Anyone heard any rumblings on where/if he'll play again anytime soon?

If he has a lick of sense, he'll take some time to regroup before he arranges any more dates. With the exception of Tuesday evening, the Chicago shows were not very well received.

[Edited 9/27/12 13:14pm]

Genesia said:

Jboogiee said:

Genesia said:

If he has a lick of sense, he'll take some time to regroup before he arranges any more dates. With the exception of Tuesday evening, the Chicago shows were not very well received.

Says who? Besides Monday night a lot of people have commented on how they loved the final 2 nights.

"Besides Monday night?"

Honey, Monday night was the ballgame, because that's when the reviewers were there. Were you in Chicago? The main show encore problem and the HOB debacle were all over the news - print and broadcast.

Chicago has a population of almost three million - while the United Center holds fewer than 20-thousand. So what do you think most people in Chicago know about the shows? They know what they read in the paper or heard on TV. And you can bet that people who would be interested in seeing him elsewhere might check out some reviews before they plunk down a hundred bucks or more for a ticket.

This hurts him. Period.

Saying they weren't well recieved is rubbish. Sure, the opening night wasn't the greatest and that was what made the headlines, but at the end of the day who was doing the recieving?

After attending all of the shows and afterparties, only thing that didn't go down well with the crowds was the first night.

In my books you have no right to pass a judgement on a concert you never attended. Therefore the only people who can say how well the shows were recieved were the people in attendance. Not the readers of the media, the people at the shows!

Sure, it matters how Prince's shows are portrayed in the media but that is completely different to how they were RECIEVED.

They were recieved very well overall, they were portrayed in the media poorly because of the drama of the opening night.

Saying the concerts were recieved poorly makes it sound like something it wasn't and people shouldn't be getting the wrong impressions. The three night stand was overall a success.

But back to the original question, I hope he ships over to Europe for a residency then revamps the whole Welcome2 series of concerts. Something new.

The best way for him to answer the criticism would be to put out an official DVD of the second and/or third shows.

Hammond said:

Saying they weren't well recieved is rubbish. Sure, the opening night wasn't the greatest and that was what made the headlines, but at the end of the day who was doing the recieving?

After attending all of the shows and afterparties, only thing that didn't go down well with the crowds was the first night.

In my books you have no right to pass a judgement on a concert you never attended. Therefore the only people who can say how well the shows were recieved were the people in attendance. Not the readers of the media, the people at the shows!

Sure, it matters how Prince's shows are portrayed in the media but that is completely different to how they were RECIEVED.

They were recieved very well overall, they were portrayed in the media poorly because of the drama of the opening night.

Saying the concerts were recieved poorly makes it sound like something it wasn't and people shouldn't be getting the wrong impressions. The three night stand was overall a success.

But back to the original question, I hope he ships over to Europe for a residency then revamps the whole Welcome2 series of concerts. Something new.

Very well said!

Hammond said:

Cleveland OHIO please!

rgsince81 said:

Welcome back to Vegas would be nice! Lol!

That and come back to

Hammond said:

Saying they weren't well recieved is rubbish. Sure, the opening night wasn't the greatest and that was what made the headlines, but at the end of the day who was doing the recieving?

After attending all of the shows and afterparties, only thing that didn't go down well with the crowds was the first night.

In my books you have no right to pass a judgement on a concert you never attended. Therefore the only people who can say how well the shows were recieved were the people in attendance. Not the readers of the media, the people at the shows!

Sure, it matters how Prince's shows are portrayed in the media but that is completely different to how they were RECIEVED.

They were recieved very well overall, they were portrayed in the media poorly because of the drama of the opening night.

Saying the concerts were recieved poorly makes it sound like something it wasn't and people shouldn't be getting the wrong impressions. The three night stand was overall a success.

But back to the original question, I hope he ships over to Europe for a residency then revamps the whole Welcome2 series of concerts. Something new.

We have seen this show already a couple of times in Europe (with and without the symbol stage). I say: revamp first an then come over here.

