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Thread started 10/05/12 10:56am

thebanishedone

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Why does Prince need help when he performs live?

Prince have a reputation of being one of the best live performers in popular music.these days about 40 % of his live show is all about Shelby .she sings those awful covers and when she doesn't sing the lead she oversing Prince. So i was wondering is Prince having some health issues or he is just being lazy. Prince is 54 but for example Bruce Springsteen is almost 10 years older and his concert and his band rock hard just as good as they did in 1978
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Reply #1 posted 10/05/12 11:11am

alphachannel

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This is one of the great mysteries of so many pop stars -- why is it as they age their bands get larger and in so many cases more saccharine? smile

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Reply #2 posted 10/05/12 11:17am

2freaky4church
1

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Watching too many Madonna concerts.

All you others say Hell Yea!! woot!
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Reply #3 posted 10/05/12 11:30am

Efan

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thebanishedone said:

Prince have a reputation of being one of the best live performers in popular music.these days about 40 % of his live show is all about Shelby .she sings those awful covers and when she doesn't sing the lead she oversing Prince. So i was wondering is Prince having some health issues or he is just being lazy. Prince is 54 but for example Bruce Springsteen is almost 10 years older and his concert and his band rock hard just as good as they did in 1978

Much as I love Prince's live shows...Bruce easily outperforms him right now. Bruce will play for three to four hours and pack the shows with old and new songs, fan favorites and obscure choices. And if he plays the same place for more than one night, he really will change up the setlist. I wish Prince would take note.

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Reply #4 posted 10/05/12 11:32am

MickyDolenz

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You can take a black guy to Nashville from right out of the cotton fields with bib overalls, and they will call him R&B. You can take a white guy in a pin-stripe suit who’s never seen a cotton field, and they will call him country. ~ O. B. McClinton
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Reply #5 posted 10/05/12 11:36am

thebanishedone

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Efan i agree with you.Bruce is playing great concerts lots of testosterone,extended and obsure jams and guitar solos.Prince's shows nowdays are a shadow of his former concerts but why is it like that is he lazy or sick maybe?
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Reply #6 posted 10/05/12 11:39am

OldFriends4Sal
e

2freaky4church1 said:

Watching too many Madonna concerts.

If he watched a M concert he would see her constantly playing music from the current albums along with classics

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Reply #7 posted 10/05/12 12:05pm

BrazilianOnRas
pberryBeret

Wonder how a Britney Spears concert will be when she's 54.

-Wtv u heard bout me is true,I change the rules n do what I wanna do.[Im n love w God,He's the only way - NOT!]We know we gotta die some day,so Im gon have fun evr MF night!Im gon 2 another life.How bout u?
-Im wit u...Ur so cool, evrtg u do is SUCCESS.
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Reply #8 posted 10/05/12 12:12pm

paulludvig

Efan said:

thebanishedone said:

Prince have a reputation of being one of the best live performers in popular music.these days about 40 % of his live show is all about Shelby .she sings those awful covers and when she doesn't sing the lead she oversing Prince. So i was wondering is Prince having some health issues or he is just being lazy. Prince is 54 but for example Bruce Springsteen is almost 10 years older and his concert and his band rock hard just as good as they did in 1978

Much as I love Prince's live shows...Bruce easily outperforms him right now. Bruce will play for three to four hours and pack the shows with old and new songs, fan favorites and obscure choices. And if he plays the same place for more than one night, he really will change up the setlist. I wish Prince would take note.

Yeah! This is all Prince was able to come up with when he played three nights in Rotterdam last year (source PrinceVault). He must have been either lazy or sick:


Foxy Lady




Controversy




Sexy Dancer (instrumental) / Le Freak




(Theme Song From) Which Way Is Up?




Play That Funky Music

Controversy (coda)



Pass The Peas




Let's Get It On




D.M.S.R.




Pop Life

incl. Scrapple From The Apple interpolation



Musicology

incl. Tighten Up (instrumental) interpolation & Prince And The Band



No One Else




Misty Blue




A Love Bizarre

incl. Housequake & ( Like) Funky Music chants & 'chromatic scale' coda: E/F/F♯/G



Everyday People




Only Heaven Knows

incl. America (instrumental) interpolation

.



Purple Rain

(incl. sampled string coda)




If I Was Your Girlfriend


.


Kiss





Joy In Repetition



Nothing More



The Love We Make



Mountains



Come Together



Alphabet St.



Dear Mr. Man



If You Want Me To Stay



Stand!



