I guess you could say he was a sex fiend. Prince — who died on April 21st, 2016 at the young age of 57 — dedicated a lot of musical acreage on most of his albums to unabashed sexual expression. There was plenty of macho posturing, for instance, boasting in the 1980 song “Head” about intercepting a bride on the way to her wedding with his animal charisma, so much so that she’s compelled to give him a BJ, ditch her groom and marry Prince instead. 

But there was also female empowerment — he imbued some of his female characters with their own sexual agency and power. For every woman he sang about seducing, there was another about him being seduced by a woman who knew what she wanted (“Little Red Corvette,” “Darling Nikki”…). And as a promoter of egalitarian sex, he made sure the favor of oral sex was returned (over and over) to the woman in “Head” (see lyrics below) — a lesson plenty of men still have to learn over 25 years later. 

Pushing the boundaries of stereotypical gender roles went beyond the usual 80s man-make-up and frilly pirate garb (though there was, of course, plenty of that): while celebrating his hyper-heterosexuality, Prince also wholeheartedly embraced androgyny, singing in 1984’s “I Would Die 4 U,” I’m not a woman, I’m not a man, I am something that you’ll never understand. His tiny, topiary-ed mustache straddling uber-glossed lips; his overwrought hairstyles that often looked like your mom’s; his willingness to objectify his own perfectly sculpted, half-naked body; and a peach-like ass that you probably couldn’t quite peg as male or female in a blind trial — you might expect these kind of image choices from gay or bisexual pop icons like Boy George and David Bowie, but from a straight dude? 

In spite of — or perhaps because of — his small stature (a full 2 inches shorter than Kevin Hart), he did everything over the top: the oozing sexuality, the obscene lyrics, the pretty-boy style, and the pretentious name changes that could only be tolerated from someone with that kind of musical genius. In the process, Prince did wonders for the sex appeal of short guys everywhere — and, it could be argued, for the sexual enlightenment of the masses. He gave us permission, no matter what we looked like or what gender we were (or even identified with), to pursue and enjoy sex — indeed, life — without apology. 

We do not “dig u better dead,” Prince! Who’s going to write the songs that make the whole world cream? Nothing compares 2 u, as these sexy, sometimes silly, but always soulful songs of yours attest:

 

“I Wanna Be Your Lover” (off 1979’s Prince)

I ain’t got no money
I ain’t like those other guys you hang around
It’s kinda funny
But they always seem to let you down
And I get discouraged
Cause I never see you anymore

And I need your love, babe
That’s all I’m living for, yeah
I didn’t want to pressure you, baby
But all I ever wanted to do

I want to be your lover
I want to be the only one that makes you come running
I want to be your lover
I want to turn you on, turn you out
All night long, make you shout
Oh, lover! Yeah!

I want to be the only one you come for

I want to be your brother
I want to be your mother and your sister, too
There ain’t no other
That can do the things that I’ll do to you

And I get discouraged
Cause you treat me just like a child
And they say I’m so shy
But with you I just go wild!

I didn’t want to pressure you, baby (No)
But all I ever wanted to do

I want to be your lover
I want to be the only one that makes you come running
I want to be your lover
I want to turn you on, turn you out
All night long make you shout
Oh, lover! Yeah!

I want to be the only one you come for, yeah

 

“Dirty Mind” (off 1980’s Dirty Mind)

There’s something about you, baby
It happens all the time
Whenever I’m around you, baby
I get a dirty mind
It doesn’t matter where we are
It doesn’t matter who’s around
It doesn’t matter, I just want to lay ya down
In my daddy’s car
It’s you I really want to drive
But you never go too far
I may not be your kind of man
I may not be your style
But honey, all I want to do is just love you for a little while

If you got the time
I’ll give you some money
To buy a dirty mind
Don’t misunderstand me
I never fool around
But honey, you got me on my knees, won’t you please let me lay ya down

I really get a dirty mind (mind, mind, mind)
Whenever you’re around
It happens to me every time (time, time, time)

You just gotta let me lay ya
Gotta let me lay ya, lay ya
You just gotta let me lay ya
Gotta let me lay ya down

In my daddy’s car
It’s you I really want to drive
Underneath the stars
I really get a dirty mind
Whenever you’re around

I don’t want to hurt you, baby
I only want to lay you down

 

“Do Me, Baby”  (off 1981’s Controversy)

Here we are in this big old empty room
Staring each other down
You want me just as much as I want you
Let’s stop fooling around

Take me baby, kiss me all over
Play with my love
Bring out what’s been in me for far too long
Baby, you know that’s all I’ve been dreaming of

Do Me Baby, like you never done before
Give it to me till I just can’t take no more
Come on and do me baby, like you never done before
I want you now, I just can’t wait no more, can’t wait

Here we are looking for a reason
You to lay me down
For a love like ours is never out of season
So baby please stop teasing me

What you do, I can never love no other
You’re the best I ever had
Whenever we’re not close to one another
I just want you so bad

So do me baby, like you never done before
Give it to me till I just can’t take no more
Come on, do me baby, like you never done before
I want you now, I just can’t wait no more
I said

