It was great to finally meet you last night. I've seen you getting mobbed by people on a few different occasions, so never had the chance to just say "hello."
I have been openly critical of Prince performing covers and probably will always be, because I think his greatest strength as a musical artist is that of a writer . . . and the world, in my opinion, should get as many opportunities to be exposed to that skill when he performs live. With that said, I was yearning for "Play That Funky Music" on Friday night, partly because my brother loves the song (he went Friday, not Saturday), partly because I just felt the show was lacking, but mostly because I've been enjoying the way you sing it and how Prince and the band stick to delivering the instrumental funk to it. The combination of you, Prince and his band makes for an incredible sound and I hope as long as his chooses to perform the song, you are around to sing it. | |
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I loved last night's show.
Mary J. Blige worked and worked until she could get the crowd on her side. I've spoken about vulnerability pretty often, and how that can impact musical artists. Most, clam up or have meltdowns. But with Mary J, it's like igniting a fire. She gets stronger, deeper, and more aggressive. As she performed on the huge stage, in front of 17,000 fans waiting to see Prince, she was, in fact, vulnerable . . . and she openly admitted it. Instead of going in another direction or retreating altogether, she paid her sincere homage (to him), and an incredible thing began to happen. She started capturing and even captivating the audience. I enjoyed her immensely.
After her, the opening act appeared. It was a gentleman who has shown me he enjoys playing with a sampler. While doing this demonstration, he has been known to make questionable remarks. So, when he said "So many hits, so little time," I looked at my watch, which read 9:53pm. I thought to myself "hmmm, if this guy came out maybe closer to the time printed on the tickets, he would have more time, no?" As I scanned the audience, all of whom seemed to be on their feet, I sunk into my chair wondering "Why do I have such dumb thoughts?" Then yet another one popped into my head: I realized so THIS is how Dr. Funkenberry has time to tweet. Since I'm not a tweeter, I could only resort to text messaging, which I did during this still-confusing-4-me-nobody-wanting-2-explain-relation2-realmusic-realmusician phenomenon. But before you knew it, it was over, and out appears Prince saying "Dearly Beloved." When I heard that phrase, I instantaneously jumped to my feet and the show began...
And what a show it was. Throw the setlist in the trash; it would only confuse you. Prince played and sang masterfully. The songs he performed, for the record, were 20, 30 years-old (as usual), but as only a TRULY GREAT musical artist can do with quarter of a century and older material, he played the current versions of them . . . and made the current versions sound better than the originals. I've read some naive, yet talented writers suggest or insinuate that they have a problem with Prince changing words to his songs, but at the same time, they want him to perform modern material. This just in guys: When you change your own material, whether it's with lyrics, arrangements, or instruments, you are making the material new again. His renditions last night were beautiful, creative, imaginative, and illustrative. The concert offered high point after high point, so if I have to nitpick, I would say that a funky replacement for Musicology would have served the show well. My favorite moments were just about everything else, including the better than flawless performance of "Nothing Compares 2 U."
I fully appreciate the chances he takes with "Little Red Corvette," especially while he knows the crowd will roar even more if he doesn't.
I'm happy for everyone that could make it and I'm happy for everyone looking forward to seeing him tonight and/or some time in the future. Last night was why all of us go to see Prince. Whether we like him more in small venues/big venues, fully clothed/partially naked, singing old songs/new songs, band accompaniment/alone on stage, guitar/piano, deep voice/falsetto, he gave us 100% effort and in the end, can we really ask for more than that? If and when I formally rank and chronicle my 21 Night Stand experience, May 28, 2011 will be securely entrenched near the top of my list.
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GREAT job on stage last night--you killed it | |
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So thrilled I got to see Mary J. Her performance of No More Drama... holy lord.
My favorite performance of LRC, hands down.
And as resident of the Bay Area, I must say I'm feeling a twinge of pride for our Oakland crowd The people in my section last night were total downers. I was the only one standing during quite a few songs.
