Power From Above: Difference between revisions

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{{song-3|
{{song-3|
|song name                = Power From Above
|song name                = Power From Above
|single image              = [[File:Unreleasedsong.jpg|link=Unreleased Songs]]
|single image              = [[File:Unreleasedsong.jpg|Link= Unreleased Songs]]
|performer                = [[Carmen Electra]]
|performer                = [[Carmen Electra]]
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]], Karen "K-Dean" Cover and Chris Tyler
|writer(s)                = [[Prince]], Karen "K-Dean" Cover and Chris Tyler
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]] (assumed)
|producer(s)              = [[Prince]] <small>(assumed)</small>
|previous song            = [[Power Fantastic]]
|previous song            = [[Power Fantastic]]
|next song                = [[Prettyman]]
|next song                = [[Prettyman]]
|introduction              = '''Power From Above''' is an unreleased song recorded on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_26|26 August 1991]] at [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA (the day before the release of the album [[Album: Martika's Kitchen|Martika's Kitchen]]) for [[Carmen Electra]]'s first album, which was planned to be called [[Album: Carmen Electra|On Top]]. It was included as the first track on a configuration compiled on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June_15|15 June 1992]].  
|introduction              = '''Power From Above''' is an unreleased song recorded on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_26|26 August 1991]] at [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood or [http://www.larrabeestudios.com/ Larrabee Sound Studios], North Hollywood, California, USA (the day before the release of the album [[Album: Martika’s Kitchen|Martika’s Kitchen]]) for [[Carmen Electra]]’s first album, which was planned to be called [[Album: Carmen Electra|On Top]]. It was included as the first track on a configuration compiled on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June_15|15 June 1992]].  


The track was credited as written by [[Prince]], Karen "K-Dean" Cover and Chris Tyler on the credits printed for this configuration of the album. The song was ultimately rejected from the album, however, and the album was renamed [[Album: Carmen Electra|Carmen Electra]]. [[Prince]] plays most of the instruments and can be heard reciting a few lines in the same voice as on [[Black M.F. In The House]] (although the use there was not a sample from this song).  
The song was ultimately rejected from the album, however, and the album was renamed [[Album: Carmen Electra|Carmen Electra]]. '''Power From Above''' was written by [[Prince]], Karen "K-Dean" Cover and Chris Tyler. [[Prince]] plays most of the instruments and can be heard reciting a few lines in the same voice as on [[Black M.F. In The House]] (although the use there was not a sample from this song). He is also on background vocals with [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples] and [[Jevetta Steele]].


