The Question Of U
{{song-2|
|song name = The Question Of U
|single image =
from the album Graffiti Bridge
|performer = Prince
|first released = 20 August 1990 - Graffiti Bridge album
|album(s) = Graffiti Bridge
|writer(s) = Prince
|producer(s) = Prince
|previous song = Qualified
|next song = R U Ready?
|introduction = The Question Of U is the fourth track on Prince’s twelfth album Graffiti Bridge. The song also features in the movie Graffiti Bridge.
In 2004, a live version (as The ? Of U) in a medley with Fallin’ and The One was offered as both audio and video by NPG Music Club for $5.55 for members ($7.77 for non-members).
In 2007, a live version using the lyrics of The One, was included as the 14th track on Prince’s fourth live album Indigo Nights (credited only as The One).
The song started of as an instrumental committed to tape during the so-called “Paisley Jam” on 28 December 1985 at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California with Sheila E., Levi Seacer, Jr. and Eric Leeds (that also produced Madrid, Breathless, Slaughterhouse, U Just Can’t Stop, Run Amok High Calonic and Mobile). It was named 12 Keys by [[Eric Leeds], who named all the tracks from the session
It is unknown if this version was ever considered for The Flesh album or any other project.
In July 1986 a new version was cut by Prince alone in his Galpin Blvd Home Studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. This re-recording was shelved until Prince began work on Graffiti Bridge and in the Autumn of 1987, he pulled it out again to recorded additional parts.
A year later it was later included as the fifth track on the 25 September 1988 configuration of Graffiti Bridge, and remained there for the late 1989 configuration, before switching places with Elephants & Flowers for the 1990 configuration, to become the fourth track, where it remained for release. What appears on the album is in fact an edit. The original version ran about a minute longer.
In March 1990 Clare Fischer recorded string overdubs for the song at Mad Hatter Studios in Los Angeles, California, and while they were not utilized in the released version, parts of it can be heard in the live version of the song as it was played on the Nude Tour.
A single of The Question Of U was also planned, but this was not released.
|recording info =
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|28 December 1985
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Sunset Sound - Studio 3,
Hollywood, CA, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Basic tracking, mix (12 Keys)
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|29 December 1985
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Sunset Sound,
Hollywood, CA, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Horn overdubs, mix (12 Keys)
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|6 July 1986
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Galpin Blvd Home Studio,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Basic tracking, overdubs (re-recording)
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|October 1987 (estimate)
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Paisley Park Studios,
Chanhassen, MN, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Additional recording
|- align="left"
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|March 1990
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Mad Hatter Studios,
Los Angeles, CA, USA
|style="border-top:1px dotted #ccc;"|Orchestra overdubs by Clare Fischer
|recording personnel =
The Question Of U
- Prince - all vocals and instruments
- Eddie Garcia – engineer (1987 overdubs)
12 Keys
- Prince - piano & guitar
- Sheila E. - drums
- Levi Seacer, Jr. - bass guitar
- Eric Leeds - saxophone & flute
|released versions =
Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Question Of U | 3:59 | Graffiti Bridge | Studio | |
The Question Of U | 6:04 | NPG Ahdio Show # 11 mp3 (not available as a separate track) | Rehearsal | Unknown recording date and location (Paisley Park Studios in Chanhassen, Minnesota is likely) |
The ? Of U, Fallin’, The One | 10:59 | NPG Music Club .wma download | Live | a.k.a. 2004 Tour Audio; 7 April 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA |
|sampled in = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Sampled, Referred to, Quoted in...
|- | valign="top"|
Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
---|---|---|---|---|
Soul Psychodelicide | Studio | Unreleased 1989 track | ||
Graffiti Bridge Cue | 2:27 | Graffiti Bridge DVD | Studio | Instrumental interpolation heard in the background |
The One | 9:07 | Indigo Nights | Live | 22 September 2007 am, 3121 at The IndigO2, London, England; includes musical backing of The Question Of U |
|video versions = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Video Versions
|- | valign="top"|
Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Question Of U | 3:59 | Graffiti Bridge DVD | Live promo video | 31 August 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan; see The Question Of U for details |
The ? Of U, Fallin’, The One | 10:59 | NPG Music Club .wmv download | Live | a.k.a. 2004 Tour Video; 7 April 2004, Qwest Center, Omaha, NE, USA |
|broadcasts, streaming = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Broadcasts/streaming (only)
|- | valign="top"|
Title | Length | Released | Version | Additional info |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Question Of U | T.B.C. | Live concert radio broadcast | Live | 22 July 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain; short version during piano medley |
The Question Of U | T.B.C. | Live concert radio broadcast | Live | 22 July 1990, Estadio Vicente Calderón, Madrid, Spain; incl. Electric Man lyrics |
The Question Of U | T.B.C. | Delayed concert TV broadcast | Live | 29 July 1990, Estadio Santa María del Mar, La Coruña, Spain |
The Question Of U | T.B.C. | Delayed concert TV broadcast | Live | 31 August 1990, Tokyo Dome (東京ドーム), Tokyo, Japan; incl. Electric Man lyrics; edited for The Question Of U promo video |
The Question Of U / The One | T.B.C. | Live concert online stream | Live | 10 May 2015, Baltimore, MN, USA, Royal Farms Arena; incl. Electric Man |
|unreleased versions = |- |style="color:#AB3E00" |Unreleased Versions
|- | valign="top"|
Title | Version | Additional Info |
---|---|---|
The Question Of U | Studio | Original 1985 version |
12 Keys | Studio | part of so called ‘Paisley jam’ |
12 Keys | Studio | Same as above, but with sax overdubs |
The Question Of U | Studio | 1986 version |
The Question Of U | Studio | 1990 version with later discarded orchestra overdubs by Clare Fischer |
|first live appearance = 30 April 1990: Rupert’s, Golden Valley, MN, USA
|performed regularly on =Nude Tour
|performed occasionally in = 1990, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2010 (instrumental in a medley with The One lyrics, 2011 (instrumental in a medley with The One lyrics, 2012 (instrumental in a medley with The One lyrics , 2013 (instrumental in a medley with The One lyrics , 2015 (instrumental in a medley with The One lyrics |trivia = In the handwritten 2 December 1987 version of the script for Graffiti Bridge, instead of the lyric All of the questions in my life will be answered, When I decide which road 2 choose it reads Music is like an amusement park, each cord a ride and I don’t know which one 2 do. |see also = Graffiti Bridge album
- Graffiti Bridge movie
- The Question Of U unreleased single
|references = The Vault: The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince (2004) |categories = }}