I know that it is chic to find news ways to bash Prince these days and those of us who have always loved him are ridiculed as sycophants. But I loved to relive those moments throughout Prince's career that confirm why I love him and have loved him since 1978. Like an athlete scoring the winning point with no time left on the clock, Prince has thrilled me throughout the last 3 decades. I invite anyone share these moments if they truly have them (not if you simply want to be cute and bring something negative in the guise of a joke).

I still love the 1985 performance of Purple Rain at the Grammies (or was it the AMA?) where he kicks over the mic stand. That same year at the AMAs (or was it the Grammies) Prince and Revolution kicked ass with I Would Die 4 U and Prince jumped off the stage topless and ran through the audience. He was officially the baddest rocker on the planet after that.

Rock n Roll Hall of Fame and the infamous solo on When My Guitar Gently Weeps. He was even blowing away the other inductees playing with him! (Tom Petty knows he wanted to squeal when Prince leaned back off the stage and the bodyguard pushed him back up). When he threw the Telecaster in the air and pimped walked off stage, I did squeal like a little girl. I remember thinking "Prince can still kick everyone's ass and he is still the coolest."

I loved the Arsenio Hall Show performances where Arsenio would give him the entire show. WHo else could do that? Daddy Pop jumping off the piano full of balloons and singing with Rosie Gaines - then doing a hook slide into the front row of frantic groupies. Cream and The Max are unforgettable - even with the Game Boyz in the way. That was a great Prince victory that I loved.

[Edited 7/8/10 12:25pm]

The First Musicology show where he became overwhelmed and held his hands to his face as if he was stifling tears because the crowd was so immersed in singing 7 with him.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

The First Musicology show where he became overwhelmed and held his hands to his face as if he was stifling tears because the crowd was so immersed in singing 7 with him.

I recall being touched by that. You could tell it was genuine emotion from Prince and he deserved the love. Great addition to the list of victories.

PFUfansites said:

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

The First Musicology show where he became overwhelmed and held his hands to his face as if he was stifling tears because the crowd was so immersed in singing 7 with him.

I recall being touched by that. You could tell it was genuine emotion from Prince and he deserved the love. Great addition to the list of victories.

It totally made me lay down my arms. He made me pick then back up real quick though

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

PFUfansites said:

I recall being touched by that. You could tell it was genuine emotion from Prince and he deserved the love. Great addition to the list of victories.

It totally made me lay down my arms. He made me pick then back up real quick though

I think the moment went to the authenticity of the art that Prince has always embodied. There he was center stage alone with his guitar surrounded by an overflowing Staples Center in the middle of downtown Los Angeles with the crowd full of his Hollywood "peers" who had come out of respect and awe. After being pronounced dead by naysayers in the 90s, there he was with a hit album and beginning what would be the best tour of the year while revolutionizing the record business - on his own terms without a contract and completely free. It was courageous. It was victorious.

[Edited 7/8/10 12:42pm]

super bowl performance. LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!

buttcheeks said:

super bowl performance. LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow - how could I forget that one! In the rain doing Purple Rain. THe greatest halftime show ever.

You've hit most of the major ones for me, but I'll add the Grammy performance in 2004. I know some people hate Beyonce's involvement, but that was still an amazing night. It felt like the first time he reclaimed his legacy and officially put the years to rest (and yes, I know he had been "Prince" for four years at that point). I got emails from friends asking "Did you see that? Did you love it? It was amazing!" Most people had forgotten Prince and why they loved him. He came back that night to remind them.

I feel like Prince's career can (very) roughly be broken into three large chunks: the WB years ('78-'93), the /Slave/Underground years ('93-'04), and the return of Prince, the fonky Jehovah's Witness ('04-present). That performance at the Grammys (followed by the Rock Hall of Fame induction and Musicology) launched the current phase of his career.

He had something to prove that night, and it was exciting to see him do it.

[Edited 7/8/10 13:31pm]

Going a little bit old school but when Prince performed Purple Rain at the American Music Awards, damn. People in my family who ridiculed my appreciation of Prince became fans based on that performance. To quote Lionel Richie..."Outrageouse!"

PFUfansites said:

buttcheeks said:

super bowl performance. LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow - how could I forget that one! In the rain doing Purple Rain. THe greatest halftime show ever.

Yessssssssssssssssss 12 minutes of sheer ecstasy !!!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

The First Musicology show where he became overwhelmed and held his hands to his face as if he was stifling tears because the crowd was so immersed in singing 7 with him.

OMG! That is so sweet

Rock N Roll Hall of Fame-I was so proud of him and he did the damn thing on When My Guitar Gently Weeps

I cheered when Christopher Tracey gets shot at the end of Cherry Moon - is that what you mean?

thankuverymuch.

