My third Prince concert ever. I was so enthousiastic. The one Parade concert I saw was so overwhelming, I made myself a promise not to miss any Prince concert in Holland ever again.
I remember being so nervous; the SOTT rocked my world; I loved almost every song on there.

Then June 19th rocked my world, but most of all, it grounded my love for Prince music. The show was a format, sure, but aren't all shows? It sure was something; Prince performing mostly new songs to an adoring audience.
And we lapped it up. I can hear the audience anticipation on my tapes still; crowd is going koo-koo for everything.

But dayum, it is nice to be able to hear this again. And isn't it weird that back in the day I could see the same show eight times in one month and still not be tired of it? Cuz of his voice, the songs, the entourage, the stage, the lighting, the arrangements, the vitality of the music?

And isn't it understandable that it is becuz of this I was probably spoiled for life? Prince was right; the only competition is himself, in the past. To me, that line from Don't Play Me was spot on; he was admitting he understood the power and brilliance of his back catalogue. But dayum, I would pay good money to hear him do a show with storng new material and HATE, HATE, HATE he opts for Play That Funky Music instead of wooing me with Somewhere Here On Earth and One Nite Alone, both songs I love to death and I still got to catch him perform them live.

The SOTT was SO tight. It was so concentrated. The funk served right, the dance routines tongue in cheek. The ballads poignant, the hits tightly arranged.
And that aarangement of I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man.

But most, most, most of all; the most amazing arrangement of Forever In My Life he ever did. Prince's music stole my soul that evening in that stadium, with that pulsating beat, that calming guitar and the waves of lighters that pulsed in sync with the beat, from the stage to the top of the tiers, out into the night sky.

I want my Prince back. Already. Damn.

I'm sure magical moments will return one day. He loves them as much as the fans.

HamsterHuey said:

the housequake quote is great, but the statement is kinda sad. you want something that will never happen. artists and their output change.

i wish i could have seen that concert.

dawntreader said:

I know it's a sad statement. But grant me my nostalgic moment, awright. I know artists change; I know Prince isn't interested in sliding by Cat and ripping off her miniskirt, but I wish he's bring some parts of his work ethic back from those days, like presenting us with a solid album and show.

Then again, common, he's 50. So I know that ain't going to happen. He's like the Rolling Stones now. Oldies that present oldies shows. It's just that my kind of nostalgic is just way different than all the others that surrounded me iat the O2, that's all.

HamsterHuey said:

Galgenwaard.... my first ever Prince concert of many to come.

I fully share your sentiment,
I want THAT Prince back. I've been wanting that since 1994

HamsterHuey said:

the whole O2 adventure was pretty solid (yet different) in my opinion. the fever about it in western Europe and London specifically, the free album, the aftershows, the guests etc. it may have been an "oldies" show, but he is still on top of everything.

I never saw SOTT live, but of course I've worn out the video and it gives me goosebumps every time.

I agree with your feelings Mr. Hamster, very much so. He kept the energy going for a very long time, even doing some fantastic dancing on the Oprah show back in 2000 when he was..what, 42? His performance of 'Let's Work' from another show around that time is also incredible.

He had such passion for his craft, for the music, that he could run on adrenaline despite his age.

So, he fought the ravages of time better than anyone else I know, but the physical and mental well does eventually run dry. The problem I sometimes have is that I see pictures of his face and he sometimes looks so young so I find myself wondering why he's not leaping about the stage anymore, then I remember he's practically 50.

So, now it's more about the guitar playing and the fact that he's Prince and no matter what he'll always make my heart beat faster. I guess we should all be grateful that his peak is well documented on film and record, and that's a legacy no-one is probably ever going to eclipse.

I've been listening to SoTT the last couple of days. It's good to go back to old albums. And SoTT is still exceptional.

