Breakfast Can Wait
October 11, 2013 8:15 PM Subscribe
In what can only be described as a peculiar reversal of approach, Prince has released his latest video on Vevo/YouTube. Breakfast Can Wait is classic Prince, slow and funky, featured altered vocals reminiscent of Sign O' The Times era tracks, full of sexxxy goodness. The SFW video is also classic in form, with Janet Jackson-style synchronized formation dancing.
Goddamn, Prince is a genius. That song is incredible, and the Lord Quas- or Chipmunk-style vocal turn near the end works, which is not what I expected. The song overall feels a little bit like a bid for relevance, directed at the youth (as all good pop oughta be), but even if it's not pitch-perfect zeitgeist it's still fucking sexy. Which goes a long way.
Was that the director of the video dressed up as Prince? Was he even in the video at all?
posted by carsonb at 8:25 PM on October 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
Was that the director of the video dressed up as Prince? Was he even in the video at all?
posted by carsonb at 8:25 PM on October 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
Damn, nobody does it like Prince.
posted by dry white toast at 8:32 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by dry white toast at 8:32 PM on October 11, 2013
The video bears a copyright date of 2014.
PRINCE IS FROM THE FUTURE
posted by Sys Rq at 8:38 PM on October 11, 2013 [12 favorites]
PRINCE IS FROM THE FUTURE
posted by Sys Rq at 8:38 PM on October 11, 2013 [12 favorites]
I think there's a lot of really good coreography going on in this video but it's hard to concentrate on because Prince's hair is just outstanding.
posted by mcmile at 8:49 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by mcmile at 8:49 PM on October 11, 2013
Spoiler: that isn't Prince.
posted by hippybear at 8:52 PM on October 11, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 8:52 PM on October 11, 2013 [5 favorites]
Which isn't to say that Prince's hair isn't outstanding and a total distraction from everything else going on at any given time.
posted by carsonb at 8:56 PM on October 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by carsonb at 8:56 PM on October 11, 2013 [3 favorites]
It's disconcerting to see ham, eggs, etc. featured so prominently in a video by the vegan artist who wrote "Animal Kingdom".
posted by metaman livingblog at 8:58 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by metaman livingblog at 8:58 PM on October 11, 2013
That video seemed like a parody video, but it wasn't. The random pancake.. the chipmunk voice.. the lyrical content. Enjoyable, but I'm not sure I would choose to listen to it again.
posted by sacrifix at 9:00 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by sacrifix at 9:00 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Is the pancake truly random in a video for a song about breakfast which actually mentions pancakes in the lyrics?
posted by hippybear at 9:01 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 9:01 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
I mean, the song isn't ABOUT breakfast... it's about... other things.
posted by hippybear at 9:01 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by hippybear at 9:01 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
I don't like it. True, sounds a lot like Sign O' the Times - didn't like that either. As a matter of fact, I didn't like much of anything Prince did after Sign.
I bet you're asking yourself why I'm wasting my time and your time talking about how I don't like it. Well friends, I'm gonna tell ya......
I've never lost hope that Prince is going to go even further back than Sign. That was the stuff that I truly like: gritty, rough, guitar and synth-based, experimental, old skool style funkiness with wailing vocal calisthenics. I will never lose hope that he will come back, even if it's for one album.
Which is not to say that I don't think he's a genius, because he is. He's just one that I don't tend to care for.
posted by ashbury at 9:04 PM on October 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
I bet you're asking yourself why I'm wasting my time and your time talking about how I don't like it. Well friends, I'm gonna tell ya......
I've never lost hope that Prince is going to go even further back than Sign. That was the stuff that I truly like: gritty, rough, guitar and synth-based, experimental, old skool style funkiness with wailing vocal calisthenics. I will never lose hope that he will come back, even if it's for one album.
Which is not to say that I don't think he's a genius, because he is. He's just one that I don't tend to care for.
posted by ashbury at 9:04 PM on October 11, 2013 [4 favorites]
Yes, we all want Prince to reassemble The Revolution for a new album or two. Sadly, that is not going to happen.
posted by hippybear at 9:06 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 9:06 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
YES IT IS!
posted by ashbury at 9:07 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by ashbury at 9:07 PM on October 11, 2013 [2 favorites]
Read a bit about what Wendy and Lisa have to say about working with Prince. The chances of a reunion of The Revolution happening are slim to none.
posted by hippybear at 9:09 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by hippybear at 9:09 PM on October 11, 2013
I have a love-hate relationship with The Prince since at least Sign of the Times and I was fully prepared to hate this.
I want to hate it. Don't get me wrong. I was trying my hardest.
This was pretty awesome actually. I felt half my age.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:09 PM on October 11, 2013
I want to hate it. Don't get me wrong. I was trying my hardest.
This was pretty awesome actually. I felt half my age.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 9:09 PM on October 11, 2013
I'm not listening to anything else that you have to say on this subject. It will happen and that's all there is to it.