Do do do do me baby
(Do me baby)
Do me baby all night long
(Give it to me)

Do me baby
I want you now
Do me baby
Give it to me

Do me baby, don’t wanna do it all alone
I want your love
Do me baby
Give it to me

This feeling is too strong, make me wait too long
(I want u now)

You’re leaving me no choice
Okay, what are you gonna do
You just gonna sit there and watch?
Alright
Are you sure you don’t wanna close your eyes?
Well, isn’t it supposed to take a long time?
I’m not gonna stop until the war is over
Help me!
There okay okay
I’m so cold, just hold me

“Cream” (off 1991’s Diamonds and Pearls)

This is it
It’s time for you to go to the wire
You will hit
‘Cause you got the burnin’ desire
It’s your time (Time)
You got the horn so why don’t you blow it
You are fine (Fine)
You’re filthy cute and baby you know it

Cream
Get on top
Cream
You will cop
Cream
Don’t you stop
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

You’re so good
Baby there ain’t nobody better (Ain’t nobody better)
So you should
Never, ever go by the letter (Never ever)
You’re so cool (Cool)
Everything you do is success
Make the rules (Rules)
Then break them all ’cause you are the best

Yes you are

Cream
Get on top
Cream
You will cop
Cream
Don’t you stop
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

Look up in the air, it’s your guitar

Do your dance
Why should you wait any longer?
Take a chance
It could only make you stronger
It’s your time (It’s your time)
You got the horn so why don’t you blow it (Go on and blow it)
You’re so fine (you’re so fine)
You’re filthy cute and baby you know it (you know it)

Cream
Get on top
Cream
You will cop
Cream
Don’t you ever stop
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

Cream
Cream
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

Cream
Cream
Right there
Cream
Don’t you stop
Cream
Sh-boogie bop

Sh-boogie

 

And let us not forget these gems:

 

“Darling Nikki” (off 1984’s Purple Rain)

I knew a girl named Nikki
I guess you could say she was a sex fiend
I met her in a hotel lobby
Masturbating with a magazine
She said how’d you like to waste some time
And I could not resist when I saw little Nikki grind

She took me to her castle
And I just couldn’t believe my eyes
She had so many devices
Everything that money could buy
She said sign your name on the dotted line
The lights went out
And Nikki started to grind

Nikki

The castle started spinning
Or maybe it was my brain
I can’t tell you what she did to me
But my body will never be the same
Her lovin’ will kick your behind
Oh, she’ll show you no mercy
But she’ll sho’nuff sho’nuff show you how to grind

Darlin’ Nikki

Woke up the next morning
Nikki wasn’t there
I looked all over and all I found
Was a phone number on the stairs
It said thank you for a funky time
Call me up whenever you want to grind

Oh, Nikki, ohhhh

Come back Nikki, come back
Your dirty little Prince
Wanna grind grind grind grind grind grind grind grind grind

“Hello, how are you? I’m fine. ’cause I know
That the Lord is coming soon, coming, coming soon.”

 

“Head” (off 1980’s Dirty Mind)

. . . You know you’re good, girl
I think you like to go down
You wouldn’t have stopped
But I, I came on your wedding gown
And you said, “I must confess,
I want to get undressed and go to bed.”
With that I jammed, you fool,
You married me instead
Now morning, noon, and night
I give you
Head
Til you’re burning up
Head
Til you get enough
Head
Til you’re love is red
Head Love you til you’re dead . . .

 

“Sexuality” (off 1981’s Controversy)

 . . . Let me take you to another world, let me take you tonight
You don’t need no money, you don’t need no clothes
The second coming, anything goes
Sexuality is all you’ll ever need
Sexuality, let your body be free . . .

 

“Delirious” (off 1982’s 1999)

. . . My temperature’s runnin’ hot
Baby you got 2 stop
‘Cuz if you don’t I’m gonna explode
And girl I got a lot . . .

 

“Let’s Pretend We’re Married” (off 1982’s 1999)

. . . I wanna fuck you so bad it hurts, it hurts, it hurts
I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna fuck you
Yeah, I wanna, I wanna, I wanna wanna, I wanna fuck you
Look here Marsha, I’m not sayin’ this just 2 be nasty
I sincerely wanna fuck the taste out of your mouth
Can you relate? . . .

 

“International Lover” (off 1982’s 1999)

. . . Good evening
This is your pilot Prince speaking
You are flying aboard the Seduction 747
And this plane is fully equipped with anything your body desires

If for any reason there is a loss in cabin pressure
I will automatically drop down to apply more
To activate the flow of excitement
Extinguish all clothing materials and pull my body close to yours
Place my lips over your mouth, and kiss, kiss, normally
In the event there is over excitement
Your seat cushion may be used as a flotation device

Uh-uh, la, la, la, la, la, la uh-uh
We ask that you please observe the no letting go sign
I anticipate a few turbulence along the way

We are now making our final approach to satisfaction
Please bring your lips, your arms, your hips
Into the upright and locked position
For landing, can you feel it?
Can you feel it? . . .