U Got the Look

When Prince decided to include U Got the Look on the second disc of his ambitious double album Sign o' the Times in 1987, he was adding a key piece that would become one of the most resonant tracks of that work. The song, released as a single, stands out for the energy brought by the voice of Sheena Easton, who shares vocal prominence, and the vibrant percussion of Sheila E., both credited on the album. Prince himself joins the vocals under the pseudonym Camille, adding another layer to the performance.

The production of this piece, which was recorded on December 21, 1986, at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, is framed within a context of sonic experimentation. Musically, U Got the Look is based on a twelve-bar blues structure, but with a very particular focus on live drums and a guitar sound with character. The music video, filmed in Paris, France, and directed by David Hogan, with choreography by Cat Glover, is presented as a dreamlike sequence, where Prince falls asleep in his dressing room. This clip, part of the film Sign "☮" the Times, uses the introduction from the extended version of the song. In the United States, the single reached number 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 17, 1987, remaining in the Top 10 for six weeks. The 12-inch version included Housequake as the B-side, and an extension called 7 Minutes Mo'Quake, with trumpet solos by Atlanta Bliss, which often appeared in live performances. The song was considered to be the first single from the album Camille, which was ultimately never released, giving U Got the Look a particular place in the artist's discography.