We Can Funk is the seventh track on Prince's 12th album
Graffiti Bridge, and is credited as a duet between George Clinton and Prince. The track is also featured in the movie Graffiti Bridge.
In 2011, a short 1 minute teaser video clip (audio only with a static image) of an acoustic demo of the track recorded by Andy Allo (as
Oui Can Luv, with a revised chorus to match) was streamed on her Facebook page, with the tagline
"CHECK OUT WHAT EYE FOUND IN PRINCE'S VAULT (Demo recorded in Sacramento on 8/31/11 using ProTools 9 & a Sterling Audio ST69 Mic)".
Initial tracking for Prince's original solo version took place on 31 December, 1983 at Sunset Sound, Hollywood, CA, USA, as
We Can Fuck (the day after
Erotic City and
She's Always In My Hair), with additional work the following day, 1 January, 1984.
Prince later toned down the title and lyrics of the song, and re-recorded the track on 17 June, 1986 at the Washington Avenue Warehouse, Chanhassen, MN, USA (in sequence after
Data Bank and
Can't Stop This Feeling I Got, the day before recording
Girl O' My Dreams).
The 1983 recording was returned to and updated in 1989 at
Paisley Park Studios and this updated version, without George Clinton on vocals, was included as the sixth track on a 1989 configuration of Graffiti Bridge. George Clinton added vocal overdubs in late 1989-1990, also at Paisley Park Studios, and the final version was included as the seventh track on a 1990 configuration of Graffiti Bridge, where it remained for release.
The track's lyrics mention the
Kama Sutra , considered to be the
most important work in a long line of Indian erotic literature, written by the Hindu philosopher
Vātsyāyana.
Prince recorded a new age instrumental album using the word,
Kama Sutra as the album title and also as a gift to his then wife, Mayte. It is the first and only album by
The NPG Orchestra -
Kamasutra.
Unreleased Versions
TITLE VERSION ADDITIONAL INFO
We Can Fuck - Studio 1983 preliminary verison
We Can Funk - Studio Initial raw take
We Can Funk - Studio Overdubs added
We Can Funk - Studio 'Finished' 1986 version
We Can Funk - Studio 1989-1990 update of 1983 version with no George Clinton input
We Can Funk - Studio Longer 1989-1990 version with slight George Clinton input
We Can Funk - Studio 1989-1990 version with significant George Clinton vocal input
We Can Funk - Studio Longer version edited for album, with some musical variations
Oui Can Luv - Demo Full 2011 demo by Andy Allo
1986 version recorded with The Revolution
(Susannah, Wendy & Lisa)
1990 Album version from the
soundtrack album and motion picture Graffiti Bridge
Oui Can Luv
I could tell U stories till U get tired
I could play with your mind
But U'd prob'ly say that I was a liar
So I won't waste your time
I'm scared cuz though we just met
There's this energy between us
Let's just go somewhere
Oui Can Luv (We Can Funk)
I could tell U things 2 get U excited
Things U never heard
U know the Kama Sutra?
I could rewrite it with half as many words
But I'm scared cuz if I don't kiss ya
I'm gonna go mad, baby
Take off my clothes
We Can Funk (Oui Can Luv)
