Gett Off

"Gett Off" is a song written and produced by American musician Prince for his thirteenth album Diamonds and Pearls (1991). The album was his first with his backing band the New Power Generation. "Gett Off" was released as the lead single from Diamonds and Pearls in June 1991.[1] The cover uses a face drawn in place of the first letter in the word Off and Prince's name written in reverse.

"Gett Off"
UK 7-inch single
Single by Prince and the New Power Generation
from the album Diamonds and Pearls
B-side"Horny Pony"
ReleasedJune 7, 1991
RecordedMay 1991
StudioPaisley Park (Chanhassen, Minnesota)
Length4:31
Label
Songwriter(s)Prince
Producer(s)Prince
Prince and the New Power Generation singles chronology
"New Power Generation"
(1990)		 "Gett Off"
(1991)		 "Cream"
(1991)
Music video
"Gett Off" on YouTube

"Gett Off" was a hit on both sides of the Atlantic, reaching number four in the United Kingdom. In the United States, "Gett Off" went to number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number six on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[2] In addition, "Gett Off" was Prince's seventh and final song to reach number one on the Billboard Dance Club Songs.[3] It ranked at number 97 in VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of the '90s.

Background and release

"Gett Off" evolved from several earlier compositions, starting with the song "Glam Slam" from 1988's Lovesexy. Prince created an unreleased remix in early 1991 called "Glam Slam '91", which used the chorus of "Glam Slam", but with new music and lyrics that borrowed partially from Graffiti Bridge's "Love Machine". Prince toyed with the song some more, adding a new chorus, and involving the newly formed New Power Generation. The song was renamed "Gett Off", which was very similar to a B-side/remix called "Get Off" from the maxi single release of "New Power Generation", also from Graffiti Bridge. "Gett Off" also uses a few musical segments from "Get Off". The new track features vocal contributions from Rosie Gaines and Tony M., and flute by long-time Prince associate Eric Leeds. Prince also contributes a guitar solo. Prince delivered the song exclusively to nightclubs on his 33rd birthday, on a now very valuable 12" single featuring the otherwise unavailable "Gett Off (Damn Near 10 Minutes Mix)" remix. It was so well-received that Prince decided to release the song commercially as a single with the rap song "Horny Pony" as its B-side, and also as a maxi single with several remixes, which varied from country to country. He also added it at the last minute to Diamonds and Pearls, replacing "Horny Pony" (on the packaging for Diamonds and Pearls, "Horny Pony" is written in red over "Gett Off", to fit in with the narrative track listing that was already finished.).Coincidentally Gett Off contains a sample from 'Horny Pony'. As well as being conceived from other compositions, it served as the musical blueprint for "Blue Light" and "Get Wild".

Critical reception

Patrick Corcoran from Albumism noted that the song's "exhortation to "23 positions in a one night stand" was a lightning conduit for rampant male sexuality, unfettered by the playful androgyny of the past."[4] Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic described it as a "slamming dancefloor rallying cry" and a "terrific" pop single.[5] Mike Diver for the BBC said in his 2010 review, that it's "more explicit" and "borrows a line or two from James Brown but is undeniably Prince through and through".[6] Larry Flick from Billboard wrote that "this delicious sleaze-speed funk dish cuts deep with an intense bass line, vocal shrieks, and racy lyrics."[7] Simon Price from The Guardian picked it as a "highlight" from the Diamonds and Pearls album, describing it as "hilariously immature".[8] Another editor, Alexis Petridis stated, "From its opening scream to its ferocious concluding guitar solo, Gett Off is prime-quality Prince: funny, lubricious, preposterously funky, every bit the equal of his best work."[9] Machgiel Bakker from Music & Media called it a "hectic funk workout".[10] Music Week commented that the song is "a brilliant curtain raiser for his new album. Cool and funky, it evokes memories of George Clinton and Gil Scott-Heron, while remaining totally original. Massive."[11] People Magazine stated that the singer will "blind you with his brilliance, as he does on the conspicuously funky "Gett Off"."[12] Jeff Weiss from Pitchfork said the song "led to more unplanned pregnancies than anything Prince had recorded" since "Kiss".[13] Neil McKay from Sunday Life noted that it features "heavy dance".

Music video

An official music video was developed and released for the song. It is directed by Randee St. Nicholas[14] and is notable for the appearance of Diamond & Pearl, as well as Prince's Yellow Cloud Guitar.

