The Bird (The Time song)

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"The Bird"
The Time Bird.jpg
U.S. 12" single
Single by The Time
from the album Ice Cream Castle
A-side "The Bird"
B-side "My Drawers"
Written1983
Published1984
ReleasedJanuary 11, 1985
RecordedOctober 4, 1983
Venue First Avenue
Genre Pop, funk
Length7" edit: 3:41
Album: 7:40
Dance Remix: 6:25
Label Warner Bros.
Composer(s) Prince (as Jamie Starr), Morris Day, Jesse Johnson
Lyricist(s) Prince (as Jamie Starr)
Producer(s) Prince (as The Starr ★ Company)
The Time singles chronology
"Jungle Love"
(1984)		"The Bird"
(1985)		"Jerk Out"
(1990)
Alternative cover
The Bird Promo.jpg
Promotional 7" single

"The Bird" is a song from The Time's third album, Ice Cream Castle . The song was initially recorded in the studio in 1983 with all instruments by Prince, except guitar, which was performed by Jesse Johnson. [1] This version was replaced by a live recording with the full band at the First Avenue on October 4, 1983. This is the first Time song to be released both live and featuring The Time as a band, rather than primarily Prince with Morris Day on vocals. The song has become a signature number for the band and continues to be played in every Time concert to this day. In addition, two additional live versions have since been released: one on Prince's Rave Un2 the Year 2000 DVD and one recorded at the House of Blues in 1998 for Morris Day's 2004 album It's About Time .

Contents

Background

The title of the upbeat number refers to a dance in which the arms are flapped, mimicking a bird's wings. Morris Day also squawks throughout the song. The song suggests that by "doing the bird", one can overcome their troubles. "The Bird" is a funk-rock offering, using both a drum machine and live drumming by Jellybean Johnson. Guitar takes the background for a funk effect, while keyboards play a dominant role in the song. After the main lyrics, there is an extended instrumental section to allow the band to dance. [2] A "Dance Remix" of the song was released as a 12" single. The B-side to the single was the rocker, "My Drawers".

Reception

John Leland of Spin said the song, "comes close enough to capturing the band's leopard-skin razzle-dazzle to give the overextended Kid a run for his considerable money. The best song from Purple Rain is the best slice of black rock on the market." [3]

Personnel

Credits sourced from Duane Tudahl [4]

Charts

Chart performance for "The Bird"
Chart (1985)Peak
position
US Billboard Hot 100 [5] 36
US Billboard Hot Dance/Disco [6] 6
US Billboard Hot Black Singles [7] 33

In the media

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References

  1. ↑ "Jesse Johnson on Facebook". Facebook . Archived from the original on 2022-04-30.[ user-generated source ]
  2. ↑ Tudahl, Duane (2018). Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984. ISBN   978-1538114629.
  3. ↑ John Leland (June 1985). "Singles". Spin . No. 2. p. 73.
  4. ↑ Tudahl, Duane (2018). Prince and the Purple Rain Era Studio Sessions: 1983 and 1984 (Expanded Edition). Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN   9781538116432.
  5. ↑ "The Time > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums & Singles". AllMusic . Archived from the original on August 28, 2013. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 260.
  7. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 581.
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