Hammond said:

Saying they weren't well recieved is rubbish. Sure, the opening night wasn't the greatest and that was what made the headlines, but at the end of the day who was doing the recieving?

After attending all of the shows and afterparties, only thing that didn't go down well with the crowds was the first night.

In my books you have no right to pass a judgement on a concert you never attended. Therefore the only people who can say how well the shows were recieved were the people in attendance. Not the readers of the media, the people at the shows!

Sure, it matters how Prince's shows are portrayed in the media but that is completely different to how they were RECIEVED.

They were recieved very well overall, they were portrayed in the media poorly because of the drama of the opening night.

Saying the concerts were recieved poorly makes it sound like something it wasn't and people shouldn't be getting the wrong impressions. The three night stand was overall a success.

But back to the original question, I hope he ships over to Europe for a residency then revamps the whole Welcome2 series of concerts. Something new.

Quote:

Saying they weren't well recieved is rubbish. Sure, the opening night wasn't the greatest and that was what made the headlines, but at the end of the day who was doing the recieving?

After attending all of the shows and afterparties, only thing that didn't go down well with the crowds was the first night.

In my books you have no right to pass a judgement on a concert you never attended. Therefore the only people who can say how well the shows were recieved were the people in attendance. Not the readers of the media, the people at the shows!

- Its clear to see that the first night was horrible because of the late set up,and the media just ate it up as usual,and even fans - the newbies and diehards didnt like the show either,well mabey the newbies liked it cause they only have been to one show - now tues night both shows were his best and i rather pay 88 to see him up close than 75$ in the nosebleeds.

Genesia said:

If he has a lick of sense, he'll take some time to regroup before he arranges any more dates. With the exception of Tuesday evening, the Chicago shows were not very well received.

We all know Prince is capable of doing some lackluster shows...And Monday was not one of his best...

But let's chill with the hyperbole...Both Tuesday and Wednesday's shows were received very well by fans and critics...

Let's dial it down guys....

Genesia said:

If he has a lick of sense, he'll take some time to regroup before he arranges any more dates. With the exception of Tuesday evening, the Chicago shows were not very well received.

That is not an accurate statement. People all over town have been raving about the United Center shows, including Monday. Many of the people I talked to on Wednesday were there for the second time in three days and they were casual fans. I think there was just a segment of people who did not have their expectations met on Monday, so they were angry, especially people who can't get with soul and funk. However, the word on the street here is that he killed it. It's all people have been talking about here. Most of the folks who know what's up here don't pay attention to the media, especially as it relates to an artist like Prince. Monday was good and Tuesday and Wednesday were great. Folks keep asking me to let them know when he returns because they want to see him again.

Actually, you can read the reviews on Ticketmaster to get a feel for how the shows were received by the ticketbuyers who attended. Overall, the shows were well received. There are some low ratings for Monday but there are also some high ratings for Monday as well. Some people even gave low scores for Tuesday and Wednesday, which were fantastic.I think it has a lot to do with expectations and perceptions. However, at the end of the day, the overall ratings are high for the Chicago shows, and the people there are not as consumed (negatively or positively) with Prince as many of the people on this site.

[Edited 9/30/12 23:05pm]

Well he just started performing in the states again and I really don't think there's any way he can end this Welcome 2 America thing without stopping by Minneapolis...so he should be there sooner or later right? I freaking love roadtrips!! And I've never been to Detroit but if he ever decides to go there COUNT ME IN Actually come to think of it Vegas sounds pretty cool too as long as he does it during weekends lol

People rave about his shows because only us, the diehards, know when something ain't right.

To the general public, even a mediocre show is FANTASTIC.

Case in point....The grammy performance with Beyonce. Nothing special (to me), but the

GP ate it up.

Revolution said:

People rave about his shows because only us, the diehards, know when something ain't right.

To the general public, even a mediocre show is FANTASTIC.

Case in point....The grammy performance with Beyonce. Nothing special (to me), but the

GP ate it up.

Excellent point!! I thought the same thing about the Superbowl, where it was very good from general music today's standards, for us, he could have done that on any given Tues night at PP in front of 100 people, minus the fireworks and marching band of course.

