Erotic City
Encyclopedia
"Erotic City" is a song by the musician Prince
. It was released as the B-side to the 1984 single "Let's Go Crazy
" and the 12" version of the 1986 single "Girls & Boys
". The dance mix of "Erotic City" was released as a 3" and 5" CD single in Germany in 1989 and 1990 respectively. The artwork for the single features the same image of Prince that was used for the cover of "I Would Die 4 U
", the extended version of which is the B-side of "Erotic City".
The song starts with a guitar string plucked and whammied, before dropping into the drum track. The experimental number relies on a strong bass
line and a simple keyboard
riff. The song features Prince's voice both sped up and slowed down at various times to sound like different singers. Also featured is Sheila E.
, in her recording debut, who would become a close associate with Prince and work with him extensively over the years. Even though the song was a B-side to a #1 hit, it received significant radio play itself.
The song was quite notable for its sexual references, and the use of the word "fuck
", although people have claimed the word was actually "funk
", allowing it to be played on the radio. However, the Federal Communications Commission
has in the past levied fines against stations that played the song for broadcasting allegedly indecent material, including KLUC-FM in Las Vegas, Nevada
; KTFM
in San Antonio, Texas
; and KBZR (now KEXX) in Phoenix, Arizona
.
"Erotic City" has been heard in the 1996 Spike Lee
film Girl 6
, and was re-released on CD on the Girl 6
soundtrack, and The Hits/The B-Sides
in 1993.
* also available as a 3" Mini-CD
Prince (musician)
Prince Rogers Nelson , often known simply as Prince, is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and actor. Prince has produced ten platinum albums and thirty Top 40 singles during his career. Prince founded his own recording studio and label; writing, self-producing and playing most, or all, of...
. It was released as the B-side to the 1984 single "Let's Go Crazy
Let's Go Crazy
"Let's Go Crazy" is a 1984 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album, Purple Rain. It was the opening track on both the album, and the film Purple Rain. "Let's Go Crazy" is one of Prince's most popular songs, and is almost always a staple for concert performances, often segueing into other...
" and the 12" version of the 1986 single "Girls & Boys
Girls & Boys (Prince song)
"Girls & Boys" is a 1986 song by Prince and The Revolution, from the album Parade, the soundtrack to the film Under the Cherry Moon. The song was released as a single in the U.K., and as the B-side to "Anotherloverholenyohead" in the U.S.....
". The dance mix of "Erotic City" was released as a 3" and 5" CD single in Germany in 1989 and 1990 respectively. The artwork for the single features the same image of Prince that was used for the cover of "I Would Die 4 U
I Would Die 4 U
"I Would Die 4 U" is a song by Prince and The Revolution, and the fourth single in the U.S. from their 1984 album, Purple Rain. The up-tempo dance song was a top 10 hit in the U.S., reaching number 8 on the Hot 100....
", the extended version of which is the B-side of "Erotic City".
The song starts with a guitar string plucked and whammied, before dropping into the drum track. The experimental number relies on a strong bass
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
line and a simple keyboard
Keyboard instrument
A keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
riff. The song features Prince's voice both sped up and slowed down at various times to sound like different singers. Also featured is Sheila E.
Sheila E.
Sheila Escovedo , known by her stage name Sheila E., is an American drummer and percussionist, perhaps best known for her work with Prince, George Duke and Ringo Starr.-Early life and Prince period:...
, in her recording debut, who would become a close associate with Prince and work with him extensively over the years. Even though the song was a B-side to a #1 hit, it received significant radio play itself.
The song was quite notable for its sexual references, and the use of the word "fuck
Fuck
"Fuck" is an English word that is generally considered obscene which, in its most literal meaning, refers to the act of sexual intercourse. By extension it may be used to negatively characterize anything that can be dismissed, disdained, defiled, or destroyed."Fuck" can be used as a verb, adverb,...
", although people have claimed the word was actually "funk
Funk
Funk is a music genre that originated in the mid-late 1960s when African American musicians blended soul music, jazz and R&B into a rhythmic, danceable new form of music. Funk de-emphasizes melody and harmony and brings a strong rhythmic groove of electric bass and drums to the foreground...
", allowing it to be played on the radio. However, the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
has in the past levied fines against stations that played the song for broadcasting allegedly indecent material, including KLUC-FM in Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
; KTFM
KTFM
KTFM is a rhythmic leaning Top 40 radio station serving the San Antonio area. The Border Media Properties outlet operates at 94.1 MHz with an effective radiated power of 40 kW and its city of license is Floresville, Texas.-History:...
in San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio, Texas
San Antonio is the seventh-largest city in the United States of America and the second-largest city within the state of Texas, with a population of 1.33 million. Located in the American Southwest and the south–central part of Texas, the city serves as the seat of Bexar County. In 2011,...
