BombFunk said:

I think 1999 tour was better

HalluRain said:

Well, he did whisper something to the other 2 and he looked pissed

DiamondGirl said:

Why and how?

In terms of musicians, Bobby Z. and Brown Mark imho don't measure up to Sheila E. and Levi Seacer Jr., then add in the horns and more complex arrangements Prince had on the SOTT/Lovesexy tour and I'm at a loss as to how 1999 was 'better.' A great tour, no doubt, and I'm sure I'd play a 1999 official release to death, but SOTT/Lovesexy is Prince at his peak imho.

BlackBuddy said:

My Girlfriend !!!!!

But she won't wear it unless I don a Friar Tuck robe !!!!!

Incredible, awesome shows. One of the few things I'd gladly have been born earlier for, just to have been there.

I remember seeing it during the live broadcast on Channel Four and loving every second - I couldn't believe that Prince was on my telly and in full effect!

Some of the dancing was remarkable, he's so fluid in his movements and just the whole hair thing and the very dark eyebrows made him look unlike anything I've seen before.

The musical arrangements were very inventive, and what other artist is going to be jumping up and down on a bed, on stage?? Just makes every other live act look awfully boring and uninventive.

I had the pleasure of witnessing Prince at his best when he performed in Los Angeles. It was absolutely fantastic. Full of energy and the sounds were electrifing. Prince had the crowd glued 2 him. The whole experience was unbelievable and so unforgettable. I wish I could get a copy of the DVD it brings back beautiful memories.

I wonder if that was his daddy's car at the end. Anybody know?

BlackBuddy said:

No it's not. It's not even a real car, it was built especially for the show.

BorisFishpaw said:

are you serious? It's a makeshift car????

unquestionably his best tour. i've more than enjoyed his last ten years of outings, just a band and minimal stage design, but this is a TOUR! i would pay some top dollars if prince did an arena tour of this stature.

purpledisc said:

That reminds me...last week I was arguing with one of our interns, who is 18. I have tried (it seems in vain) all year to get him to understand the genius of Prince and this boy had the nerve to straight out say Usher was better than Prince to me. Now those were fightin' words! I made him sit down and I logged onto Housequake b/c I knew they have been streaming Lovesexy. He saw Prince do the splits/dance move during Housequake and that shut him up momentarily. But then he said, "Usher does back flips." I said, "Not in heels he doesn't. Prince does all that shit in HEELS!" Anyway, I thought it was cool that this kid was literally speechless b/c he had no idea that Prince could move like that... any just a lil' story.

*****

I this concert...that band line up is my favorite of all time, I love Boni, Sheila and Miko. And Prince. Normally I hate long hair on guys, but he looks so great during this concert. He is at the absolute top of his game. It's amazing! My favorite part is Eye Wish U Heaven & The Blue Angel.

Lovesexy

(btw, my version is on one disc/DVD.)

this is amazing, jack u off is KILLER!!

p3r1i9nce said:

It was broadcast here in Holland either later on the night of the concert or the day after, I can't remember... What I do know is that it was broadcast in the correct order...

BlackBuddy said:

I've always wondered what he's saying to Levi and Miko at that moment....
It's one of my big Prince mysteries....

jone70 said:

Really God awful outfits! But Prince waz Hawt! I wish I could go back in time.....

Wall said:

I think he peaked with 1999. That was his apex. The enigma of it all. By Lovesexxy he was this well worn journeyman who was into medleys of all his hits. It was a pre-Vegas vibe if you will.

1999 had smoke, synth, rock, dramatic enigma future cool.

"peaked with 1999"?!

At 1999, Prince was basically a r&b artist with some electro funk, pop, and rock elements thrown in. His maturity as an artist incorporating other styles including gospel, jazz, acid rock, even hip hop (lol) FAR elevated his music over the next years of his career.

There is no comparison in the musicianship in 1999 with that of Parade, SOTT, Lovesexy, The Gold Experience, or the Rainbow Children.

