You know those shivers you get down the back of your neck every time you hear the crashing majesty of 'Purple Rain'? Prince feels the same way. "Everybody should experience this song in concert at least once in their lives," he told TheFIX. "No one experience is the same."

His Royal Badness plays Sydney's Allphones Arena tonight, the first show of his breathlessly-anticipated Welcome 2 Australia tour. Prince hasn't graced our shores since 2003, and predicts this trip will be "the best" because of the crew he has assembled for the tour.

"These people are sooo much fun!" he enthused.

"We actually enjoy one another's company and it's reflected onstage every night."

Aussie fans are expecting a lengthy set from the pop legend, heavy on his greatest hits. And while the born-again Jehovah's Witness omits the more sexually-charged songs from his live show these days, there's no track that he's truly sick of performing.

"It used to be 'Little Red Corvette' until we re-worked it into a slow blues," he explained. "It's hot now. A good example of song evolution over time. We actually know better what the song is about now."

Prince describes himself as "out of the loop" when it comes to modern Australian music, but there's no doubt as to who he thinks is the reigning, er, "prince" of pop. "Need you ask?" he smiled. "Seriously ... it's not a question for an artist to answer. It's really up to individual choice.

"Every artist who's really nice with it would vote for themselves. Who's your favourite? [TheFIX: You are, Prince!]"

When he's not demonstrating why he is arguably one of music's all-time greatest artists, Prince devours new sounds, and cites Lianne La Havas, his guitarist Mr. McKee, support act Delilah and babin' collaborator Andy Allo as his "fave" new music.

But when it comes to all-time favourites, long-time collaborator Larry Graham is his top pick.

"He reminds us all of what was great in the past," he said.

"Everyone who meets him has the same response. He's a kind man who is always encouraging. After a shred with him you feel like you can conquer anything."

Famously private, and even weary of having his music on the internet, Prince's longevity in music has come from a very different approach to that of fellow 53-year-old Madonna.

"Every artist approaches this from a different angle," he said carefully. "[Madonna] has actually become quite successful on her own terms.

"To us, [credibility] is all subjective. I started off primarily as a live performer, who mastered the studio at an early age by actually owning one.

"Warner Bros. granted rights unheard of at the time that allowed us the freedom to produce music unencumbered. Working without a net or a ceiling benefits us greatly. Thus, music became a real job, not a hobby.

"The music we create supports families and dreams. Both of which are quite big now."

Madonna may still be in the charts thanks to her dance-music-in-leotards approach, but most of Prince's 80s pop peers, most notably Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston, weren't so lucky.

When we asked Prince why the thought he escaped a similar fate, he responded by urging us to watch a YouTube video.

The 20-minute clip was a talk from Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert.

The 2009 speech was concerned with how the pressure of being considered a "genius" affects the creative process.

It's a funny and intrigiung talk — just like Prince himself. Count ourselves lucky that he's turning out to be one of pop's top survivors.

Prince: Welcome To Australia tour

Melbourne: Rod Laver Arena, May 14, 15 and 30.
Sydney: All Phones Arena, May 11, 12 and 22.
Brisbane: Entertainment Centre, May 18 and 26.

Additional tickets have just been released, from $99. Visit Ticketek for more information.

Not sure if this has been posted or not:

Still on a Larry Graham tip...

Good one - thanks for sharing, I would have missed this.

I can never decide if the use of 'we' and 'us' is delusional of just hypocritical - as we all know it's him who makes all the decisions.

Oh, and WE all knew what LRC was about from the first listen. About f-king.

Pentacle said:

BobGeorge909 said:

There was a thread on the org where someone related this same YouTube to princes career...I need to find it. Here it is.... http://prince.org/msg/7/377914 [Edited 5/11/12 7:08am]

Conclusive proof that people are watching us

muirdo said:

BobGeorge909 said:

Pentacle said:

I can never decide if the use of 'we' and 'us' is delusional of just hypocritical - as we all know it's him who makes all the decisions.

Oh, and WE all knew what LRC was about from the first listen. About f-king.

It seems to be a recognition of the influence of his band members and business partners. And lrc is easily about more fun just fucking....there was always an undercurrent in the song about its charcters behavior being sublime and succumbing....this new version addresses that and and maybe takes more control of a compulsion and what that might add, doesn't fuck the first opportunity or nut in the first minute.

Nah, that recognition is for show. It has to be.

And the song is about meeting a woman, who has fucked as much as he did. This surprises him. He knows it won't last - none of his relationships ever do, only this time it will be her dumping him. Auw!

Pentacle said:

Sure, he is influenced ¨ he just doesn´t credit anybody. That´s why the ´we´ is so cheap.

And if you are singing about fucking, you can´t just sing fuck~fuck~fuck... you need more lyrics. Except in a song called PoomPoom perhaps...

BobGeorge909 said:

Folks just figuring out that Prince reads the Org Wouldn't you read something that's dedicated to you and your work? Dude has been doing this for years He even made a song about a thread someone created about his future wife it's called Future Baby Mama and folks in that thread were saying he has a bad track record and treats women wrong and he wrote a song about it ya'll need to wake up and smell the 3121-he reads what you say about him and with that Imma try to be nicer ya Princey

artist76 said:

I read the interview again, and it's so uncanny - he MUST have read our posts. He urges the TEDtalk video when asked about MJ and Whitney - my post totally said that P was resilient in the face of success bc of this "genius" outside yourself thing, unlike Whitney. (And I've posted about perfectionism and expectations bringing artists down, like MJ, in other threads too). This is almost like when I commented on FB that I fondly remember Siskel & Ebert speaking at my law school, and Ebert himself posted on there that he remembered that too! Made my day.

