other than "when it's over"... I have seen Prince over 10 times and there are parts of the show that i know I am been going to be like...ugh...

• long boring medelys
• showcasing band members
• his corny "so many hits, so little time" statements
• playing other people's songs

wha'ts yours???

Generally I can't fault his shows - really, what's not to like? If you go in with the attitude that "I know I am going to be like....ugh.." then you've only yourself to blame. Perhaps going in with a more open-mind and looking to enjoy yourself might help you have a better time. Because, to nit-pick one of the greatest live performers ever is somewhat conceited.

That said - if there are 2 things I was disappointed about in the 54 times I've seen him since 1986. One was the concert being cut short due to a malfunctioning prop that was seriously irritating him during a piano medley (which was anything but boring!) - Brixton Academy 1996 I think.

The other was during The Gold Experience tour, when he would disappear in to that big golden vagina palace, apparently to tweak the mix of the sound - which, if that was true, is always better handled by somebody at front-of-house as the sound is always different on stage and means Prince can just get on with his own performance.

But these are minor gripes. Your compaints I find a bit much - you have every right to them, but they're not really fair. Ok, you may not like medleys, but Prince's skill at re-arranging classic tracks and his entire musical oeuvre to begin with should render them far from boring. There's nothing wrong with showcasing band members! It is a band and they're all skilled musicians - why shouldn't each one get a bit of limelight? Virtually any band from any time has always done this, it's only right really. "So many hits...." - well, if you've got it, flaunt it. It's not as if he's lying. And covers, don't have a problem with that either. Why not pay homage to other artists you like - personally, I like hearing other artist's interpretations of other people's music. Gives it a fresh perspective.

But, each to their own, eh?

Mindflux said:

Generally I can't fault his shows - really, what's not to like? If you go in with the attitude that "I know I am going to be like....ugh.." then you've only yourself to blame. Perhaps going in with a more open-mind and looking to enjoy yourself might help you have a better time. Because, to nit-pick one of the greatest live performers ever is somewhat conceited.

That said - if there are 2 things I was disappointed about in the 54 times I've seen him since 1986. One was the concert being cut short due to a malfunctioning prop that was seriously irritating him during a piano medley (which was anything but boring!) - Brixton Academy 1996 I think.

The other was during The Gold Experience tour, when he would disappear in to that big golden vagina palace, apparently to tweak the mix of the sound - which, if that was true, is always better handled by somebody at front-of-house as the sound is always different on stage and means Prince can just get on with his own performance.

But these are minor gripes. Your compaints I find a bit much - you have every right to them, but they're not really fair. Ok, you may not like medleys, but Prince's skill at re-arranging classic tracks and his entire musical oeuvre to begin with should render them far from boring. There's nothing wrong with showcasing band members! It is a band and they're all skilled musicians - why shouldn't each one get a bit of limelight? Virtually any band from any time has always done this, it's only right really. "So many hits...." - well, if you've got it, flaunt it. It's not as if he's lying. And covers, don't have a problem with that either. Why not pay homage to other artists you like - personally, I like hearing other artist's interpretations of other people's music. Gives it a fresh perspective.

But, each to their own, eh?

the covers are ok...but i find it hypocritical when he doesn't want anyone performing his music...

yes..i really see the need to pay to see Shelby sing in most of his shows... his medleys are terrible...play the whole song or leave it out...IMO.. He hasn't really had a "hit" in 20 years..leave out covers and play his own music!

avasdad said:

Mindflux said:

Generally I can't fault his shows - really, what's not to like? If you go in with the attitude that "I know I am going to be like....ugh.." then you've only yourself to blame. Perhaps going in with a more open-mind and looking to enjoy yourself might help you have a better time. Because, to nit-pick one of the greatest live performers ever is somewhat conceited.

That said - if there are 2 things I was disappointed about in the 54 times I've seen him since 1986. One was the concert being cut short due to a malfunctioning prop that was seriously irritating him during a piano medley (which was anything but boring!) - Brixton Academy 1996 I think.

The other was during The Gold Experience tour, when he would disappear in to that big golden vagina palace, apparently to tweak the mix of the sound - which, if that was true, is always better handled by somebody at front-of-house as the sound is always different on stage and means Prince can just get on with his own performance.

But these are minor gripes. Your compaints I find a bit much - you have every right to them, but they're not really fair. Ok, you may not like medleys, but Prince's skill at re-arranging classic tracks and his entire musical oeuvre to begin with should render them far from boring. There's nothing wrong with showcasing band members! It is a band and they're all skilled musicians - why shouldn't each one get a bit of limelight? Virtually any band from any time has always done this, it's only right really. "So many hits...." - well, if you've got it, flaunt it. It's not as if he's lying. And covers, don't have a problem with that either. Why not pay homage to other artists you like - personally, I like hearing other artist's interpretations of other people's music. Gives it a fresh perspective.

