I'm sure this thread has been done before but I'm posting it as a way to find out about performances maybe I'm unaware of. Here are what I think are Prince's 3 best TV performances in ascending order:

3. 1987 MTV Music Awards: First just Prince by himself under a spot - or is that some weird hippie? Then in a split second there's about 400 people on stage. Can't keep up, which is just how I like it with Prince. And the new music was out of left field.

2. 2007 Suer Bowl: Just so you never forget who the best performer is today.

3. 1985 American Music Awards: Is this everybody's favorite? Serious chills when he knocks over the mic stand. And he looks like he is going to bust out in tears any second, which is appropriate to the song. This is my favorite because it is authentic Prince saying "Things will be different from here on out"

What do yalls think?

I've only seen "2"! Guess I'll have to check the others out...

Yes to all.

I would like to add to his best,

MTV awards - '91 Gett Off!!!!

Brit awards '06 - Medley - with Wendy, Lisa and Sheila E - This performance for me was the one that dreams are mad of!!!

Grammys '04 - Medley - Even though Beyonce just got a bit too big for her boots!

Super Bowl performance is probably #1 for me

SNL 15th Anniversary performance of "Electric Chair"

Even though it was lipsynched, I loved the AMA performance

The Tonight Show performance of "Musicology" just for the way he danced over to his seat at the end. That was awesome.

The Tonight Show performance of "Everlasting Now" is great.

mentalist said:

My sentiments exactly
I'm so glad I have this one saved so I can view it whenever I want.
Everything about it was just beautiful, but nothing compared how Prince looked. What he wore and also how he acts. He gave "professional" a whole new definition and even a minute into it, I'm shaking my head wondering how its possible that someone so beautiful inside and out can exist.
No lie, my favorite part of the performance was "Te Amo Corazon"... his motions were so fluid throughout that and there was a serene look about him that made it seem as effortless as breathing.

The SuperBowl takes 2nd place for me simply because it's the best HalfTime show I've seen in my 11 or so years of being a football fan and I've seen plenty others... most of which made me wanna because I cared more about the game. Only Prince can make something as important to me as a football fan as Peyton Manning getting in2 the Superbowl and winning it seem secondary.
In retrospect, this year's SuperBowl had the much better game because there was more competitiveness than I've seen in the NFL in a long time.
I'm big enough of a football fan for the SuperBowl to be one of the biggest nights of the year for me... only Prince can make such a splash that the Superbowl was reduced to seeing someone I'd been curious about for years reveal himself 2b a sun among all the other stars at least in my eyes

mentalist said:

Oooh, oooh, I forgot last years performance with Sheila for the Latin music awards. That rocked too!!!

to me - the ones i like - are the ones where AFTERwards ... i have felt "he nailed it " ...

some that come to mind : **the Latin performance with Sheila E , etc ,**the Super Bowl , **Sat night live (both Electric Chair performance and the newest one - with FURY and BLand B ) , the **HALL OF FAME performances and the **04 Grammy with beyonce (altho i dont like to watch that one since - beyonce kinda wears on me with that performance)

incidently - there are a few i thought he "didnt nail" - namely the lip synched "pussy control" (world awards ???), the 91 MTV (assless pants , ugh ) , American Idol (his hair was messed up , poor song choices , can u imagine if he had sung kiss or somethin everyone wanted to hear ???)

I would add his VH1 Honors performance of Interactive and Endorphine Machine.

He definitely nailed that one.


Later

This has been a topic on here a few times. My top pick will NEVER change. And that was his live performance in 85 at the American Music Awards. P simply turned it out. I was so happy that he chose to perform the song that he did. P had so much to prove and he let it all go during this song. He was screaming like a fucking lunatic. And his guitar solo was hella loud and passionate. Like it should be. One of the best performances EVER on t.v. P's and Michael's Billie Jean on Motown's special just a few years before put everybody else to shame. Those two performances caught two of the greatest entertainers in their prime. And I'm blessed to have seen them when it was originally aired. THAT is what u do whenever u perform at an award show or special. U want to totally floor your musical peers and blow them away. U want to make them motherfuckers wish they weren't even in the same business as u. That's what P and MJ did on those nights.

the ja leno show sometime in 2006

Arsenio Hall Show was the shit both cuz they were excellent performances and because I was there front and center.

