Product Details

* Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
* Original Release Date: 2000
* Number of Discs: 1
* Label: Warner Bros / Wea
* Catalog Number: 3601
* ASIN: B000002KMV
* Other Editions: Audio Cassette
* Average Customer Review: based on 44 reviews. (Write a review.)
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,676 in Music (See Top Sellers in Music)
Yesterday: #19,315 in Music

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1. Controversy Listen Listen
2. Sexuality Listen Listen
3. Do Me, Baby Listen Listen
4. Private Joy Listen Listen
5. Ronnie, Talk To Russia Listen Listen
6. Let's Work Listen
7. Annie Christian Listen
8. Jack U Off Listen
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Written, produced, arranged, and performed by that little old funkmaster, Controversy hit stores in 1981 and still rocks 17 years later. As the title suggests, the subject matter Prince tackles here was meant to spark discussion. From the nasty anthems "Sexuality" and "Do Me Baby", to the slice of '80s political commentary "Ronnie Talk to Russia" and "Annie Christian," Prince does just that. Oh, and he doesn't forget about the booty either, making this the ultimate agit-prop, sex-you-up soundtrack. --Amy Linden
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First tag: Funky Funky 1981 (Andre S. Grindle "Andre' Grindle" on Nov 28, 2005)
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
Controversy--Prince parties like it's 1981. Oh, it was 1981!, November 11, 2001
Reviewer: Daniel J. Hamlow (Farmington, NM USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
Review from The Controversial Daily--dated 2001.

On the title track, which begans with a funky beat, he poses such questions as "I can't believe all the things people say/controversy/Am I black or white/am I straight or gay?" "Do I believe in God, or do I believe in me?" Obviously with the release of Dirty Mind, lots of critics and people were really wondering about him and had a few things to say. Well, this is Prince's take on that.

His reciting the Lord's Prayer and his provocative utopian view is also included in the title track, which is the most potent and important track on this album: "People call me rude/I wish we all were nude/I wish there was no black or white/I wish there were no rules." Given the traditional U.S. view of sex which has refused to get out of its Puritan shadow and covert racism, those lines are not to be laughed off lightly. It makes me think, "Well, sure, why not?"

The irresistible "Sexuality", a political disco number of the principles of the new breed leaders: in their regime, one needs no money, clothes, anti-segregation anti-racism, anti-tourists, given that tourists are pocket-camera-visioned idiots, "a bunch of double-drags who tell their kids that loving is bad." He furthers his argument that "no child is bad from the beginning, they only imitate their atmosphere."

"Do Me Baby" is probably one of the damn, hottest and sexiest songs he has ever written. After the singing, he goes into a monologue where he is making love to a woman while the music plays. One biographer described the song as Prince making love on hot dripping wax--wax as in what LPs are made of. And people wonder why the single version clocks in at 3:55?

"Private Joy" is a boppable song with the same organ synthesizer, hand claps, and bass.

The brief adrenalized organ synth dance of "Ronnie Talk To Russia" has a direct and simple message: "Ronnie talk to Russia before it's too late/Before they blow up my world." It has fiery guitar, machine-gun firing, and at the end, the bomb, which segues into the funky "Let's Work".

"Annie Christian", a.k.a. anti-Christ, is a rap song about the Atlanta child murders, shootings of John Lennon, Ronald Reagan, and the ABSCAM scandal. The song is not as effective as political songs done by other groups or artists. He did better on "Ronnie Talk To Russia" and his angry protest song "Partyup" on Dirty Mind. Still, the idea of embodying evil in one entity is a good one.

And need I detail what fun "Jack U Off" is about? I don't? I didn't think so.

Controversy further strengthens the political foundation established in "Partyup" and sets the stage for the next chapter, both a year later, or seventeen years later: namely, 1999. ( )