This is one of the great mysteries of so many pop stars -- why is it as they age their bands get larger and in so many cases more saccharine?

Watching too many Madonna concerts.

thebanishedone said:

Prince have a reputation of being one of the best live performers in popular music.these days about 40 % of his live show is all about Shelby .she sings those awful covers and when she doesn't sing the lead she oversing Prince. So i was wondering is Prince having some health issues or he is just being lazy. Prince is 54 but for example Bruce Springsteen is almost 10 years older and his concert and his band rock hard just as good as they did in 1978

Much as I love Prince's live shows...Bruce easily outperforms him right now. Bruce will play for three to four hours and pack the shows with old and new songs, fan favorites and obscure choices. And if he plays the same place for more than one night, he really will change up the setlist. I wish Prince would take note.

2freaky4church1 said:

Watching too many Madonna concerts.

If he watched a M concert he would see her constantly playing music from the current albums along with classics

Wonder how a Britney Spears concert will be when she's 54.

Efan said:

thebanishedone said:

Prince have a reputation of being one of the best live performers in popular music.these days about 40 % of his live show is all about Shelby .she sings those awful covers and when she doesn't sing the lead she oversing Prince. So i was wondering is Prince having some health issues or he is just being lazy. Prince is 54 but for example Bruce Springsteen is almost 10 years older and his concert and his band rock hard just as good as they did in 1978

Much as I love Prince's live shows...Bruce easily outperforms him right now. Bruce will play for three to four hours and pack the shows with old and new songs, fan favorites and obscure choices. And if he plays the same place for more than one night, he really will change up the setlist. I wish Prince would take note.

Yeah! This is all Prince was able to come up with when he played three nights in Rotterdam last year (source PrinceVault). He must have been either lazy or sick:

I don´t think he´s lacking the energy.

Then again, Prince could just sit on a stool for one hour and play acoustic guitar, like he did at the Celebration in Paisley Park in 2002, and I ´d be a happy man.

Or play nothing but piano for 90 minutes, without dancing or any gimmicks. I´d love to see a minimalistic set in the near future.

Because the stage is big, there are too many people and he can't be everywhere at once.

Bohemian67 said:

What Prince is doing with his show is almost exactly what James Brown did with his later shows. Dancing twins and more backing singers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ik85hMwgx4

I wish he trusted how much he himself standing in the middle of the stage alone fills the room.

I loved his Hop Farm gig last year and think that somewhere in the waves of unfair criticism is a point to be made. He does have too many covers and hair flickers (I refuse to call the twins dancers).

If he want's to take a break and showcase the band why don't the do a related artist songs rather than covers, Songs like Manic Monday, 101, Mia Bocca, Blue Limosine, I wonder u, Or instead of Maceo's it's a wonderfull world as a band showcase why not something from Madhouse or the sax version of The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, Baby Knows or The Greatest Romance That's Ever Been Sold.... It's the covers for me that disjoint the show and water it down. The bands solo spots would be far more appretiated if they were Prince rareties (the stadium crowd is getting more beer and hot dogs so what has Prince got to lose)

Prince is 54 so of course he may have some health things he is dealing with-we all do, but I have noticed that his voice has changed over the years. Maybe he is using Shelby to give his voice a rest. I don't know, but I do know that having her all over the stage and on damn near every song makes me not want to see him live. I have been a fan since 81 and for me to say that makes me sad. I just can't stomach her voice. She can sing, but if I pay to see Prince I wanna see Prince! He could just sit and play the piano and sing and I'd be happy, but using all these extra folks as filler is just not what I wanna pay my hard earned money to see.

not sure why he had screens on the stage for lyrics at the wta shows in LA .. n the women singing were a bit annoying .. he seems bored

I have seen him 50 times + since 1983 and many times lately and I have seen a Prince at the top of his game. Full of energy and joyful (which was not always the case before).

Some of you are just so full of shit. He just likes his band and likes to put some young talents in the spotlight. He likes his band.

Back in 1985-1987, his shows were very intense but short 1h50mn - 2h and that's it. Then you had the aftershow later on in the night. Back in 1989, I have attended a 1h20mn show!!!

This man plays hours and hours of music every day.

Some of you talk about him like if he was moving in slow motion on stage and like if he could hardly sing and play anymore.

Regarding Springsteen (I love him), the last 6 shows I have seen from him from the last three tours were using pretty much the same tricks. He has this amazing strength and brutal force.

But I kinda get bored after hearing the same chord progressions song after song (D G Bm A).

