I think Prince's best TV performance was the first Arsenio Hall show when he performed Kiss, Cream and Purple Rain. The only other I can think of was his American Music Awards show when he played Purple Rain.

definately fury on saturday nite live

Electric Chair from SNL or Daddy Pop from Arsenio.

I liked his solid gold performances

kpowers said:

I liked those too .

Alphabet St, on french TV Canal +

Billy Jack Bitch on the Sunday Show BBC2 UK.

I keep replaying the Brits performance. For a start off, it is filmed really well, for second, the lighting is great, not hidden in darkness but not flatly lit either with the fantastic screens behind. You've got the momentous occasion of Wendy and Lisa being onstage with him for the first time in like 20 years, you've got the first public live performance of Te Amo Corazon, a great version of Fury, a really good version of Purple Rain, and a great version of Let's Go Crazy without all those annoying horns he'd used on it in recent years. The whole performance the guitar was glued to his hip; he really tore it up. Altogether the music and performance was pretty much faultless.

I also have a fondness for the 1985 AMA performance of Purple Rain, I just wish I had it in fantastic crisp footage like the Brits.

Where oh where can I find the Brits performance? My wife came over to NZ and forgot... FORGOT!... to bring the video with her. I've not seen this yet and really, really, really, really would like to.

Just found it. Fuck. That was good. Fury sounds better with a Telecaster. Wendy looked odd on his right. The girls dancing were in the way of them ... oh, just seen their performance of reflection, on Tavis Smiley; Prince looked shy once again, it was so cool. Some of the quick glances and self-referential winks and nods. I would so have loved to have been a fly on the wall once the cameras stopped rolling... but, anyway, The Brits was marvellous, especially Let's Go Crazy - 85 and 88 all rolled into one.

My favorite is still "The Everlasting Now" performed on Leno, 2002. Such a tight band

The Brits performance is cool, but it does seem a little over-staged IMO. The SNL performance of "Fury" is by far the best TV spot from 2006. It just came out of left field and has since become the measuring stick by which all his 2006 TV spots are judged.

My favorite will always be the first time I ever saw him.....American Bandstand.

Purple Rain AMA is classic!!! It showed everyone how great he can be. That performance gives me goose bumbs!

Arsineo (the first time) is great too.

There are so many great performances to choose from. I remember the 1995 vh1 honors (i think it was) when he performed endorphinemachine. That was hot! His 1998 performance on the Tonight Show when he performed Come On was hot too, but probably my alltime favorite is the 1985 american music awards when he did Purple Rain.

interactive/endorphinemachine on VH1 awards
Fury on SNL
Come On on Leno

LET'S WORK followed seamlessly by DELIRIOUS on "The Sinbad Show" (or whatever it was called).

Well, the word "best" is definately subjective. Totally matter of opinion. So, I say my "favorite" is P on the American Music Awards, 1985 when he performed "Purple Rain". Hands down.

thepope2the9s said:

I can remember that performance too, I just couldn't recall what awards it was, totally brilliant, I have it taped!

goosebumps said:

It's the interactive/EndorphinMachine performance I remember the most, I ain't too keen on the others.

I think it was his guitar solo from "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" from the RRHOF show. He really made an announcement to a lot of people that day. Baddest man on the planet. Tom Petty was in awe.

Imma go wit Arsenio. the Kiss Cream Daddy Pop was good.

jonnymon said:

I seen that performance only the other day. Wasn't it great?

"Motherless Child" Septimo.

Hands down, no contest.

Nothing Compares 2 U on Ellen Degeneres!

That David Letterman performance where at the end of the song he "dies" and Mayte dressed in angel wings holds him as he falls down.

Even David was like "What the hell was that about, Paul?"

sharonbell said:

Totally! I saw that recently again and Whoa! That was so cool...he was just a bundle of energy...Prince can sooo dance! And ok I'll admit it the Game Boys weren't that bad either. I can only imagine when if first aired how people were so crazy about it..."Did you see Prince on Arsenio last night? WOW!"

i've seen almost every one of his tv performances and the funny thing is...
his best television performances have been in the last couple years...

"While My Guitar Gently Weeps" (guitar solo) -- Rock N Roll Hall of Fame 2004
"Fury" -- Saturday Night Live 2006