; and KBZR (now KEXX) in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
.
"Erotic City" has been heard in the 1996 Spike Lee
Spike Lee
Shelton Jackson "Spike" Lee is an American film director, producer, writer, and actor. His production company, 40 Acres & A Mule Filmworks, has produced over 35 films since 1983....
film Girl 6
Girl 6
Girl 6 may refer to:*Girl 6, a 1996 film by Spike Lee*Girl 6 , the soundtrack for the film, composed by Prince*“Girl 6” , the title song for the soundtrack...
, and was re-released on CD on the Girl 6
Girl 6 (album)
Girl 6 is a soundtrack album by Prince, released on March 19, 1996. The album is the soundtrack of the Spike Lee film of the same name. Girl 6 consists of mostly previously released songs from Prince and related artists such as The Family, Vanity 6, and The New Power Generation...
soundtrack, and The Hits/The B-Sides
The Hits/The B-Sides
-Disc 2 :-Disc 3 :...
in 1993.
CD maxi-single: Paisley Park/Warner Bros. Records 21185 (Germany)
- 1. "Erotic City" (Dance Mix) – 7:24
- 2. "I Would Die 4 U" (extended version) – 10:15
Cover versions
- George ClintonGeorge Clinton (musician)George Clinton is an American singer, songwriter, bandleader, and music producer and the principal architect of P-Funk. He was the mastermind of the bands Parliament and Funkadelic during the 1970s and early 1980s, and launched a solo career in 1981. He has been cited as one of the foremost...
covered "Erotic City" for the 1994 film PCUPCU (film)PCU is a 1994 comedy film. The film depicts college life at the fictional Port Chester University, and represents "an exaggerated view of contemporary college life...." The film is based on the experiences of writers Adam Leff and Zak Penn at...
. - Arto LindsayArto LindsayArthur Morgan Lindsay is an American guitarist, singer, record producer and experimental composer. He is a 1974 graduate of Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida....
recorded a version for his 1996 album, Mundo Civilizado. - SemisonicSemisonicSemisonic is an American alternative rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1995. The band consisted of three members: Dan Wilson , John Munson , and Jacob Slichter...
covered it on its 1998 maxi-single, Singing In My Sleep. - BerlinBerlin (band)Berlin is an American New Wave/Synthpop band. The group was formed in Los Angeles in 1978 by John Crawford . The band contained Crawford, Terri Nunn , David Diamond , Ric Olsen , Matt Reid and Rod Learned . Learned left during the first EU tour and was replaced by Rob Brill...
recorded a version on its 2005 album, 4play. - Yo La TengoYo La TengoYo La Tengo, sometimes abbreviated as YLT, is an American alternative rock band formed in Hoboken, New Jersey in 1984. Since 1992, the lineup has consisted of Ira Kaplan , Georgia Hubley , and James McNew .Despite achieving limited mainstream success, Yo La Tengo has been called "the quintessential...
bassist James McNewJames McNewJames McNew has been the bass player for the rock band Yo La Tengo since their 1992 album May I Sing With Me.He was previously a member of Christmas on their third album Vortex.[]He also has a solo side project, Dump....
's sideproject DumpDump (band)Dump is a vehicle for releasing the four-track home recordings of Yo La Tengo bassist James McNew. His recordings occasionally feature guest performers such as Sue Garner and Fontaine Toups...
recorded a version on That Skinny Motherfucker with the High Voice? an entire album of Prince covers. - SupaflySupaflySupafly is a UK dance act composed of Panos Liassi and Andrew Tumi . The act is led by DJ and producer, Mister P....
released a 12-inch single of "Erotic City" in 2004. - Karter Louis covered the song on his 2007 album "Still the Redux Album"
Samples
- DiddySean CombsSean John Combs , also known by his stage names Diddy and P. Diddy, is an American rapper, singer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur. He has won three Grammy Awards and two MTV Video Music Awards, and his clothing line earned a Council of Fashion Designers of America award. He was originally...
sampled the track on "Last Night (The Official Bad Boy Remix)Last Night (Diddy song)"Last Night" is the third single off Diddy's album, Press Play. It features R&B singer Keyshia Cole. The radio edit version is on Keyshia Cole's second album Just like You. Part of the recording session was shown on Keyshia Cole's reality show, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is, on BET in July 2006...
" on his album Press Play (2006). - Ashanti's 2007 single "Hey Baby (After The Club)" uses a sample from the drum beat.