Wonder who did the arrangement: sounds scored (I guess for 11 horn players it might have to be or they'd just collide ?!... either that or they would have listened over and over to the Clare Fischer arrangement... maybe. Got that sound). Genuinely one of the most thrilling rehearsal cuts in a while anyway, vocal just sails over the horns..

Could have done with that horn section in Melbourne, darn it !

if heaven had a sound this is what it sounds like prince is the most just everything that is everything . he exposed me 2 music when i was a kid with 1999 and i love everything he goes

Mmmmmm... Like butter...

artist76 said:

I have the feeling that Old Friends has special meaning for those who were around in Princedom at the time. For someone who came aboard in the 90s, it's just OK. But Prince is an amazing singer!

been around 4ever & the original was Prince's most personal song ever...It has a lot of meaning 2 me. .....To have Prince be honest & contemplate taking cocaine to numb the pain of it... When I first heard this "MasterPiece"..It was brutally honest of him to reveal his inner most pain of being alone in being snowed in....

Whether we think these "free" promotional rehearsals streamed online and new songs promoted by radio stations are masterpieces or an insult and crime against his fans*, it is really cool that Prince is sharing.

Not only does it promote what he is currently selling: tickets, but, it also shows an understanding that there is value to promoting music through the internet.

Sure, we're all saving these to our hard drives, even though we're not supposed to. Yes, bootleggers are doing the same, and, will print and sell them to those dumb enough to pay for them. But, the majority of us will also buy whatever he sells next, and, if we are able, go to the shows.

It's really win/win for everybody, in my not-so-humble opinion...

*Of course, most of us are not so extreme, and either like them without claiming them to be a masterpiece, or, dislike them without acting like Prince has raped their childhood for releasing them.

[Edited 9/24/12 12:22pm]

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

artist76 said:

I have the feeling that Old Friends has special meaning for those who were around in Princedom at the time. For someone who came aboard in the 90s, it's just OK. But Prince is an amazing singer!

been around 4ever & the original was Prince's most personal song ever...It has a lot of meaning 2 me. Because have friends 4 sale all the time.....To have Prince be honest & contemplate taking cocaine to numb the pain of it...Describes the pain I felt reliving it when I first heard this "MasterPiece"...

Its nice to see you write about your soft side KFool, but Prince was not talking about himself regarding cocaine.

rdhull said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

been around 4ever & the original was Prince's most personal song ever...It has a lot of meaning 2 me. Because have friends 4 sale all the time.....To have Prince be honest & contemplate taking cocaine to numb the pain of it...Describes the pain I felt reliving it when I first heard this "MasterPiece"...

Its nice to see you write about your soft side KFool, but Prince was not talking about himself regarding cocaine.

djThunderfunk said:

Whether we think these "free" promotional rehearsals streamed online and new songs promoted by radio stations are masterpieces or an insult and crime against his fans*, it is really cool that Prince is sharing.

This right here^^^

And not just sharing but acknowledging fan favorites which he has been doing since 2008-9. For You, Large Room No Lights On Cuzz The Bill Wasnt Paid, Extraloveable etc etc. This is why I asked if Moonbeam Levels was on the horizon but it was this one.

Also to piggy back on your statement regarding embracing the internet again, its true. Instead of having people show up for dress rehearsals that he did back last decade with the NPGMC, he sends them out via the internet. I know its not exactly the same thing but its kind of the next best thing.

.

[Edited 9/24/12 12:40pm]

rdhull said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

been around 4ever & the original was Prince's most personal song ever...It has a lot of meaning 2 me. .....To have Prince be honest & contemplate taking cocaine to numb the pain of it... When I first heard this "MasterPiece"..It was brutally honest of him to reveal his inner most pain of being alone in being snowed in..

Its nice to see you write about your soft side KFool, but Prince was not talking about himself regarding cocaine.