I Want You Back



When We're Dancing Close And Slow



The Look Of Love



Guitar

incl. 'thunderstorm' & guitar improvisation intro


I Like It There



Colonized Mind



Bambi




Peach

incl. Johnny B. Goode interpolation




The Beautiful Ones





Dance (Disco Heat)


.


Baby I'm A Star





Laydown

.


The Question Of U (instrumental) / The One

Gingerbread Man incl. All Day, All Night interpolation


When Lay My Hands On U



Brown Skin



Empty Room



Calhoun Square



People Pleaser



She's Always In My Hair



Future Soul Song



Girl



Partyman



You're The One For Me



Controversy

incl. Housequake chants


Let's Go Crazy



Delirious

Let's Go Crazy (coda)


1999




Pass The Peas





Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)



Nothing Compares 2 U




Take Me With U



Raspberry Beret



Cream



Cool

incl. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough interpolation

The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #9 posted 10/05/12 12:26pm

KoolEaze

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I don´t think he´s lacking the energy.

Then again, Prince could just sit on a stool for one hour and play acoustic guitar, like he did at the Celebration in Paisley Park in 2002, and I ´d be a happy man.

Or play nothing but piano for 90 minutes, without dancing or any gimmicks. I´d love to see a minimalistic set in the near future.

" I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?"
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Reply #10 posted 10/06/12 4:26am

SuperSoulFight
er

Yeah, those NSJF nites were kicking! But in all fairness, they were the exception rather than the rule.
But maybe P just wants to share the spotlights with his band! If they all stood in the shadows playing anonymously, we would be complaining about THAT!
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Reply #11 posted 10/07/12 11:12am

Bohemian67

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Because the stage is big, there are too many people and he can't be everywhere at once.

"Free URself, B the best that U can B, 3rd Apartment from the Sun, nothing left to fear" Prince Rogers Nelson - Forever in my Life -
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Reply #12 posted 10/07/12 3:53pm

berlinas2k

Bohemian67 said:

Because the stage is big, there are too many people and he can't be everywhere at once.



Sorry, not a valid argument. I realize it was 8 years ago but he managed to fill the Musicology stage by himself, except when he insisted on bringing the dancers up. Unless there's some underlying issue where he just can't physically handle it alone anymore, I'd say it's just a matter of him kicking back and coasting. He keeps filling seats, so if it aint broke, don't fix it.
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Reply #13 posted 10/07/12 4:53pm

chopingard

What Prince is doing with his show is almost exactly what James Brown did with his later shows. Dancing twins and more backing singers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ik85hMwgx4

I wish he trusted how much he himself standing in the middle of the stage alone fills the room.

I loved his Hop Farm gig last year and think that somewhere in the waves of unfair criticism is a point to be made. He does have too many covers and hair flickers (I refuse to call the twins dancers).

If he want's to take a break and showcase the band why don't the do a related artist songs rather than covers, Songs like Manic Monday, 101, Mia Bocca, Blue Limosine, I wonder u, Or instead of Maceo's it's a wonderfull world as a band showcase why not something from Madhouse or the sax version of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, Baby Knows or The Greatest Romance That's Ever Been Sold.... It's the covers for me that disjoint the show and water it down. The bands solo spots would be far more appretiated if they were Prince rareties (the stadium crowd is getting more beer and hot dogs so what has Prince got to lose)

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Reply #14 posted 10/07/12 5:06pm

nursev

Prince is 54 so of course he may have some health things he is dealing with-we all do, but I have noticed that his voice has changed over the years. Maybe he is using Shelby to give his voice a rest. I don't know, but I do know that having her all over the stage and on damn near every song makes me not want to see him live. I have been a fan since 81 and for me to say that makes me sad. I just can't stomach her voice. She can sing, but if I pay to see Prince I wanna see Prince! He could just sit and play the piano and sing and I'd be happy, but using all these extra folks as filler is just not what I wanna pay my hard earned money to see.

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Reply #15 posted 10/08/12 10:45am

jon1967

not sure why he had screens on the stage for lyrics at the wta shows in LA .. n the women singing were a bit annoying .. he seems bored

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Reply #16 posted 10/08/12 11:35am

ohYeeeeeah

I have seen him 50 times + since 1983 and many times lately and I have seen a Prince at the top of his game. Full of energy and joyful (which was not always the case before).

Some of you are just so full of shit. He just likes his band and likes to put some young talents in the spotlight. He likes his band.

