What's the best rendition of a Prince song that you've heard Prince himself perform live?

I've always been facinated by this...quite often when Prince "covers" himself live, the arrangements are totally different...almost as if someone else was performing their rendition of a Prince track (take "Kiss" for instance...I've never heard it performed live and anywhere close to the album version.)

My pick has got to be "Forever In My Life / It" from the SOTT concert film (althought I'm sure it was tweaked a bit from the actual live show and re-mixed for the film). The man was on fire. The acoustic guitar was something you rarely see him play live. The background vocals were great, and a little different than the album version. And when Prince screams into the mic "I've got to tell you what you mean to me," ah, pure magic.

It's Gonna Be A beautiful Night from SOTT unreal!!!

Also "If I Was Your Girlfriend" from SOTT the movie is funky,I think if he had given it the "non camille"treatment
it would have been a huge hit

The current tour he is doing tracks from The Rainbow Chiildren and I've got to say that it sounds great live. It's brought me back to listen to the album again.

althom said:

Yes...everything from TRC that he played during this tour brought me back to the album as well, and I enjoyed the album much more after seeing the show!

1 that I saw 4 myself, "Come" at Club USA in New York. Other than that... America (video).

"A Love Bizarre" especially the 85 Performance with Shelia E.&Miko grooving in the Pocket was tight&the Wooden Leg it was Jamming&On time IMHO.then he did ALB briefly on the "Lovesexy" tour&it was cool.I always dig the vibe of it Live.Santana did a Cool take on it as well in concert.

Yup, Rainbow Children. Couldn't have given 2 shits about "Muse 2 the Pharaoh" until I saw it live. Still don't quite get it, or agree with what I get of it, but I loved the whole diabolical sound it had live.
I also have a killer "Strange Relationship" that's prolly 10-15 minutes long on video from an '87 show at First Avenue that made the song one of my all-time favorites.
Have YET to hear "Mountains" live. I think it's among the most under-rated Prince songs ever. Not even on "Hits," but "If I was your Girlfriend" was? Wtf?

Get Wild/Purple Rain

The whole SOTT video including SIGN O THE TIMES.

"Joy In Repetition" during the ONA Tour in Los Angeles 4-19-02.

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Want proof re: "Joy in Repetition?" Check out the widely available download from the NYC ONA afterparty, then imagine it being twice as good.

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No, just imagine being there. Incomparable. Prince.


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The Ladder (live 1988.. sound check , in Cali) They have showen clips of it on 2 seperate documentaries..

if ANYONE has the full version, contact me please.

Gracias

Doozer said:

I couldn't agree more. This version of "Forever In My Life" is my all time live favorite.

A close second would be "DMSR" from the Small Club bootleg.

"Theives in the Temple" from Holland 92. The 12 minute version with all that accoustic guitar stuff! That's a live track! (too bad it doesn't have all that crap about "Yoda" like the 12" mix does)

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[This message was edited Wed Feb 26 1:59:53 PST 2003 by IstenSzek]

Sign O The Times Movie: "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man"

Best re-creation of a song. Never (ever) gets tired. Never Over-rated. That band could do it all.. I know that there were some overdubs but, that performance was great.

I never really pay attention to the Album version. This was "Never Take The Place" as if it was released on The Lovesexy CD. Raw. Funky bass...Rock (real rock).. Soulful singing..Change-ups..Break-downs.. The band actually carries him through the song!

Purple Rain

the Cross

Forever in my life from SOTT WAS simply brilliant. Boni Boyer, oh my!!

Most recently, my fave has been Muse 2 the Pharoah. I love it on TRC and think he does it even better live.

On the flip side, I really was unimpressed by 1+1+1is3 live. Call me crazy, but I can't put my hands up for the 'theocratic order' for 15 minutes. Brilliant on cd, but horrified me live...