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Why is it that Prince can't replicate in the studio what he can do live?? | |
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What I was gonna say was...
Most all of us have seen Prince perform live, even if just on television or video, and we've seen him do AMAZING things during these performances. So why is it, when the pressure's off and he's in a controlled environment with every thinkable studio gadget he could possibly want, with as much time and effort that he could possibly need... why is it that he can't make his studio recordings sound as good and exciting if not even moreso! than what he does when he performs live??? Your thoughts, please... edit: glitch [Edited 7/11/07 0:01am] | |
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Good question! I don't know the answer, but I will say that while many artists have been a big disapointment after seeing them live...Prince is one of the few artists that I prefer to hear many of his live versions of songs over the studio tracks!  [Edited 7/11/07 0:02am] | |
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Funny, but I was thinking the same thing. Prince reminds me a lot of Eric Clapton in this regard in that Clapton's albums are booorrriinng but live, he is unbelievable. Prince is the same way. | |
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Maybe it's because being in the studio is 'work', while performing is fun for him . He feeds off the energy from the crowd, it it's dead, he's not so into it either. A live performance is more spontaneous, while working in the studio allows him time to think and tinker..sometimes a bit too much. Also, the studio is isolating, except for the occasional engineer or session musician. While performing, he's got a zillion friends to play with. | |
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Snap said: What I was gonna say was...
Most all of us have seen Prince perform live, even if just on television or video, and we've seen him do AMAZING things during these performances. So why is it, when the pressure's off and he's in a controlled environment with every thinkable studio gadget he could possibly want, with as much time and effort that he could possibly need... why is it that he can't make his studio recordings sound as good and exciting if not even moreso! than what he does when he performs live??? Your thoughts, please... edit: glitch [Edited 7/11/07 0:01am] Could you specify what it is that you feel is missing? | |
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RealMusician said: Snap said: What I was gonna say was...
Most all of us have seen Prince perform live, even if just on television or video, and we've seen him do AMAZING things during these performances. So why is it, when the pressure's off and he's in a controlled environment with every thinkable studio gadget he could possibly want, with as much time and effort that he could possibly need... why is it that he can't make his studio recordings sound as good and exciting if not even moreso! than what he does when he performs live??? Your thoughts, please... edit: glitch [Edited 7/11/07 0:01am] Could you specify what it is that you feel is missing?  | |
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My guess is simple - prince is a perfectionist in the studio, and keeps fiddling & overdoing songs....but when he is live, he doesnt have the ability to go back and change something | |
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exactly | |
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Prince likes his songs polished not gritty.
I've always thought that Prince would do nicely in a Live Studio album. With a Producer who specializes in that type of stuff like like Eno, or Daniel Lanois. after the work is finish they need to handcuff prince so he doesn't touch the mixing and mastering session to get his co-producer cred... That type of album would be awesome... I am a Rail Road, Track Abandoned
With the Sunset forgetting, i ever Happened http://www.myspace.com/stolenmorning | |
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He's probably more of an entertainer and performer than just say a producer or singer.
Some people who sound great in a studio recording sound effing terrible live and don't draw you in with their performances. We all know Prince draws you in! It's like some entertainers are better dancers or singers etc He's a better live performer. Plus, with his newer songs he seems to give his studio voice that nasally tone like in Guitar when his voice doesn't really sound like that live. To me the nasal tone gives the songs a cheap, shiny new feel I don't like. | |
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I'm sure that Prince is an AWESOMElive artist, but I have to say that the 90% of his songs sound MUCH better in their original studio versions.  | |
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JoeTyler said: I'm sure that Prince is an AWESOMElive artist, but I have to say that the 90% of his songs sound MUCH better in their original studio versions.
 | |
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It's the way it's engineered and mastered.
There's no dynamics, poor compressed, lifeless sound [Edited 7/11/07 3:27am] | |
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I think it's because the visual element is missing from the studio recordings. At a concert, you have not just audible sensation, but visual also. It's more than just a sound experience when you see him live. So, there is the added excitement of the visuals, the crowd atmosphere, the interaction, etc. I saw a show about Kiss. Because they were so famous for their live shows, they decided to record "Kiss Alive." They recorded a series of live shows. Once they started mastering the album, they realized that it just wasn't the same as the live show because the concert atmosphere was missing (smoke, lights, makeup, crowd dynamics, etc.). So, they ended up re-recording most of it in the studio to try and re-create the live feel. They kind of succeeded, but it still fell far short of recreating the live experience, adding additional crowd noise, sounds of explosions, etc.). Think about Sign of the Times, the movie. Most of it was the exact same audio as the album. However, on the big screen, it had an added element that is missing from the album. Even though it is a great album, the move takes it that extra step. I know ONA Live and It Ain't Over had that live feel, but still nothing like seeing Prince live. There's my two cents. [Edited 7/11/07 3:45am] | |
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gmcb said: I think it's because the visual element is missing from the studio recordings. At a concert, you have not just audible sensation, but visual also. It's more than just a sound experience when you see him live.