"Mother Popcorn"

The lyrics "I like 'em fat, I like 'em proud, you've got to have a mother for me..." and the music that accompanies them in the fourth verse of "Gett Off" are paraphrased from the 1969 James Brown song "Mother Popcorn". Prince alludes to the borrowing in a vocal aside ("Reminds me of something James used to say..."). The musical quotation is preceded by a crackling noise mimicking the sound of an old vinyl record and a sample of Brown's song.

Track listings

7-inch releases

US 7-19225

  1. "Gett Off" (single remix) – 4:31
  2. "Horny Pony" – 4:17

UK W0056
DEU 5439-19225-7

  1. "Gett Off" (single remix) – 4:01
  2. "Horny Pony" – 4:17

UK PROMO SAM 888

  1. "Gett Off" (Urge Single Edit) – 4:24

12-inch releases

US 0-40138
US PROMO PRO-A-4920
AUS MX79029-30
UK 0-40138

  1. "Gett Off" (extended remix) – 8:31
  2. "Gett Off" (Houstyle) – 8:20
  3. "Violet the Organ Grinder" – 4:59
  4. "Gett Off" (Flutestramental) – 7:26
  5. "Gangster Glam" – 6:04
  6. "Clockin' the Jizz" (Instrumental) – 4:51

UK W0056T
DEU 9362-40187-0

  1. "Gett Off" (Urge Mix) – 8:20
  2. "Gett Off" (Thrust Mix) – 9:29

UK PROMO SAM 857

  1. "Gett Off" (Urge Mix) – 8:20
  2. "Gett Off" (Flute Instrumental) – 7:26
  3. "Gett Off" (Purple Pump Mix) – 8:31
  4. "Gett Off" (Thrust Edit) – 4:48
  5. "Gett Off" (Thrust Dub) – 7:24

US PROMO JUN7

  1. "Gett Off" (Damn Near 10 Minutes) – 9:22

US PROMO PRO-A-4977

  1. "Gett Off" (Urge Mix) – 8:20
  2. "Gett Off" (Urge Dub) – 4:35
  3. "Gett Off" (Flutestramental) – 4:12
  4. "Gett Off" (Thrust Mix) – 9:29
  5. "Gett Off" (Thrust Dub) – 7:24
  6. "Gett Off" (Rosie's Dub) – 5:30

CD maxi single releases

US 9 40138-2

  1. "Gett Off" (single remix) – 4:31
  2. "Gett Off" (Houstyle) – 8:20
  3. "Violet the Organ Grinder" – 4:59
  4. "Gett Off" (Flutestramental) – 7:26
  5. "Gangster Glam" – 6:04
  6. "Clockin' the Jizz" (Instrumental) – 4:51
  7. "Gett Off" (Extended Remix) – 8:31

US PROMO PRO-CD-4977

  1. "Gett Off" (single remix) – 4:01
  2. "Gett Off" (Urge Single Edit) – 4:25
  3. "Gett Off" (Thrust Single Edit) – 4:48
  4. "Gett Off" (Purple Pump Mix) – 8:31
  5. "Gett Off" (Urge Mix) – 8:20
  6. "Gett Off" (Thrust Mix) – 9:29

UK W0056CD
DEU 9362-40188-2

  1. "Gett Off" (single remix) – 4:01
  2. "Gett Off" (Urge Single Edit) – 4:24
  3. "Gett Off" (Purple Pump Mix) – 8:31

JAP WPCP-4630

  1. "Gett Off" (extended remix) – 8:31
  2. "Gett Off" (Houstyle) – 8:20
  3. "Violet the Organ Grinder" – 4:59
  4. "Gangster Glam" – 6:04
  5. "Cream" (N.P.G Mix) – 5:47
  6. "Things Have Gotta Change" (Tony M. Rap) – 3:57
  7. "2 the Wire" (Creamy Instrumental) – 3:13
  8. "Get Some Solo" – 1:31
  9. "Do Your Dance" (KC's Remix) – 5:58
  10. "Housebangers" – 4:23
  11. "Q in Doubt" (instrumental) – 4:00
  12. "Ethereal Mix" – 4:43

Notes

  • "Album Version", "Single Remix", "Extended Remix" a.k.a. "Purple Pump Mix" and "Damn Near 10 Minutes" are edits of the original version.
  • "Urge Mix" (alternatively titled "Houstyle"), "Thrust Dub" (alternatively titled "Flutestramental"), "Thrust Single Edit", "Urge Single Edit", and "Thrust Mix" are house versions remixed by Steve "Silk" Hurley.
  • "Violet the Organ Grinder", "Gangster Glam" and "Clockin' the Jizz" are variations around the original version with added rap parts, chants or instrumental parts.

