I can finally say that I saw "Purple Rain"!

I have it on loan from Blockbuster for the rest of the week, so it's guaranteed that I'll watch it a few times before coming back to school.

It didn't take all that much to get through it. I was in anticipation to see what "The Kid" would do next. An interesting story going on there and I totally got the message when he played "Darling Nikki"... the only one who can love his music is himself... that was his problem.

Then when he did "Purple Rain", I couldn't help myself, I was in tears throughout it. It's just such a beautiful song. And the ending is just as I remembered it.

And sure, they say the movie is semi-biographical, I do believe he did have that kind of set-up or something like it in his room/sanctuary and he was very particular on playing his own songs. However, I can definitely see the difference between Prince and the character he played. I knew he was only acting throughout the movie, but even so, I couldn't take my eyes off him when he was on screen.

Two thumbs up!

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

I envy you DreamyPopRoyalty, discovering all this stuff for the first time! I've read from your posts that you've not long discovered Prince, have you heard much of his stuff?

I've seen Purple Rain hundreds of times.Love that movie!

LittleSmedley said:

In all honesty, I've known about him for a couple of years when I saw the end of the movie... but I merely took him in little by little when the opportunity presented itself. He was on "American Idol" unexpectedly and then I caught him on GMA's Summer Concert series (last year, I think). Then when the SuperBowl came, I was excited cuz not only were the Colts in it to win it, but cuz Prince was the halftime show, and I don't think I've watched many halftime shows in the past. After his performance and with constant access to a computer, I started to get him more and more.


To answer your question, I've still only hear very little of his music because he's written so much.

At most, I've heard close to 15-20 of his songs altogether. However, I did a little shopping this weekend and bought 4 albums. One takes care of everything from 78-93 (before his evolution/name change, etc.), The Gold Experience (used, but hopefully in prime condition), Musicology (I was semi-impressed with) and 3121. Of course my dad owns the Purple Rain soundtrack, so I can listen to When Doves cry and Let's go Crazy in its entirity along with some of his other great songs I hadn't heard b4 the movie.


I hope to change all that once I get through the albums I have now. I feel that I have a nice spread of music from diff. periods, but I'll listen to them little by little. Prince is someone you need to experience slowly, not go out of the way and do it all at once.


People have been so helpful here and I've loved the last month cuz of it. Prince fans are so cool. (I couldn't log in from here for some stupid reason, so I was freaking out for a while, so I'm glad to be back).


And also, LittleSmedley, I've seen a handful of performances and interviews, so I know quite a bit about personal Prince already and I gotta say he's extraordinary for all kinds of reasons. He only continues to impress me.

sexxydancer said:

either way, I can't wait to come into more money (after my shopping spree of albums) so I can buy it... or I can just wait until my bday, w/e comes first.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

The 20th anniversay special edition is hot!!!

theodore said:

Just wish the man himself contributed to it

I like the MTV premeiere party on the extras

Purple rain will always be my favorite because that's when I first became a fan!

what is the password.

Purple Rain is just fun, fun times - Unlike the album, I never seem to get tired of it. It's also amazingly quotable.

Now, the true test is to see if you can hitch your wagon to the cinematic supernova that is Graffiti Bridge.

Risico said:

I agree. Take it slow. After "Graffiti Bridge", watch "UTCM". Save "Three Chains O' Gold" for last, because that movie is extremely complex.

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

Well good for U. Keep searching your in for some goodies

DreamyPopRoyalty said:

The org is messed up @ times
I'm glad U're enjoying Prince

I'm kind of new as well and he still amazes me
@ times!!!
Have fun and did U buy ULTIMATE?
I bought it this weekend and I loved it

Welcome, DPR! I don't think I'd be alone in saying that your next album purchase should be...






1999

Life my ass, motherfucker - Billy

Hey guys don't discuss the ending!

I haven't seen it yet.

Risico said:

That is true... but before I comment on Graffit Bridge, you MUST rent "Sign O' The Times", it's one of the greatest concert films out there. About Graffiti Bridge, at first, when I bought the album (it was my 2nd Prince album, after BAtman), I hated the music at first. But I gave it a chance, and that's when I became a Prince fan. The movie itself wasn't too great, or maybe I just didn't get it...
P.S. I've managed to tape hours of Prince live performances since the early '90s. As a hobby, I've compiled some of his greatest moments onto one two hour videottape. If you were in Montreal, I would definitely give you a copy and then you'd know that Prince is the greatest popstar around (if you can call him that).

'But' my ass...hey! Play on words! -Morris

I can't wait to watch the movie again tomorrow.

Although, I still have to contemplate whether to do it b4/after listening to "The Gold Experience"... don't want to suffer from "culture shock" by stepping into two diff. eras on the same day, but I can't put off my CD any longer. It's used and I want to make sure it still runs well.

I have my own collections of hits, although many advised against "The Very Best of...", it was a good investment because of the material included. However, the one thing I'm mad about is the fact they "clipped" the wings of "Doves"... but my dad owns the full version on the soundtrack.

I've also learned that "Gett off" is a track that I'll skip from now on... not my fav. subject matter and it was just... blah... I have found a new favorite in "Money Don't Matter 2night"... It just got me like many of his good songs do.

