"7" is a song by Prince and The New Power Generation, from the 1992 Love Symbol Album.[1] It features a sample of the 1967 Otis Redding and Carla Thomas duet, "Tramp".
Music video[]
The video was shot on February 27, 1992. It begins with Mayte whispering "imagine" in Prince's ear, in the position they are in on the single cover. A scene from 3 Chains o' Gold is shown as well. It features Mayte belly-dancing. The video set is pictured on the album cover, along with a still shot from the video. In the video, Prince symbolically "kills" incarnations of himself who are trapped inside glass chambers. There are little girls wearing yellow belly-dancing outfits almost identical to Mayte's. There are little boys wearing black outfits and eyebands identical to Prince's. This video is also notable for Mayte dancing with a sword on her head, which she would later do in live performances.
Chart performance[edit][]
The most successful single from the album in the U.S., "7" was most successful on the Top 40 Pop/Mainstream charts, where it earned a #3 placement, and coincidentally the single peaked at #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. It performed respectably on the Rhythmic charts (#19). However, it was less popular with R&B/Hip Hop radio, stalling at #61. In the Canadian RPM charts the song peaked at #12.
The single performed well in the U.K., rising as high as #27, but falling short of the success of the previous two releases.
Track listings[edit][]
- 7" single / CD single
- "7" (LP version) – 5:13
- "7" (acoustic version) – 3:54
- 12" single
- "7" (LP version) – 5:13
- "7" (acoustic version) – 3:54
- "7" (After 6 Long Version) – 5:15
- 12" maxi-single / CD maxi-single
- "7" (LP version) – 5:13
- "7" (After 6 Edit) – 4:20
- "7" (After 6 Long Version) – 5:15
- "7" (acoustic version) – 3:54
- "7" (album edit) – 4:23
- "2 Whom It May Concern" – 4:01
- US CD promo single[2]
- "7" (album edit) – 4:23
- "7" (After 6 Edit) – 4:20
- "7" (LP version) – 5:13
- "7" (acoustic version) – 3:54
- "7" (After 6 Long Version) – 5:15
- "7" (Mix 5 Long Version) – 4:56
- "7" (Mix 5 Edit) – 4:06
Charts[edit][]
Peak positions[edit][]
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End-of-year charts[edit][]
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Cover versions[edit][]
- Norwegian artist Erlend Ropstad recorded a cover of the song for the 2008 tribute album Shockadelica - 50th Anniversary Tribute to the Artist Known as Prince.[4]
- A cappella group Sixteen Feet from Swarthmore College recorded an a cappella version of the song on the 1996 album Sasquatch.