Thieves in the Temple

"Thieves in the Temple" is a song by American musician Prince from the 1990 soundtrack album Graffiti Bridge. Added at the last minute, it was the final song recorded for the album. "Thieves in the Temple" topped the US R&B chart and became a number six hit in the US,^[1] and a number seven hit in the UK. The single also peaked at number nine on the dance chart.^[2]

"Thieves in the Temple"
UK 7" single
Single by Prince
from the album Graffiti Bridge
B-side	"Thieves in the Temple (Part II)" "Thieves in the House" (12") "Temple House Dub" (12")
Released	July 17, 1990
Recorded	February 11, 1990
Studio	Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, Minnesota
Genre	Pop dance
Length	3:20 (album/7" version) 8:08 (12" remix) 3:37 (7" short video mix)
Label	Paisley Park/Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Prince
Producer(s)	Prince
Prince singles chronology
"Scandalous!" (1989) "Thieves in the Temple" (1990) "New Power Generation" (1990)
Graffiti Bridge singles chronology
"Thieves in the Temple" (1990) "Round and Round" (1990)
Music video
"Thieves in the Temple" on YouTube

The track has a unique sound, starting quietly with echoed keyboards and vocals before the main section of the song booms in with a pulsating synth bass, syncopated drum machines, Middle Eastern melodies and opera-like layered vocals. Prince also samples a harmonica solo from a recording by The Chambers Brothers. The vocals are emotional, and accuse the subject of rejecting Prince and lying to him. The "temple" in the title recalls the ever-present spirituality in many of Prince's songs. The maxi single contains extended lyrics that continue the theme before diverging into more dance-oriented material.

The maxi single also contains a Junior Vasquez remix called "Thieves in the House", which is distinctly more dance-oriented. It also contains samples from earlier Prince songs "Eye No" and "Batdance", as well as a dub version of the house track. The accompanying music video for the song was pulled from the film, but an extended video exists which mirrors the extended remix.

Critical reception

Bill Coleman from Billboard wrote, "Latest release finds the elusive Purple One returning to fine form with a catchy, solid rock-n-funk-textured pop number that bodes well for the forthcoming Graffiti Bridge package."^[3] Paul Lester from Melody Maker named it Single of the Week, commenting, "'Thieves in the Temple' is a good Prince single. Not as brilliant one (like 'If I Was Your Girlfriend', 'When Doves Cry'), not really a great one ('Pop Life', 'Alphabet Street'), but a good one all the same. Taut, muscular funk with splashes and layers and just enough detail to ensure you'll want to return to it again and again."^[4] David Giles from Music Week felt the song "contains few musical surprises, consisting of the usual polite funk motifs and massed harmonies."^[5]

Retrospective response

In a 2020 retrospective review, Andy Healy from Albumism stated that the song is arguably one of Prince's "strongest moments on record" and a "haunting dance track", that "hits hard with its inventive drum programming (just pay attention to the hi-hat pattern) and the layered vocals hook you straight away." He added, "Concise and packing a punch, the album version is an absolute masterpiece that is unbelievably improved upon in the extended 12" cut."^[6]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine from AllMusic called "Thieves in the Temple" "sinewy", picking it as one of the songs that "make Graffiti Bridge a thoroughly enjoyable listen."^[7] In 2019, Alexis Petridis from The Guardian noted that "its sound is slinky and luscious, the chorus is great – but it's no When Doves Cry."^[8] In 2020, Rolling Stone described it as a "brooding, spiritual meditation on lies, rejection and soul-searching", stating that "with a Middle Eastern flavor, almost operatic vocals and an agitated feel, it was a decidedly new vibe for Prince."^[9] A reviewer from Sunday Tribune stated that "it's a great title, the song is well catchy after a few plays and Prince sings beautifully."^[10]

Track listing

• 7", Paisley Park / 7-19751 (US)

1. "Thieves in the Temple" – 3:20
2. "Thieves in the Temple" (Part II) – 1:41

• 12", Paisley Park / 0-21598 (US)