/me retreats back to that happy place where everything is soft and fuzzy and just right, all the time, with a mixture of new old Prince and the newest Police album is on permanent rotation.
posted by ashbury at 9:14 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
/me retreats back to that happy place where everything is soft and fuzzy and just right, all the time, with a mixture of new old Prince and the newest Police album is on permanent rotation.
posted by ashbury at 9:14 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
In all seriousness -- the Mozart of our age.
Wherever you go, Prince, I will follow. Eventually.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:36 PM on October 11, 2013
Wherever you go, Prince, I will follow. Eventually.
posted by Capt. Renault at 9:36 PM on October 11, 2013
This was my first exposure to Animal Kingdom. That's unbelievably good.
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 9:38 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by justsomebodythatyouusedtoknow at 9:38 PM on October 11, 2013
I was wondering which of those demos he released on Soundcloud in February were going to turn into the next single.
I was hoping it would be the astonishing "That Girl Thang", which reminds me more than ever of Prince's avowed obsession with Joni Mitchell, but I guess in my heart I always knew it would be this one instead.
Which is fine, cuz I love the shit out of Prince. I recently got the 34-disc (!!!) box set of studio outtakes and demo versions, and I nearly exploded into confetti.
posted by mykescipark at 10:03 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
I was hoping it would be the astonishing "That Girl Thang", which reminds me more than ever of Prince's avowed obsession with Joni Mitchell, but I guess in my heart I always knew it would be this one instead.
Which is fine, cuz I love the shit out of Prince. I recently got the 34-disc (!!!) box set of studio outtakes and demo versions, and I nearly exploded into confetti.
posted by mykescipark at 10:03 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
i just like watching him slow shred! (via ;)
posted by kliuless at 10:11 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by kliuless at 10:11 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
That ending keyboard riff is a ripoff of Steely Dan or I don't know shit about music.
That said, it's well placed and totally appropriate. Just... not Prince's totally.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 10:25 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
That said, it's well placed and totally appropriate. Just... not Prince's totally.
posted by Pogo_Fuzzybutt at 10:25 PM on October 11, 2013 [1 favorite]
Man, I loved this. The groove, the Rhodes sound, it all works. I'm just not down with the Chipmonk voice bit. What's wit that?
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:47 PM on October 11, 2013
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 10:47 PM on October 11, 2013
If I didn't know better, and I don't, I would have thought this was Weird Al.
posted by humboldt32 at 1:13 AM on October 12, 2013
posted by humboldt32 at 1:13 AM on October 12, 2013
I think that's The Funky Worm on chipmunk voice. Yup, breakfast can wait.
posted by rongorongo at 2:59 AM on October 12, 2013
posted by rongorongo at 2:59 AM on October 12, 2013
This is the song that pushed Walt Jr. over the edge.
posted by jozxyqk at 4:33 AM on October 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by jozxyqk at 4:33 AM on October 12, 2013 [5 favorites]
Read a bit about what Wendy and Lisa have to say about working with Prince. The chances of a reunion of The Revolution happening are slim to none.
So you're saying the water will never be warm enough again?
posted by signal at 4:35 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
So you're saying the water will never be warm enough again?
posted by signal at 4:35 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
"We'll get some gravy, cheese eggs and jam..."
Is there anyone other than Prince who can sing lyrics which should be comedy, and make them sexy as all get out? My sister was obsessed with him when we were teenagers, but I was a goth so I just viewed him as a spangly sleaze who was too short. Then I heard Cream and I was like "Aah, I see."
btw that is totally how I look when making breakfast I don't wear trackie bottoms and a t-shirt with tea stains on it no
posted by billiebee at 4:58 AM on October 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
Is there anyone other than Prince who can sing lyrics which should be comedy, and make them sexy as all get out? My sister was obsessed with him when we were teenagers, but I was a goth so I just viewed him as a spangly sleaze who was too short. Then I heard Cream and I was like "Aah, I see."
btw that is totally how I look when making breakfast I don't wear trackie bottoms and a t-shirt with tea stains on it no
posted by billiebee at 4:58 AM on October 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
hippybear: "Spoiler: that isn't Prince."
It might be his hair though.
posted by chavenet at 5:15 AM on October 12, 2013
It might be his hair though.
posted by chavenet at 5:15 AM on October 12, 2013
Sad to once again be the old guy shaking his fist at the future, but even though I wasn't an avid Prince fan, this just puts so much of today's music into stark, stark relief. Really excellent.
posted by sutt at 5:16 AM on October 12, 2013
posted by sutt at 5:16 AM on October 12, 2013
It's nice. The synth brings back memories. When he goes all out and drops something like Starfish and Coffee, or I Wish U Heaven, then the creator of Neo Soul is back. He took easy street with the rhodes.
posted by Flex1970 at 5:32 AM on October 12, 2013
posted by Flex1970 at 5:32 AM on October 12, 2013
A sexy pop song about food? I'll wait for the "Normal Al" Yankovic reverse-parody.
posted by GameDesignerBen at 6:16 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by GameDesignerBen at 6:16 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
Sweet groove. No one brings it as consistently strong as Prince.
