Power From Above

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Power From Above

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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 Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota (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 Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, 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