http://et.tv.yahoo.com/blog/14266/

Kevin 'Goes Crazy' for Prince!

March 23, 2006

By Kevin Frazier

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

Why does he YELL everyone's NAME?

FunkMistress said:

He a namedropper

DiamondGirl said:

Of course he's droppin' names. Them $h**'s is heavy when ya capitalize 'em.

OdysseyMiles said:

OdysseyMiles said:

I so don't want to be laughing at that dumb shit.

But I am anyway.

FunkMistress said:

If I was half as funny as I think I am.....I'd be paid.

OdysseyMiles said:

Me three.

I had an argument with someone just the other day in which I tried my damnedest to convince him that the only reason he doesn't think I'm funny is because he has no sense of humor.

ok now Im at you two discussing how funny each of you are


[Edited 3/24/06 8:41am]

FunkMistress said:

I've had that argument with my wife about a hundred times.

DiamondGirl said:

See? We ARE funny.

Copy. Print. Save.

DiamondGirl said:

Well, Prince is the man and all, but I love me some me. Shoot.