In seriousness, I was kind of proud when he released Emancipation, remember being in Venice at the time and seeing it in the shops and thinking - you little fucker, you've only gone and done it haven't you - well done!

Agree with all that's been said so far. Musicology tour - the MTV acoustic set was nice - getting 3121 to number 1 in US on debut, selling out the O2 for 21 nights - I thought his ego had well outstretched his ability when that was announced, but he proved me wrong - all the love he got from the UK press was amazing. The last time he was in the UK he was touring 3,000 seat theatres - cool for the attendees but worrying for his career = it was a great turn around. I actually was kind of impressed by the depth and quality of Lotusflow3r set - I still think it is SOTT like in it's breadth, and who else could release 3 such different cds in one pack? I know its a cliche, but the org always seems to hate on his latest release and then in 3-5 years time hail it as a masterpiece. Just save yourselves some time people!

i just wish he'd do more TV to promote his stuff, and I'd love for him to get one major commercial hit song - I know it's not where things are at for him, but a hit song would do soo much for his profile and recognition amongst younger audiences - plus it would give me sometihng cool to listen to at the gym! A live DVD wouldn't go amiss either.

[img:$uid]http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g216/rebecca8273/pow-1.gif[/img:$uid]

renfield said:

You've hit most of the major ones for me, but I'll add the Grammy performance in 2004. I know some people hate Beyonce's involvement, but that was still an amazing night. It felt like the first time he reclaimed his legacy and officially put the years to rest (and yes, I know he had been "Prince" for four years at that point). I got emails from friends asking "Did you see that? Did you love it? It was amazing!" Most people had forgotten Prince and why they loved him. He came back that night to remind them.

I feel like Prince's career can (very) roughly be broken into three large chunks: the WB years ('78-'93), the /Slave/Underground years ('93-'04), and the return of Prince, the fonky Jehovah's Witness ('04-present). That performance at the Grammys (followed by the Rock Hall of Fame induction and Musicology) launched the current phase of his career.

He had something to prove that night, and it was exciting to see him do it.

[Edited 7/8/10 13:31pm]

I agree with including this performance. Beyonce is not worthy of sharing the stage with him but it brought Prnce into a new light because she could not upstage him. He performed with the most popular star at the time and she couldnt touch him. It made some peope who had written Prince off take note and recognize. This was during a pivotal phase in his career so it is probably one of the bigger Prince victories of all.

[Edited 7/8/10 15:42pm]

cosmicslop said:

I cheered when Christopher Tracey gets shot at the end of Cherry Moon - is that what you mean?

thankuverymuch.

In seriousness, I was kind of proud when he released Emancipation, remember being in Venice at the time and seeing it in the shops and thinking - you little fucker, you've only gone and done it haven't you - well done!

Agree with all that's been said so far. Musicology tour - the MTV acoustic set was nice - getting 3121 to number 1 in US on debut, selling out the O2 for 21 nights - I thought his ego had well outstretched his ability when that was announced, but he proved me wrong - all the love he got from the UK press was amazing. The last time he was in the UK he was touring 3,000 seat theatres - cool for the attendees but worrying for his career = it was a great turn around. I actually was kind of impressed by the depth and quality of Lotusflow3r set - I still think it is SOTT like in it's breadth, and who else could release 3 such different cds in one pack? I know its a cliche, but the org always seems to hate on his latest release and then in 3-5 years time hail it as a masterpiece. Just save yourselves some time people!

i just wish he'd do more TV to promote his stuff, and I'd love for him to get one major commercial hit song - I know it's not where things are at for him, but a hit song would do soo much for his profile and recognition amongst younger audiences - plus it would give me sometihng cool to listen to at the gym! A live DVD wouldn't go amiss either.

The Lotusflow3r set was an artistic and business victory. The exclusive deal he struck with Target was a coup. He actually had designated retail space and signage for a album that was not on MTV, radio, or the internet (except through his site). I think the Bria Valente album showed that he could still produce an interesting protege and the other 2 discs displayed his astonishing range as much as Emancipation (another victory because it was the start of his freedom) and SOTT

TheKid94 said:

at the superbowl when he had the giant white sheet flying in the air and all u saw was this prince shadow jerkin off his guitar, idc who u r that right there is funny

The performance of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

At the end of the night concert at the o2, London, lights came on some people started to head for the exit, on walks Prince ..... sits by the piano, starts playing the opening to Erotic City...,

I've never seen a rush to the front like that ever .......

Superbowl, ofcourse.

His performance of Purple Rain at the American Music Awards, I`ve only seen it one time when it actully aired.The audience was cheering at the top of their lungs through the whole performance, I`ll never forget when he bowed and the audience was still rock`n. I`ll never foget it! I`ll never forget it!

nursev said: