"Thunder"
UK 12-inch 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)
ReleasedJune 15, 1992 (1992-06-15)[1]
RecordedJanuary 26, 1991
StudioPaisley Park, Chanhassen, Minnesota, US
Length
  • 5:45 (album version)
  • 3:20 (radio edit)
Label
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)

"Thunder" is a song by American musician Prince and the New Power Generation, from their 1991 album Diamonds and Pearls. It was issued as a limited, individually numbered 12-inch single picture disc in the UK and Ireland only, and the edited version was available only on the promotional single.

Background

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

Critical reception

In an retrospective review, 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Diver for the BBC said in his 2010 review, that it is an "anthemic opener" that "apparently refers, in its lyrics, to withdrawn 1987 LP The Black Album".[4] Gavin Martin from NME described the song as "hysterical pop operatics".[5] Jeff Weiss from Pitchfork commented that it "stitches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."[6] A reviewer from People Magazine noted the "pretentious bluster" of the song.[7] Tom Doyle from Smash Hits described it as "quirky rock".[8]

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. In Ireland, "Thunder" reached number three and charted for 12 weeks.

Personnel

Personnel are adapted from Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud[9][10]

Charts

Chart performance for "Thunder"
Chart (1992) Peak
position
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[11] 86
Ireland (IRMA)[12] 3
UK Singles (OCC)[13] 28
UK Dance (Music Week)[14] 6

References

  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 (September 27, 2016). "Prince & The New Power Generation's 'Diamonds and Pearls' Turns 25: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
  4. ↑ Diver, Mike (2010). "Prince & The New Power Generation Diamonds and Pearls Review". BBC. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  5. ↑ Martin, Gavin (October 5, 1991). "Long Play". NME. p. 36. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  6. ↑ Weiss, Jeff (April 30, 2016). "Prince / The New Power Generation – Diamond and Pearls". Pitchfork. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  7. ↑ "Picks and Pans Review: Diamonds and Pearls". People. October 21, 1991. Retrieved November 13, 2020.
  8. ↑ Doyle, Tom (October 16, 1991). "Review: LPs". Smash Hits. p. 43. Retrieved October 20, 2020.
  9. ↑ Clerc, Benoît (October 2022). Prince: All the Songs. Octopus. ISBN 9781784728816.
  10. ↑ "Diamonds and Pearls". guitarcloud.org. Retrieved May 8, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles". Music & Media. Vol. 9, no. 27. July 4, 1992. p. 18.
  12. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Thunder". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  14. ↑ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. July 4, 1992. p. 22. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  • Uptown: The Vault – The Definitive Guide to the Musical World of Prince: Nilsen Publishing 2004, ISBN 91-631-5482-X
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