SO SO many great per4mances.I really can't pick only 1!

how about the Vibe performance?

baby i'm a star grammy awards 85

special olympics awards 92

arsenio hall 1992

SNL 1989

VH1 honors 1994

Love 4 One Another per4mance of days of wild how sick is that shit!!

the alma awards THAT'S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT

the WORST was the superbowl sellout mf!!!

SNL FURY : blown away.

AMA Purple Rain performance : genius at work.

Super Bowl : what a pro.

SNL Electric Chair : so funky

L4OATheOriginal said:

YES!!! That one is absolutely amazing.

Arsenio Hall in 1991 ... It was so new to everyone to see Prince on a talk show. The show received so many letters that they had to repeat the show in October (the night of the mega storm). It added so much to the Diamonds and Pearls and the so called "Come back." He was just in raw form that night...laughing, dancing...everyone (even non Prince fans) were talking about it. Plus, we got to see the game boyz and Rosie....what a great night....


Pop daddy, daddy pop

No one mentioned AMA in '95 when he sat up from the floor and went right into Billy Jack Bitch.... WOW

paisley4me said:

Superbowl!!!

Superbowl performance

American Idol performance

Good Morning America performance

prime said:

Was that the "Morning Papers" performance?
Love that One!!

unclenick1871 said:

was Cream performance ... Mayte wasnt with him yet..

My favorites in no particular order

1)Fury- SNL: This was probably the most unexpected Prince performance. 'Cause most of the people watching probably expected to do "Black Sweat". He just went out there and wrecked shit. We should've known we were in trouble when before Steve Martin could even get his name out. You hear him yell "1,2," to the band.

2)Medley Performance at The Grammys w/ Beyonce- Love it or hate it. This performance showed the rest of the world that Prince is still the shit!!!

3)Purple Rain @ the 1985 American Music Awards- This performance shows a superstar in their prime. Like Jordan @ The NBA Finals. When he kicked his mic stand over, that was the musical equivalent of hitting a three pointer, looking over @ Marv Albert & Magic Johnson & shrugging his shoulders

4)Endorphinmachine on European Television- I don't know where this took place, I'm gonna say Germany. But there's a version of him doing a killer version of this song in Black & White. This was during a period where Prince was pissed off, and he obviously took it out on his guitar!!! Just an incredible performance!!!

5)Prince gets inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame- I'm gonna count the entire night as one kick ass performance. This came right off the heels off great performances on The Grammys, The Tonight Show, & Ellen. So it was obvious to everyone in the room that the entire night belonged to Prince. From a killer version of Sign O' The Times featuring a great performance from his top-notch rhythm section of Rhonda Smith & John Blackwell. To his jaw-dropping, holy shit, did you see that guitar solo during an All-Star rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps". This night showed that even though he was being inducted into the Hall of Fame. Prince was FAR from being retired!!!
[Edited 3/14/08 20:26pm]

I don't remember the 1985 awards...I Loved the Superbowl, and Fury, and the awards show with Stevie and Chaka...I enjoy what I see.

hall of fame - i only saw a clip, but still my fave...he was smoothing it tht night. he looked gawjus 2.

snl performance of fury...wild & rawwr performance. guitarzan!

superbowl..wow! respect! guitargasm

brits 06 made my mind wander til it left completely

paisley4me said:

In no particular order:

Superbowl 2007
Superbowl press conference 2007
RR Hall of Fame 2004
SNL "Fury" 2006
SNL "Dirty Mind" era 1981 (I think)
VH1 Honors mid 90s
Grammy Awards 1985
Arsenio Hall 1991
Chris Rock show mid90s ("Facedown" w/MJ kick move)
American Music Awards 1985 (I think)
MTV (acoustic guitar show and Sway interview) 2004
..and yes...American Bandstand '79 (w/Dick Clark attempted interview)

BTW-does the Undertaker special count as a TV appearance?

That's all I can think of for now.

Electric Chair - 1989 - SNL 15th Anniv.
Peach - 1994 - MTV Europe Awards
P Control - 1995 - VH1 Fashion Awards
Everlasting Now - 2002 - Tonight Show
Fury - 2007 - SNL

1. 87 MTV awards
2. Under the Cherry MOon premier on MTV
3. Enforphine and Interactive on VH1
4. 85 AMA i guess

worst:

the assless pants...couldnt show my face at school for days.
[Edited 3/15/08 10:18am]