Review: Prince's lessons keep on coming

11:24 PM CDT on Saturday, June 12, 2004


By LORRIE IRBY / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News



Professor Prince taught Musicology in April; the scholar laid the hits down nice. But so many students missed that first session, he had to come back twice.

Friday night's sold-out crowd at American Airlines Center expected a royal return, and that's exactly what it received. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee, who turned 46 Monday, showed no signs of age or wear as he presided over two electrifying hours of Funk, Blues and Rock 101.

A video of Alicia Keys' spoken tribute to Prince at last spring's Hall of Fame ceremony preceded his arrival; he rose from the center of the cross-shaped stage to deafening applause in a fringed, hot-pink suit, crisply coiffed and color-coordinated from head to toe. After he and the New Power Generation opened with – what else? – "Musicology," his connection with the audience began with a single exclamation: "I'm baaack!"

His best-loved signature jams were fired off in rapid succession. Ribbons and confetti fell from above during "Let's Go Crazy," and the classics "When Doves Cry" and "Baby I'm a Star" spliced varying textures and tempos with individual band solos. While Prince didn't employ the raunchy stage antics of the past – no guitar licking or shirt stripping – he pranced, preened and pirouetted throughout, bouncing the booty harder than Beyoncé during a "Crazy in Love" riff and promising to funk the house down: "I don't care what you look like now, I'ma shake that do loose tonight!"

He and the New Power Generation dug deep in the crates for the vintage funk of "Let's Work" and "Controversy." "School's in!" he told the guitar buffs in the house as even guitarist Mike Scott took notes during his blistering solo.

The evening's tone grew bluesy toward the middle as Prince proclaimed "love and respect to Mr. Ray Charles," who passed away the previous day. Keyboardist Renato Neto accompanied Maceo Parker's poignant vocal rendering of Mr. Charles' "Georgia on My Mind." After the performance, Prince returned to center stage aglow in white, delivering folksy, acoustic versions of "Little Red Corvette," "Cream" and "Raspberry Beret." "Y'all got to sing," he commanded to his subjects, who happily obliged. "Don't lip-sync in here!"

After "Take Me With U," he and the band exited, but after 10 full minutes of ear-bleedingly loud cheering, chanting and stomping, he returned in a royal-blue suit and a sea of vapor to perform "Beautiful Ones," "Nothing Compares 2 U" and "Purple Rain," his silky falsetto drowned out by the echoing croons from the audience.

When Professor Prince finally melted into the darkness, he left his students yearning, yet satisfied. School was out, and the living legend had taught them well.

'Georgia on my mind',what a great song that is. And i have 2 shout out 2 Ray Charles 1 of Music's top ICONS and Geniusz. He will b missed but not 4gotten. P has alot of respect 4 RC and some of these new artist need 2 know this man's music!

I just knew that Prince would pay homage to Mr. Ray Charles. I too had to take a moment of silence to pay my respect and show reverence for this music giant (yes, a few tears fell in the process). There are so many parallels between these two musical masters, particularly in their efforts to bring together so many music genres and styles. They worked hard to make this marriage happen, and made sure that we were all invited to the wedding. And what about Maceo Parker singing "Georgia On My Mind"? Well, that would have just slayed me outright. As I had stated in my previous post ("NO PUSSY-FOOTIN' AROUND FOR PRINCE" ~forums/concerts), Maceo's solo during the instrumental interlude at L.A.'s Staples Center on 6/3 was poignant enough, finding me sobbing uncontrollably and causing me to be transported so far into the music that I momentarily forgot that I was surrounded by 20,000 some-odd others who were sharing in this trancedental moment. To hear him vocalize his love and respect for Mr. Charles would simply have been too much for and would have surely had me leaving the auditorium that night on a stretcher. I'm so happy that Dallas was able to experience such a wonderful evening....wish I could'a been there. "Sin"cerely ~ Syren!

I Looooove the show. I missed the afterparty. Did anyone go?

staten22 said:

i went and it was wack

He said wack. huh huhu huhh

As a Georgian myself, I am happy to hear P paying homage to one of the world's legendary artists...

mudbuttalbino said:

Why was it wack? Was Prince there?

I was there and in my opinon it was not " wack ". I've always wanted to go to a Prince aftershow and one of my dreams came true. It was just so weird seeing Prince in the same room up at the balcony dancing, and having a good time. The only things I can complain about is that the building did not have A/C, Prince didn't perform until 3:00 and only played three songs (D.M.S.R., I feel for you, and controversy) and a little bit of "crazy in love " and " I like the way you move". These songs were already perform before at the concert. I wish he would've played some of his other hits. Oh Yeah, he did have his back towards us most of the time when he was on stage. I'm guessing he didn't want us to see how tired he was . After the show I did pass Candy and Maceo I gave them my respects and they said thanks. Candy looked so tired though. The whole band looked tired on stage except for Prince. Other than that I had a wonderful time and it was a night I will never forget! Prince looked soooo goood too ! Well, my father told me today he heard on the radio that Prince had to get up that Saturday morning to present scholarships at UT Southwestern University in Dallas. Does anyone know if there is any truth to this ? If it is I know he had do be tired that day.

I friend of mine told me about what they said on k104 that he didn't get there until 3 AM. I couldn't find any parking so that is why I couldn't go. I pass by at 2:30 and saw a tour bus I think but still no parking. Thanks for the update. I might have to fly out to catch a after party.

That's very touching to hear that he paid homage to Ray Charles in his passing. I could have only imagined how great that must of sounded. I've always wanted to attend one of his afterhour shows, and it sounded like he rocked the house with those, too. Nice look outs, there...