But, each to their own, eh?

the covers are ok...but i find it hypocritical when he doesn't want anyone performing his music...

yes..i really see the need to pay to see Shelby sing in most of his shows... his medleys are terrible...play the whole song or leave it out...IMO.. He hasn't really had a "hit" in 20 years..leave out covers and play his own music!

As I said, that's your opinion and that's fine.

But, just to pick up the point about covers - what Prince doesn't like is people covering his songs and then selling them. That really irks him. I haven't seen any evidence of him saying he doesn't like people performing his stuff live.

And maybe he hasn't had a hit in some time (more his choice than anything else). But that doesn't take away the fact that his hit-list dwarfs most other artists'.

use of "hits"

Mindflux said:

avasdad said:

the covers are ok...but i find it hypocritical when he doesn't want anyone performing his music...

yes..i really see the need to pay to see Shelby sing in most of his shows... his medleys are terrible...play the whole song or leave it out...IMO.. He hasn't really had a "hit" in 20 years..leave out covers and play his own music!

As I said, that's your opinion and that's fine.

But, just to pick up the point about covers - what Prince doesn't like is people covering his songs and then selling them. That really irks him. I haven't seen any evidence of him saying he doesn't like people performing his stuff live.

And maybe he hasn't had a hit in some time (more his choice than anything else). But that doesn't take away the fact that his hit-list dwarfs most other artists'.

Prince wants to make covering songs illegal—specifically, Prince's songs

By Sean O'Neal @seanoneal

Apr 22, 2011 2:31 PM

Prince, the world’s biggest Prince fan, has a reputation for maintaining a tyrannical hold over his music, even going so far as to sue his own devotees for using his songs and likenesses in their worshipful websites, and also take them away from toddlers. Now he’s out to extend that imperial control even further, saying during an interview on George Lopez’s Lopez Tonight that he’d like to see the laws changed to ensure that no one can cover one of his songs. Remarking on the compulsory licensing of copyright that allows artists to rework other artists’ hits, Prince said, “That doesn't exist in any other art form, be it books, movies. There's only one version of Law And Order. There's several versions of 'Kiss' and 'Purple Rain'."

Of course, there are a few things about this to disagree with: 1) Compulsory licensing does exist in other media, such as in cable television. 2) There are dozens of versions of Law And Order, and likely there will be at least one or two more by the time you finish reading this sentence. 3) Prince covers other people’s songs all the time, whether it be his version of Radiohead’s “Creep”that briefly pissed off Thom Yorke, or that Super Bowl performance of Foo Fighters’ “Best Of You”—which came only after he’d blasted Foo Fighters for covering his own “Darling Nikki” and told them to “write their own tunes.” Yet on the other hand, for all his queeny selfishness, Prince is still Prince, and thus eternally fucking awesome. And if his crusade ensures we’ll never hear anything like this Limp Bizkit version of “1999” again, hey, more power to him.

avasdad said:

Mindflux said:

As I said, that's your opinion and that's fine.

But, just to pick up the point about covers - what Prince doesn't like is people covering his songs and then selling them. That really irks him. I haven't seen any evidence of him saying he doesn't like people performing his stuff live.

And maybe he hasn't had a hit in some time (more his choice than anything else). But that doesn't take away the fact that his hit-list dwarfs most other artists'.

Prince wants to make covering songs illegal—specifically, Prince's songs

By Sean O'Neal @seanoneal

Apr 22, 2011 2:31 PM

Prince, the world’s biggest Prince fan, has a reputation for maintaining a tyrannical hold over his music, even going so far as to sue his own devotees for using his songs and likenesses in their worshipful websites, and also take them away from toddlers. Now he’s out to extend that imperial control even further, saying during an interview on George Lopez’s Lopez Tonight that he’d like to see the laws changed to ensure that no one can cover one of his songs. Remarking on the compulsory licensing of copyright that allows artists to rework other artists’ hits, Prince said, “That doesn't exist in any other art form, be it books, movies. There's only one version of Law And Order. There's several versions of 'Kiss' and 'Purple Rain'."

Of course, there are a few things about this to disagree with: 1) Compulsory licensing does exist in other media, such as in cable television. 2) There are dozens of versions of Law And Order, and likely there will be at least one or two more by the time you finish reading this sentence. 3) Prince covers other people’s songs all the time, whether it be his version of Radiohead’s “Creep”that briefly pissed off Thom Yorke, or that Super Bowl performance of Foo Fighters’ “Best Of You”—which came only after he’d blasted Foo Fighters for covering his own “Darling Nikki” and told them to “write their own tunes.” Yet on the other hand, for all his queeny selfishness, Prince is still Prince, and thus eternally fucking awesome. And if his crusade ensures we’ll never hear anything like this Limp Bizkit version of “1999” again, hey, more power to him.

