Aprilflower said:

Sounds like He's talking about God while he's still sowing his oats or playing the field???
[Edited 10/28/09 11:35am]

purplezeig said:

is this her? http://prince.org/profile/SHIM

or did someone take the name already?

veronikka said:

Love the profile pic. If not THE person, then someone with a fab sense of humour

I wrote my personal account of the concert, but I don't know if I should post it here or give it its own thread, since it's a LONG read.

What do y'all think?

bluefish said:

I'd post it here or it might get locked. I wanna read it.

10-24-09 at Paisley Park: My Story
[Huge thanks to Genesia for the setlist!]

My cousin and I arrived at the Park a little after 9:30p.m. Having prepaid for tickets on Lotusflow3r.com, we were able to get our wristband IDs and shuffle into the Love4OneAnother room in virtually no time at all. My cousin promptly wheeled me right up to the stage, off to the right side really close to the HUGE stack of speakers. Cora Dunham’s drum kit was directly in front of my eyes, bathed in purple light. As the tracks from Lotusflow3r played softly in the background, my cousin and I looked around the room, then at each other, grinning like Cheshire cats all the while.

Around 10:30 or so, the background music switched to a funky dance mix incorporating elements of songs from Prince, Michael Jackson, James Brown, Lakeside, and Rick James. It was without a doubt the best DJ mix I’ve ever heard, and I wish I could own a copy!

Finally, around 11:10, the band took the stage, followed closely by Prince. He was wearing a black leather tunic with fringe, black pants and knee-high furry black boots. He grabbed his Hohner guitar, walked up to the mic and said “Thank U” to an eruption of screams. I was so overcome with euphoria at the time that the rest of the opening chatter now escapes me.

When the band launched into “No More Candy 4 U,” my adrenaline shot up like a rocket! Prince slyly cut off the band just before the first verse was to come in, uttering a terse “Thank U, good night” and feigning an exit from the stage. Amid screams and laughter, my cousin and I giggled at each other like toddlers.
Following a brief pause, the band resumed (and finished) the song. “No More Candy 4 U” live is the perfect concert opener, like starting a football game with a 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Amazing.

Prince then teased us with a few opening bars from “Purple Rain” before beginning “Ol’ Skool Company.” I couldn’t believe it: what a one-two punch with two of the best tracks from the latest album! I had to shake my head and scoff at all the grumpy internet message-boarders who claimed that his setlists had become identical and bland over the last few years. As if!

Next came “Stand!”, a Sly and the Family Stone cover. While I have nothing against Prince’s deep respect for old-school funk jams, playing this song at this point kind of killed the vibe for me (at least temporarily). It was quickly resurrected, however, with “Turn Me Loose,” an as-yet-unreleased gem that had made its live debut on the Tonight Show several months before the end of Leno’s reign as host. A spirited performance of the Jackson 5’s “I Want You Back” followed, the first of three tributes to Michael on the night. Very cool!

Then it happened. I finally got to hear “Dance 4 Me” live. As good as it is on record, it’s absolute aural sex in concert. Prince & Co. just tore this mutha UP. I remember someone on the message-board saying they weren’t feeling the latin-style breakdown in the middle of the live version. If you can’t feel that, my friend, you are surely muerte! Ay Dios mio!

Before I could catch my breath, we began to party like it was “1999,” with a version just as fresh and spunky as he had played a week prior in Paris on the T.V. show Le Grand Journal. Next, Prince reclaimed the hit he had given to Chaka Khan, as “I Feel 4 U” brought back disco for a brief moment. Cue the robotic funk of “Controversy,” complete with an extended bridge that meandered from Prince’s own cult tune “All Day, All Night,” to Chic’s “Le Freak,” to the Jacksons’ “Dancin’ Machine,” and finally to Prince’s “Northside” and “Housequake” before returning to its proper melody at the end.

From there, we stepped back in time to 1978 for one of the Purple One’s earliest hits, “Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?” The performance was great, although I would’ve preferred that the lyrics be sung in their original falsetto. We were then bid to “Take Me With U,” an order we most willingly executed.

The uber-funky 1986 jam “Anotherloverholeinyohead” was started and quickly stopped, with Prince explaining, “I know I’m really gonna wanna get in2 this song and play a REALLY long solo; lemme just switch guitars, real quick.” He left, and a few moments later he emerged from the stage with a crimson Fender Stratocaster, picking the song back up and even working in a bit of the B-52s’ “Rock Lobster” for good measure!

