Pop Life
Encyclopedia
"Pop Life" is a song by Prince
and The Revolution
. It was the second U.S.
(and final U.K.
) single from their 1985 album, Around the World in a Day
, reaching #7 in the U.S. charts. The song starts with a faded-in synth line and quickly starts the main tune. The easy groove is achieved with a smooth bass guitar
and piano
embellishments. A drum machine
provides handclaps to make the song danceable. "Pop Life" was recorded before Purple Rain
was completed, indicating the new direction Prince wanted to take after the success of that album and film. Drums on the song were played by Sheila E.
, and Wendy & Lisa
provide backing vocals. The rest of the song was performed by Prince.
Unlike most Prince hits, no music video was produced for this song.
The song was released in two extended versions. The U.K. 12" single
version is a 9-minute extension of the tune, and ends with a similar synth sound as the beginning. The U.S. received a "Fresh Dance Mix", which is a remix
(by Sheila E.) that included some portions of the longer UK version. It clocks in at 6:16, and was included on the 2006 compilation album
, Ultimate.
The U.S. B-side
of the track was "Hello", written quickly as a response to those who criticized Prince's lack of participation in the "We Are the World
" event. The angry lyrics lambaste the prying media and false friendships, and is driven by a pulsing beat. The extended version of the song ends with a spoken word
by Prince, which contain some self-humor about his high-heeled shoes. The UK B-side was "Girl", which the U.S. had as the B-side of "America
".
Elvis Costello
once planned to do a cover version of the song, with altered lyrics, but Prince refused. Costello later recorded the song "The Bridge I Burned", which borrows the chord sequence from "Pop Life".
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...
and The Revolution
The Revolution (band)
The Revolution was an American rock band formed in Minneapolis, Minnesota in 1979 by Prince. Although widely associated with rock music, the band's sound incorporated heavy metal, pop, funk, R&B and hard rock elements. Before their official break-up, The Revolution had released one studio album,...
. It was the second U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
(and final U.K.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
) single from their 1985 album, Around the World in a Day
Around the World in a Day
Around the World in a Day is the seventh studio album by Prince and the second by The Revolution, released on April 22, 1985 on Warner Bros. In compliance with Prince's wishes, the record company released the album with minimal publicity, not even releasing an accompanying single until almost a...
, reaching #7 in the U.S. charts. The song starts with a faded-in synth line and quickly starts the main tune. The easy groove is achieved with a smooth bass guitar
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
embellishments. A drum machine
Drum machine
A drum machine is an electronic musical instrument designed to imitate the sound of drums or other percussion instruments. They are used in a variety of musical genres, not just purely electronic music...
provides handclaps to make the song danceable. "Pop Life" was recorded before Purple Rain
Purple Rain (album)
Purple Rain is the sixth studio album by Prince, the first to officially be credited to Prince and The Revolution, and is the soundtrack album to the 1984 film Purple Rain.Purple Rain is regularly ranked among the best albums in pop music history...
was completed, indicating the new direction Prince wanted to take after the success of that album and film. Drums on the song were played by 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:...
, and Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa
Wendy & Lisa are a music duo consisting of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman. They began working with Prince in the early 1980s and were part of his band The Revolution, before branching out on their own and releasing their debut album in 1987...
provide backing vocals. The rest of the song was performed by Prince.
Unlike most Prince hits, no music video was produced for this song.
The song was released in two extended versions. The U.K. 12" single
12-inch single
The 12-inch single is a type of gramophone record that has wider groove spacing compared to other types of records. This allows for louder levels to be cut on the disc by the cutting engineer, which in turn gives a wider dynamic range, and thus better sound quality...
version is a 9-minute extension of the tune, and ends with a similar synth sound as the beginning. The U.S. received a "Fresh Dance Mix", which is a remix
Remix
A remix is an alternative version of a recorded song, made from an original version. This term is also used for any alterations of media other than song ....
(by Sheila E.) that included some portions of the longer UK version. It clocks in at 6:16, and was included on the 2006 compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
, Ultimate.
The U.S. B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
of the track was "Hello", written quickly as a response to those who criticized Prince's lack of participation in the "We Are the World
We Are the World
"We Are the World" is a song and charity single originally recorded by the supergroup USA for Africa in 1985. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, and produced by Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian for the album We Are the World...
" event. The angry lyrics lambaste the prying media and false friendships, and is driven by a pulsing beat. The extended version of the song ends with a spoken word
Spoken word
Spoken word is a form of poetry that often uses alliterated prose or verse and occasionally uses metered verse to express social commentary. Traditionally it is in the first person, is from the poet’s point of view and is themed in current events....
by Prince, which contain some self-humor about his high-heeled shoes. The UK B-side was "Girl", which the U.S. had as the B-side of "America
America (Prince song)
"America" is a song by Prince and The Revolution. It was the final U.S. single from the group's 1985 album, Around the World in a Day and is a sardonic attack on the mid-1980s United States, referencing Communism, and worrying about nuclear war, a common theme in Prince's lyrics in the 1980s.The...
".
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello
Elvis Costello , born Declan Patrick MacManus, is an English singer-songwriter. He came to prominence as an early participant in London's pub rock scene in the mid-1970s and later became associated with the punk/New Wave genre. Steeped in word play, the vocabulary of Costello's lyrics is broader...
once planned to do a cover version of the song, with altered lyrics, but Prince refused. Costello later recorded the song "The Bridge I Burned", which borrows the chord sequence from "Pop Life".
Sampling
- Big Daddy KaneBig Daddy KaneAntonio Hardy better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who started his career in 1986 as a member of the rap group the Juice Crew. He is widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MC's in Hip Hop...
was the first to sample this tune in his 1991 single "The Lover In You." - G-UnitG-UnitG-Unit is an American hip hop group originating from New York City formed by 50 Cents. G-Unit emerged on the New York scene by independently releasing several mix tapes...
used elements from "Pop Life" for the song "Coke Life" for their mixtape "Sabrina's Baby Boy (G-Unit Radio Part 25)". - 2Pac sampled "Pop Life" on the unreleased song "Pac's LifePac's Life (song)"Pac's Life" is a single by Tupac Shakur from his posthumously released album of the same name. Produced by L. T. Hutton, it includes guest appearances from R&B singer Ashanti and rapper T.I. The second 2Pac verse was recycled from a song titled "This Life I Lead". That song was released as part...
", a remix of which was later released with a complete different beat in 2006 on Pac's Life. - Ja RuleJa RuleJeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
sampled it for his song "Thug Life". It was originally planned to be on his album The Last Temptation, but didn't make due to Prince's disapproval. - Electrik RedElectrik RedElectrik Red is an R&B girl group comprising Kyndra "Binkie" Reevey, Lesley Lewis, Naomi Allen and Sarah Rosete. The members began their individual careers as back-up dancers in New York City and Toronto. The group formed in 2005 and signed with Def Jam Recordings in 2008...
sampled "Pop Life" for their second single "So GoodSo Good"So Good" is a song by Rachel Stevens, released as a single in the United Kingdom on 4 July 2005. It was the second single from Steven's second album, Come and Get It...
" off their debut album. - Life Without BuildingsLife Without BuildingsLife Without Buildings were a Glasgow, Scotland based indie rock band. The band, mostly ex-students of the Glasgow School of Art, formed during the summer of 1999. The band initially consisted of Will Bradley , Chris Evans and Robert Johnston . Painter Sue Tompkins joined later that year...
recorded a cover of the song for the 2001 various artists compilation "Homesleep Home2 - Cover Songs".