London got the "Come On" shooting, you can't beat that.
Old men always got butter for English muffins.
Paris Got The Look, though. And a flat.
Probably something beautiful strange about the City of Lights.

[Edited 7/3/18 1:32am]

bonatoc said:

London got the "Come On" shooting, you can't beat that. He got the butter for their English muffins.
Paris Got The Look, though. And a flat.
Probably something beautiful strange about the City of Lights.

Holland has Sign "O" The Times then and his first ever gig outside of the US

He seemed to have good vibes with smallest venues in the last years.
That's comforting and reassuring to me.

It's not online anymore, but "Bambi" at Paradisio is something,
and so is "The Ride" in Manchester. When people are going to realize
there's more than "My Guitar Gently Weeps"?

[Edited 7/3/18 1:38am]

80tomato said:

Joni !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy Bday CANADA

Half five (I'm half Québécois, Tabernacle).

Germanegro said:

From what I've been exposed to on the Org, it seems to me that in contiental Europe he hit France, Netherlands, and Germany pretty hard on his touring pathway.

Germany wasn't one of his favourites. I wish it was, but I don't had that impression. He preferred other european countries.

I think it changed from year to year, tour to tour, woman to woman.

Prince loved Scandinavia too.

He opened the SOTT tour in Sweden and at the time it was some kinda romance there as well.

He played two shows in Oslo rescheduled in 2011 after Norway's doomsday July 22nd.

Just putting it out there, tons of people in MN with Scandinavian blood, the climate is more or less

the same and the women are beautiful.

TweetyV6 said:

Did an Excel exercise on data from princevault.com regarding tour dates/concerts outside the US.
Data from the 80's 90's 00's and 10's

Country	Sum of Concerts
England	97
Germany	43
Canada	40
Japan	37
Australia	36
The Netherlands	36
France	24
Denmark	16
Denmark	16
Belgium	15
Italy	15
Sweden	15
Switzerland	9
Norway	6
Ireland	6
Austria	5
Scotland	5
Portugal	3
New Zealand	2
Poland	1
Luxembourg	1
Finland	1
Hungary	1

So in relation to country size/population/potential market share, the Netherlands was his favorite country

And of course because of Candy Dulfer, Anna Fantastic and Loïs Lane.
Oh and because of the best ever live gig he did in the Paard van Troje (Small Club, 2nd Show That Night)

Thanks man looks like he loved playing my home country.

But where is Spain in this list? He did play shows there as well. Is princevault.com the most reliable data source ?

TweetyV6 said:

Did an Excel exercise on data from princevault.com regarding tour dates/concerts outside the US.
Data from the 80's 90's 00's and 10's

Country	Sum of Concerts
England	97
Germany	43
Canada	40
Japan	37
Australia	36
The Netherlands	36
France	24
Denmark	16
Denmark	16
Belgium	15
Italy	15
Sweden	15
Switzerland	9
Norway	6
Ireland	6
Austria	5
Scotland	5
Portugal	3
New Zealand	2
Poland	1
Luxembourg	1
Finland	1
Hungary	1

So in relation to country size/population/potential market share, the Netherlands was his favorite country

And of course because of Candy Dulfer, Anna Fantastic and Loïs Lane.
Oh and because of the best ever live gig he did in the Paard van Troje (Small Club, 2nd Show That Night)

Undeniably good points here, regarding his home state demographics and weather similarities. We don't know if those would figure greatly into his personal preferences, though!

>

Regarding the Swedish women, I'll say yah! I remember coming across a few season's worth of Swedish summertime interns visiting my U.S. town--good memories there!

SignOthetimes1987 said:

I think it changed from year to year, tour to tour, woman to woman.

Prince loved Scandinavia too.

He opened the SOTT tour in Sweden and at the time it was some kinda romance there as well.

He played two shows in Oslo rescheduled in 2011 after Norway's doomsday July 22nd.

Just putting it out there, tons of people in MN with Scandinavian blood, the climate is more or less

the same and the women are beautiful.

it's already been argued convincingly that he really wasn't that fond of american audiences. Europe he loved which is interesting because he skipped europe during his Peak PR era. Also, the few times he did speak on the subject of how people lived and behaved overseas, it was usually america that would suffer in his mind. Not surprising, he always had that conservative streak so the seeing Japanese leaving gift tambourines in the chair or seeing the muslim women act conservatively might impress him. And remember, he opened his house up to be tore up by his fans, ripped off. What a mass of contradictions he was.

