I watched the Confessions gig on UK TV and must admit that the green eyed monster in me popped out, that show was fantastic, great stage set up, solid band, lots of Kylie style kitch, simple yet powerful images [the crucifix actually made sense], great dancers and blow me madonna playing 2 chords and doing a pick scrape [embarrasing but it worked!]
Now i know that P style achieves 2 things i.e. the Music shines for us and it's sooo much cheaper for him but dayum i miss the days of the spectacular.

Prince has put some spectacular concerts on over the years, but the core was always the band and the music. With Madonna, her band is hidden away, she may as well be playing to a recording, it's spectacular if you like watching extras dance, I reckon you might as well just go to the ballet because it's just a dance show, oh and there's some live singing occasionally.

The thing is Madonna HAS to put on a spectacular show, her audience has come to expect it and she has to justify the huge ticket prices. I don't think as many would be interested if it was just her on a stool singing and not dancing. Whereas Prince can captivate a huge audience just with a basic, bare performance. And I'm not saying that because I hate Madonna because I don't, there's certainly a place for Madonna's type of show, but I'd still prefer to see even a simple Prince performance 10 times out of 10.
[Edited 11/29/06 7:59am]

metalorange said:

Thing is , on Madge's tour she was the Foucs point as an entertainer and show stopper. Don't know if you've seen it, if not i'd really recommend it, i am in no way a fan of hers but i was mighty impressed with her ability to totally own that stage and the audience.

funkyhead said:

There's no doubt she's a very charismatic entertainer and character. People often knock her singing/dancing abilities, but she uses what she's got to great effect.

metalorange said:

I understand what Funkyhead is saying completely... I've seen Prince when he use to give us the props and all....I miss those days of him splitting and jumping off speakers and the beautiful magnificent of the Lovesexy and Sign O the times Tours

There's no doubt one of high poinst of my like has been seeing lovesexy live. So I definitely get your point. However metalorange has a very good point. When stripped down to the bare essentials Prince was vunerable and magical and sincere all at the same time. When during the Musicology concerts he got brought up to the stage with a simple guitar with one light on him strumming little red corvette the crowd went wild. For me that was spectacular. I would go for a straight forward concert any day. I do get what you mean in terms of theatre and drama, props and dancers have their place but I feel he's been there and done that and for the last few years it's been all about the music. I am not sure what's going happen in 07 but I am sure it will be spectacular, either him sitting on a bar stool playing purpleaxe or his being brought down an elevator from the ceiling.

vinaysfunk said:

Damn fine point about LRC accoustic, i get choked everytime i watch it, i've NEVER seen him so vulnerable, honest and open. Thing is though the 'it's all about the music' thing has been done now since 2000, just think it'd be great to mix it up a bit on the next tour only and then go stripped down again.

Yeah Prince bring it back!

Metalorange summed it up well.

Who would see a Madonna show WITH NO acroutremonts (sp?)?

You'd die of boredom....

metalorange said:

EXACTLY.

KaleidoscopicEyes said:

-----
it's spectacular if you like watching extras dance.

I don't know any P fans who go to see Prince and want to look at extras. People are already pissed about the twins and that is only two people dancing on the stage.

Madonna sucks ass ,there's no comparison

Dewrede said:

Agreed!

sexxydancer said:

concurr ~ all the way

^^^while i like madonna-- i gotta agree w/ da ppl above me. ^^^^^

laurarichardson said:

I like Madonna's theatrics but found my mind wandering during all the shots of the fantastic set up and all the dancers. It was like she was the ringmaster of a circus that couldn't keep my attention.

Was it a concert? I guess. I describe it to friends as a spectacle.

That said, I thought it was brilliant! Wonderfully executed. Bravo!

Dewrede said:

I have never liked Madonna. Prince is a leader not a follower. I respect the time that he needs to heal from the divorce from Manuela. So, I will patiently wait.

metalorange said:

YES!!

Silkilove said:

good. I'm glad I'm not the only one who noticed it.

i admired the creative work that went into it but i found it boring to watch after a while. it was just too much stuff going on. maybe if I was there...i don't know.

but that's just me.

robertes71 said:

The FOCUS is on EVERYTHING but the MUSIC. What does that tell U?
[Edited 11/30/06 13:31pm]

Graycap23 said:

I second that. a real musician doesn't need Madonna style theatrics if you're
as good as Prince. It's definitely about the music, that's what I pay to hear.
[Edited 11/30/06 16:40pm]
[Edited 11/30/06 16:41pm]

I didn't read the thread, and I suspect it's already been said, but, although he's done them, Prince doesn't need big productions and fireworks, when the guy is on form he has the strongest pyrotechnic right there in his hands.....




That's what I go to see, not a troupe of soul-less dancers spinning themselves into knots whilst their messiah croaks through her disco dolly hits.

I just can't imagine he could top Lovesexy as a spectacle. I would love to see him get creative again trying but I think he figured out it affects the bottom line too much. Keep it bare bones and MAKE ALL THAT MONEY!!!

We're talking about an "entertainer" and a musician - two different entities. The Madonnas, Janets, Ciaras, Britneys,Ushers and Justins of the world have no choice but to put on a spectacle. What else are they going to do? They're not singers in the traditional sense - simply put, they're not going to wow us with their vocal skills. Someone like an Aretha, Barbra Streisand, Whitney (pre-crackish days), Mariah - even a mostly off-key Mary J. can basically stand in one spot and sing. Their voices are their selling points. Madonna and the like are performers.That's why Madonna has to adopt a new persona or drum up a new controversy every time she releases a new album. Controversy sells and it helps to sell her albums and shows. That's why Janet has to lose 500 lbs and give revealing interviews about her sex life in order to drum up interest in her new releases. Add to that a group of backup dancers and 'ya got yourselves a show, a spectacle. T'was the same thing with MC Hammer. Put 70 plus people on stage, keep 'em in constant motion and dazzle the audience with sheer spectacle and perform your hits.

As Prince has gotten older, the emphasis (onstage) has focused more on the music. I think he gave fans the best of both worlds when his show was equal parts spectacle/musical performance, though I think it caused more than a few people to overlook his vast talent as a musician. I've noticed in the past few years, however, that Prince has been getting more props (from the general public) for his musical skills. He's always been a musician first and foremost. That's the difference.

.
[Edited 12/1/06 8:46am]

NouveauDance said: