Thunder (Prince song)

"Thunder" is a song by Prince and The New Power Generation, from the 1991 album Diamonds and Pearls. It was issued as a limited, individually numbered 12-inch single picture disc in the UK only, and the edited version was available only on the promotional single. The lyrics can be interpreted as referring to the night Prince decided to withdraw The Black Album, when he was rumored to have suffered a bad ecstasy trip.[2] This is the first single cover to feature Mayte, sitting at the lower left.

"Thunder"
UK 12" picture disc
Single by Prince and The New Power Generation
from the album Diamonds and Pearls
B-side
  • "Violet the Organ Grinder"
  • "Gett Off" (Thrust Dub)
Released15 June 1992[1]
RecordedPaisley Park Studios, 24 January 1991
GenrePop rock, New Jack Swing
Length5:45 (Album)
3:20 (Radio Edit)
LabelPaisley Park/Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)Prince
Producer(s)Prince
Prince and The New Power Generation singles chronology
"Money Don't Matter 2 Night"
(1992)		 "Thunder"
(1992)		 "Sexy MF"
(1992)
Prince (UK) singles chronology
"Money Don't Matter 2 Night"
(1992)		 "Thunder"
(1992)		 "Sexy MF"
(1992)

The B-sides were previously released on the "Gett Off" maxi-single: "Violet the Organ Grinder" and "Gett Off" (Thrust Dub).

Critical reception

Patrick Corcoran from Albumism wrote that the song "rumbles into earshot on a wave of multilayered vocals and typically sterling guitar and sitar work." He added, "As some would have it, this was his account of the night he shelved the Black Album at the last moment—a battle for his very soul no less."[3] Mike Diver for the BBC said in his 2010 review, that it is an "anthemic opener" that "apparently refers, in its lyrics, to withdrawn 1987 LP The Black Album".[4] Jeff Weiss from Pitchfork wrote that it "stitches evangelic lyrics to sub-continental sitars, slashing guitars, and chord progressions that Max Martin has swiped for the last two decades. It's basically a proto-Backstreet Boys anthem for born-agains."[5] People noted "the pretentious bluster" of the song.[6] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits described it as "quirky rock".[7]

Chart performance

The song was another top 30 hit for Prince, peaking at number 28 in the UK, and continuing the moderate success of Diamonds and Pearls singles there.

Charts
Chart (1992) Peak
position
UK Singles (Official Chart Company) 28
UK Music Week Dance Singles[8] 6

References
  • Uptown: The Vault – The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince: Nilsen Publishing 2004, ISBN 91-631-5482-X
  1. Uptown, 2004, p. 133
  2. Hahn, Alex. Possessed: The Rise and Fall of Prince. Billboard Books, 2003. ISBN 0-8230-7748-9. Page ?
  3. Corcoran, Patrick (27 September 2016). "Prince & The New Power Generation's 'Diamonds and Pearls' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved 15 November 2020.
  4. Diver, Mike (2010). "Prince & The New Power Generation Diamonds and Pearls Review". BBC. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. Weiss, Jeff (30 April 2016). "Prince / The New Power Generation – Diamond and Pearls". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  6. "Picks and Pans Review: Diamonds and Pearls". People. 21 October 1991. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
  7. Doyle, Tom (16 October 1991). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits. p. 43. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  8. "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. 4 July 1992. p. 22. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
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