NorthC said:

We also have to remember that before Purple Rain, Prince was virtually unknown in Europe. There was talk of a 1999 show in Holland in 1982, but it never happened because he was still building his American audience. Once he had that, he could go overseas.

And keep in mind, PR The Motion Picture flopped big time in Europe.
The "American Dream Musical" concept was not resonating here, primarily because of cultural differences
(yet critics were praising the album everywhere).

[Edited 7/5/18 9:58am]

lonelyalien said:

Just wondered if he ever mentioned whether he had a favourite country to play or maybe there are some stats of the country he played the most outside of the us?

He did play in France countless times

bonatoc said:

NorthC said:

We also have to remember that before Purple Rain, Prince was virtually unknown in Europe. There was talk of a 1999 show in Holland in 1982, but it never happened because he was still building his American audience. Once he had that, he could go overseas.

And keep in mind, PR The Motion Picture flopped big time in Europe.
The "American Dream Musical" concept was not resonating here, primarily because of cultural differences
(yet critics were praising the album everywhere).

[Edited 7/5/18 9:58am]

I wonder why? i guess it's because of what you say the "american dream" kind of thing, maybe europeans are just sort of resigned to what life they were born to.

I wonder why Prince didn't play South America. I am assuming he had some following there. So many different acts toured the region.

radici27 said:

I wonder why Prince didn't play South America. I am assuming he had some following there. So many different acts toured the region.

The concert footage in Brazil shows him constantly running back and forth on a gigantic stage. Looked tiring, even for young Prince.

PeteSilas said:

bonatoc said:

And keep in mind, PR The Motion Picture flopped big time in Europe.
The "American Dream Musical" concept was not resonating here, primarily because of cultural differences
(yet critics were praising the album everywhere).

[Edited 7/5/18 9:58am]

I wonder why? i guess it's because of what you say the "american dream" kind of thing,

maybe europeans are just sort of resigned to what life they were born to.

That's right. That's us, the resigned type.

Ever heard about Revolutions?
And not just decapitating king's heads: the sexual one,
the social security one, workers rights, environmental protection...
If it wasn't for us Europeans you'll already be living in full Aldous Huxley mode.
You americans, and your sempiternal high horses...

It has nothing to do with it.
European kids were not that much into Stadium Rock.
Venues had reasonable sizes until the eighties made everything bigger.
"Let's Go Crazy" and "Purple Rain" were too boombastic at the time.
To intellectuals, he appeared a drag on a motorcycle.
We invented the ruffles. Seeing a guy dressed as two centuries ago on a bike
with flowers, well to Europeans kids, it's just that.
A moustached Boy George with some hooker up the stairs.
The drama went unnoticed. To Europe, Rock'n'Roll was old news.
But we never got Elvis or Brando, and subliminally speaking,
The Kid owes them a lot.

But remember, europeans got Prince at its most subtle.
U.S.A. had 1984, but until '88 we got la Crème de la Crème.
Europe influenced him big time (Parade, SOTT), and given Prince's character,
I'm not sure it's because of us "being sort of resigned to what life we were born into".

[Edited 7/5/18 22:51pm]

just asking, no need to be rude. wasn't saying one or the other was right/better or any of that. i've never even liked the american way of life.

bonatoc said:

PeteSilas said:

I wonder why? i guess it's because of what you say the "american dream" kind of thing,

maybe europeans are just sort of resigned to what life they were born to.

That's right. That's us, the resigned type.

Ever heard about Revolutions?
And not just decapitating king's heads: the sexual one,
the social security one, workers rights, environmental protection...
If it wasn't for us Europeans you'll already be living in full Aldous Huxley mode.
You americans, and your sempiternal high horses...

It has nothing to do with it.
European kids were not that much into Stadium Rock.
Venues had reasonable sizes until the eighties made everything bigger.
"Let's Go Crazy" and "Purple Rain" were too boombastic at the time.
To intellectuals, he appeared a drag on a motorcycle.
We invented the ruffles. Seeing a guy dressed as two centuries ago on a bike
with flowers, well to Europeans kids, it's just that.
A moustached Boy George with some hooker up the stairs.
The drama went unnoticed. To Europe, Rock'n'Roll was old news.
But we never got Elvis or Brando, and subliminally speaking,
The Kid owes them a lot.

