Prince's Essential Ballads and Love Songs (1995-2010)

Prince by Herb Ritts

The period of 1995-2010 was one marked by many changes for Prince. Not only was it the period in his career when he fought most aggressively against the confines of the major label recording industry and found pioneering ways to release his music on his own terms, but it was also a period when he enjoyed deep and meaningful romantic relationships with his first wife, Mayte Garcia (who he wed in 1996), and second wife, Manuela Testolini (who he married in 2002), and completely overhauled his understanding of his faith. Look no further than the ballad "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" — his first single released without the aid of his longtime label, Warner Bros. Records — for evidence that Prince was shifting his attention in this era toward exploring unconditional love, spirituality, and lasting romantic partnerships in song. For Prince, a ballad wasn't just an excuse to slow-jam his way through some sensual lyrics; it was a vehicle for expressing his most deeply-held beliefs about the power of human connection.

—Andrea Swensson

Listen: Purple Current

  1. 1

    Prince: Shhh

    Shhh

    The Gold Experience
    Prince
  2. 2

    Prince: Future Soul Song

    Future Soul Song

    20Ten
    Prince
  3. 3

    Prince: Future Baby Mama

    Future Baby Mama

    Planet Earth
    Prince
  4. 4

    Prince: Satisfied

    Satisfied

    3121
    Prince
  5. 5

    Prince: Call My Name

    Call My Name

    Musicology
    Prince
  6. 6

    Prince: Last December

    Last December

    The Rainbow Children
    Prince
  7. 7

    Prince: The Greatest Romance Ever Sold

    The Greatest Romance Ever Sold

    Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic
    Prince
  8. 8

    Prince: The Love We Make

    The Love We Make

    Emancipation
    Prince
  9. 9

    Prince: I Can't Make U Love Me

    I Can't Make U Love Me

    Emancipation
    Prince
  10. 10

    Prince: Welcome 2 The Dawn (Acoustic Version)

    Welcome 2 The Dawn (Acoustic Version)

    Crystal Ball
    Prince
  11. 11

    Prince: 2morrow

    2morrow

    Crystal Ball
    Prince
  12. 12

    Prince: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

    The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

    The Gold Experience
    Prince