Maybe he did it in 2000 and after joining the JW's the following year he stopped altogether.

[Edited 6/16/11 10:41am]

Don't know for certain-but I believe he was in conflict with his religious principles. Probably just a personal decision not to do the song any longer. (Those decisions can be made half way through a tour.)

Not only did he perform Darling Nikki at almost every show on the 2000 leg of the Hit N Run tour, but he had Geneva dancing around during the song in a schoolgirl outfit.

It's more than likely possible that he simply changed his mind about playing Darling Nikki in it's entirety as there were other minor changes to the setlist on the tour in 2001.

There is no real evidence that whatever reigious conflict (or not) that he may or may not have been involved in had any influence on his setlist.

I saw him do this, he did not sing the famous line however, the audience did!

But he'd already made a speech that night about how he would not curse onstage because there were grandmothers and grandchildren in the audience. So I think "the change" had already occured in his life.

To me it just shows that his "conversion" is less than we make it out to be. He still plays Darling Nikki in concert, even if it is just 5 seconds of it. It's like he's saying he knows it's a great song.

Plus he's been doing the "torn between being good & bad" for a looooooong time now. He did it onstage in 1984 "I try to be good but they DIG it when I'm bad!!!!" or in Temptation, Lovesexy, etc, etc.

To me, Prince is still the same, he just does not say "fuck" onstage anymore, and that is fine with me.

NDRU said:

I saw him do this, he did not sing the famous line however, the audience did!

But he'd already made a speech that night about how he would not curse onstage because there were grandmothers and grandchildren in the audience. So I think "the change" had already occured in his life.

To me it just shows that his "conversion" is less than we make it out to be. He still plays Darling Nikki in concert, even if it is just 5 seconds of it. It's like he's saying he knows it's a great song.

Plus he's been doing the "torn between being good & bad" for a looooooong time now. He did it onstage in 1984 "I try to be good but they DIG it when I'm bad!!!!" or in Temptation, Lovesexy, etc, etc.

To me, Prince is still the same, he just does not say "fuck" onstage anymore, and that is fine with me.

Agreed.

NDRU said:

To me it just shows that his "conversion" is less than we make it out to be. He still plays Darling Nikki in concert, even if it is just 5 seconds of it. It's like he's saying he knows it's a great song.

Plus he's been doing the "torn between being good & bad" for a looooooong time now. He did it onstage in 1984 "I try to be good but they DIG it when I'm bad!!!!" or in Temptation, Lovesexy, etc, etc.

Yup, the world is full of contradictions, none (some would say) more so than Prince's world.

Oh yes he did sing "mastrubating with the magazine"

i have a few recordings of the song an an all of them he sings the whole song

except in one version where he lets audience sing those parts

but he did sing whole song and he was fucking the stage during the performance

NDRU said:

I saw him do this, he did not sing the famous line however, the audience did!

But he'd already made a speech that night about how he would not curse onstage because there were grandmothers and grandchildren in the audience. So I think "the change" had already occured in his life.

To me it just shows that his "conversion" is less than we make it out to be. He still plays Darling Nikki in concert, even if it is just 5 seconds of it. It's like he's saying he knows it's a great song.

Plus he's been doing the "torn between being good & bad" for a looooooong time now. He did it onstage in 1984 "I try to be good but they DIG it when I'm bad!!!!" or in Temptation, Lovesexy, etc, etc.

To me, Prince is still the same, he just does not say "fuck" onstage anymore, and that is fine with me.

No, he is NOT the same; not one bit, and "fuck" is just one of the MANY things he doesn't do onstage anymore. You're really understating his changes!

alexnvrmnd777 said:

NDRU said:

I saw him do this, he did not sing the famous line however, the audience did!

But he'd already made a speech that night about how he would not curse onstage because there were grandmothers and grandchildren in the audience. So I think "the change" had already occured in his life.

To me it just shows that his "conversion" is less than we make it out to be. He still plays Darling Nikki in concert, even if it is just 5 seconds of it. It's like he's saying he knows it's a great song.

Plus he's been doing the "torn between being good & bad" for a looooooong time now. He did it onstage in 1984 "I try to be good but they DIG it when I'm bad!!!!" or in Temptation, Lovesexy, etc, etc.

To me, Prince is still the same, he just does not say "fuck" onstage anymore, and that is fine with me.

No, he is NOT the same; not one bit, and "fuck" is just one of the MANY things he doesn't do onstage anymore. You're really understating his changes!

I might understate them, but I think others overstate them

I was in the third row for that concert in Grand Rapids, MI. He clearly did not open his mouth when the "masturbating" line was sung. I think he was beginning to turn his beliefs around because I felt like the performance to this song was contrite.

NDRU said:

alexnvrmnd777 said:

No, he is NOT the same; not one bit, and "fuck" is just one of the MANY things he doesn't do onstage anymore. You're really understating his changes!

I might understate them, but I think others overstate them

RIGHT! Besides some obvious changes, he hasn't done such a drastic change that he's TOTALLY different than what he is PRIOR to converting to the Witnesses.

I'm listening to a recording of Darling Nikki live in Richmond year was late 2000 or early 2001

and Prince sings"mastrubating with the magazine " line.

in my opinion his vocals here are stronger then on Purple Rain tour versions.

the only thing missing was guitar.

NDRU said:

alexnvrmnd777 said:

No, he is NOT the same; not one bit, and "fuck" is just one of the MANY things he doesn't do onstage anymore. You're really understating his changes!

I might understate them, but I think others overstate them

I do NOT agree. Please give me an example or two of things that have been "overstated".

Is there any known footage?

I have to see this with my own eyes

eighteenandover said:

Is there any known footage?

I have to see this with my own eyes

Of course there is. You just have to find it!