Prince - Sexy Mf

[Adsey78]

Can someone tell me how they are cueing the chorus in this song? I have have seen it played live and no one is using charts and they can't all be counting. The bars before the chorus are very random. In counting the bass riff rotations, sometimes its 6, sometimes 5, sometimes 7 etc...

 

[tb-player]

I remember that song. It’s really fun to play. And the BGVs are hilarious. But yeah, it’s not a simple 8-bar turnaround into each chorus.

The key to playing a song like that is to simply learn the song. It’s about feel, groove and knowing the lyrics. It’s also about visual cues with the band. Sure, you can try to memorize & count. But that all falls apart the minute something changes.

If I had to play that song again, I’d practice with the lyrics in front of me, take a few notes and really internalize it. Cue off certain words/phrases. And if you’re playing it live, pay attention to the drummer.

My 2 cents.

 

[Bob_Ross]

In counting the bass riff rotations, sometimes its 6, sometimes 5, sometimes 7 etc...

But it's not necessarily "sometimes" ...it's probably at specific times, right? E.g., it's 6 times before the first chorus, but then 5 times before the 2nd chorus, and then 7 times before the 3rd chorus, something like that, no? (I have not listened to that tune in ages so I'm just giving an example.)

So whatever that pattern/roadmap is, it becomes everyone in the band's responsibility to learn it that way and to know when to go to the chorus. If the lyrics are the same in every performance, they can be used as an obvious audible cue.

Or, perhaps someone in the band is "conducting" via visual cues; e.g., Whenever Prince Puts His Right Hand On His Ass, Go To The Chorus. Again, it becomes everyone in the band's responsibility to keep an eye on the conductor and follow the cues.

So no need to count or to use charts; everyone just has to learn their part and be responsible for understanding the form.

 

[Altitude]

I played this tune for a while. Absolute brain buster.

My theory is that even Prince’s band never played it the same way twice and the format was all cues.

Very cool song though.

 

[Altitude]

If the lyrics are the same in every performance, they can be used as an obvious audible cue.

Certainly true in theory - but that’s the thing. In this song the lyrics and lyric form just don’t offer many clues. Verses are different lengths and such. Challenging!

 

[Bob_Ross]

In this song the lyrics and lyric form just don’t offer many clues. Verses are different lengths and such. Challenging!

Are the lyrics different every time the song is performed? Or is it just that the lyrics, as written, aren't easily predictable?
Because just because the material may be difficult doesn't absolve the band members from their responsibility to learn how a song goes.

 

[Altitude]

Are the lyrics different every time the song is performed? Or is it just that the lyrics, as written, aren't easily predictable?
Because just because the material may be difficult doesn't absolve the band members from their responsibility to learn how a song goes.

Same every time, but different form from verse to verse.

Sure it’s the players’ responsibility to know the material. That doesn’t make it any easier to figure out.

 

[dougjwray]

It's "roll up your sleeves and get to work" time.