just out of curiosity, would anyone like to share (in words) what the updated live versions of "calhoun square" and "bambi" prince played on the ONA tour sounded like? did he change them drastically (like he did to "peach") or just rock them out like one would expect?

SleezyG said:

The ONA version of Bambi is pretty good, he didn't change it too much, but he manages to make it sound fresh and add a new twist in the middle section of the song.

I don't like the live version at all of Calhoun Square.

Hi Sleezy.
I was at the London show when he performed Bambi and it was amazing! There was a real energy to his performance of the song and in my opinion it was a better version than the one he played in Brixton back in '98. It was one of the highlights of the show for me. It stayed very true to the original, only LOUDER!

Calhoun Square, I have only heard one version oif this from the New York Soundcheck and it is the best soundcheck song that I have heard from the ONA tour. It's over 9 minutes long (I think) and he talks to a couple of latecomers as he's singing. The guitar work is incredible and I highly recommend stealing this song from someone at gunpoint! Err I mean, whatever you do, DON'T GET A COPY BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE ILLEGAL!!

Liberation, you don't like Calhoun Square live? Why not?
I think the keyboard could be a little less prominent in the mix during the chorus, but besides that, I think it rocks! Especially the guitar fills between the vocals.

calldapplwondery83 said:

The live versions i have heard don't seem to work, the raw power of the studio or outtake version don't appear to be captured live.

It strikes me as a song that does not translate well live, at least from what i've heard from 2002-03 live shows.

1993 is a different matter, back then he focused on the guitar and followed the studio arrangement.

I'm not too familiar with early 90s live stuff, did he play Calhoun Square back then? I know that he played it at an Aftershow in Munich, but he didn't do it that often, right?

calldapplwondery83 said:

He did it during some rare 1993 aftershows and live at Paisley in June 1993, not generally circulating.

Prince's recent renditions of Bambi see him omitting only one verse instead of two as on other recent tours. After the first verse he played the middle solo that then gave way to the end solo before returning to the last verse. So it rocked really hard. Calhoun Square when it was played at Nighttown was staggering!