But remember, europeans got Prince at its most subtle.
U.S.A. had 1984, but until '88 we got la Crème de la Crème.
Europe influenced him big time (Parade, SOTT), and given Prince's character,
I'm not sure it's because of us "being sort of resigned to what life we were born into".

[Edited 7/5/18 22:51pm]

Who's rude?

It's just that "resignation" isn't really the appropriate term
for a continent struggling to unite itself
while keeping everyone of its countries its specificity.
America thinks going federal is hard, but European states are another thing entirely.
A dozen different languages, for starters. Truly different mindsets.

It really looks like North America is the one
that can't budge from their sacro-saint pyramid schemes of things,
there has to always be a winner, the ego shit.
And the rat race still gets its contenders,
year after year until the planet dries up.

I can't stand the gun-toting right,
like, man, the only thing you'll ever need to shoot at,
is either a buffalo, or an indian, or a black man.
The Great White Paranoia, now with a King elected.

The real problem with North America: I can't help but think
it was a country of plains filled with buffalos and men, not asserved WASPs
feeding an earth-eating machine at the speed of fiber.
They didn't share the land, they fucking stole it. And then they went stealing some people,
as everybody did, except they optimized it way before Henry Ford.
White boy clever boy.

I'm not lecturing, I know your point of view, Pete.
And judging by recent events, even Europe isn't what it used to be.
Humanity seems to have jumped ship.
The Migrant is the N***er of the world.

[Edited 7/6/18 0:02am]

i don't have a superiority complex at all, i don't even like this lifestyle not a bit, I'm always surprised when people come here for asylum and end up practically worshipping the country, i do not know everything and i haven't been in any other country. any man's knowledge is limited so i'm very aware of that. I've always thought of the us as an outgrowth of euro pathology, it is after all, an extension of european culture even though neither is quite alike anymore.

bonatoc said:

Who's rude?

It's just that "resignation" isn't really the appropriate term
for a continent struggling to unite itself
while keeping everyone of its countries what makes it special.
America thinks going federal is hard, but European states are another thing entirely.
A dozen different languages, for starters. Truly different mindsets.

It really looks like North America is the one
that can't budge from their sacro-saint pyramid schemes of things,
there has to always be a winner, the ego shit.
And the rat race still gets its contenders,
year after year until the planet dries up.

I can't stand the gun-toting right,
like, man, the only thing you'll ever need to shoot at,
is either a buffalo, or an indian, or a black man.
The Great White Paranoia, now with a King elected.

The real problem with North America: I can't help but think
it was a country of plains filled with buffalos and men, not asserved WASPs
feeding an earth-eating machine at the speed of fiber.
They didn't share the land, they fucking stole it. And then they went stealing some people,
as everybody did, except they optimized it way before Henry Ford.
White boy clever boy.

I'm not lecturing, I know your point of view, Pete.
And judging by recent events, even Europe isn't what it used to be.
Humanity seems to have jumped ship.
The Migrant is the N***er of the world.

[Edited 7/5/18 23:57pm]

Man, did I derail or whut?




(not my seat, have I already told you about the time I was in the front row?)

I love the "Prince presents Madhouse", it's like the Concert Title, no mention of "Sign O' The Times Tour",
and the 8 album wasn't out yet, so it was a big teaser. What does it mean?
Prince is going to turn the venue into a madhouse? Damn right he did.
The screams were deafening.


There's even a very grainy, short panoramic of POPB recorded on sunday 14th 1987, 2nd show,
before the "Confusion!" that ends "It's Gonna Be A Beautiful Night".
As if the "U Got The Look" intro didn't made clear which city was his favorite (around that period).



We still need to see the extended live footage we only have a glimpse of in the intro, by the way.
Parisians fans appear, as it was shot in Paris june 16th or 17th, I guess.
Prince's after-show-finger-in-the-nose astounding performance in the video
gives you an idea of what we witnessed on stage. The movie fails at that.
He was pure energy. The music got so smart. And man what a band.
"The Cross" live went into real Led Zep mystical territories, it truly was something seeing him grind the axe
in front of urban ruins of red lights districts, dutch or french, I'll have both.
A world is falling. Cities collapse. Terrorized Western World.
Nothing left but to Play In The Sunshine.
We're gonna get over.