Imagine my surprise when the band tore into “Guitar,” a rocker from the 2007 album Planet Earth, which seemed to bleed right into a fresh, punchy arrangement of the 1985 pop smash “Raspberry Beret,” at the close of which the crowd was urged to repeat a chant of the line, “I think I love her,” until Prince ultimately responded with a heartfelt “I love U, 2.” Aaaahhhhh!!!

It was at this point that the Minneapolis genius needed a break, so he handed the spotlight over to Shelby J., who emerged from the obscurity of the trio of backup singers to deliver the blistering lead vocal on a gospel-tinged Sarah McLachlan cover, “Angel.” While the performance was fantastic, I felt that it slowed the momentum of the show, which until then had been rock steady.

Prince (and his Hohner) came back with a long version of “4ever in My Life,” a bluesy ballad complete with the same “all right” chant featured in the Sign ‘O’ the Times concert film 22 years ago. I nearly fainted in anticipation of “IT,” but sadly, the dark sex anthem never emerged out of the sweetness, as it had in the film.

Another fan favorite from the Parade album, “Mountains,” was next. It was paired with the final M.J. tribute, “Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground),” with backup singer Elisa delivering a passionate lead vocal. After building up such funky momentum, Prince called legendary Sly and the Family Stone bassist Larry Graham up to the stage to join him on six covers—four of which were Sly songs: “Everyday People” (with a refrain of ‘You Can Make It If You Try’), “I Want to Take You Higher,” “Long Train Runnin’” (Doobie Brothers cover sung by Shelby J.), “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin),” “Sing a Simple Song,” and “Play That Funky Music” (Wild Cherry cover). At 1:10a.m. Prince threw his guitar into the audience before he and the band exited the stage.

With all the yelling for an encore, I could barely hear myself say to my cousin, “Prince isn’t done...it ain’t ovah!” Sure enough, at 1:15 the whole group shuffled back onstage and began the first verse of “Uptown,” with His Royal Badness quickly halting the band. “I don’t wanna play this song,” he admitted, shifting gears into the deliciously thumping “Let’s Work.” He followed with “Cool,” a strutting ditty he had originally given to Morris Day and the Time. The back-and-forth chant on this performance went like this:

Prince: “Minneapolis!”
Us: “What?”
Prince: “R U hot?”
Us: “No!”
Prince: “U know Y?”
Us: “Why?”
Prince: “’Cause U cool!”

SWEET!

The best moment of the entire show happened when Prince launched into the funkiest live version of “Kiss” to ever be performed. From the sustained chicken-scratch riff on his guitar to his subtle-but-provocative dance moves, the Purple One was in true “Legend” mode. Any doubts I’d had about his
ability to still sing falsetto were quickly and permanently dispelled. While I’m usually on Prince’s side when it comes to the issue of bootlegs, I hope that someone managed to capture this performance, which was magical, and which is truly deserving of repeated listens. [Note 2 Prince: Please offer an .mp3
of this on ur website!]

The band left the stage, leaving their leader alone to strum a particularly touching rendition of “Sometimes It Snows in April.” In the wake of the somber vibe the song had created, its composer informed us that he was “gonna do another ballad. This one’s 4 the ladies. It’s called...‘The Bird.’”
Doing the Time proud, the band played both of Morris’ Purple Rain hits—this one and “Jungle Love.” The backup singers then took over on a cover of Sheila E’s “The Glamorous Life,” and Prince once again bid the crowd “goodnight.”

After the group walked off, the atmosphere became palpably tense. Was this the end?

An eternity seemed to pass before the first reverberating chord of “Purple Rain” struck us all like a thunderbolt. For 10 riveting minutes, my cousin held her hands over her mouth, quietly blinking away many beautiful tears as I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to be swept away by my emotions. As Prince confidently proclaimed “Yes...there is a God!” at the close of the spine-tingling guitar solo, I was reminded of just how blessed I was to have this musician be such a quintessential part of my life for all this years. Indeed, hearing and watching him perform is proof enough (for me) that God exists.

My cousin and I made the long trip back home with joy and awe in our hearts. If I ever get the chance to meet Prince in person, I will sincerely thank him for constantly reminding me to love life, love God, and love one another.

