Prince, Welcome 2 America | Album Review 💿

The late, great Prince shines on his posthumously released album, Welcome 2 America, adding to his illustrious catalog of music. 

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ith a vault filled with unreleased material, new music by the late, iconic, musician extraordinaire 🎙 Prince likely won’t cease anytime soon.  Since his untimely passing in 2016,  the estate has released 💿 Piano & a Microphone 1983 (2018) and 💿 Originals (2019).  Now, 2021 sees the release of another posthumous release, 💿 Welcome 2 America.  Welcome 2 America was originally recorded in 2010 but wasn’t released until now.  All in all, it’s a welcome addition to his discography, even if it fails to eclipse or match his most legendary, classic recordings.

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“Welcome 2 America”

Leading the charge on Welcome 2 America is ✅ 🎵 “Welcome 2 America”, penned and produced by Prince. This five-and-a-half-minute funky, ear-catching R&B cut finds the legend being true to self.  He’s socially conscious, critical, opinionated, and clearly skeptical regarding the state of America. For instance, he cries foul regarding modern technology, asserting on the first verse, “Welcome to America / Distracted by the features of the iPhone / (Got an application for each of situation) / In other words, taken by a pretty face.” On the second, he’s critical of lying politicians, highlighting their contradictory ways.   It doesn’t stop there. He questions the staying power of contemporary music (verse three), speaks about faith (verse four), and fame + sex tapes (verse five).  There are both minimalist musical ideas as well as fuller, lusher moments.  Vocally, The Purple One opts for more spoken word, an interesting approach.  Even so, he enlists backing vocals that amplify the soul factor. This record bears some similarities to 🎵 “Sign O’ The Times”, even if it doesn’t reach the same heights as that beloved classic.

🎵 “Running Game (Son of A Slave Master)” is funked-up from the get-go. Here, we get more sung vocals from Prince compared to “Welcome 2 America.” That said, there’s lots of singing (lead) from 🎙 Shelby J.  She performs the first verse and following refrain, while singing jointly with The Purple One on the chorus.  Similarly, she handles duties on the second and third verses.  The most we hear from the star himself is the outro of the song.  Would it have been nice to hear more from him? Of course, but we get enough to whet the palate.

If “Running Game” felt a little short on Mr. Nelson, he’s front and center on 🎵 ✅ “Born 2 Die.” “Born 2 Die” ranks among the best moments of Welcome 2 America.  It’s the total aesthetic – the V-I-B-E! The Purple One is on his falsetto game on this soulful, throwback R&B number.  Musically, it’s sublime, with its horns and sweet backing vocals.  The melody is tuneful, particularly on the infectious, playful chorus (“Born to die, born to die / If you ain’t livin’ right, you know you’re / Born to die / Better watch out”).  Furthermore, the musical underpinnings are sweet as well (harmonic progression).

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“1000 Light Years From Here” 

On 🎵 “1000 Light Years From Here,” Prince continues a socially conscious-driven message. He emphasizes values, prudence, and working together. “We used to be smarter / We taught ‘em what they know,” he asserts on the first verse, continuing, “And now we got to show ‘em / What it means to be American.”  Those lyrics fit the concept of the album, for sure.  It seems, The Purple One envisioned a brighter future, at least eventually on the positive joint: “Your salvation is near / One thousand light years away from here.”

With much of Welcome 2 America leaning R&B, ✅ 🎵 “Hot Summer” incorporates more pop/rock flare (still within the context of R&B).  This is a fun, energetic joint, ready-made for summer or anytime of the year.  Prince sings alongside 🎙 Liv Warfield, yielding an exuberant, jubilant performance you won’t stop moving your body to! “Hot summer (Hot summer) / Just wait and see / Hot summer (Hot summer).”  Following the quicker “Hot Summer,” 🎵 “Stand Up and B Strong” slackens the pace and possesses a more, serious vibe.  Assisted by several female vocalists (Shelby J., Liv Warfield, and 🎙 Elisa Fiorillo), we’re encouraged to “Stand up and be strong” despite the adversity.  Here’s a prime example of adversity on the second verse: “If you live in the hills / Listen, you take too many pills / … Stand up and be strong.” “Stand Up and B Strong” doesn’t offer a specific solution for the problems that ail, but the message is pitch perfect.

