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Best live version of Purple Rain There has been so many awesome ones over the years but ive still not seen a better one than the one he did on tv broadcast of Lovesexy Tour................He obviously put extra passion and effort into this version knowing its being broadcast live............maybe
Other ones worth mentioning is the Purple Rain Tour Video one and Tokyo 90..............but for me they dont come close to the one above
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What do great songs sound like the first time we hear them? Can you remember that feeling? When Bob Dylan heard The Animals’ version of House of the Rising Sun, he got out of the car and ran around it again and again he was so excited. The first time you hear a great song is so rare, and it can never be repeated; watching the crowd during this first performance of Purple Rain, I see that look on a few faces, a silent shocked awe. On the twenty-seven other recordings of Purple Rain in my iPod, the moment the first chord is strummed, the crowd cheer, acknowledging the anthem.
They become a congregation, keen to be guided through the Purple Rain, and that has its ecstasies, even if it involves cigarette lighters held aloft, and hands waved in the air. But to hear silence flowing back from the audience, no singalong because they don’t know the words, is to eavesdrop on the shock of the new.
The lyrics of Purple Rain suggest the singer has wronged someone, harmed them inadvertently. In the context of the Purple Rain film that someone is Prince’s girlfriend; in fact, in a rather literal outtake from the film, Prince and his girlfriend have sex in a barn at dawn, and the water streaming down from the roof sheathes her naked skin, which is then struck by the dawn rays, so that she appears to be bathing in a kind of purple rain. Music video directors in the 1980s could be very literal; if Bonnie Tyler sang “turn around bright eyes”, then we would see a boy with very bright eyes turning around.
The solo is a messianic ejaculation, an absolving, annihilating ecstasy.
Purple Rain is the redemptive baptism on the night of the apocalypse, forgiveness for the terrible sins committed by the singer and by us. Prince is clear that we are all implicated. Times are changing. It’s time we all reached out for something new, and that means you too. He is our messiah, so he tells us in another song on the album, I Would Die 4 U. You say you want a leader but you can’t seem to make up your mind I think you better close it and let me guide you to the Purple Rain.
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Best live version would be the version from the Purple Rain tour, hands down! Around 20 minutes of pure greatness! TRUE BLUE |
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Syracuse - Not necessarily the best musically but for me its where he drew the line in the sand asa performer |
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I'd say always go to the source. The First Avenue gig where it was recorded is the best. It's more raw, yet the song is there as you know it. Free of overdubs, and even has Prince flubbing a line early on.
Motherfunka - there's a lot of versions of the song from the tour, each one surely different than the next. | |
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I think I have 3 soundboard recordings, Atlanta, Syracuse, and Miami. Several audience recorded ones as well. The structures are pretty much the same throughout and run about the same amount of time. I think the OP's question was from which tour did everyone prefer, since they mentioned 3 different tours. TRUE BLUE |
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I love all versions of it, they are all very unique and special and not only did he change the song from tour to tour but also, at least most of the time, from show to show during the same tour, adding ad libs here and there, stretching a bit here and there, always doing something unexpected. It´s really difficult to narrow it down to just a few favorite versions ( the same can be said for other songs, too....like for instance Something In The Water and its many incarnations over the years)...anyway, some of my favorite versions are: 1. The First Ave benefit concert where the song was played for the first time during a show.
2. Syracuse and most other Purple Rain tour versions.
3. The version he did during the live broadcast of Lovesexy in Dortmund.
4. The version he played in Stockholm where he sang " I only wanted to be your little friend".
5. Lüneburg 1993....I was there and not only was it an awesome version but there was the biggest audience I´ve ever seen and it started to rain, and the stage lights made the rain look purple....we were soak and wet and it was raining purple while he was playing Purple Rain in front of maybe 100.000 people.....one of those majestic moments in Prince history.