You are also correct about the critique of the shows. Us as diehards are blessed with the experiences of seeing him perform so much that yes, we can pick out the nuances of a concert but that first off, does not necessarily destroy a good time at a live concert and secondly, you are correct in saying that the casual fan is just so entertained with his energy and musicianship that they don't have enough grasp of his performances to pick up on the little things that may or may not be missing.

I was at night 3 concert and aftershow and had a great time at both but yes, I questioned a little some of the song selection at the concert, but understood his desire to mix it up each night. I was also curious that it seemed like he brought one guitar with him which seems unusual, although that is my favorite sounding guitar but just thought it strange. Also, the aftershow was exciting to be so close but again, I was frustrated by the extended standing and waiting, then what I felt was a short set with minimal singing from Prince and again, he had to borrow Mike Scott's guitar in order to play guitar so I guess he was not planning to play much. Then to just leave with no, good night, thank you Chicago or a warning that he was not returning so I felt the need to sit through, or should I say, stand through Jenelle Monae's wayyyyyy tooooooo long aftershow performance was a bit frustrating. All in all a very good time but as a die hard I feel I have paid my dues enough to honest in my thoughts and opinions of the shows I attended.

Hammond said:

Katmandu

Before he does any more "stops", he needs to "stop" and get organized and make some serious changes which include:

-No more cover songs. He talks about "I got too many hits!" Well, instead of wasting time singing OTHER people's hits, you might actually be able to sing all your hits. If I want to hear covers, I'll go see a cover band.

- Enough with the showcasing of oversinging backround singers. They call them BACKGROUND singers for a reason - let them sing in the background instead of having them up front singing lead on several songs. People didn't pay to hear/see them front and center.

-Do a fucking thorough soundceck beforehand to make sure things sound good - that's what a soundcheck is for - to make sure problems are caught BEFORE the show.

-Be on time. You know how fucking long it takes you to get ready, so get started early enough so that you can come out around the time stated on the ticket. Believe it or not, OUR time is valuable too, and we don't have time to be waiting for some diva to come out whenever the hell he feels like it. Some of us actually have to get up early to work the next day, especially on weekdays.

And finally,

-Drop the stupid games. There's nothing funny about making people wait an hour for a two song encore. There's nothing mysterious or cute about that.

Diana80 said:

Before he does any more "stops", he needs to "stop" and get organized and make some serious changes which include:

-No more cover songs. He talks about "I got too many hits!" Well, instead of wasting time singing OTHER people's hits, you might actually be able to sing all your hits. If I want to hear covers, I'll go see a cover band.

- Enough with the showcasing of oversinging backround singers. They call them BACKGROUND singers for a reason - let them sing in the background instead of having them up front singing lead on several songs. People didn't pay to hear/see them front and center.

-Do a fucking thorough soundceck beforehand to make sure things sound good - that's what a soundcheck is for - to make sure problems are caught BEFORE the show.

-Be on time. You know how fucking long it takes you to get ready, so get started early enough so that you can come out around the time stated on the ticket. Believe it or not, OUR time is valuable too, and we don't have time to be waiting for some diva to come out whenever the hell he feels like it. Some of us actually have to get up early to work the next day, especially on weekdays.

And finally,

-Drop the stupid games. There's nothing funny about making people wait an hour for a two song encore. There's nothing mysterious or cute about that.

re..the sound check...on wednesday I was there early (6pm) Someone musy have messed up because he was still rehearsing!!! there were guards at all entrances/ curtains up..but still. I have in heaven just hearing him rehearse.

Diana80 said:

Before he does any more "stops", he needs to "stop" and get organized and make some serious changes which include:

-No more cover songs. He talks about "I got too many hits!" Well, instead of wasting time singing OTHER people's hits, you might actually be able to sing all your hits. If I want to hear covers, I'll go see a cover band.

- Enough with the showcasing of oversinging backround singers. They call them BACKGROUND singers for a reason - let them sing in the background instead of having them up front singing lead on several songs. People didn't pay to hear/see them front and center.