1. "Thieves in the Temple" (Remix) – 8:03
2. "Thieves in the House" – 6:50
3. "Temple House Dub" – 5:06

• also available on UK 12" picture disc (W9751TP)
• also available on CD (9 21598-2)

Personnel

Credits from Benoît Clerc and Guitarcloud^[11][12]

• Prince – lead and backing vocals, Roland D-50, electric guitar, Dynacord ADD-One, LinnDrum
• Lester Chambers – harmonica (sampled from "I Can't Stand It" (1967) by The Chambers Brothers)

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Thieves in the Temple" Chart (1990–2016) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[13] 16 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[14] 9 Denmark (IFPI)[15] 3 Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[16] 16 Germany (GfK)[17] 21 Italy (Musica e Dischi)[18] 11 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[19] 5 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[20] 8 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[21] 5 Norway (VG-lista)[22] 4 Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[23] 11 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[24] 12 UK Singles (OCC)[25] 7 US Billboard Hot 100[26] 6 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[27] 1

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Thieves in the Temple" Chart (1990) Position Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[28] 93 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[29] 76 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[30] 47 US Billboard Hot 100[31] 98 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[32] 42

See also

• List of number-one R&B singles of 1990 (U.S.)

Cover versions

• Herbie Hancock recorded an instrumental version of "Thieves in the Temple" on his 1996 album The New Standard, implicitly nominating the song as a contemporary jazz standard.
• Renée Geyer covered the song on her album, Tenderland (2003).
• A version was also recorded by experimental band Ulver, in the style of their album Shadows of the Sun with guest vocals by Siri Stranger.
• Prince's scream at the end of the song was sampled for the 1993 Eddie Murphy and Michael Jackson duet, "Whatzupwitu".

References

1. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 471.
2. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Hot Dance/Disco: 1974-2003. Record Research. p. 208.
3. Coleman, Bill (August 4, 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 71. Retrieved October 28, 2020.
4. Lester, Paul (July 28, 1990). "Singles". Melody Maker. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
5. Giles, David (August 4, 1990). "Singles" (PDF). Music Week. p. 19. Retrieved October 31, 2020.
6. Healy, Andy (August 19, 2020). "Prince's 'Graffiti Bridge' Turns 30: Anniversary Retrospective". Albumism. Retrieved November 15, 2020.
7. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Prince - Graffiti Bridge". AllMusic. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
8. Petridis, Alexis (September 12, 2019). "Prince's 50 greatest singles – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
9. "25 Essential Prince Songs". Rolling Stone. April 15, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
10. Sunday Tribune. July 29, 1990. p. 26.
11. Clerc, Benoît (October 2022). Prince: All the Songs. Octopus. ISBN 9781784728816.
12. "Graffiti Bridge". guitarcloud.org. Retrieved 2023-04-29.
13. "Prince – Thieves in the Temple". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
14. "Prince – Thieves in the Temple" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
15. Danish Singles Chart. August 24, 1990.
16. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. August 25, 1990. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
17. "Prince – Thieves in the Temple" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
18. "Classifiche". Musica e Dischi (in Italian). Retrieved May 28, 2022. Set "Tipo" on "Singoli". Then, in the "Artista" field, search "Prince".
19. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 34, 1990" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
20. "Prince – Thieves in the Temple" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
21. "Prince – Thieves in the Temple". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
22. "Prince – Thieves in the Temple". VG-lista. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
23. "Prince – Thieves in the Temple". Singles Top 100. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
24. "Prince – Thieves in the Temple". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
25. "Prince: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 3, 2016.
26. "Prince Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
27. "Prince Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2021.
28. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1990". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
29. "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1990" (in Dutch). MegaCharts. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
30. "End of Year Charts 1990". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
31. Nielsen Business Media, Inc (December 22, 1990). "1990 The Year in Music & Video: Top Pop Singles". Billboard. 102 (51): YE-14. {{cite journal}}: |last1= has generic name (help)
32. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 1990". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2021.