thebanishedone said:

I don't think that i must go to a Prince to see what is going on.

When you see Prince live in concert many things distract you

from actual music.

Just the fact that you see your

hero in front of you is a large % of

what you will think about the concert.

When somebody asks you how it was

you will say it was great

because you were seeing Prince live.

But when you listen to a bootleg the only thing that distract you

from the music is maybe a bad sound quality.

Anyway when you listen to a concert recording at your home

it's all about the music.

Whether you like the songs on One Nite lone tour you must admit

that Prince was on fire on that tour,

like he had some super hero energy

because all the concerts from that tour were amazing.

Musicology Tour wasn't as great as

ONA tour but it was a very good funk rock soul revue.

Prince was at the stage full time and

he was doing all the lead vocals.

I love Prince but to my ears

this Welcome to America tour sounds he isn't trying at all.

like he isn't feeling the performances.

And he started being a guest at his concerts

you got Shelby,Sheila and here and there a Prince song pops in.

And the set list starts sounding like same ol tired Michael Jackson set list he did in his solo career.

I don't want to be a Hater

but Prince is capable of so much better.

He is faking the funk .

[Edited 2/25/11 14:17pm]

seriously???? Have you ever been to a concert? it's electrifying, beyond words.

Your blah regarding 'it's all about the music...only poor sound quality to distract you???? Says it all really.

Do you think people who go to the shows don't have DVD's (mine are all great quality as I don't waste my time with bootlegs). We hear & sing to the tracks recorded in sound studios, with the best sound quality & then belt them out as he preforms in front of our eyes.

Your comparing him to concerts in the 80's. He was 30 years younger for crying out loud.

pffft.

I hope Prince finds all your bootlegs & I also hope you get to see him live someday, so he can prove my point.

Spinlight said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

Spinlight said:

You've seen what yourself? So far, it's you and the OP (neither of which went to the shows, apparently) echoing an idea that is absurd and untrue.

Did you actually read what I posted or did you see me acknowledge the OP's point of view and automatically reject what I've said? It is a fact that Prince's shows use to consistently run 3-3+ hours long and he was on the stage full force close to 100% of that time. It is a fact that for the last 5-ish years his shows run consistently under 2 hours and that portions of his shows are sung by back-up singers. Last night his show ran 3 hrs long. Sheila E joined him onstage. Larry Graham et al and Prince's background singers all took on portions of the show. I wasn't at the show, but I don't doubt is was outstanding and I don't Prince was dynamic, but it is not the same. Will it be the same 30+ years later no? Prince is still beyond fantastic and his show has changed. What the OP said is valid.

Are you trying to say Prince NEVER had a whole slew of people on stage with him before? That was be complete bs. He had ALOT of people onstage with him in previous years. Perhaps the curfew of these places are what is making him end them early. After all, he has energy out of this world and puts on better shows now than he did before. So what's changed? He's dropped alot of the theatrics and is just sticking to music...so the amount of playing time is about equal. I've been to 4 recent shows and non of them were over 2 hours.. And as I said before, this tour was ANNOUNCED to SHOWCASE other artists, it was never billed as a Prince concert only.

NDRU said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

NDRU said:

so stupid. Dude is playing 3 hours concerts! He still had more energy than most kids.

The whole "I have heard the boots and this sucks" just is not valid to me. It's not the same as being there. Prince is older, and no I don't really care to hear a Shelby tune, but a human being has to pace themselves.

I do 3 hour gigs too, and we get 10-15 minute breaks every hour. Imagine if the Prince concert just stopped entirely. Would that be better? It's normal to grab a glass of water during th ecourse of an evening or, in prince's case, change outfits.

And here is where I think people just disengage from really reading. In my posts I have said the OP is only partially right. Daphne states it really well, he has always showcased other acts, but now they are being focused on even more. For me, it's not that I don't like the featured acts it's that I like Prince more. Without the showcased acts Prince's shows are running under 2 hours and his backup singers are singing segments of the show. With the showcased acts the show last night ran 3 hours. The OP is correct in that the showcased acts are extending the length of the show. The OP is incorrect in implying that Prince is in bad shape or letting others do his work. As evidenced by the quality of the performance and the wonderful experience had by those that attended, Prince is still doing his job.

well I wasn't calling you stupid or even directing that at you. It's just stupid to hear other voices at his shows and assume it has something to do with his inability to carry a show, or that he is in bad shape, when the whole time he is running around the stage, even when he's not singing.

Plus, everyone with a band has help to play a full concert!

I think the difference is just that he features other singers more now, I never denied that was true. But there were always times in his concerts where he did not sing, but maybe there was an instrumental section instead

And if the singers are extending the length of his concerts, it's also true that his early concerts were not this long. How long was a show in 1982?

