{{{Whether you loved it, hated it, or still can't decide, Prince's Grammy performance with Beyonce was a PR bonanza. Prince made headlines across the world - without winning a single Grammy. He is staring out at every street corner in America today, thanks to USA Today putting him on the front cover of their print edition. Hats off to the man for pulling off a brilliant PR masterstroke.

Here's what the critics are saying:}}}

The Baltimore Sun:
PRINCE STARTS PROGRAM ON RIGHT NOTE
"The opening with Prince was an unexpected but delightful twist. Lately, the Purple One, a recent Jehovah's Witness convert, has been busy trumpeting his faith and putting out lame albums of disjointed instrumentals. But last night, looking dapper and engaged, he kicked off the show with "Purple Rain." (This year marks the 20th anniversary of the blockbuster film and soundtrack.) Wearing a seemingly painted-on mini dress with feathers, Beyonce sashayed onto the stage, joining Prince in a medley of hits from Purple Rain. Her own smash, "Crazy in Love," was smartly inserted in "Baby I'm a Star." The performance was perhaps the night's most exciting with both Prince and Beyonce in fine voice."
Link: http://www.baltimoresun.c...hod09feb09,0,1784398.story?coll=bal-features-headlines

Minneapolis Star-Tribune:
PRINCE AND BEYONCE OPEN GRAMMYS
"They were an odd couple -- Prince and the R&B diva who would be the new Grammy queen. The 45-year-old Minneapolis funk-rocker, who has mostly maintained a low profile for a decade, was chosen to open the 46th annual Grammy Awards Sunday with a medley from "Purple Rain," his landmark film of 20 years ago. Joining him was Beyoncé, 22, who turned out to be the night's big winner with five trophies.

He was dressed in a stylishly sedate purple suit and gold necktie, she in a hot-pink short dress with cutouts on the side. They collaborated on three of his oldies with a brief passage from her "Crazy in Love" -- which won two trophies -- squeezed in before his "Let's Go Crazy."
Link: http://www.startribune.co...65465.html

St. Paul Pioneer Press:
GRAMMYS PARTY LIKE IT'S 1999
"...Prince kicked things off with an oldie, but goodie, when he came to the stage with his signature sign guitar playing the beautiful "Purple Rain" in honor of its 20th anniversary. Then out strolled the always-sexy Beyonce in hot pink to join his purple majesty. They went on to do a steamy Prince medley that also featured a snippet of her booty-shakin' "Crazy In Love." But ultimately, as is the usual when it comes to the Purple One, it was Prince's show and Beyonce his hot gal accessory."
http://www.twincities.com...911343.htm

Rugged Elegance San Francisco:
GRAMMY AWARDS KICK OFF 2004 PARTY WITH PRINCE
"Music's Biggest Night," The 2004 GRAMMY Awards, got their party started with Prince, in his signature purple, singing a medley of his best songs beginning with Purple Rain. The rendition was one I have never heard before. If it's available on an album, especially with "pretty in pink" Beyonce singing the song as a duet, I'd buy it in a heart beat."
http://www.ruggedelegantl...02195.html

MetroMix.com:
A PRINCELY DUET...
"Random thoughts from Sunday's Grammy telecast: Loved the opening Beyonce-Prince medley, but was her poufy dress made in 1984, the year that "Purple Rain" came out?"
http://metromix.chicagotr...90091feb09,0,1530138.story?coll=mmx-celebrity_heds

MTV.com:
BACKSTAGE AT THE GRAMMYS...
"Call it the P Principle. If you're going to Perform with Prince, you're going to Practice until the Purple one thinks it's Perfect. Beyoncé found that out this year, but didn't seem to mind one bit. The singer was giddy backstage at the Grammy Awards Sunday night, getting hugs from celebs and taking pictures with MTV's own Sway.

Just where does she get the energy, though? The night before the Grammys, Prince had Beyoncé performing late into the night, reportedly two and half hours past their planned cutoff time. The next day, the duo were at the Staples Center early in the morning, going through their set at the Grammy Awards dress rehearsal...

...As the actual Grammy show got under way, Prince and Beyoncé had just set the house on fire and finished an onstage ceremony of sorts that TV viewers didn't see, where P laid his handkerchief out on the floor for Beyoncé to walk on. After the singer obliged, Prince began clapping. You get the feeling if the phrase weren't so played out, Prince would've told her, "You go, girl!"
http://www.mtv.com/news/a...lines=true

VH-1.com:
BEYONCE SINGS TWICE...
"...The show opened with Beyoncé and Prince performing a medley of "Purple Rain," "Baby I'm a Star," "Crazy in Love" and "Let's Go Crazy." Dressed in a suit with a yellow hankie in the pocket, Prince played his purple symbol guitar with power and finesse, combining shrieking leads with fluid, funky rhythms. He started "Purple Rain" solo, on a stage flooded with purple light, and was joined by Beyoncé for the second verse.

Beyoncé, in a short pink dress, sang with acrobatic energy, pogoing around the stage and joining Prince for the chorus. The horns joined in for "Baby I'm a Star," and as Prince sang the line "Take a picture, y'all/ We ain't got time to waste," a trio of photographers fired off shots while they posed. The duo teased the crowd with the intro of Beyoncé's "Crazy in Love," then launched into "Let's Go Crazy," which ended with a burst of fireworks."
http://www.vh1.com/news/a...once.jhtml


Herald-Sun (Australia):
GRAMMY DUOS STEAL THE SHOW
"...The 2004 Grammys were a feast for the Eye. If there was a theme it was definitely pairings – good ones, bad ones and very odd ones.

