Interesting. I've had the footage of the 83 show at First Ave since 90. I was blown away that it was the version on the edited down version on the PR album. Seeing P do the song to a crowd that had never heard it before and for most of the evening, the crowd response was lukewarm at best. The guitar solo unedited was scattered. The live performance, P was definately feeling his way through the solo, totally ad libing. The solo wasn't structered at all. Like it would come to be. He clearly based his solo from the edited version that appeared on the album and just extended it from there. I don't think he KNEW the importance the song would take on for him at the time of the show. Not at all. Just the opposite. I think he dug the song but I don't think he felt his audience at the time would dig it. He was testing the waters that night. I think after he saw the footage of the song in the film is when he suspected the song would have importance. Placing the song where he did during the tour, during the first encore, set the stage for the song. Just like in the movie. He was home free after that.

That is a bit like saying " Anyone who doesn't want to see Betty White nude needs to go back and look at her yearbook picture." I know how Prince has played PR in the past, but I've heard it just about every way you can hear a song. No doubt I love the song and it was a high point of P's career but that doesn't mean I want to hear him playing it over and over and over. I'm good off PR right now if I never hear him play it again live, I will be good.

L4OATheOriginal said:

wow, you're really going out of your way for something so silly. does it make you feel cool to be the guy that gets up and goes to the bathroom during Purple Rain?

L4OATheOriginal said:

I was one of the people standing for it at that show!

adorable2 said:

too funny....

I've heard it every which was as well, but again, I guess I was getting at the fact that it probably still holds dear to him- even after all these years- so who are we to say don't play it? Kind of like how KISS will always play Rock&Roll All Night, yeah, I'm tired of it, but SO?? Who am I to say? As someone pointed out earlier, there may very well be people at the show who've never been before, and they deserve it. And to be honest, I would be very upset if I never got to hear it again.

For those who still disagree- here's a hypothetical question. If you knew, with 100% certainty, that it would be the very last time you would ever be able to hear him perform this song live, would you still leave early, go to the bathroom, etc?

blackguitaristz said:

I fully agree about the solo. One of the verses was still being worked on as well, right? It definitely didn't flow smoothly....Can anyone tell me exactly what that original verse was?

I do still think he knew, even if he wasn't sure how that first audience would perceive it. Isn't that why the movie took it's name, became the feature song?
The tour was basically the movie, live, so I can't imagine he ever considered placing it anywhere else. That had to have been one of, if not THE, most structured live shows he's ever done. Was there any variation anywhere along the way on that tour beyond a song or 2?

YES! the thing is musicians, artists, actors whatever, get put in a box by media, fans etc. Put u'rself in their shoes 4 a 2nd, would u always want 2 b rememberd as that guy/girl that does so and so only? If u had a nickname or an incident as a youngester and constantly reminded of it every time u'r with that group of people, wouldn't it get sickening 2 u?

well that's purple rain 4 a lot of fans. and let's go crazy as well

here's the lyrics u seek

i don't think i want u'r money
i don't even think i want u'r love
if i wanted any of those things honey i would take some money and buy it
i want the heavy stuff
i want the purple rain i want the purple rain

chrous

paisley16 said:

here's the lyrics u seek

i don't think i want u'r money
i don't even think i want u'r love
if i wanted any of those things honey i would take some money and buy it
i want the heavy stuff
i want the purple rain i want the purple rain

chrous

adorable2 said:

too funny....

I've heard it every which was as well, but again, I guess I was getting at the fact that it probably still holds dear to him- even after all these years- so who are we to say don't play it? Kind of like how KISS will always play Rock&Roll All Night, yeah, I'm tired of it, but SO?? Who am I to say? As someone pointed out earlier, there may very well be people at the show who've never been before, and they deserve it. And to be honest, I would be very upset if I never got to hear it again.