[Edited 2/25/11 23:05pm]

NDRU said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

NDRU said: And here is where I think people just disengage from really reading. In my posts I have said the OP is only partially right. Daphne states it really well, he has always showcased other acts, but now they are being focused on even more. For me, it's not that I don't like the featured acts it's that I like Prince more. Without the showcased acts Prince's shows are running under 2 hours and his backup singers are singing segments of the show. With the showcased acts the show last night ran 3 hours. The OP is correct in that the showcased acts are extending the length of the show. The OP is incorrect in implying that Prince is in bad shape or letting others do his work. As evidenced by the quality of the performance and the wonderful experience had by those that attended, Prince is still doing his job.

well I wasn't calling you stupid or even directing that at you. It's just stupid to hear other voices at his shows and assume it has something to do with his inability to carry a show, or that he is in bad shape, when the whole time he is running around the stage, even when he's not singing.

Plus, everyone with a band has help to play a full concert!

I think the difference is just that he features other singers more now, I never denied that was true. But there were always times in his concerts where he did not sing, but maybe there was an instrumental section instead

And if the singers are extending the length of his concerts, it's also true that his early concerts were not this long. How long was a show in 1982?

[Edited 2/25/11 23:05pm]

Don't even encourage the argument. It's null and void. This person really needs someone to buy them a ticket to a Prince concert. I see they describe themselves as a pissed off fan. You can't please them all.

Orgers bitching about concerts they didn't even go to. Another day, another day..

Why does he need help to play a full concert? Do you think he will fall asleep in the middle of Let's Go Crazy or something?

I thought Prince said in the press conference all these shows would feature a lot of other people. Am I mistaken? I need he should be up front a lot but I think he made it clear these shows were more collabarations than what he has done in the past.

Sorry a little mistake....I know not need.

Well, One night alone, was not called One night alone for nothing.

Prince is helping draw attention to other talented artists which is good, but sure we all wanna hear him mostly. However, cut him some slack, he's not 35 anymore. When he does 3 concerts in one week it must be exhausting, physically and vocally. Plus he employs those artists too so they should also work for their money right?

Give up the boots, get a pc background pic with a sky, highway signpost saying "dreams, next exit " and go and see him somewhere. Boots are nice to pick up a line here and there but honestly, it's never the real concert experience. While you might hear someone else singing, you're not visually picking up what's going on and while you might hear just drumming, you're missing Sheila E and Prince having a little onstage contest

I guarantee, that if you went to a Prince concert and he played non-stop hits that everyone knew all the words to,and he left it up to the audience to do most of the singing you'd still have a fabulous time.

"I've never been to a Prince concert but I have formulated an opinion about them based upon......................................................."

Seriously what's the backlash with his current backup singers? Nobody coughed up a furball when Wendy & Lisa did 'I Wonder U' on the Parade Tour during a costume change moment for Prince. Get over it.

Nothinbutjoy said:

His shows are great, but they were consistently under 2 hours until the last Oakland show extended longer because of the featured acts. I keep bringing up the time length of the concert because that's the high bar Prince set. Having been to many of the 3 hour shows, going to the more recent 2 hour shows have been tasty, but not as filling.

I would just like to add to this discussion, in regard to the length of Prince's concerts: as recently as during the 2010 Europe concerts in summer and fall, he did many shows that were longer than 2 hours ... I was at two of them. Vienna was nearly 3 hours and Milan was about 2 hours 25 mins and Prince was on stage all the time, except for Sheila doing a solo song in Vienna, and the background singers doing a solo in Milan. And at both shows there were no opening acts. - It seemed to me that the NY shows were shorter because he had opening acts and there was this 11 p.m. curfew.

And I also want to add to other comments made before, that just because he does not sing the entire time of the concert, does not mean that he is not fully there all the time ... after all, he is a musician and plays great guitar and piano and sometimes just jams with the band!! Of course one has to be there live at the concert in order to realize what you can't see while listening to a bootleg.

From what I have seen and heard, these W2A concerts are awesome and Prince continues to be in great shape and he is putting on amazing shows!!! Comparing them to something he did on stage 25+ years ago is highly unfair, because he is human and also getting older. Even more remarkable is his energy and the fact that he is moving around all the time, for at least 80 per cent of the show!! And that is another fact.

Welcome 2 America was billed as Prince and guests from day one at the Apollo press conference. If you can't stand to see anyone else on Prince's stage then you shouldn't have bought tickets to this tour. He didn't mislead anyone and there was no expectation that he'd even be on the stage for the amount of time he has been for all of the shows. For those who don't appreciate that he's showcasing other talented artists on his stage then stick to your bootlegs. Let Prince do what he wants to do which is introduce us to new music by great artists and to party to some older jams with good friends like Larry and Sheila E. Also try actually attending the show you feel the need to criticize because listening to a bootleg of a show and being there to witness it are two different things entirely!

