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Prince – If I Was Your Girlfriend (3:45)

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About This Track

“If I Was Your Girlfriend” was the second single off Prince’s widely-acclaimed 1987 double album Sign o’ the Times. While it is today considered one of his most notable songs, at the time of its release, the song did not chart well in the U.S., perhaps due to the record’s androgynous vocal and gender-bending lyrics. The track was originally from the “Camille” project of 1986, which was to be released under the guise of an alter ego boy named Camille (see Prince’s poem in the Lovesexy tour program), rather than by Prince. Regardless, the song is actually sung from a male perspective to a woman, wherein Prince explores the possibilities of a more intimate relationship if he were his lover’s (platonic) girlfriend. Trouser Press names the song as one of the album’s highlights, noting that it “redefines a relationship in a surprisingly mature way”.[1] Musically, the song is based on a bass and drum machine pattern, punctuated by a keyboard line that evokes sadness. Prince’s sped-up vocals are intensely emotional and heartfelt.

According to engineer Susan Rogers, a rare technical error on her part led to distortion— albeit only on certain words. As recounted in Alex Hahn’s book “Possessed: The Rise and Fall of Prince,” Rogers thought Prince “was going to rip my head off” for the mistake. Yet, after hearing the playback, Prince loved the effect, which is featured on the released version.
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Albums featuring this track

  • The Hits 2
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  • The Hits/The B-Sides
    Prince Play
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  • Sign 'O' The Times
    Prince
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  • Sign O' The Times
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  • pogopatterson

    Just wonderfully pervy.

    Thursday morning

  • strutterf

    thought provoking [4]

    9 days ago

  • timmy9577

    My absolute favorite.

    March 2012

  • Kelphill

    My track.. The song is to say if we were that close as gf's are would things be perfect no fighting or arguing.. Who knows..

    February 2012

  • linzi76

    lOVE THIS XX

    February 2012

  • pogopatterson

    Presumably if you were her girlfriend Mr. Nelson, you would have to change sex, and then become a lesbian? Or is that too literal an interpretation of the song? :)

    January 2012

  • BaggyAnt

    Think I just 'got' Prince - only took me 25 years

    January 2012

  • Clayton09

    This song is blowing my mind pretty hard.

    January 2012

  • laxus12

    So ahead of his time, musically, lyrically, and socially. This is still as fresh and thought provoking as the first time I heard it. PRINCE = GENIUS [3]

    January 2012

  • LadyTee71

    'ooohhh he s0 f1ne"

    December 2011

  • BackNDaDay90

    So ahead of his time, musically, lyrically, and socially. This is still as fresh and thought provoking as the first time I heard it. PRINCE = GENIUS [2]

    December 2011

  • nanara

    I can still feel all its charm <3

    December 2011

  • suzmuzik

    So ahead of his time, musically, lyrically, and socially. This is still as fresh and thought provoking as the first time I heard it. PRINCE = GENIUS

    November 2011

  • RussellChap

    This is wonderfully perverted. Surely the strangest & most perverse POP hit ever? I love this track soooo much! The way the track is totally schizophrenic yearning for the object of his (Camille's) desire. He want's to be the lover & girlfriend.

    September 2011

  • Storm317

    TLC did this as a cover too !

    September 2011

  • sunheadbowed

    Prince is one creepy bloke.

    September 2011

  • spacefaceinfurs

    beautiful

    July 2011

  • kajsooon

    those lyrics amaze me every time I listen to it. so many feelings!! "If I was your one and only friend Would U run 2 me if somebody hurt U Even if that somebody was me?" MASTERPIECE!!

    July 2011

  • jillian8

    Amazing everything!

    April 2011

  • luckylollyme

    smooth like Prince...

    April 2011
See all 90 shouts

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