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!

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:

Not true! He has made himself very visable in the crowd at other shows and has gotten on stage and jammed! I've seen it myself at a few shows in Minneapolis! They were smaller shows though so maybe thats why!

BlueEyedAngel said:

I ain't sayin' you're wrong, but I don't recall anything on this site (where you would hear such things) about any ARENA show where Prince would be coerced to get up and play on the spur of the moment. Heck, dude wouldn't even play for a CNN interview about his music!

I just don't think he's as cool as that. Don't get me wrong - he's as "planned cool" (I'll have someone come up and support my by during a guitar solo as I fall slowly backward), as anyone ever will be, but as far as "regular guy cool"( I'll be a nice guy and go along with a difficult situation, for someone else's sake)...he's got a ways too go.

Patti could have made him look bad by not getting up, but she didn't. I can't imagine Prince would make that kinda sacrifice for Usher or Jay-Z, etc. for example, that's all...

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

jpav said:

He's still having flashbacks of "generously" joining James Brown onstage at the Wiltern in '83...

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:

A lot of what Prince does is spur of the moment so it wouldnt surprise me at all! 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!

steevetheeo said:

Yo Mister Was the JAM....1989..I was like 12.

jpav said:

Well yeah, but Usher and Jay-Z suck! he wouldn't want to lower himself. Now, if its P-Funk, that's a different story...

BlueEyedAngel said:[quote]

jpav said:

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

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

Redayh said:[quote]

BlueEyedAngel said:

Horrified that he was in the audience more like it, lol

Redayh said:[quote]

BlueEyedAngel said:

I was just using two people who are of the younger generation, as P. is to Patti, that's all. I don't think it would matter who the artist is, he just wouldn't do it, I insist.

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... . . . . .