Nothinbutjoy said:

Hahahaha! I've been a pissed off fan since Prince came after the .org and housequake closed. It has nothing to do with his concerts. Buy me a ticket to one of Prince's shows? Again, LEARN TO READ. I have been to many shows, over the course of many years. AGAIN, the shows are always fun, but they do not run as long when there are not featured acts. Until the recent Welcome2America shows, his set lists have been repetitive, still a good time, maybe a deviation here or there, but repetive. A couple of the W2A shows have been blow-your-mind shows. This last one in Oakland being the one that was surprising, not in that it was good because they're all good, but in that it was a 3 hour mind-blowout. Hasn't been one of those in a long time and I'm THRILLED to read of it even though I wasn't there and even though featured acts took on more of a role. Prince set the live performance bar so incredibly high. His reputation as the best live performer ever is earned. It's nice to see him grabbing that bar again & not just putting on a great show. Don't see the difference? Think I just can't be pleased? Whatever...just like you think you know what you know, I know what I know. Here's a thought, we're both right. What you've said is valid. Prince shows are great. He's featured other people throughout his career etc. What I've said is valid. His shows are great, but they were consistently under 2 hours until the last Oakland show extended longer because of the featured acts. I keep bringing up the time length of the concert because that's the high bar Prince set. Having been to many of the 3 hour shows, going to the more recent 2 hour shows have been tasty, but not as filling. You don't feel that way? Zipity doo dah for you! You don't feel pissed that Prince tried to shut down the .org? Zipity doo dah for you! If this was directed at me, I never said anyone called me stupid. LOL I cannot be pleased because I'm a pissed off fan? AGAIN DO YOU READ? Spinlight obviously reads just enough find what he wants to find to dismiss ideas that differ from his own. The argument is not null & void, but again we can argee to not debate further. We've started to row with one oar it's a waste of energy.

Where do you live? I should buy you a Prince concert ticket, seriously. It'll de-twist your religious undergarment.

I lurk here most of the time but felt I had to join in on this one. I last saw Prince at the O2. His energy was relentless - and his musicianship live was astounding. Having been lucky enought to view some moments fom Oakland I have to say I disagree with the op's rhetorical question.

Just watching P's interactions with Sheila E. Santana, Celo - it's clear he coninues to live and breathe music and is doid EXACTLY what he promoted he would do - showcase other musicians and join them on his stage.

I would actually go as far as to say he looks even more energised now than he did during ONA -

My username indicates tha it's P's '80s music that captured the beginning of my musical appreciation for P but I think his move towards concentrating more on his musicianship, and less on the theatrics, is a welcome one. He certainly doesnt look like he NEEDS,' help to play a full concert', he merely CHOOSES this way because he clearly enjoys stretching himself with other musicians. Can people really not see this,.....!

HonestMan13 said:

Welcome 2 America was billed as Prince and guests from day one at the Apollo press conference. If you can't stand to see anyone else on Prince's stage then you shouldn't have bought tickets to this tour. He didn't mislead anyone and there was no expectation that he'd even be on the stage for the amount of time he has been for all of the shows. For those who don't appreciate that he's showcasing other talented artists on his stage then stick to your bootlegs. Let Prince do what he wants to do which is introduce us to new music by great artists and to party to some older jams with good friends like Larry and Sheila E. Also try actually attending the show you feel the need to criticize because listening to a bootleg of a show and being there to witness it are two different things entirely!

There's nothing wrong with showcasing some talent.

Nothinbutjoy said:

^^^ Hey Mods, before you delete this read a couple posts up. I'm going to go ahead and expend the energy because it needs to be said & I'll feel better for having said it, so Mods, do what you must. Spinlight, your "insult" that because I live in Utah I must be LDS...Mormon, just so you understand, wear garments that are in a knot because I need a ticket bought for me, exemplifies what a fucking idiot you are. First, because I'm not LDS. Second, because it has nothing to do with the debate. So, when I say you're a fucking idiot, it's actually an insult to idiots. You've set a new standard that other idiots must now strive for. You must be so proud.

I hope Prince comes to Utah so you can feel better about yourself since you clearly are struggling greatly.

I didn't even notice you lived in Utah, but my comment is even funnier now.

Nothinbutjoy said:

No need to .orgnote me Spinidiot. I've made pretty clear what I think of you.

I'll request to you, publically, to stop harassing me, then. Bye!

I was gonna say something but I thought I'd just respond with an image to show how I really feel about this thread...

Spinlight said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

Spinlight said:

I'll request to you, publically, to stop harassing me, then. Bye!

Oh, I'm done. I feel better, but you are still you. Sucks for you and anyone else that reads the drivel you post. Buh-bye.

I will pray for you.

Spinlight said:

Nothinbutjoy said:

Spinlight said:

I will pray for you.

Please don't. As simple as you are, your feigned concern could cause you to be struck by lightening.

You mean lightning?

Look at that. A fucking idiot corrected your spelling.

Still praying for you. Now, too, I pray for your spelling.

You should pray for your grammar while you're at it...

Gohi said:

You should pray for your grammar while you're at it...

Interesting. Do you speak English as a first language?

People were saying the same thing about the New Power Soul shows in 98 then he comes back with Hit & Run, One Night Alone, Musicology all shows pretty much about him.

21 nights in London was mostly him

He just does stuff for a while changes it does that for a while, changes it again. He'll probably do another tour that's just him.

Also if he is getting to need help, well he is getting older and it's alot of work to keep the higher registers since your voice naturally lowers of time.

He might not be the focus as much but when he's there boy does he put the fucking work in