I enjoyed that performance. He is entitled to his opinion, goes without saying... and so am i... he's talking rubbish! A lot of people that I know that don't really have any Prince albums or dig his music, really liked his performance that night.

This comment is laughable coming from someone who has been clawing his arse back into British main stream after behaving like a complete prick in the public eye a few years ago. Yes, he was successful, lord only knows why. I have always found him boring, witless and very very ugly. He probably thought Prince was a has-been like himself and has issues that now, he's the only has been standing in his mind between the two of them.

And I don't think Prince is all that self indulgent, just good at what he does and confident with it.

I've just read his comments on his blog, not just about Prince. There's something wrong when all a grown man does is brag at throwing people off his show etc. We (the public) never know what goes on behind the scenes with the 'people' that are the 'stars' he's going on about.

And how dare he delight in what he thinks is an artists downfall? Also, I always really hate that arrogant unempathic one-upmanship mentality that goes with people who delight in the idea that people are getting their own bad karma. How lovely of him. How ugly, as I said before.

There's been a few mentions of Prince's status in the UK on the thread - many of those in the UK music business appreciate his talent, but the general public seem to have pretty much forgotten about him and he's off the radar - look at the sales of 3121 compared to the US and Europe.

The press coverage in the UK always plays on his weirdness, size etc. which is predictable and dull, but many of the times he's appeared over here he's acted like a wazzock - veils, refusing to talk etc. and that image has stuck. Whereas in the US his appearances on chat shows etc. over recent years seems refreshingly 'normal'. He needs to repeat that in the UK on several shows to turn his image around here (but he may well not care much about it).

This guy sounds like a meany, how dare he say that about prince, i loved his performance last year!

suck my $#@#!!!

left toenail!!

Chris Evans IS a cock and I think his bitterness towards Prince comes partly from teh time he wasbanned from the Gold Experience press conference because he made a joke about the Formerly Known name trhing on his radio show.

However.....he is right about the Brits - it stale beyond belief and even Prince didnt get the crowd going until he palyed 2 of his biggets hits but over 20 years old.

Apart from Prince in the view of fans, Prince has all but disappeared only popping up now and again. His 'cant be arsed' attitude at the Uk Hall Of Fame thing (the only inductee not to perform or allow soembody else to perform did some damage in the public eye (at least from the 'Joe Public' who I know). He hadnt been here for years, popped up on a very small ONA tour and then hasnt be on teh radar since...his next public appeareance as the Brits where he played that god awul Te AMo Corazon song and a fairly average Fury as his 'im back' statement.

Sorry - that mad no sense at all.

I was just trying to say that he's been off the public scene for so long that it will take more than a short performance of 220 year old songs (the Brits) for teh majority to accept that he's back with a bang.

For every step he takes forward (teh Brits) he takes 2 steps back (no tour,attitude at uk hall bash).

purpledoveuk said:

At least he turned up and collected his award and didn't put on a freakshow like MJ. Seriously the UK music industry at the moment is shite. This is the country where groups like Girls Aloud and crappy X-factor winners get to number one, so of course an artist like Prince would be under-appreciated. I'm sure he has sleepless nights over Chris Evans and the chavs in the UK not buying his albums.

purpledoveuk said:

I don't understand what you are saying - are you saying he should have ONLY played his hits to get the crowd going from the beginning, but be totally open to criticism over being a has-been with no new material? Or are you saying it was the crowd's fault for not appreciating his new material? Because I don't think it would have matter what new songs he played, it is always hard for a crowd to appreciate the unfamiliar. Either way, I don't see how it was Prince's fault, Prince did what he could to satisfy every aspect, and still he gets criticism for it.

As it happens, Te Amo is a very quiet song for which the crowd were respectfully quiet, and after Fury ended he got a good round of applause, least that's the way I see it after dozens of viewings. They didn't hate the songs, they were just unfamiliar with them, the same as if any band had done some new song rather than a hit at the awards. And Prince got a better result from playing hits just as any band that played something familiar got a good result, I don't really think the 20 years comes into it. A hit is a hit is a hit no matter how old. If U2 had gone and played 'New Year's day' plus a new song, would the same accusations be levelled at them for playing old 'crowd pleasing' music? I don't think so simply because they are still perceived as a band of the moment whereas Prince isn't. But that's just faulty perception, we all know Prince is still around and going strong.