-Do a fucking thorough soundceck beforehand to make sure things sound good - that's what a soundcheck is for - to make sure problems are caught BEFORE the show.

-Be on time. You know how fucking long it takes you to get ready, so get started early enough so that you can come out around the time stated on the ticket. Believe it or not, OUR time is valuable too, and we don't have time to be waiting for some diva to come out whenever the hell he feels like it. Some of us actually have to get up early to work the next day, especially on weekdays.

And finally,

-Drop the stupid games. There's nothing funny about making people wait an hour for a two song encore. There's nothing mysterious or cute about that.

To each his or her own, but I like the cover songs. My favorite artists always incorporate covers into their sets. I have seen Santana countless times and he always plays at least two covers in concert. I have seen Patti LaBellle do covers as well. Her encore when I saw her last year was MJ's Earth Song. It was totally unexpected and I LOVED it. When I saw Aretha last year she did a Keshia Cole song. Again, totally out of the blue, but fantastic.

Of course that means that some fo these artists' own hits don't get played, but I am cool with that. I love music and I love that these legends are paying homage to other artists. It also gives them an opportunity to learn some new music and do something they want instead of having to do their same songs all the time. I think people need to remember that these musicians are still musicians and they should be allowed to spread their wings and learn and play other people's music. I loved the covers that Prince did every night. So many people commented to me on how cool it was that he did an MJ song, though they were seen as rivals. Others, especially the old heads, loved the JB and Curtis Mayfield. On Wednesday, the cover of Everyday People with Ledisi had the UC rocking. So, I really do not have a problem with the covers.

I remember Santana once said that his dream was to get to the point where people would come just to hear him play and to have the freedom to play what he wanted. That is my dream for Prince as well. He is too talented to constantly be confined to the limited wishlists of some of his fans. I undertand it is a give and take, but man give him a break. As long as he gives you some of what you want can he at least do some of what he wants?

I agree that the background singers should only get one song to show their talents. I appreciate Prince trying to give them their shine, but the audience is not there to see them. He made a good adjustment for this on Tuesday and Wednesday. I enjoyed them at the afterjams, though. That seems to be a much better setting for them to sing more.

Finally, there were no games with the THIRD encore on Monday, which I assume you are referring to here. Prince did not make anyone wait, and it was not 1 hour. I kills me how the length of the wait keeps growing and growing every time I hear a complaint. It was 35-40 minutes at best. I assume that you are an adult and you had the freedom to leave or stay. No one held anyone at gunpoint and forced them to wait for a third encore. As I have stated in other posts, the man was done. He did two encores and said goodnight. It is not his fault that half the arena had such a good time that they did not want to leave. He was gracious to return after all that time and perform another encore for those who did not want to leave. I have seem him do this multiple times. He is done, but the crowd won't leave. So he comes back out to give them some more. It happened Wednesday as well. He was done and the crew were taking down the instruments, but people would not leave. So he came out and played piano for three songs. His piano wasn't even hooked up because he was done. He had to get a tech to come hook it up for him. Once again, the crowd WHO CHOSE TO STAY wanted more. So he gave them more. He tried to do something good. Yet, he can't win for losing with some of you. If you want to go, then go. If you want to wait, then wait. It is really that simple.

[Edited 9/30/12 22:37pm]

Emancipation89 said:

Well he just started performing in the states again and I really don't think there's any way he can end this Welcome 2 America thing without stopping by Minneapolis...so he should be there sooner or later right? I freaking love roadtrips!! And I've never been to Detroit but if he ever decides to go there COUNT ME IN Actually come to think of it Vegas sounds pretty cool too as long as he does it during weekends lol

I hope so much it's sooner than later that his homies will be ble to see the show. A couple of days ago, my grandson 6yrs said i sure wish Prince would have a party! I said 'me too!' He's been asking since he was 4yrs but just got the okay from his Dad and Mom a couple of months ago.

I know some don't like the idea of children going to the shows. I understand but at the same time every kid is different and I'd never allow anyone's enjoyment to be stifled..

bellanoche said:

sophist29 said: