Born and raised in Minneapolis, Prince signed a record deal with Warner Bros. Records at the age of 19, soon releasing the albums For You (1978) and Prince (1979). He went on to achieve critical success with the influential albums Dirty Mind (1980), Controversy (1981), and 1999 (1982). His sixth album, Purple Rain (1984), was recorded with his new backing band the Revolution, and was also the soundtrack to the film of the same name in which he starred. Purple Rain garnered continued success for Prince and was a major commercial achievement, spending six consecutive months atop the Billboard 200 chart. The soundtrack also won Prince the Academy Award for Best Original Song Score. After disbanding the Revolution, Prince released the album Sign o' the Times (1987), widely hailed by critics as the greatest work of his career. In the midst of a contractual dispute with Warner Bros. in 1993, he changed his stage name to the unpronounceable symbol logo. Hollow circle above downward arrow crossed with a curlicued horn-shaped symbol and then a short bar (known to fans as the "Love Symbol") and was often referred to as The Artist Formerly Known as Prince (or TAFKAP) or simply The Artist.
After signing with Arista Records in 1998, Prince reverted to his original name in 2000. Over the next decade, six of his albums entered the U.S. top 10 charts. In April 2016, at the age of 57, Prince died after accidentally overdosing on fentanyl at his Paisley Park home and recording studio in Chanhassen, Minnesota. He was a prolific musician who released 39 albums during his life, with a vast array of unreleased material left in a custom-built bank vault underneath his home after his death, including fully completed albums and over 50 finished music videos. He also released songs under multiple pseudonyms during his life, as well as writing songs that were made popular after being covered by other musicians, most notably "Nothing Compares 2 U" by Sinéad O'Connor and "Manic Monday" by the Bangles. Estimates of the complete number of songs written by Prince range anywhere from 500 to well over 1,000. Released posthumously, his demo albums Piano and a Microphone 1983 (2018) and Originals (2019) both received critical acclaim.
Prince sold over 100 million records worldwide, ranking him among the best-selling music artists of all time. His awards included the Grammy President's Merit Award, the American Music Awards for Achievement and of Merit, the Billboard Icon Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2006, and the Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame in 2016, and was inducted twice into the Black Music & Entertainment Walk of Fame in 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prince_(musician)
Studio albums
For You (1978)
Prince (1979)
Dirty Mind (1980)
Controversy (1981)
1999 (1982)
Purple Rain (1984)
Around the World in a Day (1985)
Parade (1986)
Sign o' the Times (1987)
Lovesexy (1988)
Batman (1989)
Graffiti Bridge (1990)
Diamonds and Pearls (1991)
Love Symbol (1992)
Come (1994)
The Black Album (1994)
The Gold Experience (1995)
Chaos and Disorder (1996)
Emancipation (1996)
Crystal Ball (1998)
The Truth (1998)
The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale (1999)
Rave Un2 the Joy Fantastic (1999)
The Rainbow Children (2001)
One Nite Alone... (2002)
Xpectation (2003)
N·E·W·S (2003)
The Chocolate Invasion (2004)
The Slaughterhouse (2004)
Musicology (2004)
3121 (2006)
Planet Earth (2007)
Lotusflow3r (2009)
MPLSound (2009)
20Ten (2010)
Plectrumelectrum (2014)
Art Official Age (2014)
HITnRUN Phase One (2015)
HITnRUN Phase Two (2015)
Posthumous releases:
Piano and a Microphone 1983 (2018)
Originals (2019)
Welcome 2 America (2021)
Prince also released two albums credited to Madhouse, three albums credited to the New Power Generation, and one credited to the N.P.G. Orchestra:
Madhouse:
8 (1987)
16 (1987)
The New Power Generation:
Goldnigga (1993)
Exodus (1995)
Newpower Soul (1998)
The N.P.G. Orchestra:
Kamasutra (1997)
For Serbian singer Princ, please use Princ.
U Gotta Shake Something
Prince Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If U decide 2 get in a key, it's E-flat
Grace
(Here's the brand new one by The Flesh, "U Gotta Shake Something")
4 love
U gotta shake something, what U got 2 lose?
What U got 2 lose?
U gotta shake something, what U got 2 lose?
U gotta shake something, what U gonna do? Yeah {x2}
Blow Eric, huh! Ow! Uh, damn!
Jimmy Black & The Whites
U gotta shake something, what U gonna do? Yeah
Jimmy White & The Blacks
Damn! Something
Blow Eric, come on, don't stop, say "Uh!"
