DEAR PRINCE.ORG MODERATORS - WOULD LOVE 'STICKY' STATUS (if you think it's justified that is...I poured my heart, soul and considerable thought into this one! Best to u all. T)
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Anyone who's a fan, or has been a fan of Prince's music over the years, who thinks that:

(a) he's going to retire; and

(b) this will the last time he'll play his hits...

...should consider the following before the hankies come out in earnest.

From memory Prince has said that he's going to do both of these things on several occasions - and of course he never has - so it's perhaps part of his unique make-up (his character that is) that he enjoys getting the hearts of music lovers worldwide palpatating with such 'announcements'. Can he really mean any of it? Put simply - how could he? In both cases it would be like him cutting of his own air supply (he's described his love of music as akin to this in the recent past). How many of you remember the 'retiral' speech during the UK Act II tour in the early 90s, or the "...if u came to get your Purple Rain on..." fun from the One Night Alone live CD? He's getting to be a wiley character as the years go by, but even more so than that - he's also an extremely shrewd marketer now, because he seems to be working the media better than at any time during his career IMHO. The free CD giveaway and now the Sky News broadcast are keeping his profile extremely high in the UK/US but also around the world. This is without considering appearances at London fashion week a few days ago, movie premieres such as the Bourne Ultimatum and his 400,000+ happy concert goers (this autumn alone).

Take it with a pinch of salt lovers of Purple Music, have a chuckle to yourself and be content in the knowledge that Prince will of course be back...James Brown did it to death, and so will he. It would make you 'crazay' to think anything else.

For the record I'm sure the Sky broadcast will be fantastic for everyone who couldn't make these great shows for whatever reason, with millions no doubt tuning in from across the globe. Hopefully this will also silence fans who've been critical that unauthorised clips were taken off YouTube - which seems completely unjustified as unless we've all missed something it's always been Prince's copyrighted material (and his prerogative) and no-one was granted permission to film concerts or make any clips available on his behalf to a worldwide audience.

Perhaps this is a classic case of people in modern society who just 'want' everything in front of them rather than just simply experiencing something once for what it is i.e. a unique moment in time (that is of course what makes it special and in many ways gives it power). Demand the right to have, or own parts of a concert on film that you attended because you have the latest multi-media phone, recording device or PC at home, seems a strange position to complain or argue your case from. Am sure Prince is losing no sleep over it.

If you're in the audience for his final show at the o2 you'll no doubt be singing along - and pleased that the rest of the world have been invited in to share some of this magical event - just thankful to revel once more in the musical brilliance and charisma of the Prince live experience one more time. We are lucky this guy's around - let's make the most of it while we can.

I think I can hear a chant, growing in volume...sounds something like...

"oh we oh...oooooh-oh...oh we oh, oooooh-oh..."

T

I expect he does mean it when he says he won't play the hits any more. But he changes his mind later. Can't blame him for wanting to do something new, although he could have tried a bit harder with the Planet Earth album on this tour, which he's hardly played.

Tokyo said:

Yippeeee! I believe
Most eleoquent indeed Tokyo, sticky or no...

And folks - that's the chant I'm rooting for x

Come again Krish? T

For all grown men in tears - read the original thread above...posted yesterday in anticipation of this moment!!

What a night, what a tour - what a man, what a band.

T

I believe Tokyo!

Thank you Prince for the ride!

Love is God, God is Love, Girls & Boys love God above

Of course he's not going to retire - any Prince fan knows that. What else would he do? All the man has done for the best part of 30 yrs is make music & love. And whilst a male libido decreases with age, I don't think the same can be said for his mojo.

He'll never stop playing till he's gone.

Here here...well said.

I feel so spaced out at this moment, and my hearing's partially gone from the aftershow!!

I think it'll take many weeks and months for the dust to settle on this 'tour'...

I don't know what else to say - my brain's pretty scrambled...but I feel totally satiated musically!

I wish for nothing...

T