City Lights...representing the eighties.

RodeoSchro said:

Statements like this shows me that u aint a true music lover. In music only the music matters. Of course its great to see an artist play cuz then u r as close 2 musical creation as u can get. But to say u prefer 2 listen 2 studio albums and u only enjoy live material when u have moving pictures 2 support the sound is pretty damn sad. If u have a true appreciation of music u will sit and listen hard. Sometimes its better than seeing the artist play because u are not being distracted by showmanship and gags. When I go to see a live gig, I sit down and close my eyes... and I feel the music...

Some critics are bashing ONA Live. Here's my take on it...

Okay first up Prince is entitled to release whatever HE sees fit. It's HIS first live album and HE decides what goes on it. ONA Live obviously reflects HIS state of mind right now and which songs HE is happiest playing.

The RAVE DVD was released less than 2 years ago.I know most fans dont seem to care much for it but it covers both of the areas you mention.Its loaded with nothing but the hits, and it is a visual experience.I wouldve liked to see the ONA show on DVD as well too tho.
I think ,in his own way, Prince is distancing himself a bit from some of the hits he has performed over the years,
and thats not necessarily a bad thing.

Statements like yours show me you are young, immature and in desparate need of horizon-expansion.


u got no clue about my age and spiritual maturity.


First of all, I didn't say I only enjoy live material when I have moving pictures to support the sound (that was a well-turned phrase, by the way). I did make essentially that point with ONA Live, but you mistakenly expanded my view to include all live material ever produced. Nothing could be further from the truth.


u were only refering 2 ONA live and it sounded like a general interpretation of live music. better make urself clear next time.


When you watch an artist play, you are NOT close to "musical creation". You are watching musical INTERPRETATION. The creation of the music occurred when the artist first wrote and played the song. I highly doubt that any of us will ever witness Prince put lyrics on a sheet of paper, or see him flesh out a melody on his piano. But if we do, only then can we say we were at the creation of the music.


The musicians I have seen live DO in fact CREATE on stage. Ever seen Miles? Herbie? Fela Kuti? Any musician who uses the means of improvisation is actually CREATING while on stage, even if he fits the improvised chords in a nutshell of pre-arranged composition. Every single performance of John Coltrane was a masterpiece of creation, which was sincerely exposed to the viewer and listener.



Musical INTREPRETATION is, by definition, open to interpretation. I'm a pretty skilled musician myself, and I dig anyone who has the guts to lay his fingers on the keys or fretboard and open up his mouth to the world.


not subject 2 my objection.


But that doesn't mean that I'm going to like every single performance done by an artist. You can take any of Prince's songs that he has performed live, and I guarantee you he will tell you there are nights where he absolutely slayed the song, just as there are nights where he'll feel he played it about as poorly as it can be played.


u r making urself more clear now than u did b4.



Most nights you have it, but some nights you don't. Every musician in the world will tell you that. (So will every athlete.)

I've seen ONA Live, and that is the reason I have the perspective on this set that I do. That's why I said, at the end of my piece, it was my OPINION.

Art is subjective. It also takes many forms, including visual. Your woefully inadequate generalization is at best ill-informed; at worst, an insult.


how so?



And I have a question for you: You said, "(W)hen I go to see a live gig, I sit down and close my eyes... and I feel the music".

If you close your eyes, why do you even bother going at all?


obviously u havent been 2 a real concert yet. its about energy. the energy u can feel while great music is being created. closed eyes open ur senses 2 that very energy.

IrishGecko said:

Get off your snotty elitist high horse. Anyone that likes music is a music lover. Nice princebonics. The rest of us dont pay 125 bucks a pop to close our eyes when prince is standing a few rows in front of us.

rdhull said:

city lights is an awesome set...


hotdammit.
[This message was edited Fri Jan 10 16:11:42 PST 2003 by Handclapsfingasnapz]

Some critics are bashing ONA Live. Here's my take on it...

Okay first up Prince is entitled to release whatever HE sees fit. It's HIS first live album and HE decides what goes on it. ONA Live obviously reflects HIS state of mind right now and which songs HE is happiest playing.

BUT IMHO...

he should have included a few more of his better known songs to make it more representative of his career at large. The two concert CDs both have approx 15 mins space on them so he could easily have included three more songs on each. Would it really have been such a bad thing to have added (not at the expense of anything) songs like "Let's Go Crazy", "Sign O The Times", "Kiss", "Little Red Corvette", "Controversy", "Seven", "Cream", "Partyman", "Peach", "Gold", "TMBGITW", "ICNTTPOYM", "Endorphinmachine" etc

The BIG problem with any live CD is that it misses (for me) the whole experience of a live concert - being able to HEAR and SEE an artist at work. I have never bought a live CD from any other artist (I do not see the point - and I expect most of the general public feel the same towards Prince) but I have bought U2 Live DVDs, for example.

I know that I will continue to watch my Lovesexy live videos more than I will listen to ONA Live (even though as a long term fan I do love ONA Live as it reminds me of the excellent concerts I attended).

I think it is a shame Prince did not include a few more well known songs, it would have made the set more complete because, as some critics allude to, this should be seen as an important release by one of the best live acts of his generation. Also think the general public might be a little more interested.

Just wondered what other people think?

NPGMCsucks said:

not my fault if u have no appreciation for good music. so far the only thing u spread on this site is negativity. I am no prince follower. I do have a critical distance. but I am ready to evaluate my opinion, unlike u. and yes, my princebonics are nice. kinda hard to keep them steady

Your tastes in music are not the quintessential standard. And what you seem to have a hard time comprehending is just because someone doesn't like the exact same music or style of music you do doesn't mean they lack an appreciation of good music.

People that come on here and talk down to everyone who doesnt worship prince's every move are spreading quite a bit of negativity themselves. check yourself.

NPGMCsucks said:

U should change ur name 2 "IlliteracySucks". I neither made my musical taste the quintessential standard (I just pointed out that there is good music being CREATED on stage) nor did I anywhere worship Prince's every move. Where did ya read that? In fact I disapprove many things Prince does and the Club does. However, I criticize 2 the point instead of just whining like u do.

So please go back and check my posts so u can find out that ur last post was pure nonsense.

now quit spreading negativity...