If the Brits is stale, then that is not Prince's fault. If it seems stale, it can only be because the music scene is stale, after all it's a pretty simple concept - awards given for good music and some music is played. Personally I always think it seems better when acts you're into perform. If it is full of acts you don't like it is very easy to say it is 'stale'. If the Brits is stale, then does that mean that every award ceremony of any description is stale? What actually is that makes you think the Brits is 'stale'?

BlueOrchid said:

I completely agree with Blue Orchid. The UK sucks musically
[Edited 12/2/06 10:16am]

metalorange said:

Sorry, no I wasnt saying it was Princes fault the Brits are stale...I was sort of trying to say that Evans comments about the set being self indulgent may have come from the 2 first song he chose...oddly enough Te Amo isnt what peopel wou expect from Prince and,as much as it grates to say it, when you book Princ eyou want what you perceive Prince to be. I think what many people will ahve seen for the Brits set is 2 WTF tracks and then a sense of "ah..THIS is Prince) when he wheeled out 2, not just familiar osngs, but arguably teh biggets songs he's ever had...it was almost like an obligation.

Ok..what am I trying to say - In short I can see where Evans was coming from, he's not a Prince fan, he doesnt go on The Org or didnt join NPGMC, ...he can only judge Prince on what hes put out in recent years and,unless he was at teh ONA show in the very intimate Hammersmith Appollo he hasnt got alot convincing to go on.

Oh by the way - Stephen Merchant WAS at the Appollo and was sat 2 seats away from me (for our US friends Steve Merchant is co creator of The Office and a VERY funny guy...funnier than Gervais).

Merchant has his own Radio Show
[Edited 12/2/06 12:18pm]

On behlaf of the british people I would like to say sorry for the behaviour of this man. It is clear he has prince envy. We can only hope Billie Piper will do well to make comfort with the daleks and visit the fool.

purpledoveuk said:

See, you perceive it as a UK thing, the perception of Prince, but I think this is basically the same in the USA. For example, if this Super Bowl half-time gig does come off, the majority of people watching are going to be expecting a couple of big hits, not some new unknown tracks. So he is forced to come across as a has-been trading on 20 year old hits - but that's not his fault. And fans on here will be complaining he did old stuff instead of previewing some new stuff...

metalorange said:

I agree - what's the saying? 'Damned If You Do, Damned If You Don't'. I think he approached it in the best way possible and tried to play something for everyone. Yes it was too long, yes it was self-indulgent, that goes without saying - and I totally agree with previous posts that mentioned that as good as it was, it just felt out of place and more suitable for a show closer.

That said, his performance surprised even a jaded ol' Prince fan (since '83) like myself, because I actually adored his live version of 'Te Amo Corozon' - yet I make no secret of the fact that the studio version just leaves me absolutely cold.

To summise:
Never underestimate the power of live music.

Chris: "There should have been less music. That whole awards ceremony was an embarrassment especially princes whole sha-bang make his suprise entrances and his CAN"T MAKE UP MY MIND of whether i am gonna do this show or not."

Prince: "Don't hate me cuz I'm fabolous!"

Chris Evans! Chris Evans! BLOODY CHRIS EVANS! "There should be less music." What the hell does he mean LESS MUSIC??? It's a sodding MUSIC AWARD CEREMONY for heaven's sake!!!
Also how jumped up can you get saying "I threw several bands off TFI". Just cos he presented the show, what makes him think he was in charge of it???
I want to know why the BBC re-employed the ginger arsehole, someone throw him out!!!

To be honest I think we've always been aware than Chris Evans is a twat. *looks thoughtfully off into the distance*

I think its time for this thread

To be put to bed with an axe in its head

metalorange said:

AMEN!

desperado said:

somehow i doubt that... Prince has, since 1987, gotten more accolades and awards over in Brit than in the US. He has won BEST INTERNATIONAL MALE over there far more than he's gotten awards in the US (at least, until recently). and his tours do far better there (well, Europe, at least) than in the US. if anything, his antics are probably handled better and received better overseas than in the US. any country that routinely handled -- and loved -- Oasis for their nonsensery probably handles -- and loves -- prince for his.

Ginger twat

Hutchi said:

Chris Evans is the first person I have heard criticise Prince for his performance. No one I have met and I mean NO ONE has said anything other than what a great performance. So praise where its due. Evans does have a history with Prince, from way back when he was due to perform on his show, and didnt appear. Me thinks there is some bad blood there.