Prince goes from funk to pop to soul to Rock. he goes a lot further musically on stage even if the E Stree Band has a magic touch.

[Edited 10/8/12 14:30pm]

berlinas2k said:

Bohemian67 said:

Because the stage is big, there are too many people and he can't be everywhere at once.

Sorry, not a valid argument. I realize it was 8 years ago but he managed to fill the Musicology stage by himself, except when he insisted on bringing the dancers up. Unless there's some underlying issue where he just can't physically handle it alone anymore, I'd say it's just a matter of him kicking back and coasting. He keeps filling seats, so if it aint broke, don't fix it.

This is bullshit. Prince was all over the stage at all the shows I have seen lately, dancing a lot more than in recent years. First time since I follow him, I see him play 2h45 and 3 hours shows.

I just don't know what you guys are talking about.

But something I have noticed for sure: he gives more in Europe than in the US. No idea why.

[Edited 10/8/12 11:43am]

berlinas2k said:

Bohemian67 said:

Because the stage is big, there are too many people and he can't be everywhere at once.

Sorry, not a valid argument. I realize it was 8 years ago but he managed to fill the Musicology stage by himself, except when he insisted on bringing the dancers up. Unless there's some underlying issue where he just can't physically handle it alone anymore, I'd say it's just a matter of him kicking back and coasting. He keeps filling seats, so if it aint broke, don't fix it.

perhaps he should stop using those platforms ? ;D Im jk ofc

ohYeeeeeah said:

berlinas2k said:

Bohemian67 said: Sorry, not a valid argument. I realize it was 8 years ago but he managed to fill the Musicology stage by himself, except when he insisted on bringing the dancers up. Unless there's some underlying issue where he just can't physically handle it alone anymore, I'd say it's just a matter of him kicking back and coasting. He keeps filling seats, so if it aint broke, don't fix it.

This is bullshit. Prince was all over the stage at all the shows I have seen lately, dancing a lot more than in recent years. First time since I follow him, I see him play 2h45 and 3 hours shows.

I just don't know what you guys are talking about.

But something I have noticed for sure: he gives more in Europe than in the US. No idea why.

[Edited 10/8/12 11:43am]

I agree with you that he still plays with energy and passion don't know about the Europe US thing but I've always seen him in Europe and it is always a great show.

I've never had issue with his performance, Speaking just for myself I have issues with the distractions he is bringing into the show (covers/bad dancers/backing singers that are too prominant)

Any critique I have of him should be accepted in the context that I still think he's the best performer I have ever seen.

paulludvig said:

Efan said:

Much as I love Prince's live shows...Bruce easily outperforms him right now. Bruce will play for three to four hours and pack the shows with old and new songs, fan favorites and obscure choices. And if he plays the same place for more than one night, he really will change up the setlist. I wish Prince would take note.

Yeah! This is all Prince was able to come up with when he played three nights in Rotterdam last year (source PrinceVault). He must have been either lazy or sick:

	Foxy Lady
	Controversy
	Sexy Dancer (instrumental) / Le Freak
	(Theme Song From) Which Way Is Up?
	Play That Funky Music	Controversy (coda)
	Pass The Peas
	Let's Get It On
	D.M.S.R.
	Pop Life	incl. Scrapple From The Apple interpolation
	Musicology	incl. Tighten Up (instrumental) interpolation & Prince And The Band
	No One Else
	Misty Blue
	A Love Bizarre	incl. Housequake & ( Like) Funky Music chants & 'chromatic scale' coda: E/F/F♯/G
	Everyday People
	Only Heaven Knows	incl. America (instrumental) interpolation	.
	Purple Rain	(incl. sampled string coda)
	If I Was Your Girlfriend		.
	Kiss

	Joy In Repetition
	Nothing More
	The Love We Make
	Mountains
	Come Together
	Alphabet St.
	Dear Mr. Man
	If You Want Me To Stay
	Stand!
	I Want You Back
	When We're Dancing Close And Slow
	The Look Of Love
	Guitar	incl. 'thunderstorm' & guitar improvisation intro
	I Like It There
	Colonized Mind
	Bambi
	Peach	incl. Johnny B. Goode interpolation
	The Beautiful Ones
	Dance (Disco Heat)		.
	Baby I'm A Star

	Laydown	.
	The Question Of U (instrumental) / The One	Gingerbread Man incl. All Day, All Night interpolation
	When Lay My Hands On U
	Brown Skin
	Empty Room
	Calhoun Square
	People Pleaser
	She's Always In My Hair
	Future Soul Song
	Girl
	Partyman
	You're The One For Me
	Controversy	incl. Housequake chants
	Let's Go Crazy
	Delirious	Let's Go Crazy (coda)
	1999
	Pass The Peas
	Something In The Water (Does Not Compute)
	Nothing Compares 2 U
	Take Me With U
	Raspberry Beret
	Cream
	Cool	incl. Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough interpolation

I think the OP was talking about 99 out of 100 shows he plays these days and not just the one you went to that was clearly an exception to the rule.