^ Nice review. That version of Kiss sure is getting a lot of praise. I've never cared for Kiss performed live - never thought it has been done right. I gotta hear this.

squirrelgrease said:

Somebody needs to tell Prince to release the soundboard recording of this performance...STAT!

Where's Shelbey when I need her?

bluefish said:

thank you bluefish, great review. i made a major mistake not going. couldve left at 6 pm for the 4 hour drive and been fine.

sigh, shane

bluefish said:

So, for those who say they're fed up of him playing the "drizzle" song (that is just rudeness), here is a simple but effective reminder why he should continue to play it. Because... it works everytime!

bluefish said:

yvettetrammell said:

Great review!Yes the Bootleg will be out soon.These showes keep getting better and better and more for Us than ever b4.Well maybe back in the mid-90's it was really all about US and Prince and Music!The slave era was Prince most deep and dark time.

Genesia said:

That's the extent of what I heard, and I was up front too. Also, he didn't seem frail at all, although a some fries, and a sweet potatoe pie wouldn't hurt him at all.
[Edited 11/10/09 14:36pm]

pandemoniun6 said:

I think that's Betina's sexually ambiguous brother.

bluefish said:

Great review bluefish. I'm the woman standing near you, behind the lady with the folding chair who needed water. I spoke with your cousin before the show began.

Gohi said:

-----
Yes, because all Christians are weak and frail (LOL) WTF

.
[Edited 11/24/09 10:52am]

laurarichardson said:

Holy shit you're an idiot. I meant he literally seemed PHYSICALLY FRAIL and he was ACTUALLY LIMPING.

.
[Edited 11/24/09 10:53am]

CPP said:

Thanks! Were you the woman dressed in white who told us you'd seen Prince in Vegas on New Year's Eve a few years ago?

Gohi said:

-----
No your the idiot as you did not get my joke and many people on this thread have said P did not look physically frail to them.

Apparently, your the only one that noticed. Don't you think it would be hard to do a 3 hour show if P were really sick but then you don't think much do you.

bluefish said:

CPP said:

Oh, snap! You are TOO fine!

The more and more I think about it, the more and more I realize how much ass this show kicked. I really think it was the best Prince show I've seen.

laurarichardson said:

Figure out the difference between your and you're.
Plenty of people noticed including my mom and tons of people who were talking about it after the show. Why do you think this is the last show of 2009? Why do you think he's back in MN? Something's happening whether it's hip treatment or whatever. All the signs are there.

Like I said, he's not sick. He has a fucking joint / hip problem which became hugely apparent by the end of the night. Sure he danced but by the end of the night, it took its toll on his body and anyone with eyes could see he was limping and hurting.

From where I was standing, Prince was in perfect form ALL nite

I thought Security were excellent, always polite and professional. When someone started to shove their selves forward, a guard quickly reminded him that he couldn't do that. That was nice not getting smashed against the rail

Nothing Compares to Prince Live

Gohi said:

How do you explain all of the dancing that Prince was doing then?

He was GIGGIN' that night. Even broke down and danced for an entire song! I haven't seen that in a while! One of the highlights of the night!

I think you are confusing limping for swagger. See, game recognize game, that's why it's looking so unfamiliar to you. j/k

Dauphin said:

I remember thinking to myself, look how fine he is and that kick-ass dancing he's doin up there ... ain't nothin wrong with the man's hips! Sadly though, from where I was standing right up front and left, I could see him when he came off and on the stage and watched him walk down the stairs and around back stage and I felt like he was hurting by the way he was walking. It was much more than a swagger, it was definitely a limp, but I could tell he was trying to cover it up as much as he could. Regardless -- there's no sense arguing about what it was or what it wasn't. Last Saturday night's show was THE best I've seen and I am still in euphoria over it. Hands up! I'm thankful Prince gave us the show and I'm hopeful and prayerful that if he's ailing he recovers.

Dauphin said:

All I'm going off of is him leaning against the drums and catching his breath before he started singing on Purple Rain, my mom's reports of him limping (I told her that was just how he usually walked but she thought it was "different", and the way that after he danced he would usually take a really really long break afterwards.

I'm sure he's trying to prove that there is nothing wrong with his hip but there's a lot of evidence that says there very well could be. At least he didn't have a cane in this performance.

This is not me trying to start shit or spread gossip, it is coming from a place of caring and admiration for Prince. The fact that laurarichardson attacked me for it is offensive.

Great eview Blufish. Sounds like one helluva show.