"Adore" is a song by Prince, and the last track on his 1987 double album Sign o' the Times.(1987). Sign "O" the Times [CD booklet]. Burbank: Warner Bros. Records. Adore is listed following the live track "It's Gonna Be a Beautiful Night", the crowd noise from which segues into Adore. A long, ornate slow jam featuring Atlanta Bliss and Eric Leeds on horns, it has been described by NME reviewer Paolo Hewitt as "a sugar ballad that harks back to the Stylistics but is indelibly Prince's, a lush yet remarkable piece of music, and a fitting climax". Despite never being released as a single, it received significant radio play,Leeds, Alan (1993). The Hits/The B-Sides [CD booklet]. Burbank: Warner Bros. Records. and became an occasional part of Prince's concert repertoire. A 4-minute-long edit of the song appears on the 1993 compilation album The Hits/The B-Sides, with the Girl 6 soundtrack album containing the full-length version.(1996). Music from the Motion Picture Girl 6 [CD liner notes]. Burbank: Warner Bros. Records. Prince's 2002 live album One Nite Alone... Live! includes a solo performance of "Adore" with piano accompaniment.(2002). One Nite Alone... Live! [CD booklet]. Chanhassen: NPG Records.
In 2009, Essence magazine included the song in their list of the "25 Best Slow Jams of All Time".
In 2010, users of AOL Radio voted "Adore" #2 on a ranked list of Prince's best songs. 7 April 2013
It is ranked number 431 on Rolling Stone'''s list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
In 2026, Essence'' voted the song the fourth greatest R&B song of all time and the highest ranked 1980s song on the list.
Personnel Credits from Duane Tudahl, Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud
Prince – lead and backing vocals, Hammond organ, Ensoniq Mirage, Prophet VS, Fairlight CMI, bass guitar, Linn LM-1 Eric Leeds – saxophone Atlanta Bliss – trumpet Novi Novog – violin
Cover versions and samples Other performers who have recorded "Adore" include Silk, TQ, Julius Papp, and Joe Roberts.
The song "All That" on Carmen Electra's Prince-produced debut album is based on a sample from Adore.
References