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“Check the Record”

“Let’s check the record / See what it say / Seem like your girlfriend / Was in my bed.” Woo! Following the positive vibes of “Stand Up and B Strong,” Prince gives us bigger thrills on ✅ 🎵 “Check the Record.”  “Check the Record” electrifies with its heavy-hitting beat, assertive sounds, and The Purple One’s playful, tongue-in-cheek vocals. “Check the Record” earns high marks because it finds The Purple One capitalizing on his big personality.  Also cool is the fact that he references Sheryl Crow on the third verse:

“If it makes her happy
Can it be that bad?
Like Sheryl said
It might be the most favorite mistake I’ve ever had.” 

That’s mad respect right there! ✅ 🎵 “Same Page, Different Book” keeps things funked-up to the nth degree – just how we like our Prince songs!  It’s the musical aesthetic that makes this record shine, more than the songwriting. That said, there are still notable lyrical nuggets, like The Purple One getting Biblical: “Galatians Chapter 3 says / The law was as good as dead / Have faith in life, death, and resurrection of the second Adam instead.” Mr. Nelson continues to capitalize on personality, one of the biggest things we miss about him.  If you’re avid enthusiast, you’ll remember 🎵 “When She Comes” from 💿 HitNRun Phase Two, the final studio album released by Nelson while alive.  Here on Welcome 2 America, for the first time, we hear the original version of this spectacular, underrated ballad.  This is Prince on autopilot, period.

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“1010 (Rin Tin Tin)”

Entering the home stretch of Welcome 2 America, there’s still ample, decadent ear candy. ✅ 🎵 “1010 (Rin Tin Tin)” is enigmatic – a contrast to everything that precedes it.  Sure, it possesses the funk groove factor that’s consistent throughout the LP, but it is its own, unique record.  In addition to the funk, rock, and soul cues, I like the jazz, Baroque, and alternative R&B touches.  The harmonic progression and key shifts are brilliant.  Eccentric genius? Methinks!

Penultimate record 🎵 “Yes” falls in line with some of the socially conscious, positive songs that precede.  This up-tempo joint is filled with positive, uplifting vibes, and an activist spirit. On this guitar-heavy joint, Prince, assisted by Shelby, Liv, and Elisa, asserts, “If you’re ready for a brand-new nation / (Y-E-S) / If you’re ready for a new situation / Say it (Y-E-S).”  Welcome 2 America concludes on a high note with 🎵 “One Day We Will All B Free.”  Like “Yes,” The Purple One has the future in mind.  In his eyes, that future is freer and more promising – much better than present days.  Hopefully, he’s right! Shout out to the lyrical gem:

“Keepin’ in Franklin, Benjamin Banneker
Was never born a slave
And-ah if George Washington never told no lie
Maybe we’d all be saved.”

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Final Thoughts 💭

All said and done, Prince shines on his posthumously released album, Welcome 2 America, adding to his illustrious catalog of music.  Nothing eclipses his legendary recordings but hearing Welcome 2 America reminds us of just how gifted The Purple One was.  His ability to oscillate between genres and remain fresh and relevant speak to his enduring artistry and musicianship.  Welcome 2 America is certainly worth listening to.

 

✅ Gems 💎: “Welcome 2 America,” “Born 2 Die,” “Hot Summer,” “Check the Record,” “Same Page, Different Book” & “1010 (Rin Tin Tin)”  

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🎙 Prince • 💿 Welcome 2 America • 🏷 NPG / Legacy • 🗓 7.30.21

[📷: NPG / Legacy]

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