Everybody gets a different meaning from a song. In ur world it means something else. In mine it means what I thought of it. By the way that is not a "soft" side. I am not soft. I just tell the truth...

Ok rdDull!

[Edited 9/24/12 12:56pm]

vitriol said:

A MESSAGE TO THE WHOLE WORLD:

You're ALL wrong if you disagree with Irritant.

He sets the bar to decide what's acceptable and what isn't.

What were you thinking of, you miserable gits!

Guy, if you can really stand YOUR OWN MUSIC, obviously this boring crap has to be heaven to you.

You are so easy to wind up. I was trolling the fuck out of you and what a surprise, you took the bait. As per usual. Now, go and take some medication before you have a heart attack.

Militant said:

vitriol said:

A MESSAGE TO THE WHOLE WORLD:

You're ALL wrong if you disagree with Irritant.

He sets the bar to decide what's acceptable and what isn't.

What were you thinking of, you miserable gits!

Guy, if you can really stand YOUR OWN MUSIC, obviously this boring crap has to be heaven to you.

You are so easy to wind up. I was trolling the fuck out of you and what a surprise, you took the bait. As per usual. Now, go and take some medication before you have a heart attack.

Good job Militant!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Fonkyman said:

A thousand gratifications for imparting your infinite wisdom.

You're very welcome.

Feels very Zen.......hmmmm

pianoman said:

Could have done with that horn section in Melbourne, darn it !

Mya said:

Wow, quite stunned to hear him playing this after all the decades. I remember getting Charade on LP back in the 80´s and being blown away with this song. It probably has my favourite lyric of all time:

"Old friends 4 sale
Get'em while the gettin' is hot
Watch out, they'll kiss U until they get what U got
And they'll show U the friends that they're not
Old friends 4 sale"

Then in the 90´s with the release of the Vault I was totally disgusted with what he had done to the song but understood in some way that he was not going to give this song up to some half baked project to keep WB happy.

This version as a rehearsal gives a nod back to the original but definitely lacks the sincerity of that, but it sure as hell shits all over the Vault version.

I am very curious what other gems he has lined up for us in the coming months. I guess it also shows that he does take his Old Skool fanbase seriously even if many of them don´t agree. As an Old Skool fan I accepted years ago that we are never going to have that buzz of th 80´s again. I can´t think of a single artist or band that held an audience in captivity for that length of time with stunning albums since Prince.

Finally, one thing I have never understood from the Old Skool fanbase, is the level of criticism that each new project gets and the comparisons to the 80´s. Prince as a musician has evolved throughout the the last 20 years into one of the most accomplished musicians in history. Some of his work since 2000 is technically far superior to that of the 80´s and his live performances speak for themselves. Although I do regret SOTT getting cancelled and not being able to get a ticket for Lovesexy, which for those fortunate to have attended probably witnessed without their knowing the greatest show on earth, I am still happy to be on the journey and will always look forward to the next show...

Militant said:

You are so easy to wind up. I was trolling the fuck out of you and what a surprise, you took the bait. As per usual. Now, go and take some medication before you have a heart attack.

Of course!

It's great that you finally found such a way-out.

I couldn't expect less from someone so long-tongued that can lick his own arse.

But it's great that you responded when I called someone Irritant. I'm wondering who actually bit a bait...

[Edited 9/24/12 13:58pm]

Genesia said:

Mya said:

He ain't payin' no Down Under airfare for an 11-piece horn section. He prolly bussed 'em to Chicago.

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

rdhull said:

Its nice to see you write about your soft side KFool, but Prince was not talking about himself regarding cocaine.

Everybody gets a different meaning from a song. In ur world it means something else. In mine it means what I thought of it. By the way that is not a "soft" side. I am not soft. I just tell the truth...

Ok rdDull!