That's a fairly sensationalist piece of journalism which is exaggerating some of the perspective.

I saw the interview in question and Prince did say that he would like to see it made illegal - and I agree with him! You know why? Because he is absolutely right - in every other art form, you can't do that. Go and try and make a Star Wars film and see where that gets you! But, ANYONE can cover someone elses music, WITHOUT permission and SELL it! Is that right? That you can just copy someone elses work and make money from it? And why is it only in music that you can do this?

But it doesn't argue against what I said, because what I said was that Prince has a problem with people covering his songs and SELLING them. Not perfroming them - there's a big difference.

Furthermore, Prince's soundbites to media should be taken with a pinch of salt. The media will have you believe that there is some big problem between Prince and Foo Fighters. Yet Dave Grohl was invited personally by Prince to jam and record at Paisley Park and Dave Grohl said it was the best day of his life. Most assured artists will give the media tidbits like that and then laugh as they watch everyone else froth all over it!

Mindflux said:

And covers, don't have a problem with that either. Why not pay homage to other artists you like - personally, I like hearing other artist's interpretations of other people's music. Gives it a fresh perspective.

Because he has a gazillion songs of his own that we all love that he doesn't play live. Every cover could be another one of his classics. Just sayin'...

The ballad interludes.

Prince is one of the greatest live performers of all time in my opinion. I've seen him in the UK several times this year and he was on top form and delivered one of the best gigs of my life.

Thankfully, Shelby J did not accompany him on the UK tour as I think she's blighted performances for the past four years or so. She makes even Tony M look subtle and intelligent in comparison. Somehow she manages to be more distracting and intrusive than the Game Boyz, Mavis Staples and The Twinz combined.

djThunderfunk said:

Because he has a gazillion songs of his own that we all love that he doesn't play live. Every cover could be another one of his classics. Just sayin'...

Agreed. Prince is pretty much always brilliant live no matter what he plays, but for me, at this stage of his career and speaking as a certain sort of long term fan, rather than a casual music fan -

Too many hits being played, not enough attention given to his huge catalogue of less well-known great songs. There are still a number of great P songs he has rarely/ never played live that would work great in concert.

Cut out the mostly boring funk/ rnb/ soul covers. Prince rarely adds anything new to them and what's the point in playing them at all when he is one of the most prolific songwriters in pop rock history?? He's been playing some of these covers since the '80s and most of them were the dull bits in SOTT/ Lovesexy aftershows even then .

Hits being played as part of medleys - smacks of a Las Vegas lounge show.

Not enough variation in the setlist - going back to my second point.

To remedy this, I wish he would, at least for a while - play the whole of one of his classic albums (eg 1999, Purple Rain, SOTT, Lovesexy) in its proper sequence and songs played in full, maybe even throw in one or two of the contemporary era B-sides and outtakes. I know he does play tons of 1999, PR etc regularly anyway, but play them in full in proper context. Start this year with a 30th Anniversary Purple Rain in full first half to the set, second half do other hits and rarities.

Cut out the sampler set, instead do a more varied solo piano set.

Bring back the solo acoustic mini-sets he used to do around 2004.

As things stand, if he just tours playing the hits the same old way + a couple of his current songs, then I for one am not hugely interested in seeing him live again. Great, but too safe and predictable.

Most recently, the sampler sets. Before you can even get into one of the songs, it's on to the next. I would much rather he just did 2 or 3 more full songs. It makes me think of the line, "Real music, by real musicians", Prince is doing karaoke to his own songs. I guess I kind of understand why he does it, people want to hear the big hits, but just pick a couple songs and do the full songs.

covers. and background singers doing lead vocals. combine the two, and there's not actually any reason for you to be there for those 5-10 minutes.

Miles said:

djThunderfunk said:

Because he has a gazillion songs of his own that we all love that he doesn't play live. Every cover could be another one of his classics. Just sayin'...

Agreed. Prince is pretty much always brilliant live no matter what he plays, but for me, at this stage of his career and speaking as a certain sort of long term fan, rather than a casual music fan -

Too many hits being played, not enough attention given to his huge catalogue of less well-known great songs. There are still a number of great P songs he has rarely/ never played live that would work great in concert.

Cut out the mostly boring funk/ rnb/ soul covers. Prince rarely adds anything new to them and what's the point in playing them at all when he is one of the most prolific songwriters in pop rock history?? He's been playing some of these covers since the '80s and most of them were the dull bits in SOTT/ Lovesexy aftershows even then .

Hits being played as part of medleys - smacks of a Las Vegas lounge show.