For those who still disagree- here's a hypothetical question. If you knew, with 100% certainty, that it would be the very last time you would ever be able to hear him perform this song live, would you still leave early, go to the bathroom, etc?

paisley16 said:

That is a bit like saying " Anyone who doesn't want to see Betty White nude needs to go back and look at her yearbook picture." I know how Prince has played PR in the past, but I've heard it just about every way you can hear a song. No doubt I love the song and it was a high point of P's career but that doesn't mean I want to hear him playing it over and over and over. I'm good off PR right now if I never hear him play it again live, I will be good.

paisley16 said:

I understand what ur saying. Deep down, if Prince really loves playing this song he will continue.

adorable2 said:

In the Musicology opening night in LA he starts Purple Rain then says something along the lines of"I love this song"
Obviously the song means so much 2 him I doubt if he gives a shit whether the fans want 2 hear it or not.A Prince concert without Purple Rain would b like ur mother coming 2 visit u and sit not opening her mouth and talking 2 u and besides I am sure the guitar solo would b different everynight

kape said:

Yeah except he was the one warning fans in the past with " If ur expectin to get ur Purple Rain on u can walk out now". I think he played it on the Musicology tour because he was catering to casual fans just like he is now.

adorable2 said:

well, he didn't say he didn't still love it though....and wasn't the ONA tour really the only tour where it was not done more than it was done?
And there's no doubt that tour was aimed at the hardcore base, as was the album.
Which kind of follows what we discussed earlier, that although many of us here don't mind missing it now and then, in general there is always a chance someone (even many ones) is (are) at a P show for the first time.

L4OATheOriginal said:

Well, I don't think its fair to compare it to a nickname or "incident" as a kid, when those are things of fate or non-choice, whereas this is a song he created and obviously cared a whole lot about, and probably still does today. Again, I don't think he plays it just for the people, but still loves it himself.

OMG, I would LOVE to hear Gold live. I've never caught that either that I can recall. And sure I'd take that over PR, but still wouldn't want any newbies around to miss it. And they might not recognize Gold. Myself, I could do without Let's Go Crazy, no problem there.

And, yes, I was absolutely on my feet for Anna Stesia as well! One of my top 5 favorites.

kape said:

Yeah except he was the one warning fans in the past with " If ur expectin to get ur Purple Rain on u can walk out now". I think he played it on the Musicology tour because he was catering to casual fans just like he is now.

adorable2 said:

well, he didn't say he didn't still love it though....and wasn't the ONA tour really the only tour where it was not done more than it was done?
And there's no doubt that tour was aimed at the hardcore base, as was the album.
Which kind of follows what we discussed earlier, that although many of us here don't mind missing it now and then, in general there is always a chance someone (even many ones) is (are) at a P show for the first time.

paisley16 said:

if u were introducing a new fan 2 prince, would the 1st song u played 4 them b purple rain? if not, what song and why?

if u were introducing a new fan 2 prince, would the 1st song u played 4 them b purple rain? if not, what song and why?

L4OATheOriginal said:

no, but not because it's not some of his best work. First, most people have heard it, even if not a fan. so, I'd start elsewhere. Then it would depend on who I was trying to "convert".
If it was a musician, (male esp.), I would start with the RRHOF While My Guitar Gently Weeps performance, then move on to I'm Yours, Bambi, etc.
For others, I would try and choose what I think are the best songs for whatever their primary musical taste is. He's got something for almost everyone!

Call me nostalgic, but anyone who "could care less" about hearing Prince play Purple Rain for the billionth time needs to go watch the 1st Avenue peformance from 8/83, the original live performance.

I just saw this in it's entirety for the first time ...to me it's so obvious how much this song meant to him, I love the emotion so clear on his face. I also feel like he knew what this song was about bring him, shortly down the road. I love how you can see him step up to the mike, but then back away- not ready yet. And it's amazing to realize how much he must have studied this footage prior to filming the movie, as it's so similar.

Anyway, I've once again been reminded of the beauty of this song, and it's place in all it is we talk about around here. It so obviously meant so much to him before it made him a "legend" or millions of dollars, and I'm glad I'm still able to watch him do it over and over again all these years later.

Anyone?