InwardJim said:

PARIS (AFP) – Paris is "erotic" and "inspirational", US pop star Prince said Monday after wowing city audiences in a venue never formerly used as a concert hall -- the landmark glass-and-iron Grand Palais exhibition centre.

Prince's Sunday concerts were last-minute affairs, organised in four to five days, after the 51-year-old artist visited and fell in love with the vast hall on the banks of the Seine river.

On Monday he met a small group of journalists, including AFP, in a chic Paris hotel. Following are excerpts from the hour-long chat.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS HE WAS ASKED: Q: What did you think about the crowd last night?


A: Amazing. It is actually indescribable, that much love. They were very respectful. We asked that no one used camera phones and they honoured that request, unlike Americans who are so obsessed with technology. We don't like to have our concert filmed that way because it sounds so bad and then you give all the footage to somebody like YouTube who is run by Universal Publishing, and some of those same lawyers.

NO NEED FOR ANYONE TO GET BENT OUT OF SHAPE OF WHAT I'M GONNA SAY. BUT AS STATED MANY TIMES HERE RECENTLY IN THE LAST 2 WKS OR SO ~ MAYBE IF (SOME OF US WERE NOT SO MEAN IN SOME OF THE THINGS SAID, MAYBE HE WOULD DO MORE ON THE OTHERSIDE!!!! HE IS HUMAN TOO, AS HE STATED TINGS SAID CAN STING A LITTLE.

SETLIST
1999
I Feel For You
Controversy
Sexy Dancer - Le Freak ( Chic ) Remove the Le Freak just do Sexy Dancer
le Grind would have worked better
Y U Wanna Treat Me So Bad ?
Take Me With U
Anotherloverholenyohead
Guitar
Raspberry Beret
Girl (*acoustic)
All Day, All Night *
I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man *
The 1 U Wanna C *
Sometimes It Snows In April *
Mountains
Everyday People ( Sly & family stone ) Paisley Park would have fit better
I Want To Take U Higher ( Sly ... ) I Wish U Heaven would fit better
Without Love ( Doobie Brothers ) God Is Alive or People Without wfb

Play That Funky Music something from Minneapolis sound instead
Partyman
Shake your body to the ground cool cover and homage to MJ
What have you done for me lately cool cover and Minneapolis sound nodUptown everything below is perfect
Let's Work
Kiss
Cool

All The Critics Love U In Paris
All Day, All Night

Cream
U Got the look

HatrinaHaterwitz said:

Mee too, on both counts!
Whole band was nicely coordinated while all retaining an individual look. Everyone wore black at the 2nd show - expect Prince, of course, who wore this stunning white suit with some black pattern on it. He also wore glitter in his hair! Never noticed that before. It was very subtle.
Cora was all in white and looked very happy throughout. She threw her sticks into the audience after each of the 3 encores. I think she loved the crowd.
Shelby wore a black dress but tights that were one leg black and one leg white which looked really cool. She lost the cape which is good, imo.
[Edited 10/12/09 1:02am]

BartVanHemelen said:

Jesus christ get you facts straight.

There are so many errors above you should be ashamed.

Should I school you?

Sexy Dancer 1979
1999 1982
and you got the release of Cream wrong by two whole goddamn fucking years. IT was released in 1991.

And this coming from the biggest prick in Prince online fandom is just wonderful.

For anyone at the show, is 'Shake your body down' an MJ/Jacksons cover?
It's my favorite MJ song.

XNY said:

s it is...i wasnt at the show myself but any1 whos an MJ Fan or a Jacksons Fan knows that thats a song by the group

mushmackalenta said:

There was another show, Homie BartVanHemelen needs to do that Math on that one, I think it has more newer songs

Old Skool Company
Crimson & Clover
Stand
Turn Me Loose
Dance 4 Me
No More Candy 4 U
Shhh
Stratus
Girl
Forever In My Life
Baby Love
Sexy Dancer - Le Freak
All Day, All Night
Peach
Sing A Simple Song - Be Happy
7
Come Together
Dreamer
The Bird
Jungle Love
The Glamorous Life
3121
Purple Rain

i saw both shows & the setlists were largely duplicated but i can confirm it didn't matter a jot, he switched them up a fair bit, 1st show in daylight, i was very close to stage, 2nd show had seat at back up on high with binoculars poised & was able to appreciate the entire scenery & of course the lighting created different ambience, i didn't need seat tho, i refuelled with redbull & just felt secure in the knowledge i could flop back when overcome by hormonal bombardment
both shows were thrilling, the venue all out stunning, the french crowd buzzing beautiful party people,
the staircase stage so ornate & super flamboyant