Back in 1985-1987, his shows were very intense but short 1h50mn - 2h and that's it. Then you had the aftershow later on in the night. Back in 1989, I have attended a 1h20mn show!!!

This man plays hours and hours of music every day.

Some of you talk about him like if he was moving in slow motion on stage and like if he could hardly sing and play anymore.

Regarding Springsteen (I love him), the last 6 shows I have seen from him from the last three tours were using pretty much the same tricks. He has this amazing strength and brutal force.

But I kinda get bored after hearing the same chord progressions song after song (D G Bm A).

Prince goes from funk to pop to soul to Rock. he goes a lot further musically on stage even if the E Stree Band has a magic touch.


[Edited 10/8/12 14:30pm]

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Reply #17 posted 10/08/12 11:42am

ohYeeeeeah

berlinas2k said:

Bohemian67 said:

Because the stage is big, there are too many people and he can't be everywhere at once.

Sorry, not a valid argument. I realize it was 8 years ago but he managed to fill the Musicology stage by himself, except when he insisted on bringing the dancers up. Unless there's some underlying issue where he just can't physically handle it alone anymore, I'd say it's just a matter of him kicking back and coasting. He keeps filling seats, so if it aint broke, don't fix it.

This is bullshit. Prince was all over the stage at all the shows I have seen lately, dancing a lot more than in recent years. First time since I follow him, I see him play 2h45 and 3 hours shows.

I just don't know what you guys are talking about.

But something I have noticed for sure: he gives more in Europe than in the US. No idea why.

[Edited 10/8/12 11:43am]

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Reply #18 posted 10/08/12 2:38pm

GoldDolphin

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berlinas2k said:

Bohemian67 said:

Because the stage is big, there are too many people and he can't be everywhere at once.

Sorry, not a valid argument. I realize it was 8 years ago but he managed to fill the Musicology stage by himself, except when he insisted on bringing the dancers up. Unless there's some underlying issue where he just can't physically handle it alone anymore, I'd say it's just a matter of him kicking back and coasting. He keeps filling seats, so if it aint broke, don't fix it.

perhaps he should stop using those platforms ? ;D Im jk ofc lol lol

When the power of love overcomes the love of power,the world will know peace -Jimi Hendrix
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Reply #19 posted 10/08/12 3:16pm

chopingard

ohYeeeeeah said:

berlinas2k said:

Bohemian67 said: Sorry, not a valid argument. I realize it was 8 years ago but he managed to fill the Musicology stage by himself, except when he insisted on bringing the dancers up. Unless there's some underlying issue where he just can't physically handle it alone anymore, I'd say it's just a matter of him kicking back and coasting. He keeps filling seats, so if it aint broke, don't fix it.

This is bullshit. Prince was all over the stage at all the shows I have seen lately, dancing a lot more than in recent years. First time since I follow him, I see him play 2h45 and 3 hours shows.

I just don't know what you guys are talking about.

But something I have noticed for sure: he gives more in Europe than in the US. No idea why.

[Edited 10/8/12 11:43am]

I agree with you that he still plays with energy and passion don't know about the Europe US thing but I've always seen him in Europe and it is always a great show.

I've never had issue with his performance, Speaking just for myself I have issues with the distractions he is bringing into the show (covers/bad dancers/backing singers that are too prominant)

Any critique I have of him should be accepted in the context that I still think he's the best performer I have ever seen.

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Reply #20 posted 10/08/12 3:57pm

FunkiestOne

avatar

paulludvig said:

Efan said:

Much as I love Prince's live shows...Bruce easily outperforms him right now. Bruce will play for three to four hours and pack the shows with old and new songs, fan favorites and obscure choices. And if he plays the same place for more than one night, he really will change up the setlist. I wish Prince would take note.

Yeah! This is all Prince was able to come up with when he played three nights in Rotterdam last year (source PrinceVault). He must have been either lazy or sick:


Foxy Lady




Controversy




Sexy Dancer (instrumental) / Le Freak




(Theme Song From) Which Way Is Up?




Play That Funky Music

Controversy (coda)



Pass The Peas




Let's Get It On




D.M.S.R.




Pop Life

incl. Scrapple From The Apple interpolation



Musicology

incl. Tighten Up (instrumental) interpolation & Prince And The Band



No One Else




Misty Blue




A Love Bizarre

incl. Housequake & ( Like) Funky Music chants & 'chromatic scale' coda: E/F/F♯/G



Everyday People




Only Heaven Knows

incl. America (instrumental) interpolation

.



