We've still got a month to go, but here's what's happened this year:

1. Greatest SNL musical appearance in history (IMHO). I still have that Tivo'd and I watch it at least once a week. The night it aired, I was at a party and didn't get home to watch it until 2:00 AM. My wife was sound asleep, but after I jumped out of the bed, screaming in fascination during "Fury", she watched it 12 more times with me. "BLB" is probably the 4th or 5th best TV appearance I've ever seen, too. Best musical guest I've ever seen.

2. Tamar tour. Not everyone got to see it, but for those who did it was incredible. I have never seen guitar playing that good, ever. And I got to sing with Prince, which didn't suck. I stood in line for 5 hours to see that show (inside and outside the club) and I would do it again in a heartbeat even if I didn't get to sing. Wow, what a show.

3. 3121. It debuted at #1. What else can you say? Well, there were the TV appearances, especially "American Idol". Maybe the all-time coolest appearance ever. Not the best, but the coolest. Then there was the Purple Ticket. Personally, I think the idea was great, the execution was exciting, but the final product was a non-event. No coverage of the concert at all. If all those promotional things that were rumored had occured, it would have been great. But showing up at the wrecka stow in LA was ultra-cool. Prince did end up playing just about every song live on one TV show or another. And oh yeah - the music itself. I like most of it. Most of us fans seem to like most of it, which is pretty much the way it is with any album released by any artist.

4. The Death of a Website. Strange, to say the least. "Feel Good, Feel Better, Feel Wonderful" was intriguing, but ditching the website for an ersatz MySpace page can't go down as a shrewd move. My uninformed opinion is that Prince was legally forced to shut it down, which sucks. And what about those of us whose email address changed after the site shut down? I hope someone asks Sam Jennings how to get updated info so we can get back into the email loop.

5. Divorce. His business, not mine. I hope he's doing OK.

6. Superbowl 2007. In all the events of this fall, his booking for this show has gotten lost in the cracks. I'm not even sure it's confirmed, but I think it is. If he plays the Super Bowl, it will be epic. And is there a better forum to introduce a new song from a new album? Nope!

7. Movie soundtrack. Prince giving a new song to a movie soundtrack is rare, but it happened this year. And I like the song.

8. UK Hall of Fame. Sure, we all would have liked a performance, but the point is that he was inducted into a Hall of Fame. And he did perform at the Brit Awards (with Revolution members, no less), so he wasn't 0-for-Great Britain.

9. Vegas. I thought it was a bad idea, but I was wrong. I hope I can get to a Vegas show. They sound awesome.

That is a busy year, if you ask me.

7. Movie soundtrack. Prince giving a new song to a movie soundtrack is rare, but it happened this year. And I like the song.


Not only giving a song to a movie soundtrack but a Warner Bros movie soundtrack.

cool recap thanks

I feel fortunate to have caught one of the Tamar shows. I think it was a unique set-up that we may never see Prince attempt again. Plus, it featured Prince on guitar from beginning to end, non-stop.

Thanks

Personally, I would also include / change:

1. The Brits performance to get a line of its own, in place of the Superbowl mention - given that it's only a possible 2007 performance.

2. Release of 'Ultimate'

.

Oh yes, thanks for the reminder. 2006 was a blast!! A year I'll never forget..

2/2/06 Prince and Tamar - Nokia, NYC, - Prince introduces
Tamar to NYC

3/06 - Prince and Tamar - Nations Nightclub in DC - Tamar and
Prince blow the roof of Nations! Don't believe me?
I swear it happened, I was there!

5/26 - Prince w/The Time/Larry Graham - Rio Club in Vegas -
and this was just a warmup for future Rio Vegas shows

5/27-28/06 - Prince and Tamar - Empire Club in Vegas
(Members were allowed into soundchecks for both
shows;also Prince tried to take pictures of us
and joked with us while we waited on line)


6/16/06 - Prince/Tamar/Sheila E/Maceo - Good Morning America (ABC)
at Bryant Park, NYC. Prince broke ABC's Summer
Concert Series record, for largest crowd attendance
n ABC's GMAs history of Concert Series


6/16/06 - Prince and Tamar-Butter Restaurant in NYC-private party
for npgmc fan members - a 4 hr performance - he made us
party 'til the break of the purple dawn!