As for the medleys on Lovesexy, that was b/c the show meant to completely deconstruct the idea of a "song" as well as the need to rearrange the music to flow together in one smorgasbord of sound during the "evil" 1st half of the show.

jsb23nc said:

I don't ned an explanation of the medley use son trust me.

And I say he peaked with 1999 because with that tour he was still doing his "own" thing instead of the reaching into the past with jazz, using hip hop etc. 1999 music was futuristic funk rock that was all hjis own in how he presented it and formed it. And it was exciting. After 1999 tour was thg e first times Prince had to go oiut trying to top himself.

BlackBuddy said:

that along with his george washington hair was a cool as superhero look.

DiamondGirl said:

Ooooooh.... touchy!

Wall said:

I agree about Bobby Z but not about Brown Mark. Mark just had the misfortune of being in the Prince camp at a time when Prince wasn't forthgoing with the spotlight. He woudl NEVER have given the band a solo like he did the SOTT/Lovesexy band. But Brown Mark had been playing bass since he was like 7 or 8 years old and is an amazing player, probably right up there with Levi.

Let's not confuse the players' talents with what Prince LET us see of their talents. Because in the 1999-era, there's a big gap. Except with Bobby Z, b-c he really did suck. He was good for Prince around the Dirty Mind era because he was tight for a punk-ish drummer. But around Parade-era, you could tell he was struggling.

DiamondGirl said:

I think i know what you're talking about...

But I think we need to differentiate between 'peak' and 'new'.

No, Prince didn't pull from his back catalog because he didn't HAVE much of one back then.

But if it was his peak simply because he was doing something 'new', which is in esence, your argument, then someone else could say "CONTROVERSY" was his peak because THAT is the album where he started truly dipping into the "futuristic funk rock that was all hjis own in how he presented it and formed it" as you said.

1999 was an exciting time. But it was also, live performance-wise, a sloppy time. I went on a 1999-era concert kick last year in an attempt to find audio concerts and, let's be frank, there's a reason why The Time is reputed to have 'killed it' and threatened to 'overshadow' Prince on the tour. That band was tight.

And, I think we're talking about 2 different things. We're referring to Prince as a performer and his performances. You're referring to Prince's image. Yes, Dirty Mind/Controversy/1999 was the shaping of things to come; it was a new image, new attitude, new enigma. But, we'r etalking about performances... we're talking about his stage shows.

In that regard, no matter how much more you like 1999 compared to Lovesexy, no matter HOW important that era was to you in terms of memory and growing up and "that was my day" or whatever, the 1999 REVUE performances simply do not measure up to SOTT, LOVESEXY, or even the LOVE SYMBOL (sans rap) concerts.
[Edited 6/28/06 5:34am]

And little me was there in Hamburg, in the St Pauli stadium. First night, when the music was pumping loud (second night the authorities had him turn the volume down).

I will never forget that concert, what a great night. Way too funky, way too cool.

Lovesexy concert was probably his greatest, funkiest, most colourful show ever!

Peace to all of you who have watched it "back in the day"

Krid said:

I really. really, really wish I had been lucky enough to attend the Lovesexy shows. But I wasn't (any sympathy will be greatly accepted ).

I have watched the Videos over and over again since they were released and am now on my 3rd pair of Video Cassettes !!!! Nothing on this show disappoints me.....well apart from the end

BlackBuddy said:

Yeah, I know.. Mad isn't it!

It's made of fiberglass over a steel frame, designed to come apart in sections
for easy transportation. The one in the Alphabet St. video is the REAL car, the
one on the tour is a copy made from casts taken from the Prince's actual car.
[Edited 6/28/06 12:02pm]

BorisFishpaw said:

It showed the Car in a documentary about the Lovesexy Show and Prince, don't know if anyone remembers that?? Showed all the Costume designers and stage hands etc which I thought was cool cuz usually they are the forgotten few.

I love the piano medley and the Sheila E drum solo. Best part of the show by far!

Excellent show!!Musicianship is incredible and I love the frantic pace. This and SOTt were top periods and then Gold and Exodus periods.Now,I'm taking for granted that we know other eras were hot.These just aren't as obvious to casual folks.