Jump to content

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Drfunko (talk | contribs) at 00:01, 25 March 2007 (Corrected artist's name). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Untitled

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic is a 1999 album by File:Prince symbol.svg (formerly known as Prince). Featuring a radio-friendly sound, the album was conceived as a return to commercial success after several years without significant public attention. However, the album received only modest sales, mixed reviews, and is generally viewed by fans as one of Prince's weakest efforts.

Part of a one-album deal with Arista Records, Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic was intended by Arista president Clive Davis as a comeback album featuring guest star collaborations, similar to Carlos Santana's Supernatural. To this end, the album features guest performanances from Sheryl Crow (on "Baby Knows"), Gwen Stefani (a duet on "So Far, So Pleased"), Chuck D ("Undisputed"), Maceo Parker ("Pretty Man"), Eve ("Hot Wit U"), and Ani DiFranco ("File:Prince.eye.gif Love U, but File:Prince.eye.gif Don't Trust U Anymore"). However, overall, these contributions make a minor impact on the album. Ultimately, with its slick, plastic production and relatively unremarkable song-writing, the sound of the album is quite similar to 1998's poorly-received Newpower Soul.

The album's first single, "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold", achieved modest success, peaking at number 63 on the Hot 100. Though Prince's duet with Gwen Stefani, "So Far So Pleased", was considered to be a single, plans were halted when No Doubt's label refused to grant permission (fearing it would confuse fans since the band's album, Return of Saturn, was about to be released).

Rave received mixed reviews with both critics and fans, and though the album went gold, it was widely considered a disappointment. Frustrated by what Prince felt as Arista's failure to adequately promote and support the album, no further one-album contracts were signed and the project quietly faded.

The following year, a remix version of the album, entitled Rave In2 the Joy Fantastic, was released through Prince's internet subscription service, receiving a much better reaction from fans. Prince's frustration with the "Rave" episode can be heard at the end of this album with the sound of a CD being smashed.

Track listing

  1. "Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic" – 4:18
  2. "Undisputed" – 4:19
  3. "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold" – 5:29
  4. "Segue" – 0:03
  5. "Hot Wit' U" – 5:11
  6. "Tangerine" – 1:30
  7. "So Far, So Pleased" – 3:23
  8. "The Sun, the Moon and Stars" – 5:15
  9. "Everyday Is a Winding Road" – 6:12
  10. "Segue" – 0:18
  11. "Man'O'War" – 5:14
  12. "Baby Knows" – 3:18
  13. "File:Prince.eye.gif Love U, but File:Prince.eye.gif Don't Trust U Anymore" – 3:33
  14. "Silly Game" – 3:29
  15. "Strange but True" – 4:12
  16. "Wherever U Go, Whatever U Do" – 3:15
  17. "Segue" – 0:43 (hidden track)
  18. "Prettyman" – 4:23 (hidden track)

Singles and Hot 100 positions

"The Greatest Romance Ever Sold"
  1. "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold"


Miscellanea

  • The title track was originally written in late 1988 and considered for inclusion, but ultimately rejected, on several albums. Initially intended for an album of the same name, which never saw release, the song was then altered for the 1989 Batman soundtrack. However, it was rejected by Tim Burton in favor of "Partyman". It was updated again with the New Power Generation (mentioned in the song "Love 2 the 9s") but ended up not seeing the light of day for a decade until finally released (slightly altered) in 1999. Justifying its release after many years, Prince remarked that in 1988 the track had sounded too similar to his 1986 hit "Kiss" to be released at the time.

Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic lyrics

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rave_Un2_the_Joy_Fantastic&oldid=117635493"