U gotta shake something, uh
U gotta.. U gotta.. U gotta.. U gotta shake something (something)
If your pants' 2 tight (They're far 2 tight)
Shake it with us 2night (Shake it, baby {x3})
Hey, U gotta shake something (something, baby)
Ow! U gotta shake (U gotta shake)
(If U feel all tight, I feel alright)
Go go, huh
U gotta shake
Drop out the bass
U gotta shake
Levi, get up, I wanna say, I wanna say "Uh!"
U gotta shake something ... uh!
U gotta shake something (something)
If, ha, if your pants' 2 tight
(U gotta shake something ... uh!)
Shake it with us 2night
(U gotta shake something ... uh!)
U gotta shake something {x2}
[Baby], U gotta shake something
What's the matter, honey, U tired?
U gotta shake something, hey!
U gotta
Levi, stop!
Everybody, B-flat, come on
U gotta shake something
Go back B-flat, come on, I say "Uh!"
U're not sexy, get out o' my house
Get out o' my house
Levi, stop!
Everybody, B-flat, come on, say..
U gotta shake something ... uh
U gotta shake something
B-flat, huh, come on (Uh)
I gotta stop and tune the guitar
Yeah, ha ha
U can't fuck with us 2night
U gotta shake something
Yeehaw!
Go back E-flat, come on, don't...
See the girl over there
Polka dot dress on, yeah
It don't matter, no care
I put the.. U got the sexy gown, yeah
Can I get up under that dress, honey?
Shake something
(Hey, come on, wait a minute)
U know I feel alright
U gotta, gotta shake something 2night, 2night
(Shake it then, honey, shake it, good God, huh)
U're gonna be alright
I won't do U no wrong
Eric, blow! Ow!
Looka here
Looks like rain, come on
(Shake) {repeat in BG}
Go go, uh
U got any old James Brown records?
U gotta shake something in here
(Sing, ha) U can't fuck with us {x2}
Sing
Uh, ha, U can't fuck with us {repeat in BG}
U gotta shake something
U got any old Otis Redding records?
U know what I'm talking about
Huh, hey!
Red drums set up in this ... ow!
Drop out the bass, Levi, stop!
B-flat, uh
(Shake) {repeat in BG}
Go go, uh
Eric, stop! Uh
That's the way 2 say it: Uh!
Eric, blow! Uh
It's alright
Levi? Why'd U stop Levi, why'd U stop, come on, uh!
(Shake, shake shake shake) {repeat in BG}
I wanna hear some Red drums in here
Ow!
Jungle love, yeah, when I gotta love, yeah
Levi, go go
Fellas, uh, U can't fuck with us {repeat in BG}
On the 1
1 time, huh {x2}
Hold it, stop stop
Levi
2 times, huh
Ow, good God!
(Shake) {repeat in BG}
Levi, U know U will have 2 excuse me, we just bought a new car
Oh, we just bought a used car
Don't laugh
U can't fuck with us
Something 4 all the white peoples
(Shake, shake shake shake) {repeat in BG to the end}
What key we in? OK
Baby, when we start 2 sweat
Baby, U ain't seen nothin' yet
I got big ol' biceps and a sexy ass
U can't fuck with me, mama, I'll break your glass eye
Alright, Sammy, good God
Feel the funk
U know what I'm talkin' about
Sammy
(Shake, U gotta shake something) {repeat in BG to the end}
U ever seen a black man play guitar with no clothes on?
I ain't bullshittin', uh
U can't fuck with us
Washington wives, U can't fuck with us
Sometime, sometime, sometime I can't.. I can't..
I can't make up my mind
(I love it)
I'll say whatever I want 2
U can't fuck with me, no
Ride, honey, ride, honey
Levi, stop!
Fade this shit out, we gotta 2 get the..
Fade this shit out, come on Cole, shit
U can't fuck with us
I'm afraid, U know, U can't fuck with us
The lyrics of Prince's song U Gotta Shake Something are essentially a call for all the people to let loose and shake their bodies. The first line suggests that if someone decides to get in a key, the key is E-flat. From then on, the song calls out to everyone to shake something and join in. The repeated chorus 'U gotta shake something, what you gonna do' acts like a call to action, as if the song is trying to convince listeners to join in and dance. The song's lyrics also have additional parts, such as Jimmy Black and the Whites, stopping the bass and drums, Levi being called to stop, Eric blowing sounds on the saxophone, and so on.
