March 23, 2006

So I'm out Monday night looking at this house that I am completely infatuated with when my blackberry started blowing up. I took a gander at the screen and noticed that it was ANANDA LEWIS. Normally I would have answered but my contractor was in the midst of telling me that I needed to be DONALD TRUMP to afford what it would take to renovate what I thought was going to be my dream house. I was struggling. Just as reality started setting in and laying a whopping on my psyche, I received a call that made it all better. Ananda was dialing me up to fill me in on a special event, but before I could check her message I got another call from Ruth, PRINCE's publicist. Apparently Prince planned on playing a special midnight show to celebrate the release of his new album, 3121, at Tower Records on Sunset, and ET was invited. Now let's put this into perspective - Prince, live... And we get to film it... That nevvvvver happens. I dropped that house and its issues like RENEE ZELLWEGER dropped KENNY CHESNEY. I moved on.

After a nap - hey I ain't 21 - I cruised over to Tower for the show. My fiancee YASMIN is from Minnesota so I think you can understand how much she digs the Purple Poppa. As a matter of fact, when we went to Prince's house for his party after the Oscars she was so starstruck that she couldn't talk when he came by to say hello.

When we got to Tower it was slammed. Luckily, one of the security guards remembered us from Oscar night and pulled us in the store. Inside, about 250 diehard Prince fans were packed into a makeshift area for the show. The cool thing was that earlier on Prince was actually walking around and hanging out in the store as things got set up (let's just bury all the rumors now about the man being a recluse, I have never seen that person). He retreated into the back to get ready for the show and just after midnight re-appeared ready to do his "thang." Besides the band, he was joined by SHEILA E. on percussion, and his latest protegee, TAMAR, on background vocals, along with her dancers. Here is how I would describe Tamar: ARETHA's vocals, with TINA TURNER's dance moves from back in the day. She is a straight-up dynamo and must be seen live to truly experience her talents.

Prince, who was decked out in a white suit and a matching derby, kicked off the party with "Party Man" from the Batman soundtrack, and by the time he began to sing, the crowd was nuts. In all, he performed 6 songs, including my personal favorite from the new stuff, "Te Amo Corazon." In between, Tamar and her girls sang and danced like they had flashed back to the Ike and Tina Revue. Meanwhile, Prince saved the best for last - after belting out a soulful rendition of "Purple Rain," he sent the house into ecstasy with a rousing version of "Let's Go Crazy." I looked over and Yasmin, like nearly everybody in the store, was literally going crazy.

Because I had a heads-up that he was playing his last song, I positioned myself and the crew to possibly get a word with Prince afterwards. But when the show was done he made a beeline to the back of the store and out the back door. Now, normally, the newshound in me would never allow somebody to get past without some kind of reaction, but hey, it was Prince, and he was just so cool doing it. Sheila E. gave us a few words, but to be honest, the real victory was just in the fact that we got to attend and shoot such an amazing moment.

Real quick, the album is a must - grab it, it's called '3121'
- Kevin Frazier

ETonline Home™

© 2006 CBS Studios Inc.

sweet.

Can this guy be taken seriously ???

All right!!!

DaBang said:

I think so. Maybe his taste is conservative, but it does say something about the album's broad appeal.

He gave hints that he isnt a party animal. He took a nap b4 the concert.

DaBang said:

Yes, he can be taken seriously. Although he comes from a sports broadcasting background -- FoxSportsNet and ESPN SportsCenter -- he is well versed in news reporting and entertainment reporting. Before joining ET, he was the host of ESPN's "NBA Shootaround."

see: Frazier's bio on ET

But to each his/her own. Everyone has their tastes, and so does Kevin Frazier. And so do I.
[Edited 3/25/06 12:38pm]

dreamfactory313 said:

He retreated into the back to get ready for the show and just after midnight re-appeared ready to do his "thang." <<< U KNOW IT!

dreamfactory313 said:

ain't really got anything to do with being a party animal or not...disco naps are a good idea anyway.

Aerogram said:

"Te Amo Corazon" is indeed a nice song. Melody is nice, lyrics are weak. Musically speaking, it´s good (harmony, arrangements, guitar solo). I bet that most fans hate it because it was a "ballad chosen for the first single" or because it doesn´t contain those Prince screams and falsettos or ´edge´. At least he gave a break to his ´Do me baby/Insatiable/Scandalous´ formula.

OK this sounds like sum1's dream....

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

i know. it was a joke.

Cool kevin very cool can't wait till my vacation i will be in l.a. and hope fully i will meet prince or the other way around,right?

EROTICCITYNPG said:

Translation: "he scratched my back, I'm scratching his -- and hey, maybe I get another exclusive out of this."

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Disco naps?


that would only apply to those of us who r 30 & ova!

DaBang said:

Uh just because you and some of the other orger don't like TAC don't mean Kevin or anybody else can't like it. I like the song myself. The question is can anybody take you seriously??? At least Kevin's got a job at (ET) and he got to attend to the show and a news piece. Where do you work? and did you get to attend the show and where's your news piece since you so serious!

Does anybody know if and when this will be broadcasted?

D.
--

demob said:

It was shown on ET the night after it was taped, you can view it on housequake.

Don't take the mick of someone sleeping befor they go out if u wanna go out for the night u want to enjoy it and prince is defantly someone we all enjoy anyway. I am not suprised that his girlfriend wos star struck people get nevouse and don't talk especily if they are shy the sight of prince in real life for me would be almost overwelming