Heh, although I did go to pieces during Purple Rain while watching it in the movie (I totally love what he does after finishing it), I didn't while listening to it. I'm glad it was still in its entirity cuz that's a song you can't butcher (unless of course Prince shortens it himself in concert, that's ok).

I still have a few songs relatively new to me to go over again to see how I truly feel about them (Sign O' The Times, Alphabet Street, I wanna be your lover). I also need to check into 'U got that look' and 'Thieves in the Temple' (even though that one I liked quite a bit already).

As for "Purple Rain", the next time I come into $30, I'm going out to get it (FYE's prices suck, but at least they carry it)... I'll see it as many times as I can while I have it. Although Prince is just playing a character, seeing him on screen gives his music a "realer" feel...

Heh, I listened to Purple Rain and while waiting for it to end, I found myself in a daze and the next song (I would Die 4 U) woke me up when I needed it.

Purple Rain is only the beginning, Prince's movies got extremely complex and contained many subexts in the following years.

The nazi subtexts in "Under The Cherry Moon", the comments on social bahaviour in the hard-hitting examination on our government "Graffiti Bridge", right through to the mis-treating of animals and anti-fast-food subtexts in "Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame: The Induction Speech".

Make sure you take it slow: you want to catch everything that is going on in those masterpieces of modern cinema.

It must be strange coming to Purple Rain for the first time now, it does look very dated with all those people wearing New Romantic outfits and make-up! But back then that is what a lot of people really went out to clubs in - today's fashions have become quite boring and restrained by comparison, sadly. The film really documents a moment in time possibly never to be repeated.

The strange thing is, the music has faired far better and still has quite a timeless quality about it. Prince can play Purple Rain now and still get the same reaction he got then.

One thing that I think really helps the film is that it is set against a quite gritty backdrop, not just Prince's homelife but also the seedy streets of Minneapolis. A bit like Saturday Night Fever, a fantasy set in a gritty reality. That is sorely lacking in Prince's other films, both Under The Cherry Moon and Grafitti Bridge are fantasies set in an unconvincing fantasy backdrop that fail to convince. When it is a concert that doesn't matter, which is why you should definately now try and seek out as much concert footage as possible, Prince really re-invents his music live and takes it to new levels, even quite dismal album tracks come alive in a live setting.

pezdispenser said:[quote]
The nazi subtexts in "Under The Cherry Moon"[quote]

exsqueeze me?

what are these, pezdispenser?

Welcome 2 the Family DreamyPopRoyalty.

I can still remember the first time I discovered Prince all those yaers ago.
Just wish I could do it all over again.

However listening to his music is one thing, U wait until U C him live on stage then U will really understand why he has such a strong and loyal "Family of fans"

May his music and showmanship bring many happy memories 2 U as it has for me and countless others.

steve4key said:

Thanx so much. This is the very reason I love being on the site, it's like a little family here that's always helping one another. I do hope one of these days I get that wonderful chance to see one of his concerts. That'll something I'll wish for 4ever.
I know that listening to his music and hearing him sing it in a performance is very different. Him singing it makes it seem more real.
My dad originally introduced me to the movie cuz it happened to be on and I caught the last 1/2 hour. He's away on a trip and he just emailed me to ask how I liked the movie... that's so sweet of him. My mom doesn't seem to "get" Prince the way that he does... but then again, I'm not sure how much my dad knows about him. The next time he's home, I'll be sure to get the 411, like how he started liking him in the first place. We both agree on the fact that Prince is very special and his music can put anyone else's (at least in today's world) to shame. I feel like I owe him so much for at least showing me who Prince was.

And who knows, maybe if I found out through someone/something else, I wouldn't be the same fan I am with the views I have of the great artist he is. the first time I would have seen Prince, had it not been for my dad, was the American Idol finale last year. I probably would have gotten a diff. impression (maybe even the same as Simon, who thought Prince was a snob for his behavior). Then in the SuperBowl, I wouldn't have paid a speck of attention to him the way I did.

Oh scary... I'm gonna stop with this hypothetical talk. I can't wait to get my dad's reply on my "Purple Rain" review. And even after hearing it a few times in many different fashions, "Purple Rain" remains my favorite Prince song.

metalorange said:

If by "boring and restrained," you mean unimaginatively skanky, I totally agree!

I envy you loads as well. I got into Prince at a young age, I don't think I truly appreciated it!!

I've yet to see him live though. Hoping he comes over to the UK sometime soon, preferably Glasgow. It's been a while!!

I became a fan before Purple Rain came out, I was amazed at the sound of Delirious, 1999, Little red Corvette! then comes along Purple Rain!!
I am glad though that I have been a fan since the beginning because I was able to see him grow and mature as a man and a musician. We are getting older together I would say, even though he is 7 years older then me.
I think I would be overwhelmed to start being a fan at this stage. But, god bless you! I love hearing about young fans, just proves Prince is timeless!

Genesia said:

What I mean is it seems everyone wears the same stuff, you don't really seem to get seperate successful individualistic movements within fashion like punk, goth and new romantic anymore, there's just one look that's 'in' universally across the globe otherwise it seems you're 'out', in the past you could wear many different styles and still be seen as cool and 'in'.