I do hope that Prince has since sacked the person who considered this a good look. He obviously hadn't fired him by the time the official video of the Purple Rain Tour was made, but I sincerely that Prince had a sit down chat with the guy and handed him his P45.

The video is SO spoiled, so destroyed by a botched attempted at SFX it's untrue.

One of the most iconic moments in music history ruined by a video editor's ambition.

Is there a version of the video out there without the split screen; where you can see Prince dance and Wendy perform the guitar solo?

This show (as you may already know) was broadcast on tv before it gained an official release.

The broadcast version did not have the mirror/split image during When Doves Cry.

Afaik the broadcast version is not in general circulation.

TheDigitalGardener said:

This show (as you may already know) was broadcast on tv before it gained an official release.

The broadcast version did not have the mirror/split image during When Doves Cry.

Afaik the broadcast version is not in general circulation.

i have the when doves cry section without the mirroring. as it's just the one track no-one has bothered putting the rest of the show on dvd. i can't remember if there were other camera angle differences between broadcast and release, like the lovesexy live

unique said:

TheDigitalGardener said:

This show (as you may already know) was broadcast on tv before it gained an official release.

The broadcast version did not have the mirror/split image during When Doves Cry.

Afaik the broadcast version is not in general circulation.

i have the when doves cry section without the mirroring. as it's just the one track no-one has bothered putting the rest of the show on dvd. i can't remember if there were other camera angle differences between broadcast and release, like the lovesexy live

I have it too (the one track), but the quality is not that great.

BoySimon said:

I do hope that Prince has since sacked the person who considered this a good look. He obviously hadn't fired him by the time the official video of the Purple Rain Tour was made, but I sincerely that Prince had a sit down chat with the guy and handed him his P45.

The video is SO spoiled, so destroyed by a botched attempted at SFX it's untrue.

One of the most iconic moments in music history ruined by a video editor's ambition.

Is there a version of the video out there without the split screen; where you can see Prince dance and Wendy perform the guitar solo?

It's a bad special effect sure, but it actually works in the video. That's my favorite part.

No, no, no... it's horrible! The off centre nature split makes it worse.

Brownmark's lacklustre dancing is also quite funny to watch... it's like, "Ok, look I'll walk this way, then spin my arm and then throw both arms in the air... OK, now I'll walk this way, spin my and throw... oh, the song's still going on... I'd better do it again... I haven't walked this way yet... Hey, how come Wendy gets to play guitar and not to this dance...? Oh, look, Prince nearly fell over... that's funny... Shit, I'd better spin my arm again..."

Oh, and thanks for those who have pointed out that a non-split screen version of the Syracuse concert exists... I must go a-hunting!

I love the split screen! It might look silly now,but in 1984 it was really cool."When Doves Cry" is one of Prince's best videos.

BoySimon said:

No, no, no... it's horrible! The off centre nature split makes it worse.

Brownmark's lacklustre dancing is also quite funny to watch... it's like, "Ok, look I'll walk this way, then spin my arm and then throw both arms in the air... OK, now I'll walk this way, spin my and throw... oh, the song's still going on... I'd better do it again... I haven't walked this way yet... Hey, how come Wendy gets to play guitar and not to this dance...? Oh, look, Prince nearly fell over... that's funny... Shit, I'd better spin my arm again..."

babyjubilation said:

BoySimon said:

No, no, no... it's horrible! The off centre nature split makes it worse.

Brownmark's lacklustre dancing is also quite funny to watch... it's like, "Ok, look I'll walk this way, then spin my arm and then throw both arms in the air... OK, now I'll walk this way, spin my and throw... oh, the song's still going on... I'd better do it again... I haven't walked this way yet... Hey, how come Wendy gets to play guitar and not to this dance...? Oh, look, Prince nearly fell over... that's funny... Shit, I'd better spin my arm again..."

I think the worst vid is prob the one for SOTT - those graphics look so amateur and simple now.

I don't mind the stupid split screen or the cheezball graphics on SOTT, but I cannot stand the clothing, colors, or editing on 3 Chains o Gold.

The split screen is on the edge of being annoying, but it's so psychedelic and 60's to me that I can't help but love it.

