Difference between revisions of "United States Of Division"
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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]]. | 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) 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. | + | 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. It is suspected the 2024 release wasn't a new mix by design. All signs point to it that it is accidentally a different mix than the version it is supposed to commemorate, from 20 years prior. |
|recording info = | |recording info = | ||
{{RecordingLine| | {{RecordingLine| | ||
− | |date = January 2004 | + | |date = January 2004 (assumed) |
|studio = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed) | |studio = [[Paisley Park Studios]],<br>Chanhassen, MN, USA (assumed) | ||
|additional info = Tracking | |additional info = Tracking | ||
Line 24: | Line 24: | ||
*[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted | *[[Prince]] - all vocals and instruments, except where noted | ||
*[[Rhonda Smith]] - bass and background vox | *[[Rhonda Smith]] - bass and background vox | ||
− | *[[John Blackwell]] - | + | *[[John Blackwell]] - drums |
− | *[[Renato Neto]] | + | *[[Renato Neto]] - keyboards |
− | *[[Chance Howard]] - | + | *[[Chance Howard]] - keyboards |
+ | *[[Rose Ann Dimalanta|rad.]] - keyboards | ||
*[[Greg Boyer]] - trombone | *[[Greg Boyer]] - trombone | ||
*[[Maceo Parker]] - saxophone | *[[Maceo Parker]] - saxophone | ||
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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]] splash page at the time the download became available:<br> | + | |trivia = The lyrics contain a reference to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brian_De_Palma Brian De Palma]’s 1983 film [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarface_(1983_film) Scarface] and a (cleaned) quote (''"who you think you’re messing with?''"). A quote from this film is also included in the extended version of [[I Wish U Heaven]]. |
+ | *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 | ||
− | |references = | + | |references = [https://www.instagram.com/p/C5gFHQJNqOI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Rose Ann Dimalantatrio IG] |
|categories = [[Category:2004]][[Category:Recorded 2004]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]] | |categories = [[Category:2004]][[Category:Recorded 2004]][[Category:Songs (Prince)]][[Category:Released Songs (Prince)]] | ||
}} | }} |
Latest revision as of 10:15, 30 April 2024
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United States Of Division |
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