Best Opening Lyrics: No. 17
- Posted by Spinner Staff
- Comments (61)

--Prince's '1999'
Sung in unison by backup ladies Wendy and Lisa, this trippy line foretold all of the Purple One's eccentricities.
Listen to the line!
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Reader Comments(1 of 3)
Myklstarrat 2-11-2008
I Agree with Mark R. Almost of all his songs have gr8t opening lines.
One of my faves - "Excuse me but I need a mouth like yours" - Let's Pretend We're Married (from 1999 LP)
heatherat 5-08-2008
I looove me some Prince, but I have to agree that "dearly beloved: we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life.." should definitely have beat this line out for sure!
DrawBySundownat 8-04-2008
Yayyyyy Prince! Everything is good!
Joe's Morgueat 1-02-2009
"DON'T WORRY, I WON'T HURT YOU, I ONLY WANT YOU, TO HAVE SOME...FUN" Isn't that how 1999 opens?
I've read the comments. There are too many EXCELLANT openers to list. "Dearly beloved" keeps getting chopped on radio play and thats WRONG!
deesjointat 6-10-2009
''Talkin' to no one in particular, they say the baddest i am tonight...four letter words are seldom heard with such dignity and bite''...That's from ''Joy in Repitition'' from Grafitti Bridge....crappy movie, fantastic song. Prince has too many songs to just be choosing the usual suspects, ya'll.
djnozzat 6-22-2009
You are sooo true!
Willowat 8-06-2007
I wouldn't be a bit surprised if Prince WAS dreaming when he wrote this song. I swear this guy is so freaking talented, that he could write a good song in his sleep!
ldysnowhawk1at 8-03-2008
PRINCE!! THIS LITTLE PACKAGE OF DYNAMITE COULD BLOW ME UP ANYTIME!!
Tamikaat 8-06-2007
I agree with you Willow. I am a huge Prince fan and he is very talented!
Shawnat 8-07-2007
'In France a skinny man died of a big disease with a little name...' Prince, Sign O' the Times.
If that's not a gr8 1st line, I don't know what is.
The Truthat 8-07-2007
Prince is one of, if not the, most overrated song writer still working.
Mark Rat 8-07-2007
I think that you could take the first line of almost any Prince song and put it on this list. Shawn, I'm right with u on your choice.
Adoreat 8-07-2007
im glad im not the only 1 who appreciates gr8ness..("if God 1 day struck me blind, ur beauty ill still c...") Adore
Jaysonat 8-07-2007
Love this song. Prince is nothing short of musical brilliance. I wish I had been alive when this came out. Haha
nicknmemphisat 8-07-2007
I love prince and own every album that he ever put out but I don't think I could choose this song or it's first line for a representation of his greatness. Like you guys have already said many other lines to choose from. I like the song but I don't think it is as poignant or emotional as many of his others.
bamackat 8-08-2007
Prince is the most talented songwriter, musician and composer of our time, but how could that win out over "dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life." Woooo i just got chills.
KLat 8-08-2007
For the record, it's not Wendy and Lisa who sing co-lead on 1999, but Lisa and J.J. (Jill Jones). Wendy sings back-up on Free (and does sing back-up with Lisa on Irresistible Bitch), but wasn't in the band officially until Purple Rain. Speaking of which, although not spoken by Prince, the opening to Computer Blue (Wendy and Lisa, duh) made me take the needle off the record for a second listen.
djnozzat 6-22-2009
I thought I was the only one who caught that!
eyeEatBlogsforBreakfastat 8-12-2007
"dearly beloved..."
Janetat 8-12-2007
"I guess I knew, when you parked your car sideways, that it wouldn't last..." LITTLE RED CORVETTE....my favorite Prince song!