[Edited 7/6/18 0:37am]

The great USA--borne as a place for Europeans and British Islanders to stretch their limbs and ambitions. Those with the grandest dreams who could not claim royalty or seize the golden crown but could bankroll, cop a loan or loan themselves would go beyond the sea and conquer or be conquered--and they continue to go forth, those transplants have done. It all comes from that, everything you've described, Bonatoc. Did their ambitions transform and build to fill the expanse of the land they surveyed? Likely so, and from the reserved origins of the folk--I guess that's the all-around human condition as well.

>

I also guess that Prince enjoyed the alternative cultural exposure of his touring travels, cash gains aside. Europe is small and jammed with folk, chopped into smaller places with its myriad cultures divided among the rolling plains and valleys in its mild weather. The folk appreicate Prince's artistic flourishes with their long memories of craft and attention to funky detail, so he could send that creative energy on to where it would be enjoyed. Still, of which place did he favor among those journeys in the quest to entertain? I'm thinking it had to be where the applause was greatest and audience enthusiasm was commanded most high; where there was efficiency and respectfulness among the servants; and where what most creature comforts could be found.

>

Hmm--where did he shop and buy the most along those road trips?

When in doubt, follow the money!

That'll show you to the non-native country he best enjoyed showed the most love!

bonatoc said:

Who's rude?

It's just that "resignation" isn't really the appropriate term
for a continent struggling to unite itself
while keeping everyone of its countries its specificity.
America thinks going federal is hard, but European states are another thing entirely.
A dozen different languages, for starters. Truly different mindsets.

It really looks like North America is the one
that can't budge from their sacro-saint pyramid schemes of things,
there has to always be a winner, the ego shit.
And the rat race still gets its contenders,
year after year until the planet dries up.

I can't stand the gun-toting right,
like, man, the only thing you'll ever need to shoot at,
is either a buffalo, or an indian, or a black man.
The Great White Paranoia, now with a King elected.

The real problem with North America: I can't help but think
it was a country of plains filled with buffalos and men, not asserved WASPs
feeding an earth-eating machine at the speed of fiber.
They didn't share the land, they fucking stole it. And then they went stealing some people,
as everybody did, except they optimized it way before Henry Ford.
White boy clever boy.

I'm not lecturing, I know your point of view, Pete.
And judging by recent events, even Europe isn't what it used to be.
Humanity seems to have jumped ship.
The Migrant is the N***er engine of the world.

(machine of never-ending change) [I'd veer from the derogatories]

[Edited by G., 7/6/18 0:02am]

[Edited 7/6/18 15:59pm]

jdcxc said:

He did buy an apartment in Paris. Whatever happened to that place?

He sold it in the late 90s. I still like to go there, it's much nicer than the new one he got about 10 years ago.

Aside from America which was prince's favourite country to play in?

When I think of all the restaurant gigs etc here I would say France.

[Edited 7/9/18 11:43am]

coldasice said:

The US was not his fave. He skipped us completely many times.

i would say that could be true that the US may have not been a fav but i have a different

observation.

The US exhibits her fandom differently than Europe. Europeans think nothing of going

to see him 21 nights straight or hoping a train/plane to see him in another country. Americans

by and large don't do things like that. it doesn't mean they love him any less it just is something

that doesn't seem to be the norm. It could be the American dream that Pete spoke of, most kids

or young adults in america are trying to go it on their own at 18 and have very little money to be

able to afford to see him multiple times on the same tour. Maybe because Europeans are not

stigmatized for not moving out at 18 and staying at home longer affords them the financial freedom

to exercise their fanhood in a more (maybe in Prince's mind) committed way. Europeans went to Prince, American's wait until bands come to their area. And it could also be that density was also

a benefit of Europe that shows sold out completely because Europe had the numbers to sell out

his shows. i think this would be most evident post PR in europe when i think his popularity started

to rise. Europe simply probably packed the house. i am betting he liked that. which also speaks

to following the money as someone here mention earlier. i think P's ever working Marketing 101

mind knew that Europe's fandom was another type fandom. it was tireless in his regard. i am

not at all saying American's were less in awe or in love with P, just that Americans seem to operate

from a different starting place of fandom. i think any star would be in love with any place that

repeatedly sold out and treated him like his "royal badness" i think on a whole that was Europe(can't

say which country winS) In america he was treated more like he was one of the many greats but one

whose star was a bit funkier. all IMO of course.

[Edited 7/9/18 21:04pm]

[Edited 7/9/18 21:05pm]