Prince picks his LaBelle

http://www.philly.com/mld...498533.htm

Posted on Thu, Aug. 26, 2004


Prince picks his LaBelle

PRINCE knows how to pick 'em.

He pulled a few folks on stage to dance during his Tuesday night show at the Wachovia Center.

But when he announced "I'm looking for a blonde," he walked straight to Section 101. A few rows up he pointed to a woman in a camel-colored suit with a matching hat, and nodded to security that she was the one.

As Patti LaBelle began to walk toward the stage, the crowd began to recognize her.

LaBelle was introduced by the Artist Currently Known as Prince and sang and danced with him for a tune, then returned to her seat.

Yesterday, we mentioned that Bette Midler caught only an hour of Prince's Monday show.

We've since learned she saw the whole show, but from different seats.

First, Midler was seated down front, but the diva, we're told, was too visible for her liking.

Her party moved to Section 112, where she must have had the same fear, as they moved again, into a handicapped seating area.

Jon Bon Jovi was also in the house that night, in one of the Center's luxury suites.

Kewl.

That's awesome! I loooove Patti LaBelle, she's mah gurl!

Irish Diplomacy: The art of telling someone to go to hell, and having them look forward to the trip.

My give a damn is busted.

I was sitting about 10 feet from her, and we noticed her before P. called her up. She was completely shocked! I actually felt kinda bad at first, cause she was dressed up, and a couple ushers had to lift her over the wall to get to the floor (She was two or three rows up).

She came up and did what stars do though; she shined! So much charisma and talent. I thought two things while this was going on:

1) Prince, as I mentioned on another thread, was having an off night (dropping the mike, missing lyrcis, etc.), and I think he used this/her as an opportunity to get the crowd back into it. It worked!

2) He would never do something as generous as what Patti did. First, he would probably have been sequestered somewhere watching an arena show, and if not, would never just get up and be cool with being put on the spot like Patti was.

No matter though, watching the two of them trade dance moves and then to have P. pass the mike to her while she wailed over No Diggity...Priceless!

Nah, Patti and him are great friends -- I'd bet he'd do it for her as well. Tho, few -- true.

jpav said:

BlueEyedAngel said:

Prince has got on stage quite a few times at Maceo shows in New York and LA.

jpav said:

Hey Old Heads...anyone else remember, "Yo Mister"?.. a funky li'l ditty penned by Prince for Ms Patti....seems like a hundred years now..

jpav said:

steevetheeo said:

jpav said:

Do not hurry yourself in your spirit to become offended, for the taking of offense is what rests in the bosom of the stupid ones. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

BlueEyedAngel said:[quote]

jpav said:

"Patti!!!! Patti!!!!"

Redayh said:[quote]

BlueEyedAngel said:

jpav said:

I really cant see him getting up on stage for Usher or Jay Z either but not because he aint "cool"! He just dont wanna be bothered with them, thats all!

If Prince got up on stage to jam with Usher, I would be greatly upset. Greatly.

Redayh said:[quote]

BlueEyedAngel said:

jpav said:

I really cant see him getting up on stage for Usher or Jay Z either but not because he aint "cool"! He just dont wanna be bothered with them, thats all!

If Prince got up on stage to jam with Usher, I would be greatly upset. Greatly.

I wasn't even sure that it was Ms. Patti when she first got up on stage. But when he handed her the mike and then walked away, I thought. . . oh yeah! THAT's Ms. Patti.
After the show (right before the encore) my friend and I stepped out into the hall. I almost walked right into her. I was like. . . "Oh my God! Ms LaBelle. . .it's such an honor to meet you" She very politely shook my hand and kept walking.
Some other people stopped to get a picture with her and I was thinking to myself "how the hell did they get a CAMERA in here!!??"
Anyway... . . . . .