Purple Rain

(incl. sampled string coda)




If I Was Your Girlfriend


.


Kiss





Joy In Repetition



Nothing More



The Love We Make



Mountains



Come Together



Alphabet St.



Dear Mr. Man



If You Want Me To Stay



Stand!



I Want You Back



When We're Dancing Close And Slow



The Look Of Love



Guitar

incl. 'thunderstorm' & guitar improvisation intro


I Like It There



Colonized Mind



Bambi




Peach

incl. Johnny B. Goode interpolation




The Beautiful Ones





Dance (Disco Heat)


.


Baby I'm A Star





Laydown

.


The Question Of U (instrumental) / The One

Gingerbread Man incl. All Day, All Night interpolation


When Lay My Hands On U



Brown Skin



Empty Room



Calhoun Square



People Pleaser



She's Always In My Hair



Future Soul Song



Girl



Partyman



You're The One For Me



Controversy

incl. Housequake chants


Let's Go Crazy



Delirious

Let's Go Crazy (coda)


1999




Pass The Peas





Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)



Nothing Compares 2 U




Take Me With U



Raspberry Beret



Cream



Cool

incl. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough interpolation

I think the OP was talking about 99 out of 100 shows he plays these days and not just the one you went to that was clearly an exception to the rule.

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Reply #21 posted 10/09/12 12:20pm

paulludvig

FunkiestOne said:

I think the OP was talking about 99 out of 100 shows he plays these days and not just the one you went to that was clearly an exception to the rule.

I went to these two wink Not as spectacular as the NSJ shows, but still a lot of variations:


Purple Rain

incl. thunderstorm intro & Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful chant


D.M.S.R.

incl. Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful chant



Pop Life

incl. Scrapple From The Apple interpolation



Musicology

incl. Tighten Up (instrumental) interpolation, ( Like) Funky Music & Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful chants, Prince And The Band



Shhh

.


Mountains

.



Everyday People

.



Come Together

incl. Kissing My Love interpolation


The Look Of Love

.


Crimson And Clover

.


Take Me With U

.



Raspberry Beret

.


Cream

.


Cool

incl. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough interpolation



If I Was Your Girlfriend

.


Kiss

.


Shortberry Strawcake

incl. Feel Better, Feel Good, Feel Wonderful chant


The Bird

incl. Get Up (I Feel Like Being A) Sex Machine chants



Jungle Love

.



A Love Bizarre

.



[Sampler set]




When Doves Cry

.

as sample snippet w/ live vocals


Hot Thing

.

w/ band backing


Sign O' The Times

.

w/ band backing


Nasty Girl (instrumental)

.

as sample snippet w/ Maceo Parker


Darling Nikki (instrumental)

.

as sample snippet


I Would Die 4 U

.

w/ band backing, w/ Maceo Parker








Make You Feel My Love

.

Shelby J., Andy Allo, Ida Nielsen co-lead vox, sans Prince & The NPG male members


Gold

.

.






Cassandra O'Neal piano intro

.


Let's Go Crazy




Delirious

Let's Go Crazy coda


1999

.


Little Red Corvette

.


Nothing Compares 2 U

.



Love Is A Losing Game (instrumental)

.


People Get Ready

.



Crimson And Clover (instrumental) / Waiting In Vain

.



Take Me With U

.



Raspberry Beret

.


Anotherloverholenyohead

incl. uptempo 'rock jam' coda


Peach (instrumental) / Johnny B. Goode

.



Alphabet St.





Purple Rain

(incl. sampled string coda)



Let's Work

.


U Got The Look

.


Controversy

incl. Housequake chant



Sometimes It Snows In April

.


[Sampler set]




Hot Thing (instrumental)

.

as sample snippet, aborted







Kiss

.


[Sampler set]




When Doves Cry / Sign O' The Times / Forever In My Life / Darling Nikki (instrumental) / Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) (instrumental)

all as sample snippets w/ live vocals


Nasty Girl (instrumental)

.

w/ band backing


Mr. Goodnight

.

w/ band backing


I Would Die 4 U

.

small> w/ band backing </small>







A Love Bizarre

.


Play That Funky Music



[Edited 12/9/14 12:08pm]

The wooh is on the one!
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Reply #22 posted 10/09/12 1:48pm

Gohi

ohYeeeeeah said:

berlinas2k said:

Bohemian67 said: Sorry, not a valid argument. I realize it was 8 years ago but he managed to fill the Musicology stage by himself, except when he insisted on bringing the dancers up. Unless there's some underlying issue where he just can't physically handle it alone anymore, I'd say it's just a matter of him kicking back and coasting. He keeps filling seats, so if it aint broke, don't fix it.

