stand alone digital track by [[Prince]]’s estate (in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the [[Album: Musicology|Musicology]] album) with this announcement (published a few hours after the availability of the song): ''<blockquote>"Today, to commemorate 2 decades of Musicology, NPG Records and Paisley Park Enterprises, in partnership with Sony Music Entertainment, have released '''United States Of Division''', a rare 2004 [[Prince]] recording that was initially offered as a virtual B-side download for [[Single: Cinnamon Girl|Cinnamon Girl]] exclusively from [[Prince]]’s [[NPG Music Club]] and eventually as a non-LP bonus track for the UK CD [[Single: Cinnamon Girl|single of Cinnamon Girl]], but has not been distributed via streaming services until now.<br>'''United States Of Division''' is a powerful protest song that sees [[Prince]] boldly confronting the social and political issues that continue to plague the nation to this day. Over a percussive backbeat and slinking bassline colored by synths and horn stabs, [[Prince]] laments the state of a fractured nation: “How far from heaven must we go? / Before the winds of change will blow and show / This world how it's supposed to be / Land of peace and harmony.” Released in the midst of the US war in Iraq, '''United States Of Division''' serves as a potent reminder of [[Prince]]’s often underappreciated passion for social commentary. While [[Prince]]’s 2004 lyrics may be referring to a past era, his unyielding stance on inequality remains ever so relevant in the turbulent socio-political landscape of the present. The timelessness of his songwriting once again serves as a reminder that music has the power to bring people together.<br> "It's obvious that there's an agenda against the disenfranchised and the uneducated," according to [[Prince]] during the Musicology era, "so ultimately, I think, to counter that, we're gonna have to talk to one another. One of the ways we used to do that was through our music…"</blockquote>'' Oddly, this announcement does not emphasize the fact that this version is different from the one released in 2004. |
|recording info = | |recording info = | ||
{{RecordingLine| | {{RecordingLine| | ||
− | |date = January 2004 | + | |date = January 2004 |
|studio = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed) | |studio = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed) | ||
|additional info = Tracking | |additional info = Tracking | ||
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|recording personnel = | |recording personnel = | ||
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted | *[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted | ||
− | *[[Rhonda Smith]] - background vox | + | *[[Rhonda Smith]] - bass and background vox |
− | *[[Candy Dulfer]] - background vox | + | *[[John Blackwell]] - drums |
− | + | *[[Renato Neto]] - keyboards | |
+ | *[[Chance Howard]] - keyboard | ||
+ | *[[Greg Boyer]] - trombone | ||
+ | *[[Maceo Parker]] - saxophone | ||
+ | *[[Candy Dulfer]] - saxophone and background vox | ||
|released versions = | |released versions = | ||
{{Songchart| | {{Songchart| | ||
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|performed occasionally in = none | |performed occasionally in = none | ||
|performed regularly on = none | |performed regularly on = none | ||
− | |trivia = Screenshot of [[NPG Music Club]] | + | |trivia = Screenshot of [[NPG Music Club]] splash page at the time the download became available:<br> |
:[[File:Unitedstatesofdivision_screenshot.jpg|200px]] | :[[File:Unitedstatesofdivision_screenshot.jpg|200px]] | ||
|see also = [[Single: Cinnamon Girl|Cinnamon Girl]] single | |see also = [[Single: Cinnamon Girl|Cinnamon Girl]] single |
Revision as of 19:39, 7 April 2024
Undisputed < < < | Non-Prince Songs | All Prince Songs | Unreleased Songs | > > > Uno |
United States Of Division |
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Additional Information
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Undisputed < < < | All Songs | Unreleased Songs | > > > Uno |