In a departure from more somber tunes, let’s dive into a Prince Song that’s pure, unadulterated fun: “Tamborine.” This track, while seemingly lighthearted and even a bit silly, reveals layers of Prince’s genius upon closer inspection. It’s February, the month of love, and what better way to celebrate (or cheekily subvert) the sentiment than by exploring Prince’s playful take on intimacy with “Tamborine”?
This Prince song, clocking in at just around two minutes, is essentially a whimsical metaphor for masturbation. Your first listen might elicit a giggle, but is there more to “Tamborine” than just a fleeting chuckle? Absolutely.
“Tamborine” in the Context of Around The World In A Day
“Tamborine” finds its home on Around The World In A Day, Prince’s 1985 album that intentionally echoed the psychedelic vibes of The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. This is the same album that gifted us iconic singles like “Raspberry Beret” and “Pop Life.” While those hits are undeniably masterpieces, “Tamborine” offers a different, yet equally fascinating, facet of Prince’s artistry.
What makes the album placement of “Tamborine” particularly interesting is that Around The World In A Day is credited to Prince and The Revolution. The Revolution was, arguably, Prince’s most iconic and musically potent band. Like music legends James Brown, George Clinton, and Miles Davis, Prince cultivated several bands throughout his career, each brimming with exceptional talent. However, The Revolution possessed a unique synergy that amplified Prince’s vision beyond any other ensemble.
Yet, despite the credit to Prince and The Revolution, “Tamborine” is a purely solo endeavor by Prince. He single-handedly programmed the Linn drum machine that lays the rhythmic foundation of the song. He then layered funk drums on top, showcasing his prodigious musical gifts and unwavering discipline. Prince was a musical polymath, proficient in virtually any instrument he touched, and on “Tamborine,” he is the entire band.
Prince performing live with The Revolution during the Purple Rain era. This image emphasizes the contrast between Prince’s band collaborations and the solo nature of the “Tamborine” recording.
The Meta Narrative: Prince Alone, Creating a Song About Solitude
The choice to record “Tamborine” solo is far from accidental. It’s a deliberate meta-commentary: a song about self-pleasure created entirely in solitude. Throughout the track, Prince subtly winks at the listener, acknowledging this self-referential nature. His falsetto vocal riffs sound like backing singers commenting on the lead vocal, but it’s simply Prince in conversation with himself.
The song features a burst of multi-tracked harmonies in the middle, sounding ecstatic and spontaneous, almost gospel-like. However, knowing Prince’s meticulous studio process, this “spontaneity” was meticulously arranged and planned, layer upon layer of Prince’s voice creating a sonic “group.”
Decoding the Lyrics and Metaphor of “Tamborine”
While “Tamborine” is undeniably about sexual pleasure, the tambourine itself is an unconventional and rather eccentric metaphor. Unlike the overtly sexual imagery often found in songs about desire, Prince chooses an object that is neither explicitly masculine nor feminine. This clever selection subtly speaks to Prince’s unique perspective on eroticism, transcending simplistic gendered representations.
Furthermore, in true Prince fashion, the exploration of sexual desire in “Tamborine” is intertwined with his ever-present moral and spiritual tension. Prince frequently grappled with concepts of sin and guilt when exploring themes of sexuality in his music. This internal conflict surfaces in the lyrics:
“Tamborine, what are you?/ Why are you the star of all my dreams?/ Are you good? Are you bad?/ Are you just a necessary means?”
These lines are fantastically written, delivered with a blend of lust, exuberance, and a hint of inner turmoil that is quintessential Prince.
Throughout the song, Prince onomatopoeically mimics the sound of shaking a tambourine with the repeated phrase “truh-buh-LING!” This phonetic imitation cleverly morphs into the word “troubling,” adding another layer of playful wordplay to the track.
The album art for “Around the World in a Day” visually represents the psychedelic and playful nature of the album, setting the tone for a song like “Tamborine”. The artwork hints at the imaginative and slightly whimsical world Prince created within this album.
The song culminates in a humorous climax with the lines: “Lonely days, lonely nights/ Too bad we’re not allowed to scream/ Yeah yeah too bad/ Guess I’ll stay at home/ All alone and play my tamborine.”
Why “Tamborine” Stands Out in the Realm of Songs About Self-Pleasure
“Tamborine” manages to be both intellectually clever and delightfully goofy. Staying true to the psychedelic undertones of Around The World In A Day, the song also possesses a trippy quality. (The repeated mention of trolley cars remains a charmingly enigmatic element).
While there are more overtly famous songs about self-love—like The Divinyls’ “I Touch Myself,” Chuck Berry’s “My Ding-a-ling,” and Cyndi Lauper’s “She Bop”—Prince’s quirky funk gem “Tamborine” arguably stands out as the most evocative and undeniably the most fun. This Prince song isn’t just about the act itself; it’s a playful exploration of solitude, desire, and the wonderfully strange corners of Prince’s musical mind.