My first Prince show was last year. I listen to Prince or look at my photos of my trips to London and my heart feels heavy with loss. The build up for me was more a pilgrimage. My wife still laughs at how I was like a child when he appeared from the stage floor. I was screaming and jumping up and down at everybody around me, "It's Prince! It's Prince!" Truth be told I have tears in my eyes right now just remembering it.

Three main shows we went to. First time he failed to show at the aftershow. We got back to our hotel and I cried my eyes out through sorrow and exhaustion. Second time we took our daughter and had floor seats. He played till 3am at IndigO2. Final time was the final night. We had poor seats and no aftershow tickets. It tore me apart. It still does. But I am so happy that I got to see him and realise how fortunate I have been.

It's funny how one man and his music can make such an impact on one's life. He is no different to any of us. I don't think I idolise Prince the man. I idolise the spirit of life that comes from him. I don't follow any religion but I do like to believe in a greater power. A greater good if you will. I believe in love I know that much. And I feel it so much from Prince's music and his utter devotion to it. It's just a terrible thing that he may not offer us the chance to see him perform again. God I hope that doesn't happen.

dawntreader said:

True, but there are just so many versions of Purple Rain and Nothing Compares 2 U a person can handle. I mean, I wish I could say hearing/seeing him play those songs is a blast every time, but that ain't the case. I know I am talking from a very selfish, spoiled point of view. And seeing him play Purple Rain is okay, even though it never was my favourite song. I also hated him fro only playing Nothing Compares until after someone else turned it into a hit. I never liked the song in any of Prince's versions and consider it Sinaed's for starters, but he always bleeds the song to death.

But my woe comes from the fact he cannot seem to make an album that pleases himself. I mean, if it was pleasing to him, he would play the songs somewhat more often, now wouldn't he? So even though I cannot blame him for going for the easy commercial way, performing oldie shows, I do blame him for seemingly being bored or blasé about his own new music. Just go back to the playlists and count how often and which songs he played from his recent album.

Like I said; I yearn to hear One Nite Alone, Somewhere Here On Earth and Planet Earth live. [in spoiled Tricky voice] But nooooo. Take Me With U. I mean, really.

And hell, I was shown that that is exactly what most people wanna hear. So I know I am a spoiled brat. And it is still fun to see him play the audience. It's what he is good at. And I loved to be able to hear him freak with the band during that Miles Davis tune. And he can still make songs that did not sound spectacular on album sound spectacular live, like Satisfied.

But I want to be satisfied all of the time during a concert. And Prince just gotta work somewhat harder to make me pay attention again. Hehehe. Not that he cares, of course. Again, look at how the audience ate everything he offered. It made me sad. Especially if I hear the audience participation on those Galgenwaard tapes.

I mean, what can beat that exploding sound of an amazed crowd at the beauty of those flashing lights during Forever In My Life, as can be seen in the movie, partly, cuz nothing can beat standing in that sea of flashing, pulsing lights and have Prince play guitar and sing THAT song.
Or the amazed voice on the tape of one of the men in the audience, proclaiming in Dutch; "Moet je kijken, joh!"

En ik keek.

I loved reading this thread. It brought back wonderful memories of that awesome era even though I never got a chance to see that show cuz it never made it to the states but I loved those songs and the movie SOTT was good enough for me at the time even if we were under the impression that it was to be a world tour. My first shows were the Lovesexy Shows in LA. You are so lucky to have gone to this show 8 nights in a row plus a Parade show as well.

PEJ said:

Then again, I silently curse everyone who was able to see the Dirty Mind tour. Now that was one I wanted to see.

HamsterHuey said:

he did play that one

dawntreader said:

Yeah, just not on any of the dates I went. So I have to guess.

those where the days...

Ahh, feeling nostalgic Huey? Great writing, loved it and I agree. Especially love your closing statements! Well done!

HamsterHuey said:

Let me see here... third Prince concert, only saw one Parade show...

so we are expected to believe that you were at the Paradiso gig in '81 huh?

sexciting times indeed.

