When you look at a Prince concert setlist what is the logic of the sequence of songs? Is it based on the key of the songs back-to back, the era they come from, the musical style/genre, or simply Prince's whim?

It's probably all of those elements along with rearranging the sequence based on whether or not he has a hard-on and has to have his guitar to hide it at the time. Perhaps. Makes me mad as hell. But I'm not mad today, I'm feeling 4giveness.

bigbrother said:

When you look at a Prince concert setlist what is the logic of the sequence of songs? Is it based on the key of the songs back-to back, the era they come from, the musical style/genre, or simply Prince's whim?

Last couple of years:

most of the time throw in a lot of hits and get more into jamming and obscure songs towards the end. Like he hopes to get everybody on their feet in an instant and he hopes it will stay that way because of the boost at the beginning.

SodaShoes said:

Prince could be having some type of "honey dripping kisses imagery," as he's crawling across his piano. Prince must then think of how he's going to saunter his (big secret) to the guitar stand so that the audience can hear, "The Ride." I front row seat I haven't had, dammit.

I think he mostly plays what is exciting to him that day, plus whatever he thinks may impress the audience and then a couple of 80's hits or two.

nursev said:

How would we know?

We wouldn't if Prince got away with it...It just gives us more delicious food for thought.

bobbyperu said:

Like at the North Sea Jazz when he said: We've never played this, but for you... and went into Girl.

but didn't he play Girl in the French 2009 show? Where the crowd joins him singing 'Girl' but the guys all respond with 'Boys'?

SmearMrTroof said:

SodaShoes said:

bobbyperu said:

SodaShoes said:

Prince could be having some type of "honey dripping kisses imagery," as he's crawling across his piano. Prince must then think of how he's going to saunter his (big secret) to the guitar stand so that the audience can hear, "The Ride." I front row seat I haven't had, dammit.

I'm gettin curious, Soda, which Prince shows did you see?

I've only seen a handful of shows, it's been awhile...

The comment I made is just a fantasy...I've never personally witnessed Prince "excited."

Honestly, the thought of Prince as a sexual lover....There's no sweeter romantic notion, for the woman that I am.

So many women would say the same thing.

prince rehrearses two full shows with different hit songs in each .. about 20 songs per show setlist .. so about 40 songs total .. some of these are played in full some squashed into horrid medleys .. the sets usually start out with strong upbeat numbers ... then something slow and sexy ... then a couple more upbeat songs then a piano medley or recently that horrible sampler medley instead .. then an encore of his super popular songs then a jam on one chord that goes on for about 20 minutes till everyone gets bored and leaves .. he will squash together songs that have similar tempos .. like lets go crazy/delierious .. or .. "the one/question of u" .. "insatiable/ scandelous/adore" .. he will pick a couple songs in the set to take big long solos in .. like shhh or purple rain .. the piano or sampler jam is about 6 little parts of songs, acouple a planned and others are just meant to tease .. and there will be cover songs for his band to sing so that prince can still feel like he has a bunch of proteges .. when really he doesn't because they are so bad .. he will play songs he wrote that other people made hits so that people respect him because he didn't actually have that many of his own hits ... and he ruined his public image so bad that he is desparately trying to remind people how talented he used to be

he will switch up the 2 basic set lists .. one one night the other the other night .. till he gets bored .. then the set will slowly add in newer songs from after his career tanked .. especially if he is in europe where people are more receptive to his bad songs .. eventually he realizes no one wants to hear that crap .. so he books a jazz gig to give his bad songs a different setting because he really likes his lite jazz music for some wierd reason .. at this point prince is completely lost and is sounding akin to music you hear in an elevator .. prince playing jazz is about as interesting as prince rapping .. after prince realizes even he can't take all his horrible lite jazz songs for an entire set he returns to one of the two main hits friendly sets he has been playing for the last 20 years

bobbyperu said:

I've often wondered the same thing. Probably his "whims" but I think there is more to it than that. The audience response for instance. An audience that's really into the show may get some extra goodies. Like at the North Sea Jazz when he said: We've never played this, but for you... and went into Girl.

Girl ..the b-side or the one he wrote as/for The Time?

rdhull said:

bobbyperu said:

rdhull said:

Girl ..the b-side or the one he wrote as/for The Time?

The 1985 b side.

oh wow! I want to hear this!