This is bullshit. Prince was all over the stage at all the shows I have seen lately, dancing a lot more than in recent years. First time since I follow him, I see him play 2h45 and 3 hours shows.

I just don't know what you guys are talking about.

But something I have noticed for sure: he gives more in Europe than in the US. No idea why.

[Edited 10/8/12 11:43am]

I'd rather see a quality and energetic set than a 3 hour set with a whole lot of filler and Sly covers. His arrangements have been tacky as heck since 2009. I ain't feeling it.

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Reply #23 posted 10/13/12 7:29pm

TurnItUp

I wasn't gone jump in this, but now I will. Prince ain't lazy. We talkin about a man that since 1979 has been touring every year and if not every year every other year. If anybody deserves to kick back and relax and let others "help" (lol) him then it should be Prince. Plus it's good that he shares among his band members when there was time he was selfish and self-centered.

He's been doing the Welcome2 tour for in December will be 2 years off and on now and quite frankly I agree with the young man from Youtube Jester Jenkins, I'm waiting on the tour called Welcome 2 the end of the Welcome 2 shows, because I'm tired of him singing the same songs and I know his backup singer/dancer and musicians are as well. I want him to start a whole new tour release a new CD perform his new songs like he did on the ONA tour and old songs he has either never or rarely performed like I'm Yours or It's Gonna Be Lonely. I will add while orger talked about him singing Sly covers, I like when he sings cover songs because when Prince was younger he only sang his songs and I tried to imagine how he sounded singing someone elses song. He covers song very well and his naughtier songs, he could just PG 13 them up and make clean versions like he did ExtraLovable. What ever happened to his ONA quote "It's not about what you know it's about what you're willing to learn". I wouldn't care if never heard Purple Rain again. I don't care if it is his signature song and if fans wanna hear it. Play the damn record! I love Prince, but I'm willing to learn something else.

[Edited 10/13/12 19:51pm]

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Reply #24 posted 10/13/12 7:45pm

TurnItUp

nursev said:

Prince is 54 so of course he may have some health things he is dealing with-we all do, but I have noticed that his voice has changed over the years. Maybe he is using Shelby to give his voice a rest. I don't know, but I do know that having her all over the stage and on damn near every song makes me not want to see him live. I have been a fan since 81 and for me to say that makes me sad. I just can't stomach her voice. She can sing, but if I pay to see Prince I wanna see Prince! He could just sit and play the piano and sing and I'd be happy, but using all these extra folks as filler is just not what I wanna pay my hard earned money to see.

Ain't shit wrong with his voice and it hasn't changed. His voice is top notched and on point and just as beautiful as it was all the way back when he was young when he was recording unreleased songs like Leaving 4 New York. I understand people getting tired of Shelby, but the woman can sing and especially in these recent years he has been paying much respect to more black women who can sing, not that he didn't before but even more so now. Lalah Hathaway, Ledisi, Cassandra Wilson, Mary J Blige, who I never thought the 2 of them would share the stage together, and most recently Jennifer Hudson. He said it on Tavis that time, he loves the female voice.

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Reply #25 posted 10/13/12 10:13pm

rgsince81

avatar

Because it would be impossible for Prince to perform without other musicians, Remember, all or most of Princes music is already done in his studio, How could he perform with out a band?
Pray Daily!!!!! RIP AMY WINEHOUSE Keep Calm, Carry on
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Reply #26 posted 10/14/12 6:48pm

Adisa

avatar

thebanishedone said:

Prince have a reputation of being one of the best live performers in popular music.these days about 40 % of his live show is all about Shelby .she sings those awful covers and when she doesn't sing the lead she oversing Prince. So i was wondering is Prince having some health issues or he is just being lazy. Prince is 54 but for example Bruce Springsteen is almost 10 years older and his concert and his band rock hard just as good as they did in 1978

I saw the thread title and thought it was about the teleprompter. lol

I'm sick and tired of the Prince fans being sick and tired of the Prince fans that are sick and tired!
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Reply #27 posted 10/14/12 7:09pm

HonestMan13

avatar

Prince hasn't performed live since 2004. That was a hologram you paid good money to see. lol

When eye go 2 a Prince concert or related event it's all heart up in the house but when eye log onto this site and the miasma of bitchiness is completely overwhelming!
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