11/10- 11/11/06 - Prince - Club 3121 - Vegas - Opening Weekend
Amazing show! Purple party!!(loved when the purple
confetti fell from the ceiling of the club on the
fans while he performed!)

Total of 9 shows for me this year, yes, it's been a Princely year with great memories! We can all reminisce about the shows we attended.

Wow, thanks Prince for all the purple fun this year!
[Edited 11/29/06 12:07pm]
[Edited 11/29/06 12:08pm]
[Edited 11/29/06 12:08pm]

i felt like this was a real hit-or-miss year for prince, with a lot of risks and gambles made with no real apparent game plan or design. it was interesting, though i prefer when prince has his whole message/production/scheme of domination laid out beforehand and we all get to enjoy the results.

warm-up year for 2007

bout to blow these mofos out the water

DanceWme said:

yeah, but that's what we said in '05 about this year. maybe he's less interested in blowing folks out of the water than he is about just doing successful business for himself. that's what this year felt like.

2006 was another great year to be a Prince fan!
The only thing that makes me sad is that I missed the Tamar shows cause I hadn't turned 21 yet!


Woohoo for 2007, I pray for another great album and a US tour!!!

Anx said:

hmmm I see what u mean
Im hoping he blow up 2007..I mean bomb it

thekidsgirl said:

DanceWme said:

that would be fun. another year like 2004 would be hot.

Anx said:

hell yeah

thanks for the recap

nice thread:)

my own recaps:

february: "fury" on snl! kickin it with The Circle Of Sexxy in chicago!

july: the npgmc getting shuttered up. mass chaos!

What a fantastic Prince year it's been!!

RodeoSchro said:

Were you helping Prince "Play that Funky Music?"

In person/on video and on cd in various cities - all of the guys pulled on stage (sounded the same but,) knew every single word of "Play that Funky Music."

Did every dude, that got on stage to sing that song at the Tamar concerts, know it word for word? Or did someone mess up in at least one city? Educate me. If not, I just learned something new about my "lighter skinned" brothas.

i saw the SNL show he did- it was so awesome! I was screaming!! luckily, my mom sleeps like a log. i loved his performance of Fury, and his guitar playing right at the end of the song. but alas, i've never seen him live.

well the super bowl should start the year off with a bang unless he performs daddy pop and strollin

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

there's some rumbling going on over at npgmc. just sayin...

Yes, it wasn't a bad year for him.. I got to see him twice once at the Tamar show in Philadelphia, and at the GMA concert in New York.
I can't get enough of him. I hope like hell he tours in 2007.

Anx said:

what, some fambots been breaking into the empty lair to steal the copper tubing?

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

i'm just sayin' - it's not a black screen of death anymore...

Anx said:

looking pretty black screenish to me.

and why aren't you writing???

BRTIZ DONT $ GET DA BRITZ!!!

lizlampkin said:

Yeah, I sang "Play That Funky White Music". There was another guy onstage with me, Anthony a/k/a Ant Boogie.

From reading internet reports, I knew they'd ask a white guy to sing, so I listened to the song a few times to refresh the lyrics in my mind. And guess what happened when I got onstage?

I COULDN'T REMEMBER THE FIRST LINE! And Tamar made it PERFECTLY CLEAR that if I didn't know the lyrics, I was toast!

So when Prince started the opening riff, I was about to come unglued. Luckily, Anthony (who's a pro musician) started the song off. As soon as I heard, "I was a boogie singer...." it all came back. WHEW!

That was a blast and a half. I rockstarred it by handing the microphone to crowd members during the chorus. Allegedly, Prince thought that was cool, so now I can die a happy man...

Anx said:

Please elaborate.

1nonly said:

go look!