He reads them and has been for years-funny thing is I made a post after years of seeing Prince in suits and asked if he could show chest hair just for fun and next time we saw him he had his shirt open in concert The people that say he doesn't glance at our post are crazy. He may be a busy man, but not that busy not to check out what his fans are saying about him.

nursev said:

artist76 said:

nursev said:

Folks just figuring out that Prince reads the Org Wouldn't you read something that's dedicated to you and your work? Dude has been doing this for years He even made a song about a thread someone created about his future wife it's called Future Baby Mama and folks in that thread were saying he has a bad track record and treats women wrong and he wrote a song about it ya'll need to wake up and smell the 3121-he reads what you say about him and with that Imma try to be nicer ya Princey

Yup, I'm one folk who's just figuring it out. Did not know that about "Future Baby Mama" - that term seemed so slangy and unlike him, now I get it. Also cool about you requesting some glimpse of chest hair, and getting your wish! This is too cool!

Yeah I forgot the thread title but it was a couple of years ago an orger created it and asked which org lady was gonna be his future wife that thread was long and when Planet Earth came out I knew from one listen of that song that he had read that thread I made that pic thread and just innocently asked if he would show chest hair and then just like that he had a concert and opened his shirt I think he post here too I have been here since 2003 and every now and then you will notice poster who just post weird stuff and you've never read a post from them before-it's Prince So people need to stop saying he doesn't talk to us-he does and he has eyes and ears on here too

[Edited 5/11/12 10:23am]

artist76 said:

nursev said:

Folks just figuring out that Prince reads the Org Wouldn't you read something that's dedicated to you and your work? Dude has been doing this for years He even made a song about a thread someone created about his future wife it's called Future Baby Mama and folks in that thread were saying he has a bad track record and treats women wrong and he wrote a song about it ya'll need to wake up and smell the 3121-he reads what you say about him and with that Imma try to be nicer ya Princey

Yup, I'm one folk who's just figuring it out. Did not know that about "Future Baby Mama" - that term seemed so slangy and unlike him, now I get it. Also cool about you requesting some glimpse of chest hair, and getting your wish! This is too cool!

Actually, while were on the subject I know most of the associated artist and his ex wives post here too-they just use friends to post for them Like Mayte's friends post for her and Cat's friends-hell they all look at and read the Org.

Prince: Everyone should experience 'Purple Rain' live

Thanks, PurpleLove7, for embedding the text of the article in my original post. But curious, why edit the original title?

"I was a fan until I saw you live in a concert in Sydney in the mid 90's. It was truly a freak show , you sang behind a sheet on top of a bed and the whole strange show was probably for those in the the crowd that where off their face, I paid $200 a ticket and walked out after the 4th song, That was the end of Prince for me......"

What the f&*^

NeonCraxx said:

Some the comments at the bottom page made me facepalm.

Ed from Cairns seems especially bitter.

afro75 said:

NeonCraxx said:

Some the comments at the bottom page made me facepalm.

Ed from Cairns seems especially bitter.

Apparently someone from Perth is so bitter he had to say so four times

afro75 said:

NeonCraxx said:

Some the comments at the bottom page made me facepalm.

Ed from Cairns seems especially bitter.

No, seriously. Only a self-admitted idiot would pay 200 bucks just to walk out on the fourth song and post it online and make it seem like he made a point.

But, hey. The show sold out, so forget him. Prince is making that $$$$.

This interview is one of the most inspiring interviews from Prince. I have to say! It not only inspired me to check out Elizabeth Gilbert, (WHICH WAS SO INSPIRING...BTW).

But Prince is just content and sure in his craft! He has always been humbled, although he may act the 'DIVA' part, for the most part he always has been down to earth.

I can't wait till I experience Purple Rain Live!

I have a NEW found appreciation and respect for Prince. I always have respected the guy, but this makes me give props to him even more. He's so cool! He's only human, but he totally connects with the one song! You got to love him!

Also, he reads the posts here..which is also a very enlightening fact! LOL...

Its simply a "Masterpiece" innerview...

nursev said:

Folks just figuring out that Prince reads the Org Wouldn't you read something that's dedicated to you and your work? Dude has been doing this for years He even made a song about a thread someone created about his future wife it's called Future Baby Mama and folks in that thread were saying he has a bad track record and treats women wrong and he wrote a song about it ya'll need to wake up and smell the 3121-he reads what you say about him and with that Imma try to be nicer ya Princey

I guess every Prince fan has heard Purple Rain enough since he or she became a fan of His music.....but when he played it in Werchter (2010) when the rain fell out of the sky and the purple lights filled the sky....well, it was magic...performed live this song is so emotional. I´m not a fan of rock-anthems but this is different.

Now, back 2 the back-catalogue...skipping PR most of the times

OK Prince....If U truely read the Org....How come U R 4getting about UR 2nd Home....Detroit.... Please come home as we miss you. I'm waiting 4 the concert dates. ( I wrote it this way on purpose so that he can read how truely we need to see him)