It's also much, much better if you close your eyes, ignore the video, and just listen. Pretty much a textbook case of the video being a distraction from the music.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:17 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's also much, much better if you close your eyes, ignore the video, and just listen. Pretty much a textbook case of the video being a distraction from the music.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:17 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
How many of us all are puttin' it on the 'HELLS YEAH I'M DOIN' IT' playlist. Answer: all of us, uh-huh, yeah.
posted by angrycat at 7:14 AM on October 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 7:14 AM on October 12, 2013 [2 favorites]
Well, I immediately bought that. Hopefully Prince will be pleased with sales and make more stuff available more frequently. I wonder what's going on in his creative process, where he's maybe trying to make somethng a bit more accessible again? Maybe all the strange stuff is a kind of creative furlough/fallow time that lets him come back strongly? We mortals can but speculate.
posted by aesop at 7:36 AM on October 12, 2013
posted by aesop at 7:36 AM on October 12, 2013
I read the comments here first before I watched the video, and I was still startled by the Sexy Chipmunk interlude.
posted by onlyconnect at 8:03 AM on October 12, 2013
posted by onlyconnect at 8:03 AM on October 12, 2013
I was buying into the 'Prince can make breakfast foods all sexylike' UNTIL the random scene of faux Prince holding up a flaccid pancake. Not so much.
i doN't geT tHe randoM CAPiTALiZaTiON either. Very much in use on his Twitter, and his video credits now too.
posted by Fig at 8:10 AM on October 12, 2013
i doN't geT tHe randoM CAPiTALiZaTiON either. Very much in use on his Twitter, and his video credits now too.
posted by Fig at 8:10 AM on October 12, 2013
From chavenet's link: the cover is an image taken from one of Chappelle’s Show most famous sketches, featuring host Dave Chappelle dressed as a pancake-serving, basketball-playing Prince.
So I imagine the pancake scene is a reference to this. (Although I think I might steal Flaccid Pancake as a band name.)
posted by billiebee at 8:40 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
So I imagine the pancake scene is a reference to this. (Although I think I might steal Flaccid Pancake as a band name.)
posted by billiebee at 8:40 AM on October 12, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'm going to wrap this comment in the mantle of "contrary" (to all the fawning above). "Breakfast Can Wait" is uninspired and, for me, laughably predictable.
If only it were a joke.
posted by mistersquid at 8:45 AM on October 12, 2013
If only it were a joke.
posted by mistersquid at 8:45 AM on October 12, 2013
billiebee: listen to "If I Was Your Girlfriend".
REHASH
posted by mistersquid at 8:47 AM on October 12, 2013
REHASH
posted by mistersquid at 8:47 AM on October 12, 2013
Camille is hardly the chipmunk voice, but yeah, Prince has been playing with altered vocals for decades.
posted by hippybear at 9:22 AM on October 12, 2013
posted by hippybear at 9:22 AM on October 12, 2013
This just seems to me like a REALLY well done, deadpan parody....I mean, that's not actually Prince playing Prince in the video, right? Because if so, holy appearance-altering plastic surgery. And the cover for the single? Dave Chappelle as Prince, holding pancakes? All the food imagery clumsily standing in for naughty things, foods that Prince abhors in life? Lastly, the track, while not bad, sounds like generic latter-day Prince to me (granted, not a comprehensive listener of his oeuvre, but still...).
Or maybe he's going really meta....parody of him becomes stylistic inspiration for actual new work, which is stylized as parody, so that at the end of it all no one is sure what is serious and what is satirical. I think I like it better if I think of it that way, actually.
posted by LooseFilter at 9:38 AM on October 12, 2013
Or maybe he's going really meta....parody of him becomes stylistic inspiration for actual new work, which is stylized as parody, so that at the end of it all no one is sure what is serious and what is satirical. I think I like it better if I think of it that way, actually.
posted by LooseFilter at 9:38 AM on October 12, 2013
Perfectly overprocessed airbrushed plastic. As much soul as the interior of a 2013 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport.
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:47 AM on October 12, 2013
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 9:47 AM on October 12, 2013
"no one is sure what is serious and what is satirical". Hmm. I wonder who else is doing that now-a-days?
posted by aesop at 9:48 AM on October 12, 2013
posted by aesop at 9:48 AM on October 12, 2013
I'd say this is my third-favourite Prince song about breakfast, after "Starfish and Coffee" and the bridge on "Joint 2 Joint" where he monotone raps about his favourite cereal (Captain Crunch with soy milk) while, as far as I can tell with the headphones on, actually eating it in the studio while doing the verse - crunching sounds, silverware clink, and his voice becoming progressively more mumbly as his mouth fills up. The chipmunk vocals here are less shocking in comparison!
posted by metaman livingblog at 11:23 AM on October 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by metaman livingblog at 11:23 AM on October 12, 2013 [3 favorites]
An artist that unleashed lawyer attack dogs on a site that was holding a photoshop competition featuring him decides to use a self-parodying photoshop composition for his official artwork... Someone ought to give him an award for that kind of thing.
posted by Rhomboid at 6:19 PM on October 12, 2013
posted by Rhomboid at 6:19 PM on October 12, 2013
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Get this news to Congress! STAT!
posted by Mike Mongo at 8:24 PM on October 11, 2013