I understand what you mean about the visual elements making something a show but I don't think that's what is missing.
Just listening to a live performance is different, without any of the visual aids that go along with it. I think that what happens a lot of the time is that the studio version becomes too clean and clinical. Listen to the studio version of Fury and then listen to a live version. Without any visual elements, there's just so much more energy in the live versions. A lot of it is in the guitar, for some reason it feels like it takes much more of a back set in the studio. It's there but just not so in your face and balls out rocking. RIP  | |
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Snap said: RealMusician said: Could you specify what it is that you feel is missing? No, really. I'm serious. What specific elements? | |
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TheEnglishGent said: gmcb said: I think it's because the visual element is missing from the studio recordings. At a concert, you have not just audible sensation, but visual also. It's more than just a sound experience when you see him live.
I understand what you mean about the visual elements making something a show but I don't think that's what is missing.
Just listening to a live performance is different, without any of the visual aids that go along with it. I think that what happens a lot of the time is that the studio version becomes too clean and clinical. Listen to the studio version of Fury and then listen to a live version. Without any visual elements, there's just so much more energy in the live versions. A lot of it is in the guitar, for some reason it feels like it takes much more of a back set in the studio. It's there but just not so in your face and balls out rocking. Yeah, I understand what you are saying. Okay, you can forget all that crap I wrote about Kiss Alive and all that other BS. It's probably just because Prince if a perfectionist and brains everything to death in the studio. That may be the simpler answer. | |
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gmcb said: I think it's because the visual element is missing from the studio recordings. At a concert, you have not just audible sensation, but visual also. It's more than just a sound experience when you see him live. So, there is the added excitement of the visuals, the crowd atmosphere, the interaction, etc. I saw a show about Kiss. Because they were so famous for their live shows, they decided to record "Kiss Alive." They recorded a series of live shows. Once they started mastering the album, they realized that it just wasn't the same as the live show because the concert atmosphere was missing (smoke, lights, makeup, crowd dynamics, etc.). So, they ended up re-recording most of it in the studio to try and re-create the live feel. They kind of succeeded, but it still fell far short of recreating the live experience, adding additional crowd noise, sounds of explosions, etc.). Think about Sign of the Times, the movie. Most of it was the exact same audio as the album. However, on the big screen, it had an added element that is missing from the album. Even though it is a great album, the move takes it that extra step. I know ONA Live and It Ain't Over had that live feel, but still nothing like seeing Prince live. There's my two cents.
[Edited 7/11/07 3:45am] Gonna have to disagree with ya on this. I have a LOT of live tracks by Prince on my ipod where it would be just a listening experience...not visual. About 90% of the time I go for the live vesions!...But hey, thats just me! | |
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I think it depends on the song
Some songs are waaaay better live: Musicology, Fury, etc Others are much better in studio: When doves cry, If I was your girlfriend, etc Prince tends to overproduce some tracks in the studio, and they usually sound less ´organic´ than live. The best example is ´Fury´: everybody was amazed when he performed it at SNL, but we all knew he would fill it with keyboards in studio... |
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TheEnglishGent said: gmcb said: I think it's because the visual element is missing from the studio recordings. At a concert, you have not just audible sensation, but visual also. It's more than just a sound experience when you see him live.
I understand what you mean about the visual elements making something a show but I don't think that's what is missing.
Just listening to a live performance is different, without any of the visual aids that go along with it. I think that what happens a lot of the time is that the studio version becomes too clean and clinical. Listen to the studio version of Fury and then listen to a live version. Without any visual elements, there's just so much more energy in the live versions. A lot of it is in the guitar, for some reason it feels like it takes much more of a back set in the studio. It's there but just not so in your face and balls out rocking. It's because the energy is completely different in a live performance. There, he's vibing off other musicians and the audience -- and free to move around as he likes. Every performance is different, too -- which creates a whole 'nother variable. It's completely different in a studio, where he works alone most of the time -- laying individual track upon individual track. I've worked in television and radio...and I've also worked on a stage. The stage experience is completely different -- even if you have an audience in the studio. In the studio, you're tied to a mic and have to be mindful of recording equipment, etc. Onstage, you're free to roam -- and the energy of the audience helps to carry you along. That's why a lot of actors think of the house as another actor. If the house is dead -- or extremely "live" -- it can radically change a performance. We don’t mourn artists because we knew them. We mourn them because they helped us know ourselves. | |
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Prince tries to have a unique futuristic cold studio energy that lacks traditional live-energy-arrangements most of the time, but many of his studio cuts beat down his live versions, so I disagree.
