U Got the Look
Encyclopedia
"U Got the Look" is a song by Prince
. It opens the second disc of Prince's 1987 double album
Sign “☮” the Times, and became the album's highest charting single. Musically, the song is standard 12-bar blues
number with emphasis on live drumming by Sheila E.
, and a crunchy guitar
sound. Although not credited on the single release, the song also features Sheena Easton
, who sings co-lead with Prince. Prince sings in his sped-up "Camille" voice, although the song was not intended for the Camille album. The lyrics recite the familiar "boy versus girl in the World Series
of love."
The music video
for the song was filmed in Paris, France, and was directed by American music video director, David Hogan. It was included in the Sign “☮” the Times film, and features the intro from the extended version of the song. The entire video is portrayed to be as a dream sequence
by Prince, dozing off in his dressing room. In the U.S.
, the single went to the #2 position on the Billboard Hot 100
singles tally, the week of October 17, 1987. The single stayed in the Top 10 of the charts for six weeks. The single was Grammy nominated for best duo or group during the 1987 grammy awards.
The extended version of the song (called the "Long Look") is similar to the video but has an additional musical section in the middle of the song with Sheena Easton's vocal, and continues for a few more seconds instead of fading out at the end. The "Long Look" was included on the Ultimate compilation album
in 2006.
The B-side of the single was the P-Funk
-influenced album track, "Housequake". The song was considered for release as the first single from the unreleased "Camille" album, and therefore, arguably holds a place of importance in Prince's album history, considering the events that followed the creation of the track. The 12" also included an extension of the song called "7 Minutes Mo'Quake", which was a mostly instrumental version with the end of the album version tacked on. The remix
is noteworthy for some of Atlanta Bliss
's trumpet
solos, which often were included in live versions of the song. Leaked versions of an unedited "original version" (often called "Camille's Mix") are attainable on the internet. Upon listening to them it is clear that the track required significant changes in the composition before arriving at the album version, which is now a fan favorite, and was often considered one of the standout tracks on the album.
Both songs are occasionally still performed in concert by Prince.
* Also available as a picture disc (W8289TP)
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 opens the second disc of Prince's 1987 double album
Double album
A double album is an audio album which spans two units of the primary medium in which it is sold, typically records and compact discs....
Sign “☮” the Times, and became the album's highest charting single. Musically, the song is standard 12-bar blues
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
number with emphasis on live drumming 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 a crunchy guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
sound. Although not credited on the single release, the song also features Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton
Sheena Easton is a Scottish recording artist. Easton became famous for being the focus of an episode in the British television programme The Big Time, which recorded her attempts to gain a record contract and her eventual signing with EMI Records.Easton rose to fame in the early 1980s with the pop...
, who sings co-lead with Prince. Prince sings in his sped-up "Camille" voice, although the song was not intended for the Camille album. The lyrics recite the familiar "boy versus girl in the World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
of love."
The music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song was filmed in Paris, France, and was directed by American music video director, David Hogan. It was included in the Sign “☮” the Times film, and features the intro from the extended version of the song. The entire video is portrayed to be as a dream sequence
Dream sequence
A dream sequence is a technique used in storytelling, particularly in television and film, to set apart a brief interlude from the main story. The interlude may consist of a flashback, a flashforward, a fantasy, a vision, a dream, or some other element. Commonly, dream sequences appear in many...
by Prince, dozing off in his dressing room. In the U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the single went to the #2 position on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
singles tally, the week of October 17, 1987. The single stayed in the Top 10 of the charts for six weeks. The single was Grammy nominated for best duo or group during the 1987 grammy awards.
The extended version of the song (called the "Long Look") is similar to the video but has an additional musical section in the middle of the song with Sheena Easton's vocal, and continues for a few more seconds instead of fading out at the end. The "Long Look" was included on the Ultimate 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...
in 2006.
The B-side of the single was the P-Funk
P-Funk
P-Funk is a shorthand term for the repertoire and performers associated with George Clinton and the Parliament-Funkadelic collective and the distinctive style of funk music they performed...
-influenced album track, "Housequake". The song was considered for release as the first single from the unreleased "Camille" album, and therefore, arguably holds a place of importance in Prince's album history, considering the events that followed the creation of the track. The 12" also included an extension of the song called "7 Minutes Mo'Quake", which was a mostly instrumental version with the end of the album version tacked on. The 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 ....
is noteworthy for some of Atlanta Bliss
Atlanta Bliss
Atlanta Bliss is the stage name of Matthew Blistan, an American jazz musician who specializes in the trumpet. He is most well known for his work with Prince from 1986–1989. He came to Prince's attention through his association with Eric Leeds. The duo had been in a jazz group prior to working...
's trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
solos, which often were included in live versions of the song. Leaked versions of an unedited "original version" (often called "Camille's Mix") are attainable on the internet. Upon listening to them it is clear that the track required significant changes in the composition before arriving at the album version, which is now a fan favorite, and was often considered one of the standout tracks on the album.
Both songs are occasionally still performed in concert by Prince.
12": Paisley Park / 0-20727 (US)
- "U Got the Look" (Long Look) – 6:45
- "U Got the Look" (Single Cut) – 3:46
- "Housequake" (Album Cut) – 4:38
- "Housequake" (7 Minutes MoQuake) – 7:15
12": Warner Bros. / W8289T (UK)
- "U Got the Look" (Long Look) – 6:45
- "Housequake" (7 Minutes MoQuake) – 7:15
- "U Got the Look" (Single Cut) – 3:46
Cover versions
- Electronic musicElectronic musicElectronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
artist Gary NumanGary NumanGary Numan is an English singer, composer, and musician, most widely known for his chart-topping 1979 hits "Are 'Friends' Electric?" and "Cars". His signature sound consisted of heavy synthesizer hooks fed through guitar effects pedals.Numan is considered a pioneer of commercial electronic music...
covered "U Got the Look" for his 1992 album, Machine + SoulMachine + SoulMachine and Soul is the 14th studio album, and 11th under his own name, by electronic music pioneer Gary Numan, released in 1992. It is known for being a career low-point for Numan, released primarily in an attempt to pay off the artist's debts during the commercial nadir of his career...
, which also featured a cover version of Prince's "19991999 (song)"1999" is a song by Prince, the title track from his 1982 album of the same name. The song is one of Prince's best-known, and a defining moment in his rise to superstar status....
". - ElectroclashElectroclashElectroclash is a style of music that fuses New Wave and electronic dance music. It emerged in New York and Detroit in the later 1990s, pioneered by acts including I-F and those associated with Gerald Donald, and is associated with acts including Peaches, Adult, and Fischerspooner...
artists Dirty SanchezDirty Sanchez (band)Dirty Sanchez is an electroclash band that formed in Los Angeles in 2001 and includes Jackie Beat, Mario Diaz and DJ BARBEAU.Dirty Sanchez have a very strong following on the West Coast, where they play to full houses. Dirty Sanchez have finished a very successful East Coast tour with Thrill Kill...
covered the song for their self-titled album. - WeenWeenWeen is an American alternative rock group. They formed in 1984 in New Hope, Pennsylvania when central members Aaron Freeman and Mickey Melchiondo met in an eighth grade typing class. Ween has a large cult underground fanbase despite being generally unknown in American pop music...
have covered "Housequake" live.