Prince's U Gotta Shake Something is chaos, unapologetic, and wild, as in many of his songs. It is meant to be funky and fun for the people listening to it. The repeated calls to action and the various unexpected moments in the song are meant to get everyone moving and jumping around. The song is a wild ride that encourages people to throw themselves around and have fun, without worrying too much about what anyone else might think.
Line by Line Meaning
U gotta shake something, what U got 2 lose?
You have to take action, what are you afraid of losing?
U gotta shake something, what U gonna do? Yeah
You have to take action, what are you going to do?
U gotta shake something (something)
You have to move and dance
If your pants' 2 tight
If you feel restricted or confined
Shake it with us 2night (Shake it, baby {x3})
Join us and dance tonight
U gotta shake
You have to move and dance
Go go, huh
Get up and dance
Drop out the bass
Lower the bass sound in the music
Levi, get up, I wanna say, I wanna say 'Uh!'
Levi, stand up and make some noise
You gotta shake something (something)
You have to move and dance
If, ha, if your pants' 2 tight
If you feel restricted or confined
Shake it with us 2night
Join us and dance tonight
U gotta shake something
You have to move and dance
B-flat, huh, come on (Uh)
Play the note B-flat on the instruments
U gotta shake something
You have to move and dance
U're not sexy, get out o' my house
If you're not confident and charismatic, leave my house
U gotta shake something
You have to move and dance
See the girl over there, Polka dot dress on, yeah
Look at the woman in the polka dot dress
It don't matter, no care
It doesn't matter, there are no concerns
I put the.. U got the sexy gown, yeah
I'll put on some music, and you wear a sexy gown
Can I get up under that dress, honey? Shake something
Can I get close to you, baby? Let's dance
U know I feel alright
You know I feel good
U gotta, gotta shake something 2night, 2night
You have to move and dance tonight
U're gonna be alright, I won't do U no wrong
You'll be fine, I won't harm you
Eric, blow!
Eric, play a powerful musical note
U got any old James Brown records?
Do you have any old James Brown albums?
U gotta shake something in here
You have to move and dance in this place
U know what I'm talking about
You understand what I mean
Red drums set up in this ... ow!
The drums are set up and ready to play
Drop out the bass, Levi, stop!
Lower the bass sound, Levi, stop playing
Levi, U know U will have 2 excuse me, we just bought a new car
Levi, you'll have to excuse me, we just purchased a new car
U can't fuck with us
You can't compete with us
Something 4 all the white peoples
Something for all the white people to enjoy
What key we in? OK
What musical key are we playing in? Okay
Baby, when we start 2 sweat
Darling, when we begin to perspire
Baby, U ain't seen nothin' yet
Darling, you haven't seen anything yet
I got big ol' biceps and a sexy ass
I have large strong muscles and an attractive buttocks
U can't fuck with me, mama, I'll break your glass eye
You can't compete with me, I'll harm you
Alright, Sammy, good God
Okay, Sammy, that's great
Feel the funk
Experience the groove and rhythm of funk music
Sammy
Referring to someone named Sammy
U ever seen a black man play guitar with no clothes on?
Have you ever witnessed a naked black man playing the guitar?
U can't fuck with us
You can't compete with us
Washington wives, U can't fuck with us
Women married to influential politicians in Washington can't compete with us
Sometime, sometime, sometime I can't.. I can't..
Sometimes, sometimes, sometimes I can't make up my mind
I'll say whatever I want 2
I'll speak freely and say whatever I desire
U can't fuck with me, no
You can't compete with me
Ride, honey, ride, honey
Enjoy the ride, darling
Levi, stop!
Levi, stop playing
Fade this shit out, we gotta 2 get the..
Gradually fade out this music, we have to go
U can't fuck with us
You can't compete with us
I'm afraid, U know, U can't fuck with us
I'm scared, you know, you can't compete with us
Contributed by Cameron O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
doalwa
One absolutely badass jam! Eric Leeds, Sheila E….what’s not to like? ❤❤❤
Daniella Mantia
Luv it Prince sweetie you could never make a bad song ever all your songs are brilliant Prince hahahah 💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜💜 cheekie
xyz xyz
アラウンドザワールドやパレードの頃に、すでにこういった曲をやっていたとは。驚異的進化ですね。
Krs 50
Now that's what I'm Talking about! That Fonky Groove that he's known for!!
Old Soul
I love this jamm I wish it had a lil bit of Atlanta bliss trumpet 🎺
joyce childs
Love it
s readkidd
💜🔥🤘🏽
brianjennings1967
prince livez...2022...
Janice Wright Love
Funky!
Michael C. Trotter
💜