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Thread started 10/25/06 10:23pm

serpan99

Prince The Nightclub King?

Prince the Nightclub King?
http://vegasblog.latimes...._nigh.html


(Photo: Frazier Harrison / Getty Images)

Details are starting to leak out about Prince's plans with the Rio. It looks like Purple One will be taking over a nightclub in the Club Rio space where he will present talent from his label and band roster. How many times Prince himself will appear to perform is unclear. Norm Clarke of the Review-Journal reports that matching the title of his last disc 3121, the club will have a cover charge of $31.21.

Norm also reports speculation that 3121 refers to a biblical citation and wonders how the converted Jehovah's Witness will fit into Sin City. I actually think 3121 is a reference to the street address of the house Prince rented for recording some of that disc's tracks. But regardless, God and sex have always mingled freely in Prince's songs in ways that to traditionalists would not be acceptable for a Christian artist. As for his secular fans, they want the hits, good new songs, stinging guitar, Prince's charismatic stage presence and no more movies like "Graffiti Bridge."

The problem I see with this plan is not getting people in the door for a Prince concert, but getting a crowd on the nights Prince isn't playing (which will be most nights). Prince has musically elite tastes from another era that aren't nearly as popular as his own music: classic slow jams, R&B and funk. Prince merges all these genres into great pop hits, but the audience for the unadulterated original music that inspired Prince does not overlap much with club kids. His few stabs at rap and hip-hop have been embarrassments, so I wouldn't expect much of that sort of music at his nightclub.

When I was living in Minneapolis in the '90s, Prince was involved in opening a nightclub called Glam Slam. I went there a few times over the years and outside of a tiny core group of regulars, it was mostly empty, with folks wandering around hoping to catch sight of Prince. Glam Slam was created as a fantasy club out of a Prince universe of images and music that simply did not have broad enough appeal in the Midwest.

Obviously, Las Vegas is a much bigger market for nightclubs, but the essential problem remains: Prince's tastes, even more than his music, are out of step with the times. As a Las Vegas headliner, Prince would be a tremendous success in Las Vegas. But his style, music and taste are all products of another era for a nightclub. Nostalgia is great for headliners with many hits like Prince but it is never a good thing in Las Vegas nightclubs, which derive their vibe by being forward-thinking and looking for the next, newest and hottest of trends.
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Reply #1 posted 10/25/06 10:26pm

Snap

insert foot in mouth, eh?
just too bad Prince ain't going for a wider audience tho
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Reply #2 posted 10/25/06 10:37pm

fstop

eek Thats GREAT Whats next ( MUFFLER KING)) I Know HE doesnt like burgers.
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Reply #3 posted 10/26/06 1:52am

lovebird

I'm wondering how much of a Prince concert we're going to get for 31 dollars and 21 cents.
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Reply #4 posted 10/26/06 3:23am

diana7777

avatar

I think those comments are a bunch of crap. He is WAYYYY more than a nostalgia show, come on!!! Obviously the dude who wrote this has NOT been in step himself or he would know better. I mean, this is Prince we are talking about. The musician's musician, the producer's producer, etc., etc. Not Duran Duran (no offense). It is so weird when people talk about him like a "has been" because he is so cutting edge, so fresh. I guess his "TASTE" as this writer phrased it, is very specific ( or just very classy and sophisticated). So much is lost when people only focus on the Prince from the past. There is so much to enjoy from his music RIGHT NOW. Whatever he brings to Vegas, will be a joy to experience.
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Reply #5 posted 10/26/06 4:09am

fstop

sad yeahh but that lobster on top of his head does that cost as an entree?
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Reply #6 posted 10/26/06 4:53am

FamousBluRainc
oat

diana7777 said:

I think those comments are a bunch of crap. He is WAYYYY more than a nostalgia show, come on!!! Obviously the dude who wrote this has NOT been in step himself or he would know better. I mean, this is Prince we are talking about. The musician's musician, the producer's producer, etc., etc. Not Duran Duran (no offense). It is so weird when people talk about him like a "has been" because he is so cutting edge, so fresh. I guess his "TASTE" as this writer phrased it, is very specific ( or just very classy and sophisticated). So much is lost when people only focus on the Prince from the past. There is so much to enjoy from his music RIGHT NOW. Whatever he brings to Vegas, will be a joy to experience.


Until you learn more about Duran Duran, I suggest you find a better analogy...

(Nobody is like Prince, but really, you are just contributing to another base stereotype about an artist's validity or lack thereof...)
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Reply #7 posted 10/26/06 7:17am

jayARDAHB

Although Prince is my favourite musician, I have to agree with these author's perspective and to be honest, if you don't see what the author is saying, I feel for you.

Prince's taste in music is old - regardless of it's sophistication or integrity - people these days don't really care for that. They're more interested in having a good time - intellectual thought is left at the library. A club is where you have a party!!

Prince's music, and more so, his religious beliefs are not something we can all agree to or respond to. Las Vegas appears to be a place where anything goes - Prince is far from that these days. I won't make a judgement on that but I will say that this RIO thing appears to be something that will fail miserably.

J
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Reply #8 posted 10/26/06 8:00am

txladykat

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lovebird said:

I'm wondering how much of a Prince concert we're going to get for 31 dollars and 21 cents.


none. that is to see the other acts....allegedly going to be 125 to see his royalty.
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Reply #9 posted 10/26/06 8:02am

wlcm2thdwn

Think i'm gonna have to sit this on out!
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