Charts

Appearances in other media
  • The edited 4:04 single mix backmasks the word "ass"; this version was included on the UK compilation Now That's What I Call Music! 20 which marks the first appearance of Prince on a Now Album.
  • On the soundtrack of the 1992 film Innocent Blood.
  • A brief snippet of this song as well as Cream, Sexy MF and Darling Nikki were sung by a character in the popular British sketch show The Fast Show. Due to copyright, these clips were not included in the home media releases of the show, despite the anachronistic 1940 music hall setting.[46]

References
  1. Prince And The New Power Generation* – Gett Off at Discogs
  2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Record Research. p. 471.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974–2003. Record Research. p. 208.
  4. Corcoran, Patrick (September 27, 2016). "Prince & The New Power Generation's 'Diamonds and Pearls' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  5. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince & the New Power Generation / Prince – Diamonds and Pearls". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  6. Diver, Mike (2010). "Prince & The New Power Generation Diamonds and Pearls Review". BBC. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  7. Flick, Larry (June 22, 1991). "Dance Trax: Hi-NRG Awards Set; Waters Flowing; Princely Track" (PDF). Billboard. p. 31. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
  8. Price, Simon (April 22, 2016). "Prince: every album rated – and ranked". The Guardian. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  9. Petridis, Alexis (September 12, 2019). "Prince's 50 greatest singles – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  10. Bakke, Machgiel (September 28, 1991). "Dance: Dancing All Over The Airwaves" (PDF). Music & Media. p. 13. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  11. "Mainstream: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 17, 1991. p. 8. Retrieved October 3, 2020.
  12. "Picks and Pans Review: Diamonds and Pearls". People. October 21, 1991. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  13. Weiss, Jeff (April 30, 2016). "Prince / The New Power Generation – Diamond and Pearls". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  14. "Gett Off (1991) by Prince feat. The New Power Generation". IMVDb. Retrieved November 28, 2020.
  15. "Australian-charts.com – Prince and the New Power Generation – Gett Off". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  16. "Austriancharts.at – Prince and the New Power Generation – Gett Off" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  17. "Ultratop.be – Prince and the New Power Generation – Gett Off" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  18. "Top RPM Dance/Urban: Issue 1633." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  19. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 39. September 28, 1991. p. 29. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  20. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 38. September 21, 1991. p. 25. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  21. Nyman, Jake (2005). Suomi soi 4: Suuri suomalainen listakirja (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Tammi. ISBN 951-31-2503-3.
  22. "Offiziellecharts.de – Prince and the New Power Generation – Gett Off". GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  23. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 44. November 2, 1991. p. 31. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
  24. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 38, 1991" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40 Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  25. "Dutchcharts.nl – Prince and the New Power Generation – Gett Off" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  26. "Charts.nz – Prince and the New Power Generation – Gett Off". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  27. "Norwegiancharts.com – Prince and the New Power Generation – Gett Off". VG-lista. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  28. "Notowanie nr509" (in Polish). LP3. November 22, 1991. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  29. "Top 10 Sales in Europe" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 8 no. 42. October 19, 1991. p. 39. Retrieved October 30, 2020.
  30. Salaverri, Fernando (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  31. "Swedishcharts.com – Prince and the New Power Generation – Gett Off". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  32. "Swisscharts.com – Prince and the New Power Generation – Gett Off". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
  33. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  34. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. August 31, 1991. p. 20. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
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  36. "Prince Chart History (Dance Club Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 25, 2019.
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  39. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010. Mt. Martha, VIC, Australia: Moonlight Publishing.
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  42. "Top 100–Jaaroverzicht van 1991". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved May 14, 2020.
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  44. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 1991" (in German). Retrieved April 25, 2019.
  45. "1991 Top 100 Singles". Music Week. London, England: Spotlight Publications. January 11, 1992. p. 20.
  46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYks29_oxUA&fbclid=IwAR3STipfoVUoUo1Eu91b2-UN32k-Xtbp54EPG4oj3iM2oHP_Z-wFkx11Dsc
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