The show opened with the best of them all – Beyonce and Prince. She was all flying hair and short pink frock (one of three wardrobe changes for the night), he teamed a purple suit (what else?) and skinny high heels."
http://www.heraldsun.news...ory_page/0,5478,8632005%255E2902,00.html

BET.com:
"Big winners aside, overall Grammys offered viewers an interesting collection of performances by pairing older artists with newer ones and allowing them to rock in an unprecedented 19 entertaining routines...Legendary pop star, Prince, kicked off the evening off with a duet with Beyonce that favored his 80s hits like “Purple Rain” and wowed the crowd."
http://www.bet.com/articles/0,,c1gb8723-9581,00.html

Boston Globe:
SONGS, NOT SILLINESS, CARRY THE SHOW
"Last night's excellent Grammycast opened with a medley by Prince and Beyonce that made them into a latter-day Fred and Ginger. The two icons, separated by about 20 years of pop music, danced together happily and dizzily from stage to stage and from "Purple Rain" to "Let's Go Crazy." The production emphasized the songs and the singers.

And that was the theme of the entire show: "Sometimes it's just about the music," as Queen Latifah put it during her introduction to Christina Aguilera, who proceeded to belt out "Beautiful."

Surprise, surprise. Instead of being about the breast that roared, CBS's Grammycast was about a series of roaring musical performances.

The 3 1/2-hour show threw off heavy musical vibes from start to finish, moving from strength to strength as it went from Prince to Andre 3000."
http://www.boston.com/new...076318060/

Hats off to the man for pulling off a brilliant PR masterstroke.
oh what fun!
[This message was edited Mon Feb 9 19:48:19 PST 2004 by chewymusic]

This is more like it Prince, storm the show!

I like The Baltimore Sun's comment of Prince "putting out lame albums of disjointed instrumentals." Uhhh... did they overlook the fact that he was nominated for Best Instrumental Pop Album?

That's right my man, kick they ass! Beat em' like they stole someting!

WE WANT THE FUNK!... GOTTA HAVE THAT FUNK!... GIVE US THE FUNK!... Can u Hear ME? sometimes the best way is to just go back a bit... and bring it a nue. Save the music... Save the VIBE... Re Roll (DJC). From a Friend to a Friend ;0) WHAT¿ Write me and I'll explain

Yeah I think Prince learned from his mistake on promoting 1999.

which is cool.. and if he plays his cards right, if he wants too.. he can make a comeback tour wise like Fleetwood Mac
$$$

"...As the actual Grammy show got under way, Prince and Beyoncé had just set the house on fire and finished an onstage ceremony of sorts that TV viewers didn't see, where P laid his handkerchief out on the floor for Beyoncé to walk on. After the singer obliged, Prince began clapping. You get the feeling if the phrase weren't so played out, Prince would've told her, "You go, girl!"

Now that's what i call respect! wish we could've seen that!!!

By the way..
R these the "pre-Pruple Rain" days again??
Is it truely happening?
i'm gonna spread the hype.. where i can!
I think y'all too should help a hand to our pruple fellow.

What a fantastic way to steal the show!
Maybe this will silence people who think Prince is finished...can't wait to find out what he's up to with the Purple Rain anniversary.

OHHH BABY HE'S STILL A STAR!

at last - Prince's PR machine works - it's been 20 years since his press was as universally positive

ahhh...at last the Master swipes a Master stroke

Same over here in GERMANY - PRINCE & BEYONCE are on the headlines of nearly every newspaper in the country ! - SAY YES - thats what i call PR.

We Havent had that for almost ten years now - i think i will walk around the block now, just bcos i can see him on every newspaper stand - that makes me a good day - Almost 2 good 2 be true ; )))

I guess it's true what many are saying...Prince can still make big headlines when he wants to and make people RECOGNIZE!!! Wasn't all for it in other ways, but in that way I'll say, 'Let's Go Prince!!!
[This message was edited Tue Feb 10 8:22:53 PST 2004 by Starmist7]

I was a little worried for him while waiting for the show to commence. I feared he'd do some weak lip synced medley that in no way showcases his real talent.

Needless to say, I was quite relieved when he descended those stairs and gave the audience what it wanted. In the past he has resented that people want to hear his hits and he has been reluctant to play them. But then he put his heart and energy into the performance and it was great. He's always best when he has fun with it.

Now if he could just put some of that same creativity and showmanship into his next album...

Seriously, who could have asked for better? I can't understand these people who wanted him to play a new song, or something less popular than "Purple Rain" -- either way, something the audience doesn't know and doesn't care about. He played nice for once, and it paid off.

Now he needs to get that "announcement" out while a couple million people are still likely to be thinking "Oh, yeah, Prince! He rocked at the Grammys!"

26.3 million viewers baby!!!

mikki44 said:

Cliffy74 said:

indeed he is

TheBluePrince said:

indeed!!

sonicfreak said:

are u sure about that?
oh my!