prince was on a vintage rampage! he didn't do anything from lotusflower, not a jellyfish in sight.
the shows were filmed from 3 different balconies
there was no merchandise
everybody was frisked, security was really tight, i'm hoping not tight enough

he made his entrance by maybach driving directly in2 the venue each show & left same way...fans crowding the car
bria was with him & sat in a recess beside the crowd looking flirty with flower in hair & fanning herself occasionally, prince blatently singing to her 'i feel 4 u' glancing over at her...the boy's in love, body language undeniable
& he was every inch the visual delight! i lost my footing he looked so good
he made an excellent choice with his look, the black suit especially..with crystals around the collar & cuffs, ears blinged out he was twinkling vision of buff

i see the setlists so far,
but remember 'life can be so nice' & 'girls & boys' from 1st show
'housequake' chants at both shows
lots of 'all day, all night', (u can be my baby, I'll make u feel alright) chanting throughout both shows & during crowd encores but he performed a stripped back version of the complete song at 2nd show...heavenly
felt blessed as he launched in2 'mountains'...twice..omg

during the first show he was so fierce with his honer he lost a string, the guitar tech looked like elvis
during performance of anotherlover he did that thing where he lifts the guitar to his face & blows cool breath on the strings..close to stage, i didn't care binoculars helped to capture every moment!...his tongue was so close to slipping out, how he reined it back in is beyond me. i have never seen his eyes with so much raw lust..& then a very brief wicked smile. oooh lala, oui oui oui!pass the smelling salts somebody!

the harmonica guy could not be heard, the mic didn't work at first, there were jokes at the french sound people, prince directed them to the 'pretty mic'..i think he felt bad 4 fred yonnet, all that effort & he was not heard, however he came back with vengence!
the main mic was illuminated & changed colour occasionally
he teased the crowd, what did they want 2 hear?..sexy soul music?..
2nd show drum sticks & guitar thrown to the audience
larry graham was there in spirit as fans joined prince on stage 4 everyday people
maybe MJ there in spirit as the girls belted out 'let's dance let's shout! shake your body down to the ground!'
new female keyboard player, looked as nervous as hell, but her hair was nice.
prince made a joke about 'the sunroof'
he was clearly enjoying himself, lots of smiles & told the french they should be proud of their beautiful city
i met up with cjanssen & we found ourselves walking down the champs elysees in the rain, no coats, no brollys, discussing prince gorgeousness in detail. even with husbands present, they just chimed in with the occasional hip joke

prince was shaking his stuff & did a cool dance routine to 'kiss'
during purple rain he did some vicar waffle & urged 2 'open up a bible, it won't harm u, check it out'...
he called 4 all the lights out & gasps from me at least as the whole room just lit by night sky, it was strangely erotic moment
he got fans on stage at both shows during a covers medley..everyday people etc
a girl got on her knees at the end & was begging woman. he shook her hand & made hasty exit..at second show, a similar thing, but he had a lot of fun with those fans, they took over mic during 'play that funky music'..they got hugs.
he finalized the 2nd show with love bizzare the crowd going mental wid love, he just left the stage, pimp walked to the waiting limo which was inside the concert hall & just drove off, through the building..the band still playing.
priceless & cute, i'm beyond princed out
[Edited 10/12/09 23:47pm]

lottielooloo1968 said:

What a fanastic review, Lottieloo! Written with true love and passion for our man! Beautiful - I'm reliving it all as I read it, thanks so much!

With the harmonica player, "can you hear him? No? Talk to the soundman, he's French "
I thought that was sweet.

as if prince would do a dvd

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS HE WAS ASKED: Q: What did you think about the crowd last night?

A: Amazing. It is actually indescribable, that much love. They were very respectful. We asked that no one used camera phones and they honoured that request, unlike Americans who are so obsessed with technology. We don't like to have our concert filmed that way because it sounds so bad and then you give all the footage to somebody like YouTube who is run by Universal Publishing, and some of those same lawyers.

There was another show, Homie BartVanHemelen needs to do that Math on that one, I think it has more newer songs

LiveToLove said:

aww, ta! i just remembered he threw in a bit of 'miss u' at the end of 2nd show..

