Sign o' the Times (song)
| "Sign o' the Times" | |
|---|---|
| Song | |
| B-side | "La, La, La, He, He, Hee" |
"Sign "O" the Times" is the title track and lead single of Prince's 1987 double album Sign "O" the Times. Musically, the song is sparse and highlighted by a complex drum machine loop and infectious bass guitar. The 12-inch single/album version contains a bluesy guitar section as well. The song is a holdover from both the Dream Factory and Crystal Ball projects, that was promoted to the title track of the 1987 release. Prince performs the entire track except for some backing vocals by then girlfriend Susannah Melvoin. "Sign 'O' the Times" was written on a Sunday, when Prince usually wrote his most introspective songs, and this one is no exception. The song is a depressing account of the state of the United States in 1986/87 and touches on heavy subjects such as AIDS, gangs, natural disasters, poverty, drugs, Iran-Contra, the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster and nuclear holocaust, although the lyrics end with a touch of hope and humor. The 12" version of the song is the same as the album version. The song was quite popular and reached #3 on the U.S. pop charts and hit the top of the R&B charts.
The B-side was the funky "La, La, La, He, He, Hee". The song was written as a challenge to Prince by Sheena Easton that he couldn't write a song with that title. The result was an adventurous and playful number featuring input from his new band, clocking in at ten and a half minutes. The song features vocal samples morphed into drumbeats that sound like a dog barking. The lyrics of the song refer to a dog's affair with a cat with playful sexuality. Part of the refrain was used briefly in the song "I Wanna Melt with U" from the Love Symbol album.
Rolling Stone ranked "Sign "O" the Times" #299 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Trivia
- The song was released without a proper music video. What exists is a screen of moving colored patterns with the lyrics scrolling across, similar to karaoke. Sometimes MTV would play a segment of the 1987 American Music Awards with Prince performing this song, along with "Play In the Sunshine".
- The single's cover features the new band member Cat Glover posing with a large heart covering her face, and on the back of the cover, posing with Prince's guitar. Many people incorrectly thought it was Prince in drag.