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Neurotic City (or, Like Minnetonka)

from Promises, Promises (or, Edible Feedback) by C Alexander

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about

I've always been deeply fascinated by people who can freely express their sexuality in all its joy and idiosyncrasy. Whether by Catholicism or childhood trauma, sex has always been a stygian minefield for me. The fact that the major popstars of my youth like Prince and Madonna were frank about that was a source of deep envy for me - what do you mean, there were people out there who can state baldly they desire someone else? Don't they know it's wrong? Don't they know they don't deserve it even if it is wrong? As I grew older and learned those two especially had to shake off the yokes of their own religious upbringing, it became a bit more clear why sex was such a big topic - as it was and remains for me - but their freedom with it eluded me. I could talk about sex if there was something wrong in those situations - duplicity, sinister motives, its sudden cessation - but actually saying, on mic, and embodying the phrase "we can fuck until the dawn?" because I like sex and want it? I mean, [frames face with hands] ya know?

This is a very long-winded explanation of why I decided to make the experiment to see what would happen if my favorite post-rock bands covered my favorite Prince song. Between its execution and this release, a very famous white pop star made a cover of a black artist's beloved dance floor stomper and rendered it into a whispery, wistful ballad that was worlds away from its intended meaning. I think contemporary context matters quite a bit with my own <i>ritardo</i> version of this eighties dancefloor hit, [<i> the camera pans to our villain reading the day's newspaper, his face obscured. C: "'LETHARGIC AS A DRUNK TURTLE!?" he puts the paper down to reveal a churlish grin. C: "WAIT TIL THEY GET A LOAD OF <U>THIS</U>!"</i>] but I do want to say it comes from a place of love and interiority, and in no way claim this as a definitive take on Prince's masterpiece. Also, make love not war.

credits

from Promises, Promises (or, Edible Feedback), released December 31, 2012
Words and music by Prince. (c) 1984 Controversy Music
Arrangement by Christopher Alexander

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all rights reserved

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