Prince and the Revolution, Let’s Go Crazy | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 42^nd edition of Throwback Vibez (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Let’s Go Crazy” by Prince and the Revolution. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace this column are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome. In the 42^nd edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2024), we recollect and reflect on “Let’s Go Crazy”, performed by Prince and the Revolution. 

“Dearly beloved / We are gathered here today / To get through this thing called ‘life’.” The introduction from “Let’s Go Crazy” is #ICONIC! “Let’s Go Crazy” appears as the opening song from Purple Rain, the epic, 1984 tour de force by Prince and the Revolution.  Purple Rain marks the, late, great Purple One at his best. “Let’s Go Crazy” sets the tone on the once in a lifetime LP.  It spent two weeks at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, an honor that “Purple Rain” can’t boast (it peaked at no. 2).

The detuned keys/synths in the intro of “Let’s Go Crazy” are everything – besides the memorable, spoken word vocals.  Additionally, Prince and the Revolution bless us with a killer drum groove, enthusiastic guitar, and strong bass line.  Of course, Prince delivers stellar vocals that are chocked full of personality.  The melodies are tuneful throughout, including the verses, pre-chorus (“Are we gonna let de-elevator bring us down? Oh, no, let’s go”), and particularly in the chorus: “Let’s go crazy / Let’s get nuts / Let’s look for the purple banana / Until they put us in the truck, let’s go.” Given Prince’s guitar skills, it should come as no surprise that he delivers an epic guitar solo towards the end.  Call it what it is – crazy good! “Let’s Go Crazy” ends on a high note, with a marvelous, bluesy, noisy, rocking outro. One of Prince’s best? You bet!

Prince // Purple Rain // NPG / Warner // 1984

Prince and the Revolution, Let’s Go Crazy: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 42 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; NPG / Warner; OpenClipart-Vectors, Speedy McVroom via  Pixabay]