HamsterHuey said:

Hehehehe... I have that with the Parade tour, you lucky f*ck

MartyMcFly said:

No. I should have specified, you are right. I just got a tape of the second SOTT show. I saw all SOTT shows and one Parade show.

I was so glad he came to Holland in 1986. I massively enjoyed the show, until a classmate, who had attended another Parade show then I had asked me if they played Manic Monday on my date as well. Which was not the case.

I then made a vow never to miss another Prince show in Holland ever again, which I kept up. If only I had heard of aftershows, though... cuz I missed him at Het Paard. Alas.

And I kept it up until the ONA tour, when I lived in Paris and I could not be arsed to go back to Holland But I saw the soundcheck, show and aftershow in Paris, so that was awright; esp the aftershow was amazing. Lots of jamming, but with that band... jaw dropping good.

And for that aftershow Prince was in SUCH a good mood. I think he played almost every instrument, used every kind of voice I love. So I was SUCH a happy baby, even though it was the most expensive ticket I ever bought to see him. It was totally worth it.
[Edited 2/22/08 9:17am]

Sander said:

Thanks.

You awright?

HamsterHuey said:

Cool!

HamsterHuey said:

Aha, that's why you responded to my Coitus thread, you knew what I was talking about. Wow, these shows you're talking about were worth an occasional orgasm, right?

CJanssen said:

Well, if you talk about orgasm in the sense of that Prince's music used to blow my mind, then yes.

I adored his 80's output. When that started to falter I always could adore him live.

The O2 shows stopped THAT right in it's tracks. What a bullshit. But then again, I respect other people like that. I mean, to me, Lovesexy shows were amazing, but to peeps who saw him on the Dirty Mind tour that must have been what the O2 shows are to me now; commercial smorgasbord of yuckie goo.

To each their own, but the O2 shows made me sad for musicianship and Prince former brilliance to create NEW music and bring to life OLD music.
Some parts were okay. But that was it. Prince and I are over, it seems, but that is as much me as it is Prince. Sure, Prince got boring, but I also moved away from Prince's new music as it does not speak to me. I have moved onto bands like The Knife, that give me everything I miss in Prince's music; wonder.

Yet you are still typing about him??

HamsterHuey said:

wow!
i was talking 2 someone 2day & stated tht sometimes i wish i hadn't gone 2 o2 concert.
purely because it woke my interest in prince..i was living in ignorant bliss b4 & did not obsess over this guy...!
i followed his stuff till sott, my husband bought lovesexy & all i could remember was the cover/artwork!
tht finished it 4 me! i didn't even listen...
however since o2, i've been listening like a crazy woman 2 all his released stuff till present day.
i can honestly say there isn't anything i dislike & found it really exciting tht an artist has been so diverse & feel a bit daft tht i've ignored him over the years..
i think tht anything he's done in recent years is easily as good, interesting & very sexy..
thts the beauty of his music is tht the vibe is diffent from album 2 album imo.
i mean, anyone totally in love with parade isn't gonna enjoy chaos & d, or probably anything else come 2 that!
i guess u gonna love it or hate it coz each project seems so rad.
he's got loadsa surprises 4 the future...& in the meantime, listen 2 all the other talent thts out there at the mo!

lottielooloo1968 said:

Like I said; to each their own; I am glad you had a blast at the O2!

Welcome in KooKooLand.

barneyboy said:

Hehehe. He is still my favourite singer in the world.

HamsterHuey said:

I sorta got that impression

maybe in hindsight I was lucky that SOTT was cancelled at Wembley and that I could not get tickets for the Lovesexy tour. However, I doubt it, for one very simple reason, Prince instilled a passion for music in me, which I would definitely not have had, had I not been into him in the 80´s. I imagine without what he did back then, I would be into the Bon Jovi´s etc and other such music that was made for people who basically dont like music.

His music and career are inspirational, and it is also fantastic that so many new and young music fans are finding him. Not many artists can lay claim to that type of influence. And fact is LIVE, even today, nobody can touch him, which his aftershows in London proved