Not enough variation in the setlist - going back to my second point.

To remedy this, I wish he would, at least for a while - play the whole of one of his classic albums (eg 1999, Purple Rain, SOTT, Lovesexy) in its proper sequence and songs played in full, maybe even throw in one or two of the contemporary era B-sides and outtakes. I know he does play tons of 1999, PR etc regularly anyway, but play them in full in proper context. Start this year with a 30th Anniversary Purple Rain in full first half to the set, second half do other hits and rarities.

Cut out the sampler set, instead do a more varied solo piano set.

Bring back the solo acoustic mini-sets he used to do around 2004.

As things stand, if he just tours playing the hits the same old way + a couple of his current songs, then I for one am not hugely interested in seeing him live again. Great, but too safe and predictable.

Seems you were not at any of the London shows earlier this year then, otherwise you would know that most of your above statements are false.

Mindflux said:

Miles said:

Agreed. Prince is pretty much always brilliant live no matter what he plays, but for me, at this stage of his career and speaking as a certain sort of long term fan, rather than a casual music fan -

Too many hits being played, not enough attention given to his huge catalogue of less well-known great songs. There are still a number of great P songs he has rarely/ never played live that would work great in concert.

Cut out the mostly boring funk/ rnb/ soul covers. Prince rarely adds anything new to them and what's the point in playing them at all when he is one of the most prolific songwriters in pop rock history?? He's been playing some of these covers since the '80s and most of them were the dull bits in SOTT/ Lovesexy aftershows even then .

Hits being played as part of medleys - smacks of a Las Vegas lounge show.

Not enough variation in the setlist - going back to my second point.

To remedy this, I wish he would, at least for a while - play the whole of one of his classic albums (eg 1999, Purple Rain, SOTT, Lovesexy) in its proper sequence and songs played in full, maybe even throw in one or two of the contemporary era B-sides and outtakes. I know he does play tons of 1999, PR etc regularly anyway, but play them in full in proper context. Start this year with a 30th Anniversary Purple Rain in full first half to the set, second half do other hits and rarities.

Cut out the sampler set, instead do a more varied solo piano set.

Bring back the solo acoustic mini-sets he used to do around 2004.

As things stand, if he just tours playing the hits the same old way + a couple of his current songs, then I for one am not hugely interested in seeing him live again. Great, but too safe and predictable.

Seems you were not at any of the London shows earlier this year then, otherwise you would know that most of your above statements are false.

If Prince did something different in London this year, it doesn't make Miles wrong. It's merely an exception to the norm of what Prince has done most of the past decade. No?

Miles said:

I'm not a huge fan of the covers, but I don't hate them.

Love the live music and energy Prince brings to the stage. It's all about the music.

When he talks on stage it's often awkward. Especially in the 90ies when he said lines like "what we're about to do...." I cringed everytime. And I don't like to hear lines like"I am here, where are you?" and stuff like that. Or when he says stuff like "We've come here to party ALL NIGHT", and after 90 minutes the show is over, I think to mysefl "better shut your mouth next time, little liar. All night my ass.".

And the ugliest part is his sermoning on stage. When he asks the crowd if they believe in god, and eveybody says "Yeah" just to keep him in a good mood so that he gives an extra long concert.

All that preaching after he became a JW was horrible, especially while the ONA-tour. I can't listen to "1+1+1=3" because of that "theocratic order" bullshit.

- The long waits for an encore

- Quite often the sound (tends to be too loud, often poor sound quality compared to other acts)

- Choice of venue

- Ticketprices

- When he starts to say "goodnight" after 60 minutes

- When shows are short

- When shows start late (more than 30 minutes late is late, as far as I'm concerned)

- Starting songs and cutting them short

- Mediocre musicians in the band

- Strong lights that shine from the back of the stage, so you can't see what's going on on stage

properly

Askani said:

covers. and background singers doing lead vocals. combine the two, and there's not actually any reason for you to be there for those 5-10 minutes.

Bathroom break!

My two least favorite parts

- when it's over

- when he doesn't play anywhere remotely near me for years and years

alandail said:

My two least favorite parts

- when it's over

- when he doesn't play anywhere remotely near me for years and years

Yes when it;s over.

alandail said:

My two least favorite parts

- when it's over

- when he doesn't play anywhere remotely near me for years and years

Yes when it's over.

NinaB said:

Miles said:

I've has the same problem forever too and can't figure it out. Hard returns don't work. I just put a period between paragraphs these days.

herb4 said:

NinaB said:

herb4 said:

I've has the same problem forever too and can't figure it out. Hard returns don't work. I just put a period between paragraphs these days.

I thought it was because I'm using a cell.

Not as far as I can tell. Here, let me try.

See if this works.

Nope.