1001 Songs Challenge #666: Kiss (1986)

On 11 February 2019 I set myself the challenge of reading 1001 Songs You Must Hear Before You Die by Robert Dimery (ed.) and following the book’s advice to the letter. I’ve previously read 1001 Films… and started 1001 Albums… but felt 1001 Songs… would be a sensible place to start for what I have in mind here.

My challenge is to read about one song per day and listen to it (YouTube and Spotify, I need you tonight!) before sharing my own thoughts. Some songs I will love, others I’ll hate, and I’m sure there will be those that leave me perplexed but listen to them I shall.

I’ll also try, and most likely fail, to pinpoint the best song from the 1001 on offer but I’m nothing if not foolhardy. Instead of one song, I’m predicting I’ll have about 100 favourites by the end and may have to resort to a Top 10 so far to maintain any semblance of sanity.

So long as I post every day (including Christmas) then this challenge should come to an end on Wednesday 8 November 2021. Staying with the Barney Stinson theme I am hoping that the whole experience will prove to be… legendary!

Prince & The Revolution – Kiss (1986)

We’re at the end of 1986, dear reader, and what a great year it has been. We spend the New Year festivities in the US and find ourselves staying in Minnesota also. We’re catching up with Prince who appeared back in 1984 with Purple Rain. Two years on and Prince is showing no signs of letting up. His latest album, Parade, is next up. During recording Prince worked on a song called Kiss which he gave to funk band, Mazarati, to work on. When Prince heard the results, he took the song back, credited Mazarati and made it his own again. 

In Kiss Prince’s vocals take on a spot of falsetto as he tells us about women he desires. Prince isn’t being too demanding here either which is always quite refreshing. He is not looking for rich or beautiful women, but he does want a person’s time and kiss. There are some things Prince does prefer though such as no dirty talk, mild flirting and he seems to favour women who are mature. If a woman can tick all of these boxes then Prince is offering her a passionate evening by the sound of things. Prince, you saucy devil, behave yourself.  

Kiss made Prince’s record label nervous, convinced it wasn’t hit material, given the musical arrangement and indeed the great man’s vocals. They were wrong. Prince took the track to no.1 in the US. Proof that record labels do not always get it right. Let’s not forget, some record companies once turned down The Beatles! Prince was riding the crest of the Purple Rain wave and proved that he was going nowhere just yet. The future looked promising.

Favourite songs so far:

The Animals – House of the Rising Sun (1964)

Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (1965)

The Doors – The End (1967)

The Beatles – A Day in the Life (1967)

Pink Floyd – Wish You Were Here (1975)

Meat Loaf – Bat Out of Hell (1977)

Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now (1978)

Ultravox – Vienna (1980)

Don Henley – The Boys of Summer (1984)

The Smiths – How Soon Is Now? (1984)