6.I LOVED the version he did in Berlin this summer....Prince and Sheila E. still on stage together after all those years, a beautiful venue and an amazing and outstanding version. If you can find the video of it, this is a must see. This was another one of those magic moments, and I´ve seen lots of Prince shows in my life. " I´d rather be a stank ass hoe because I´m not stupid. Oh my goodness! I got more drugs! I´m always funny dude...I´m hilarious! Are we gonna smoke?" | |
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I also really loved the Target Center version and the 2006 Brit Award Show | |
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The 1st Avenue performance has to be sited, it started it all! And I really like the Superbowl performance, it wasn't as long, but his vocals I really like and the short guitar solo was excellent! Prince is GORGEOUS. I'm inspired. GOD is GREAT. Is there anything else to say? lol | |
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The guy who said his guitar tech needed to be fired after the super bowl was correct. His guitar was horribly out-of-tune for Purple Rain. | |
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Gohi said:
The guy who said his guitar tech needed to be fired after the super bowl was correct. His guitar was horribly out-of-tune for Purple Rain. Lol I've heard that before....I'm not a musician/guitar player, so I'm sure my POV differs from someone with that background. I just liked the performance, vocals and solo did it for me. One of my favorites of his, I was on cloud 9 the entire time, best halftime show ever! Considering it was raining the whole time too... Prince is GORGEOUS. I'm inspired. GOD is GREAT. Is there anything else to say? lol | |
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I don't have a favorite, but a few are superb: Syracuse 85'-Made me want to learn guitar Arsenio Hall 91'-Sounded very raw with the NPG Rave DVD 99'-Killer solo New Year's Eve 87'-The Hammond organ really sells this Dortmund 88'-Very nicely done Osaka Japan 89' Freedom Concert 96' Brits 2006'-All girl band & the Hohner was used again. I still can't believe this one | |
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2002 New York One Night Alone
All tour he had not been playing Purple Rain but while doing his solo set on the piano he slipped into it, I think he caught himself unawares but it makes it a very different and unique version.
No guitar just Prince, his piano and rapt audience still coming to terms to the new landscape in New York post 911 The right to free discussion is protected!! | |
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I think Prince did a hell of a job of Purple Rain Here in Chicago, "Chicago Rain!" Once I Start Loving U, Baby, I'm Gonna Never Stop! Never Stop! Never Stop, Never Stop, Never Stop, No! | |
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makes me cry everytime! u can see that he's singin from tha heart, and when he kicks off that mic, DAMN ! | |
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This is a hard one, but I like all four:
Lovesexy-broadcast version PurpleRain tour (VHS) Montreux-2009 2nd show Arsenio Hall show 1991 TV
99.9% of everything I say is strictly for my own entertainment | |
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right now MILAN 2010 ,really passionate guitarwork | |
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The 18-minute version from a show in Atlanta is jaw-dropping. | |
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This an easy one that blows away the First Avenue performance:
Prince Purple Rain Chipmunk!! With lead vocals by Alvin!!!
Skipper! Check it out on the TUBE. Yikes its only the edited version and cuts off when one of the chipmunks kicks into guitar solo during the middle of the song.
Spread the Word for the full length Chipmunk version!!
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Yep, I am really, really loving this performance, I can't stop watching it. The vocals were very strong and full of emotion, plus his guitar performance was AMAZING, so full of passion and emotion, I just love it!! Not to mention, he looked pretty darn yummy!! My fave Purple Rain perfomance right now!!! Prince is GORGEOUS. I'm inspired. GOD is GREAT. Is there anything else to say? lol | |
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Are you kidding, no one has yet to say American Music Awards 1985, WOW.....This totally blows Livesexy out the water. The most emotion, best guitar.....trust me | |
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You know, it's hard to disagree with that. That performance just builds and builds, and before you know it, you're being blown away by one of the most passionate, yet focused and conservative solos I've heard him play. Such a shame the Youtube clip was removed. Toejam @ Peach & Black Podcast: http://peachandblack.podbean.com
Toejam's band "Cheap Fakes": http://cheapfakes.com.au, http://www.facebook.com/cheapfakes Toejam the solo artist: http://www.youtube.com/scottbignell | |
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i thought prince worked out a deal with youtube. | |
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Purple Rain original soundtrack, 1984 - Track 9  | |
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American Music Awards 1985 - the all-time best ever live version! | |
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I like many that are mentioned. However there is something about the last one he played with the Revolution in 85 (Stockholm?). He intorduces the band at the end saying goodnight (and goodbye?) seemingly because he knows this is the end for them as a group. | |
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the one from the vhs tape and arsenio a close secon d... | |
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The 1985 Grammy's is still my all time favorite. There are so many to chose from, but there was something magical about him coming out on that stage and just being Prince! U might not like the taste, but I'm still going to stick your face in this Funk | |
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DORTMUND 1988 gets my vote. EACH AND EVERYTIME. THATS THE ONE THAT GETS MY VOTE.
he seemed to be going through SOMETHIN that night
and I love the DORTMUND audience singing along. something was right that night | |
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One that was on the well known video sharing site a couple of days ago,from Rome 20ten. Title was "guitar orgasm". Only one thing I can say....wow
Surprise surprise its since been taken down | |
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