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Prince: 74U
Prince just turned 49 (that's 7 x 7), so we came up with just as many ideas for our legend's 7/7/07 homecoming.

What will he think of next?

We're only halfway through the year, and the list of Prince's unusual accomplishments in 2007 is as impressive as it is mind-boggling. He gave a typhoon-defying performance at the Super Bowl that made previous halftime entertainers look like hacks (especially McCartney and the Stones). A run of Las Vegas club gigs put the nightlife back in Sin City. And he booked residencies in London and Los Angeles that are even generating buzz in those snooty cultural havens.

Now comes his latest hometown crusade. Saturday, our Rock and Roll Hall of Famer will play a special afternoon set on the eighth floor of the Macy's store in downtown Minneapolis to promote his new perfume line, 3121. Then at Target Center, he'll stage one of only two scheduled concerts outside L.A. and London, presumably a preview of his latest CD, "Planet Earth," due July 24 (alas, we've only heard the single, "Guitar").

Saturday's events are timed to 7/7/07, a big day for Prince, who just turned 49 on the 7th (of June, that is) and seems to favor all things having to do with the luckiest number: He had a 1993 hit called "Seven" (one of his best); he's playing seven gigs at the Roosevelt Hotel in L.A.; he's supposedly playing seven songs at the Macy's gig, etc.

We thought we'd add to the 7s.

7 REASONS PRINCE IS STILL COOL

• Did you see that Super Bowl show?

• Dig who showed up at the Roosevelt Hotel on opening night: Diddy, Penélope Cruz, Hilary Swank, Nas, John Legend, Topher Grace, Michelle Rodriguez and even ol' Suge Knight.

• He gives out free CDs with concert tickets (although copies of "Planet Earth" aren't expected in time for Saturday's shows).

• He can get great seats at any NBA game.

• Hip, state-of-the-art websites.

• What other male star is studly enough to come up with his own perfume and expect women to buy it?

• Best performer in live music today. Period.

7 CREATIVE CONCERT IDEAS

• Reunite with the Revolution.

• The glyph stage at the Super Bowl was great. Bring it on tour.

• Solo tour -- solo piano, solo guitar, solo anything.

• Vegas. L.A. London. How about a Minneapolis residency? Play the Metropolitan if you want to go fancy, or First Avenue if you want to go back to your roots.

• Hire an all-star band, i.e., Larry Graham or Bootsy Collins, Maceo Parker, Booker T. Jones, ?uestlove, John Legend, Robert Randolph (but not Lenny Kravitz).

• Tour with a parade of past female musical partners, i.e., Chaka Kahn, Mavis Staples, Sheila E., Angie Stone, Kate Bush, Sinéad O'Connor, Ani DiFranco, Sheryl Crow (but not Carmen Electra).

• Start a show on time for a change.

7 WEIRDEST PRINCE MARKETING CAMPAIGNS

• The whole name-change/glyph/Artist Formerly Known As bit.

• The perfume idea was odd enough, but how about seeing fans line up at the Macy's cosmetics counter for Saturday's show?

• Creating his NPG Web fan club in 2001 and offering online-only releases, an idea ahead of its time.

• Releasing his 1996 set "Emancipation" with three 12-song discs, each exactly 60 minutes.

• Giving away his new CD in copies of a Sunday London newspaper (which prompted area CD shops to not stock the disc).

• Charging $3,121 for two tickets and dinner at his L.A. shows.

• Playing Willy Wonka for last year's "3121" CD. Seven copies contained tickets (purple, not gold) to a private show at his house.

7 PEOPLE WE'D LIKE TO SEE PRINCE COLLABORATE WITH

• Sly Stone

• Joni Mitchell

• Andre 3000

• ?uestlove and/or the Roots

• Jack White

• Bob Dylan

• Any producer with an ego to match (Rick Rubin, Kanye West, Timbaland).

7 SONGS HE PLAYED AT RECENT GIGS

• "Kiss"

• "Cream"

• "Guitar"

• "Black Sweat"

• "U Got the Look"

• "Come Together"

• "What a Wonderful World"

7 best Prince songs of the past 7 years

• "Black Sweat"

• "Dear Mr. Man"

• "Musicology"

• "On the Couch"

• "Satisfied"

• "Call My Name"

• "Guitar"

7 REALITY-TV SHOWS TO PITCH PRINCE

• "Prince's Next Time" -- Auditions for a new R&B band, judged by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

• "Big Brother: Paisley Park" -- Contestants are locked in the fabled Minnesota compound. "It's 3 a.m.! You're late for rehearsal!"

• "Flava of Purple" -- Auditions for a new female duet partner (read: girlfriend). Judges: Apollonia, Vanity and Sheena Easton.

• "Dancing With Prince" -- Splits are encouraged.

• "Prince's Project Runway" -- Don't worry about being short on fabric or too over-the-top. One rule, though: no purple.

• "Extreme Makeover: Chanhassen" -- If he doesn't like the new look, he bulldozes the house.

• "Prince's Apprentice" -- You're fired. A new cast for every show.

Prince is 49 (7x7=49).....does that mean anything?

don't forget that he's 77mm lol!

Loved the article! very funny and a unique tribute to Prince. Saturday is his day. 7/7/07!! Can't wait!!!

cool look at what he has done/is doing. fun read. two thumbs up!

too cute

Angelic1302 said:

I wonder will he play 7 on 7/7/07?

What about his 7 inches??? HEHEHE