Prince was a one-man wrecking crew. From songwriter to instrumentalist to lead vocalist to fashion icon and actor, the man from Minnesota could do it all. And part of that whirling-dervish ability translated to the lives of other big-name performers as Prince helped write some of popular music’s greatest hits for others.
Here below, we wanted to explore three such tracks. A trio of tunes that were written by the Purple One that went on to become big hits for other (female) artists. Indeed, these are three hit songs from women written but not originally performed by Prince.
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“Yo Mister” by Patti LaBelle from Be Yourself (1989)
This track, which was written by Prince for Patti LaBelle, hit No. 6 on the U.S. Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Featuring a big beat and LaBelle’s sharp vocal performance, the song is about a young girl going down the wrong path. The singer is asking the girl’s father if he knows what she’s up to. Sadly, she’s gotten into a world of drugs and is set for a bad life ahead. It’s a warning song and one that might have come in too late, unfortunately. Sings Labelle,
Oh, mister how’s your daughter?
You really ought to know
For every thing you taught her
Don’t matter when she’s all alone
My crazy friend named Cara
After all of us told her, “No”
S-s-she’d get another spoon ball
Now, she’s going no where slow
“Manic Monday” by The Bangles from Different Light (1986)
This song, which was written by Prince under the name Christopher, was originally composed for Apollonia 6, the female group Prince founded. But then it got in the hands of The Bangles and it became a hit, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 (one spot behind Prince’s own song “Kiss”). The song is about the beginning of the arduous workweek when the fun is gone and the rubber must meet the proverbial road. On the song, the band sings,
Six o’clock already
I was just in the middle of a dream
I was kissin’ Valentino
By a crystal blue Italian stream
But I can’t be late
‘Cause then I guess I just won’t get paid
These are the days
When you wish your bed was already made
It’s just another manic Monday
I wish it was Sunday
‘Cause that’s my fun day
My “I don’t have to run” day
It’s just another manic Monday
“The Glamorous Life” by Sheila E. from The Glamorous Life (1984)
For a spell, Prince was infatuated with the beautiful percussion player Sheila E. They performed together and he confessed his love for her. But that wasn’t the extent of their relationship. He also wrote songs for her, including this major hit that peaked at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The tune is about aspirations for more—for stardom. And on the sticky offering, Sheila sings,
She wears a long fur coat of mink
Even in the summer time
Everybody knows from the coy little wink
The girl’s got a lot on her mind
She’s got big thoughts, big dreams
And a big brown Mercedes sedan
What I think this girl
She really wants is to be in love with a man
She wants to lead the glamorous life
She don’t need a man’s touch
She wants to lead the glamorous life
But without love, it ain’t much
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