...at second show, a similar thing, but he had a lot of fun with those fans, they took over mic during 'play that funky music'..they got hugs.

double post
[Edited 10/13/09 7:43am]

lottielooloo1968 said:

I'm still in seventh heaven, because that fan signing "Play that funky music" was ME

I was with a fellow fan, who suffers from cancer and she had to undergo chemotherapy en surgery. I took her along with me to Paris and I secretly vowed to try to give her the best time ever because she needed happiness and positivity.

During the first concert we were on the second row to the right. We really enjoyed because the sound was acceptable there and we could see him up close. We weren't really let down by the set list, because we expected a greatest hits show.

For the second show we needed to leave the venue again and get back in the queue that was already too long. I decided to execute my secret plan : to get my friend on stage so she could kiss Prince. I told her we would stand on the right corner of the stage, where the security guarded the entrance to the VIP area behind the stage I knew Shelby would go there and pick fans to dance on stage.

My plan worked : Shelby picked us and we got to dance on stage. It was brilliant - thousands of fans going wild, looking at you. I danced my ass off !

Then Prince started playing "Play That Funky Music", he went straight to the bridge, stepped aside left, looked behind him and pointed to the mic.
In a split second decision I leapt forward and started singing in the mic. Luckily I know this song by heart but there is also a teleprompter. My friend joined in singing with me. I couldn't hear myself so I hope I stayed in tune a bit
I tried to involve the first row and on the line "lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die" I looked at Prince and pointed to his guitar.
He rewarded me with a solo and when he finished he turned around and put the guitar in my hands. The other fans touched it as well and the guitar tech was very quick to take it back.

At that moment my friend took advantage of the confusion to approach Prince and she gave him a hug and a big kiss on his left cheek. Another girl did the same of his right cheek. Supposedly Prince shouted : "what a world !" but we didn't hear that. Quickly the bodyguards came running to get these "wild women" off Prince and in the struggle Prince lost his curved earring.

I was tempted to pick it up and keep it but I was ushered of the stage. I threw a handkiss to Shelby, my friend kissed her hand because we were so grateful for this experience.

I pray someone took a picture of it despite the photo ban - or maybe we were filmed by those camera's on the balcony. I sincerely hope so, but this is memory to treasure. It will stay in my heart forever.

Prince looks fantastic! He was working that Black and White!

LittleSister said:

Read that again....this is the coolist post on the org right now...thanks

lottielooloo1968 said:

I'm still in seventh heaven, because that fan signing "Play that funky music" was ME

I was with a fellow fan, who suffers from cancer and she had to undergo chemotherapy en surgery. I took her along with me to Paris and I secretly vowed to try to give her the best time ever because she needed happiness and positivity.

During the first concert we were on the second row to the right. We really enjoyed because the sound was acceptable there and we could see him up close. We weren't really let down by the set list, because we expected a greatest hits show.

For the second show we needed to leave the venue again and get back in the queue that was already too long. I decided to execute my secret plan : to get my friend on stage so she could kiss Prince. I told her we would stand on the right corner of the stage, where the security guarded the entrance to the VIP area behind the stage I knew Shelby would go there and pick fans to dance on stage.

My plan worked : Shelby picked us and we got to dance on stage. It was brilliant - thousands of fans going wild, looking at you. I danced my ass off !

Then Prince started playing "Play That Funky Music", he went straight to the bridge, stepped aside left, looked behind him and pointed to the mic.
In a split second decision I leapt forward and started singing in the mic. Luckily I know this song by heart but there is also a teleprompter. My friend joined in singing with me. I couldn't hear myself so I hope I stayed in tune a bit
I tried to involve the first row and on the line "lay down the boogie and play that funky music till you die" I looked at Prince and pointed to his guitar.
He rewarded me with a solo and when he finished he turned around and put the guitar in my hands. The other fans touched it as well and the guitar tech was very quick to take it back.

At that moment my friend took advantage of the confusion to approach Prince and she gave him a hug and a big kiss on his left cheek. Another girl did the same of his right cheek. Supposedly Prince shouted : "what a world !" but we didn't hear that. Quickly the bodyguards came running to get these "wild women" off Prince and in the struggle Prince lost his curved earring.

I was tempted to pick it up and keep it but I was ushered of the stage. I threw a handkiss to Shelby, my friend kissed her hand because we were so grateful for this experience.

I pray someone took a picture of it despite the photo ban - or maybe we were filmed by those camera's on the balcony. I sincerely hope so, but this is memory to treasure. It will stay in my heart forever.