Let's just start with Let's Go Crazy. The long 12" version is far better than almost any live version. Same goes for When doves Cry, or Irresistible bitch, New Position, Housequake (loses it's crazy hyper electronic identity live), Sign o The Times, SuperFunkycalifragisexi, thunder, Gett off, Joy in Repetition (studio version is still deeper), Bob George, Eye No, My Name is Prince, Sexy MF, 3 chains of Gold, 319, P-control, The One, Erotic City... I need to get back to work... My art book: http://www.lulu.com/spotl...ecomicskid
VIDEO WORK: http://sharadkantpatel.com MUSIC: https://soundcloud.com/ufoclub1977 | |
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Genesia said: TheEnglishGent said: I understand what you mean about the visual elements making something a show but I don't think that's what is missing.
Just listening to a live performance is different, without any of the visual aids that go along with it. I think that what happens a lot of the time is that the studio version becomes too clean and clinical. Listen to the studio version of Fury and then listen to a live version. Without any visual elements, there's just so much more energy in the live versions. A lot of it is in the guitar, for some reason it feels like it takes much more of a back set in the studio. It's there but just not so in your face and balls out rocking. It's because the energy is completely different in a live performance. There, he's vibing off other musicians and the audience -- and free to move around as he likes. Every performance is different, too -- which creates a whole 'nother variable. It's completely different in a studio, where he works alone most of the time -- laying individual track upon individual track. I've worked in television and radio...and I've also worked on a stage. The stage experience is completely different -- even if you have an audience in the studio. In the studio, you're tied to a mic and have to be mindful of recording equipment, etc. Onstage, you're free to roam -- and the energy of the audience helps to carry you along. That's why a lot of actors think of the house as another actor. If the house is dead -- or extremely "live" -- it can radically change a performance. ditto what she said. There is a completely different process involved for recording and album vs. a live performance. Think of it akin to a movie U liked vs. a play that U liked. The wonderous live element of a performance, the energey that flows back and forth between performer and audience is exponential. When U listen to a record, that flow is static, it can't change, grow, shrink...it's the same forever. This aspect has a huge impact on it interpretation. I think Prince should revisit recording w/ a live band and avoid the track by track process. Things don't come out sounding as perfect but at least the live element is captured. He's a perfectionist so it's difficult for him, but it would help him acheiv different sounds, let his guard down a little and more open to the input of others, which can't hurt. I'm sure he'll get around to it, as much as he changes. | |
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Prince's funk is, as he says, multi-layered. He can't replicate live what he does in the studio, either. There's just too much going on in the studio tracks.
And this is precisely what I love about the guy, and why I consider him a genius. He can make songs that on their face are timeless, yet almost everytime you listen to them you hear something new. Then he can take that same tapestry of brilliance and pare it down into an uncomparable live track. He is a complete master. | |
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For a lot of musicians (especially pop musicians), it's the exact opposite. Decent albums, horrible live.
I always thought it was fitting that the Grammys were awarded by the Academy of Recording Arts & Science. Producing a great studio album is science. Creating great live music is an art. Prince's albums are okay, but they are technically weak in terms of production, as we've discussed many, many times. They'll never sound as good as live, but they could sound a whole lot better. Also, I think Prince wrote a lot of his songs with the idea that they would be performed live. | |
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Another example of his genius: "Take Me With U".
Check out the bridge. In the part where he sings "I don't care if we spend the night in your mansion" and "I don't care if we spend the night on the town", he wrote that to be sung over an F major 7 chord, and that's the way it was recorded and played for 20 years. Listen to the "Purple Rain" album version. You'll hear no chord changes in those bars. Then listen to the ONA Live version. He added a chord in there. It's a G chord with A note (written as G/A) that comes in at "spend the night in your mansion" and "spend the night on the town". It adds a fantastic texture to the line. What kind of artist goes back and re-writes a short part of the music for a song written twenty years ago? And improves it? IMHO, a genius. | |
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He tend to record all the instruments/parts all by himself for songs that would scream for a full band recording (Fury for example  ) and I think this one-man band thing often makes the songs lose lots of energy and magic...
Live recordings give the songs lots of air - and I need to breathe that air!
Just think about Power Fantastic or Purple Rain.
. [Edited 7/11/07 7:52am] | |
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Prince is an experimentalist. And that's all he's doing is experimenting so don't take it too harsh or seroiusly. Peace and be wild! | |
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He's too busy in the studio...busy ruining his recordings with overproduction. | |
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Jimmy Page once said that Led Zeppelin's studio albums were just the soundtrack to their live shows.
As someone else said, Prince is a perfectionist, and sometimes tends to keep adding and adding to songs in the studio until they lose their original spirit. "Endorphinmachine" is the best example of this. But live, he has outstanding musicians to work, a spontaneous environment, and the energy of the crowd to feed off of. | |
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