[Edited 9/24/12 12:56pm]

Listen, I wasn't taking a dig at you regarding you discussing your emotions etc. However I was taking a dig at your name, playfully. But I just want(ed) you to know that the meaning you are getting from the ong was wrong. Its not one of those songs to interpret what he is saying about himself but its one where he is talking about what was gong on around him, about others, in that space in time of 83-85. If you take the melancholy into your own and juxtapose it with some of your own pain thats cool too but you are doing a disservice to the artist if you interpret his story telling regarding a friend on drugs as the singer actually taking drugs. In this case/song of course.

BTW the best dig at my name was aaron calling me turdhull...dull is funny too lol.

Wow, looking forward to hearing about the concert tonight. If this track is any indication, it's going to be killer...

"very nice"

You fucking people are ridiculous. "I like it" "Well you only like it cuz you think you have to like everything." on and on and on.

That being said, yes the original '85 lyrics are the best ... if it's still 1985. Yes, the lyrics on The Vault were stupid. At least in this version, he dropped the vault lyrics about not knowing How to buy the pictures back.

rdhull said:

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

Everybody gets a different meaning from a song. In ur world it means something else. In mine it means what I thought of it. By the way that is not a "soft" side. I am not soft. I just tell the truth...

Ok rdDull!

[Edited 9/24/12 12:56pm]

Listen, I wasn't taking a dig at you regarding you discussing your emotions etc. However I was taking a dig at your name, playfully. But I just want(ed) you to know that the meaning you are getting from the ong was wrong. Its not one of those songs to interpret what he is saying about himself but its one where he is talking about what was gong on around him, about others, in that space in time of 83-85. If you take the melancholy into your own and juxtapose it with some of your own pain thats cool too but you are doing a disservice to the artist if you interpret his story telling regarding a friend on drugs as the singer actually taking drugs. In this case/song of course.

BTW the best dig at my name was aaron calling me turdhull...dull is funny too lol.

We can agree to disagree.....

Love4oneanother.

FunkySideEffects said:

Songs amazing & Prince sounds better than he ever has. He's like an expensive bottle of red - just gets better with age. U Americans are so lucky u get 2 see him all the time. Wish he came 2 Aus more often.

since 1985 Europe probably sees him more than the US

i always wonder what he would be like if he lived in France for a few years...the city a yr ago he called a very Erotic city

Life back home depresses me, just another form of slavery
The cost of freedom is anything but free

There ain't nobody got no chains on me
I'm flying higher than any mountain, deeper than any sea
A paradox is box's key, I'm the why in mystery

Nice but it’s missing the light, spacy airy sound that the original has. Although I love P’s music thru all the ages even now, I don’t like the kind of vaccum, airless sound P seems to have used since c.1996. Don’t know if its a major change in production equipment (switch to digital perhaps?!?) or just how he likes it, but it really takes something away. U have to let the sound ‘breathe’….The production of the 1992 ‘Symbol’ album is an example of how all his music ‘SHOULD’ sound in terms of production IMO, it was really well produced.

OldFriends4Sale said:

FunkySideEffects said:

Songs amazing & Prince sounds better than he ever has. He's like an expensive bottle of red - just gets better with age. U Americans are so lucky u get 2 see him all the time. Wish he came 2 Aus more often.

since 1985 Europe probably sees him more than the US

i always wonder what he would be like if he lived in France for a few years...the city a yr ago he called a very Erotic city

Life back home depresses me, just another form of slavery
The cost of freedom is anything but free

There ain't nobody got no chains on me
I'm flying higher than any mountain, deeper than any sea
A paradox is box's key, I'm the why in mystery

Î have yet to see your opinion on SC? I saw you not commenting, that says lot...old skool!

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

rdhull said:

Its nice to see you write about your soft side KFool, but Prince was not talking about himself regarding cocaine.

Everybody gets a different meaning from a song. In ur world it means something else. In mine it means what I thought of it. By the way that is not a "soft" side. I am not soft. I just tell the truth...

Ok rdDull!

[Edited 9/24/12 12:56pm]

Yes when it comes to Prince, KCOOL is always rock-hard.