FunkiestOne said:

I think the OP was talking about 99 out of 100 shows he plays these days and not just the one you went to that was clearly an exception to the rule.

I went to these two Not as spectacular as the NSJ shows, but still a lot of variations:

[Edited 12/9/14 12:08pm]

ohYeeeeeah said:

berlinas2k said:

Bohemian67 said: Sorry, not a valid argument. I realize it was 8 years ago but he managed to fill the Musicology stage by himself, except when he insisted on bringing the dancers up. Unless there's some underlying issue where he just can't physically handle it alone anymore, I'd say it's just a matter of him kicking back and coasting. He keeps filling seats, so if it aint broke, don't fix it.

This is bullshit. Prince was all over the stage at all the shows I have seen lately, dancing a lot more than in recent years. First time since I follow him, I see him play 2h45 and 3 hours shows.

I just don't know what you guys are talking about.

But something I have noticed for sure: he gives more in Europe than in the US. No idea why.

[Edited 10/8/12 11:43am]

I'd rather see a quality and energetic set than a 3 hour set with a whole lot of filler and Sly covers. His arrangements have been tacky as heck since 2009. I ain't feeling it.

I wasn't gone jump in this, but now I will. Prince ain't lazy. We talkin about a man that since 1979 has been touring every year and if not every year every other year. If anybody deserves to kick back and relax and let others "help" (lol) him then it should be Prince. Plus it's good that he shares among his band members when there was time he was selfish and self-centered.

He's been doing the Welcome2 tour for in December will be 2 years off and on now and quite frankly I agree with the young man from Youtube Jester Jenkins, I'm waiting on the tour called Welcome 2 the end of the Welcome 2 shows, because I'm tired of him singing the same songs and I know his backup singer/dancer and musicians are as well. I want him to start a whole new tour release a new CD perform his new songs like he did on the ONA tour and old songs he has either never or rarely performed like I'm Yours or It's Gonna Be Lonely. I will add while orger talked about him singing Sly covers, I like when he sings cover songs because when Prince was younger he only sang his songs and I tried to imagine how he sounded singing someone elses song. He covers song very well and his naughtier songs, he could just PG 13 them up and make clean versions like he did ExtraLovable. What ever happened to his ONA quote "It's not about what you know it's about what you're willing to learn". I wouldn't care if never heard Purple Rain again. I don't care if it is his signature song and if fans wanna hear it. Play the damn record! I love Prince, but I'm willing to learn something else.

[Edited 10/13/12 19:51pm]

nursev said:

Prince is 54 so of course he may have some health things he is dealing with-we all do, but I have noticed that his voice has changed over the years. Maybe he is using Shelby to give his voice a rest. I don't know, but I do know that having her all over the stage and on damn near every song makes me not want to see him live. I have been a fan since 81 and for me to say that makes me sad. I just can't stomach her voice. She can sing, but if I pay to see Prince I wanna see Prince! He could just sit and play the piano and sing and I'd be happy, but using all these extra folks as filler is just not what I wanna pay my hard earned money to see.

Ain't shit wrong with his voice and it hasn't changed. His voice is top notched and on point and just as beautiful as it was all the way back when he was young when he was recording unreleased songs like Leaving 4 New York. I understand people getting tired of Shelby, but the woman can sing and especially in these recent years he has been paying much respect to more black women who can sing, not that he didn't before but even more so now. Lalah Hathaway, Ledisi, Cassandra Wilson, Mary J Blige, who I never thought the 2 of them would share the stage together, and most recently Jennifer Hudson. He said it on Tavis that time, he loves the female voice.

thebanishedone said:

Prince have a reputation of being one of the best live performers in popular music.these days about 40 % of his live show is all about Shelby .she sings those awful covers and when she doesn't sing the lead she oversing Prince. So i was wondering is Prince having some health issues or he is just being lazy. Prince is 54 but for example Bruce Springsteen is almost 10 years older and his concert and his band rock hard just as good as they did in 1978

I saw the thread title and thought it was about the teleprompter.

Prince hasn't performed live since 2004. That was a hologram you paid good money to see.