http://the.honoluluadvert...il03a.html

Prince sizzles for lucky few who attended

(By Chad Pata
Advertiser Music Critic)

The most underpromoted rock show in years proved to be the best show this millennium as Prince set the night on fire at the Blaisdell Arena yesterday.

Despite sparse attention in the media and thousands of empty seats, Prince showed why he truly ruled the '80s.

Opening with the keyboard tones of "Let's Go Crazy," he floated out on stage in an all-white ensemble resembling the robes of Vietnamese monks. The resemblance stopped there as the band kicked in and washed over the crowd like a surprise set at Sandy Beach from which the fans never recovered.

The rest of the show they spent screaming and looking around at one another, not believing their eyes. His horn section could break out as their own jazz trio and the drummer, well, he was something to behold.

Encased in glass as if he were a lion at the zoo, he attacked his kit with an accuracy and ferocity not seen since Dave Grohl was last in town. Prince never introduced him but he wore a Frosty the Snowman hat. When he put it on his head, the kids began to dance around.

Not to overlook the man himself: Even if you don't like his music, you would have to love his show. He flits about the stage with such ease, he appears to be attached to wires a la "The Matrix."

His guitar solos rivaled anything seen since Eddie Van Halen was here, but they appeared effortless. Instead of a sweat-stained grimace, hair in the eyes, he'd just smile seductively at the girls in the front row, dry as a bone and exhibiting no more effort than he would turning out the light.

During "Break It On Down" he commanded everyone to clap, common practice at rock shows. But instead of obliging him, we all realized our hands were clapping of their own accord. Such is his power to take over an auditorium.

He hasn't had a hit song in 15 years, but all these old favorites felt as fresh as rain. At one point the band began with the opening chords of "When Doves Cry," then morphed into "Kiss" as if it had always been that way.

Midway through the set, he told them that he was renaming Honolulu to the more funk-appropriate "Honolula" and to pronounce it "like you have a piece of chicken in your mouth."

He followed this with a funk jam session with each member being highlighted and showing just how far funk has come.

Starting with George Clinton and Sly and the Family Stone, it was a greasy, underground, ultimately danceable music. Prince has since distilled it to a pure jazz sound with rock 'n' roll energy. Listening to it, you have to smile.

He slowed it down toward the end, playing the love ballad "Beautiful Winds," singing his heart out as he writhed on top of the monitors, sending the females into a tizzy. Also his version of "Nothing Compares to U" made you wonder why he ever let Sinead O'Connor have it in the first place.

He finished the show on a high note with classics like "Sign O' the Times," a song about problems in the inner city. His microphone was shaped like a gun and he would point it at the crowd between verses. Not in a threatening gangsta way, but as a way of bringing the crowd into the show, letting them know he knew they were there.

That may be the biggest difference between Prince and the young R&B acts we see today. The music is about the people, and the lucky group that attended last night got a glimpse of how great rock 'n' roll can be.

Cool review!

The Beautiful Winds?!!! Wasn't aware Prince was into gastric-related songs!

DaFunkFreak said:

That's probably The Beautiful Ones

No kidding

BRING ON THE BOOT! BRING ON THE BOOT!

This is a biy amateur for a 'music critic'

"the drummer, well, he was something to behold. ...Prince never introduced him but he wore a Frosty the Snowman hat."

So he never bothered to find out the drummer's name?

"During "Break It On Down"

Most likely - "Shhh"

"He hasn't had a hit song in 15 years"

15 years ago was 1988 - no hits then off the 'Batman' soundtrack, 'Diamonds and Pearls' album etc.. He did release 'The Most Beautiful Girl In The World'?

"Beautiful Winds!"

I thought the review was a bit amateurish also, but the show sounds interesting. It's good to see Prince pulling a few more familiar titles from his past catalog... and it's curious to hear he wasn't wearing one of suit-and-tie ensembles he's adopted lately.

Prince hasn't had a hit for 15years???

Where did that come from???

Prince had moderate success in 1996 with his 3x platinum project 'Emancipation'...which debuted in the top 20 on Billboard top 200 album charts...he had radio hits like: Betcha By Golly Wow and Somebody's Somebody...prior to that...He had a number 1 hit with 'The Most Beautiful Girl in the world' in 1994...Flashforward to 1999 - Prince's Rave Record debuted in the top 20 on Billboards Top 200 albums chart!

So 15 years ago means...1988...so there wasn't a #1 Batman Soundtrack, which sold a million copies it first week on the shelves in 1989.

Diamonds and Pearls featuring the Hits Cream-which debuted at number 1, Gett Off was a #1 hit on the dance charts and The title track was a top 3 hit!!!

The Symbol Album spun a few hits like "7" and "My Name is Prince"...not to mention the album debuted at # 5 on Billboards top 200 albums...and Gold Experience debuted at # 6 in 1995.

So where hasn't Prince had a hit in 15 years??? Hawaii =/

Even his latest DVD went top 5 on Billboard video/dvd chart and he's got a grammy nominated instrumental cd called 'NEWS' which had to be a hit of sorts to even get nominated!

INFO SHOULD BE RESEARCHED BEFORE POSTING STORIES, BECAUSE THIS MAKES HIM LOOK LESS IMPORTANT AND WASHED UP!!!
I didnt appreciate the news story!!!

Prince is the Man...and how few were there in the concert attendance 2 or 10 ppl?

This is the fruitiest review of anything I've ever read. I can't say it's bad, even though there are errors left and right. It's just...fruity.

The Beautiful Winds,
always smash the toilet

Emancipation went 3x platinum because each disk was counted separately...you couldn't really call it a hit

just nitpicking


[This message was edited Wed Dec 17 10:05:14 PST 2003 by Rowdy]

Rico said:

Beautiful Winds - that is just priceless. Sort of like my friend who used to sing "Didn't pay the rent" instead of "Little Red Corvette". Someone help this lost critic!!!

NPD313 said:

Ya know, I like Emancipation, thought the material was real tight. Its a killer when you spot it at the dollar store. In a way George Clinton has more hits there days.

NPD313 said:

If reporters don't check their facts when it comes to issues such as the current war in Iraq how can U expect it from a report on a concert??? But it really is a great review!!!
Wishuhvn~