Spinlight said:

I don't mind the stupid split screen or the cheezball graphics on SOTT, but I cannot stand the clothing, colors, or editing on 3 Chains o Gold.

that was the 90s. if you remember it you weren't there

What makes it annoying is that you have to put up with it for 8 FUCKING MINUTES!!!!!!!

So I haven't seen this live video, but I remember reading in DMSR that Prince was the one who found the mirror-effect on the original video and went crazy with it.

Just so ya know...

I wish Prince would let Warner release the Live video for those of who want it. I don't care if the split screen is there or not

DecaturStone said:

I wish Prince would let Warner release the Live video for those of who want it. I don't care if the split screen is there or not

it was released officially on video and laserdisc by warners

and more recently it was released on dvd. checkout amazon. it's got a stupid name like prince alive or something

unique said:

DecaturStone said:

I wish Prince would let Warner release the Live video for those of who want it. I don't care if the split screen is there or not

it was released officially on video and laserdisc by warners

and more recently it was released on dvd. checkout amazon. it's got a stupid name like prince alive or something

dont play with my emotions

CerpinTaxt said:

So I haven't seen this live video, but I remember reading in DMSR that Prince was the one who found the mirror-effect on the original video and went crazy with it.

Just so ya know...

iI betcha he has a mac and goes crazy with the photobooth app like a little child

It doesn't bother me. I was a kid in the 80's when I discovered the video and used to laugh really hard when Prince was screaming and then started "spinning and disappeared" I'll always love it for that and can never grow out of it

SoulAlive said:

I love the split screen! It might look silly now,but in 1984 it was really cool."When Doves Cry" is one of Prince's best videos.

Right. It was 1984 and back than it was a tight video. Actually, today it still isn't that bad compared to other videos he has made. I didn't realize it was a special camera until I got older, so I thought the concert was amazing (I was 6 at the time).

Think about it....is Thriller that great of a video (today)? In 1983 it was shown every 5 mins on Mtv....

BoySimon said:

I do hope that Prince has since sacked the person who considered this a good look. He obviously hadn't fired him by the time the official video of the Purple Rain Tour was made, but I sincerely that Prince had a sit down chat with the guy and handed him his P45.

The video is SO spoiled, so destroyed by a botched attempted at SFX it's untrue.

One of the most iconic moments in music history ruined by a video editor's ambition.

Is there a version of the video out there without the split screen; where you can see Prince dance and Wendy perform the guitar solo?

Get the book "Video Slut", by Sharon Oreck. She produced a lot of major music videos during the "Golden Age". Her book goes into great and hilarious detail about the filming of the "When Doves Cry" video. Apparently during post-production, Prince had the director fired and started playing around the video SFX. So maybe Prince should've fired himself,

The book is funny and extremely snarky towards some of the big stars she worked with. As evidenced by the Amazon.com reviews, that has gotten under the skin of some Michael Jackson fans,

unique said:

Spinlight said:

I don't mind the stupid split screen or the cheezball graphics on SOTT, but I cannot stand the clothing, colors, or editing on 3 Chains o Gold.

that was the 90s. if you remember it you weren't there

Wat? I'm not even sure what that means. Regardless of it "being the 90s" - its hideous and it was always pretty hideous.

afro75 said:

BoySimon said:

I do hope that Prince has since sacked the person who considered this a good look. He obviously hadn't fired him by the time the official video of the Purple Rain Tour was made, but I sincerely that Prince had a sit down chat with the guy and handed him his P45.

The video is SO spoiled, so destroyed by a botched attempted at SFX it's untrue.

One of the most iconic moments in music history ruined by a video editor's ambition.

Is there a version of the video out there without the split screen; where you can see Prince dance and Wendy perform the guitar solo?

Get the book "Video Slut", by Sharon Oreck. She produced a lot of major music videos during the "Golden Age". Her book goes into great and hilarious detail about the filming of the "When Doves Cry" video. Apparently during post-production, Prince had the director fired and started playing around the video SFX. So maybe Prince should've fired himself,

WDC may be a "spoiled" video by the standards of pro videographers, but as a fan I completely get it. I don't really give a shit if I can't see Wendy play her solo. It was an exciting, psychedelic time for Prince, and pretty much everything he did rocked. Do I think Hendrix would have dug it? I do.

Yeah, no; it's just been in MTV Clasic again and it looks absolutely awful. Sorry.