[Edited 5/29/11 16:43pm] | |
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Preach, brother. Preach! Excellent review of the show! Sorry I missed this one. I'm not quite as old as Mr. Nelson, but I don't have the stamina he has. | |
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Another proud Oaklander here! Even my 9 and 12 year old boys were getting their groove on way more than a lot of people around us. Yeah them:) Also had some 'Chatty Cathys' behind me who finally shutup after I gave them a 'Princely' stink eye:) Anyhow, the show- wow, what a freaking amazing night! I didn't think the 3rd night in Oakland could be topped for me personally but this one is right up there. I really did not want to hear Nothing Compares 2U again, but last night was off the hook....the passion was clear! And I'm with everyone else on LRC. Also happy I got another DMSR:) Prince was on fire last night, glad I made the second trip down from the Bay Area and to share it with my boys just made it all the more special. Just have to mention Prince in his doo-rag when he sneaked on stage during Mary's set. I just love that look:) Lost my voice last night but it's slowly coming back today, just as well as we are headed back for tonight's show, and better seats:) | |
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It was great seeing you rock the stage with Prince again, that may have been your best performance yet. I am always impressed when you get up there but to see you do it in front of a packed house at The Forum was awesome. I was like, I know that dude. It was nice seeing you again, hopefully I will be seeing you sooner than later.
Peace | |
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rmartin70 said:
It was great seeing you rock the stage with Prince again, that may have been your best performance yet. I am always impressed when you get up there but to see you do it in front of a packed house at The Forum was awesome. I was like, I know that dude. It was nice seeing you again, hopefully I will be seeing you sooner than later.
Peace He played Bambi in Oakland | |
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Just got back to Vegas from the show last night, PRINCE looked and sounded great, he was really havin a good time out there. I cant believe im saying this but i really ,really enjoyed PRINCE AND MARY singing NOTHING COMPARES TO U, that performance was really awesome, But all PRINCES performances are awesome, i can never get enough!!!!!!!!!! All this traveling from VEGAS to CALI and working is alot ,But sooooooo worth it. IT WAS SO MUCH EASIER WHEN HE WAS IN VEGAS FOR 6 MONTHS, maybe some day he will make his way back this way, But anywaysGREAT SHOW PRINCE AS USUAL!!!!!!!! Pray Daily!!!!! RIP AMY WINEHOUSE Keep Calm, Carry on | |
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... was just watching the videos i shot from Saturday's show and at the end of Inglewood Swingin encore P spray painted on the drums set... anyone knows what it said? the angle of my footage is side-view..
facebook.com/trendski | |
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Thank you, it was my favorite show of the weekend, but they all were good. I'm not sure many people have the stamina Prince has. | |
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Ummmmm, its INGLEWOOD SWINGIN>>>>>>>>>>>> | |
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Sat wasnt an issue. I had my camera and got pics.... not as good as the ones i took on the 14th, but still some decent ones.. Prince is sucha private person, and yet so is out there with his fans... he doesnt want pictures of him all over the place. He is very aprticulair about who and where his pictures are. | |
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Good on ya for getting pix but Sat, this was an issue where we were sitting - security warnings out front and guards coming into the rows after people taking pix. Weirdly, I didn't see anyone having any problem taking photos on Sunday.
I am a little curious about orgers attitudes towards this - if Prince's most devoted fans accept that he doesn't want pictures taken at shows, why so many pictures on this site? Is it a belief that picture-taking really isn't a problem in Prince's eyes, or is it just a desire that overcomes the interest in complying with his wishes? I have no idea what he does or doesn't want, so I'm absolutely not trying to imply I'm coming from some position of insider knowledge. I would love for someone to be able to tell me it's no problem at all and that next time I should snap away. | |
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It depends on where you sit. In Loge 8 on Sunday Security wasn't having it and made people stop and/or delete pix/photos. Excuse me but when Prince comes out in outfits like that, a stage like that, a light show like that, celebrities like that, mucisians like that, Twinz like that, attitude like that, hair like that, moves like that, and showmanship like THAT, how the f are we NOT gonna wanna capture that on film? Those shows were spectacularly amazingly outrageously gorgeous! As the pictures clearly show. I would like to comply with Prince's wishes. Really I would. All he has to do is sit me down and tell me what they are and his wish is my command. hahahahaha, just kidding. No, I wouldn't do it in his face like that one chick did on stage, I know he would hate me 4ever but everything looked too dang good to pass up every opportunity. As I said b4, it's hard thang to be Prince fan! But so worth it. | |
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Exactly - fairly KILLING me not to take pix of all that! Snapped plenty at my first 4 Forum shows before it was such a big deal with Security though. | |
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Anyone have any pictures? | |
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They were not playin that night with the picture takin, that was over with, it seemed to be people there just to look for cameras! [Edited 5/31/11 11:07am] Pray Daily!!!!! RIP AMY WINEHOUSE Keep Calm, Carry on | |
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Nuff said! "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato
https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0 | |
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I have posted some photos here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/13373907@N02/sets/72157626855506332/
Enjoy.... | |
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Thanks! "Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything." --Plato
https://youtu.be/CVwv9LZMah0 | |
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