The song reuses the phrasing "Hey, we got the power, oh, we got the soul" previously used in both [[We Got The Power]] and [[Batdance]]. One version of the song also contains a spoken sample of "We will not give up the fight" coming from a speech by Black Panther and activist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhoruba_al-Mujahid_bin_Wahad Dhoruba al-Mujahid bin Wahad]. A repeated phrase of "What are you thinking of, you need the power from above" is sung by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_LaBelle Patti LaBelle].
The song reuses the phrasing "Hey, we got the power, oh, we got the soul" previously used in both [[We Got The Power]] and [[Batdance]] and a synth-line borrowed from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Springsteen Bruce Springsteen]’s song "[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Born_in_the_U.S.A._(song) Born In The U.S.A]." One version of the song also contains a spoken sample of "We will not give up the fight" coming from a speech by Black Panther and activist [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhoruba_al-Mujahid_bin_Wahad Dhoruba al-Mujahid bin Wahad].  
|recording info            =
|recording info            =
{{RecordingLine|
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_26|26 August 1991]]
|date                      = [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/August_26|26 August 1991]]
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]], Hollywood, CA, USA
|studio                    = [[Sunset Sound]],<br>Hollywood, CA, USA <br>or <br> [http://www.larrabeestudios.com/ Larrabee Sound Studios], <br> North Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = Initial tracking
|additional info          = Tracking
}}
{{RecordingLine|
|date                      = 1991
|studio                    = [http://www.larrabeestudios.com/ Larrabee Sound Studios], <br> North Hollywood, CA, USA
|additional info          = overdub/mix
}}
}}
|recording personnel      =  
|recording personnel      =  
*[[Carmen Electra]] - vocals
*[[Carmen Electra]] - vocals
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_LaBelle Patti LaBelle] - background vocals
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples] - background vocals
*[[Jevetta Steele]] - background vocals
*[[Jevetta Steele]] - background vocals
*[[Prince]] - spoken vocals and all instruments, except where noted (assumed)
*[[Prince]] - spoken and background vocals and all instruments, except where noted (assumed)
*Brian "B-Quick" Crisp - scratching
*Brian "B-Quick" Crisp - scratching
|unreleased versions      =  
|unreleased versions      =  
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|1= '''Power From Above'''
|1= '''Power From Above'''
|2= Studio
|2= Studio
|3= 1991 version with Martin Luther King, Jr. repeated sample; included on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June_15|15 June 1992]] configuration of [[Album: Carmen Electra|On Top]]
|3= 1991 version with [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhoruba_al-Mujahid_bin_Wahad Dhoruba al-Mujahid bin Wahad] repeated sample; included on [[Prince_Vault:Selected_anniversaries/June_15|15 June 1992]] configuration of [[Album: Carmen Electra|On Top]]
}}
}}
}}
}}
Line 41: Line 46:
|broadcasts, streaming    =
|broadcasts, streaming    =
|sampled in                =
|sampled in                =
|first live appearance    = This track is not believed to have been performed live by [[Prince]].
|first live appearance    = [[02 June 1992|02 June 1992, Sporthalle, Cologne, Germany]] <small>(during [[Carmen Electra]] opening act, possibly performed earlier on tour, no [[Prince]] input)</small>
*This song is not known to have been performed live by [[Prince]].
|performed regularly on    = none
|performed regularly on    = none
|performed occasionally in = none
|performed occasionally in = [[All Concerts#1992|1992]] <small>(during [[Carmen Electra]] opening act, no [[Prince]] input)</small>
|trivia                    =  
|trivia                    = It was long believed that [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patti_LaBelle Patti LaBelle] sang on that track. Karen "K-Dean" Cover, one of the co-writers, has confirmed that Labelle was not involved in '''Power From Above'''. The background vocals are sung by [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mavis_Staples Mavis Staples], [[Jevetta Steele]] and [[Prince]].
|see also                  = [[Unreleased Songs]]
|see also                  = [[Unreleased Songs]]
*[[Carmen Electra]]
*[[Carmen Electra]]
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''
|references                = ''[[Book:_The_Vault|The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004)]]''
|categories                = [[Category:1991]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Associated Artists)]][[Category:Unreleased Songs]][[Category:Recorded 1991]]
|categories                = [[Category:1991]][[Category:Recorded 1991]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Songs (Associated Artists)]][[Category:Unreleased Songs]]
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 09:17, 11 October 2024

Power Fantastic   < < < Non-Prince Songs All Prince Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Prettyman
Power From Above
Song details
Performer: Carmen Electra
Writer(s): Prince, Karen "K-Dean" Cover and Chris Tyler
Producer(s): Prince (assumed)
Live Appearances
First and last live appearance:
Performed regularly on tour:
  • none
Performed occasionally in shows:

Power From Above is an unreleased song recorded on 26 August 1991 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood or Larrabee Sound Studios, North Hollywood, California, USA (the day before the release of the album Martika’s Kitchen) for Carmen Electra’s first album, which was planned to be called On Top. It was included as the first track on a configuration compiled on 15 June 1992.

The song was ultimately rejected from the album, however, and the album was renamed Carmen Electra. Power From Above was written by Prince, Karen "K-Dean" Cover and Chris Tyler. Prince plays most of the instruments and can be heard reciting a few lines in the same voice as on Black M.F. In The House (although the use there was not a sample from this song). He is also on background vocals with Mavis Staples and Jevetta Steele.

The song reuses the phrasing "Hey, we got the power, oh, we got the soul" previously used in both We Got The Power and Batdance and a synth-line borrowed from Bruce Springsteen’s song "Born In The U.S.A." One version of the song also contains a spoken sample of "We will not give up the fight" coming from a speech by Black Panther and activist Dhoruba al-Mujahid bin Wahad.


Recording Information
Recording Sessions
Date Studio Additional info
26 August 1991 Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
or
Larrabee Sound Studios,
North Hollywood, CA, USA 		Tracking
1991 Larrabee Sound Studios,
North Hollywood, CA, USA 		overdub/mix
Recording Personnel

Versions
Unreleased Versions
Title Version Additional Info
Power From Above Studio Recorded 26 August 1991
Power From Above Studio 1991 version with Dhoruba al-Mujahid bin Wahad repeated sample; included on 15 June 1992 configuration of On Top


 
Additional Information
See also Trivia
  • It was long believed that Patti LaBelle sang on that track. Karen "K-Dean" Cover, one of the co-writers, has confirmed that Labelle was not involved in Power From Above. The background vocals are sung by Mavis Staples, Jevetta Steele and Prince.
References
Power Fantastic   < < < All Songs Unreleased Songs > > >   Prettyman
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