Ok, so now we've officially seen it all. And heard it all,thanks to Jeffrey Soffer, heir to the Turnberry throne, who threw himself a 40th birthday spectacular (to the tune of $2 million, we hear) in the Turnberry Aviation hangar last night at the Opa Locka Executive Airport. Besides the elaborate open bars, constant flowing Veuve Cliquot, and gourmet food served in that inimitable, over the top Karla Dascal way, Soffer hired Prince--the Prince, his purple highness, to perform a private concert for a few hundred of his closest friends. But it wasn't just a quick sampling of Prince's greatest hits, either. It was a fan-*ucking-tastic full blown concert (he sang Cream, Purple Rain, 1999, U Got the Look, Controversy, Let's Go Crazy, I Feel For You, Nothing Compares 2 U, and several others), featuring marvelous backup singers, dancing twins, brass band, and a legend who seemed to be in his element, happy to perform for such an intimate crowd. He also spoke to and made eye contact with the crowd--a rarity, saying that even though we should all have a good time, there is still a war going on out there. At one point, Prince invited dazed and dazzled audience members to join him on stage for a group dance. Spotted plotzing in the crowd with the rest of us: DJ Tracy Young, movie director Brett Ratner, who told us that he was working on his next flick--the story of Playboy titan Hugh Hefner, Ingrid Casares with A-Rod, Rony Seikaly, Jorge Perez, and Soffer family friends James Caan and George Hamilton, who joined the elder Soffer, Donald, on stage to wish Jeffrey a fab 40. There was no need to wish such a thing. It was beyond fab, and at least for one night, 40 was the new 20 and 30.

And PS: We showed up late. Soffer also had K.C. and The Sunshine Band as Prince's opening act.

http://blogs.herald.com/s...e_tropics/

LoveSxy1958 said:

Wow. Prince is now officially simply a cartoon of his prior self, making all the $$$ he can off it. Yea, more power to him blah blah blah

When was this? Oh, 15 December? Where is this Turnberry hanger?

Ah Florida! Shall I just answer my own questions?
[Edited 12/17/07 20:57pm]

Is this the first concert he's done since the O2 in London?

LoveSxy1958 said:

thought he said he wasn't gonna per4m "1999" live after 1999...

oh man, this story is ripe for jokes to be made. too easy.

What the heck

raveun2thejoyfantastic said:

He played it sveral times after that.
Even at an aftershow in London.

Gettin paid

udo said:

He played it at the main arena concert on 6 September, 2nd song, after opening with Let's Go Crazy! Brilliant!

He needs money to keep paying the lawyers and Web Sheriff. You're a real winner, Prance!

JOYJOY said:

Well, after thinking about it, I don't really care if he does things like this if it means he keeps the ticket prices low for all us 'normal' fans!! Why not make some money out of the people that can afford it, and give the rest of us a treat! Robin Hood...

I've said it before and I'll keep saying it until somebody pays attention...there's just something...NOT RIGHT...WEIRD...STRANGE...AWKWARD...FRIGHTENING...PITIFUL and SAD...about Prince suddenly seeming like he'll do ANYTHING for MONEY!!!!!

It bears repeating...there's just something...NOT RIGHT...WEIRD...STRANGE...AWKWARD...FRIGHTENING...PITIFUL and SAD...about PRINCE suddenly seeming like he'll do ANYTHING for MONEY!!!!!

I don't know what the hell is wrong! I don't even know why the hell I still care but SOMETHING is NOT RIGHT about Prince For Hire!
[Edited 12/18/07 3:06am]

SexyBeautifulOne said:

I do know what you mean, it doesn't quite gel with my impression of him / impression I've always had of him either but ..... I don't know what to say except see my comment above...

Yeah, he's such a sellout.

For God's sake, all big acts do this. I was under the impression that he does music for a living.

I really don't care what anyone has to say about "everyone else is doing it" or "taking from the rich to give to the poor". I really don't!

You can't excuse away reality. It is what it is! All of my gut instincts are telling me that the reality of this particular situation is...SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT! Red flags have been flying all over the place for quite a while now. Excuses just aren't working anymore at shielding their visibility from those paying attention.

SexyBeautifulOne said:

Well, maybe it would be nice if you did care about what other people have to say sometimes?

What ARE you trying to say? You say something is not right - what are your thoughts?

udo said:

and mainshow too, in fact when he opened with it on the 14th August he said "I know what we said" with a big smile on his face. I know this because I was in the front row!

I just don't get that Soffer dude. He could have hired me for half the money. Instead of doing that he's hiring some 49 year old purple gnome.

it's rare for him to make eye contact with the crowd?? well dang no wonder I was getting congratulated by fellow fans at 3121 when Prince nodded at me and smiled when I held up my sign...I feel special now

I'm not hating on his hustle...just wish he would balance things out by performing at charitable events like Live Earth(which the song Planet EARTH wouldve been perfect for and prolly boosted album sales) instead of just performing for a profit all the time or hijacking fashion shows (aka chelsea rodgers) to stay hip....actually a Benefit hosted by Prince with him performing and also featuring performances of a wide range of musical guests...everyone from Stevie Wonder to Beyonce would be UBER COOL and would give him some great PR among alot of people young and old.
[Edited 12/18/07 7:52am]

betcha he's only doing it so that he can raise enuff money to buy back his masters from WB.

If he was doing it for the money surely he would still be on tour taking money off 22,000 people a night at a time? It's probably hilarious to do a show to a room full of 'celebs'

cool, I want to hire Prince

Wow....a musician getting paid to perform his music..What a shocking concept! Its not like he was hired to juggle monkey's nuts.....

.
[Edited 3/4/08 2:00am]

Klyph said:

when I was at Ani Difranco's poetry reading earlier this year, she was talking about how artists need to be paid just like everyone else, and a large amount of our society has yet to recognize the arts as REAL WORK that needs and deserves compensation.

I think the difference is that true artists have to find a way to make their art and make money, while staying as true to themselves as possible. Starting an independent label? Cool. Writing SLAVE on your face? Why not?! Giving away your CDs with Concert Tickets? Brilliant.
But whoring yourself out and exploiting your own music for as a clown for some bajillionares birthday party is a little strange for him. not that it's necessarily WRONG.
It's just that Prince has always been so innovative and dignified, it's kinda like a bad joke.

I'm just curious how Prince reconciles the fact that JWs don't celebrate birthdays with him getting paid $$$ to play for someone celebrating theirs. And it's not a one off type of deal--he's played several private bday gigs for the über rich and not really famous in the past year.

TheJourney4all7 said:

P.S. I do get that it's just a stupid party & not a big deal. I just needed my moment on the soapbox.

Milty said:

God your a hot ticket!