Two posts for the price of one...

I never really see this discussed - but Xenophobia is really an incredible track. The hornline is menacing, Renato's keys are freaky, Blackwell on drums (always a winner), and Prince's guitar playing is off the chain. Musically, it has to be one of Prince's best pieces. I wish Prince had released a proper follow up to TRC, with 'Xenophobia' as the title track. What does everyone think of this track? And has anyone heard the studio version?


And, the track's had me thinking about the Xenophobia Celebration. People say Prince can be shit to his fans... and he can. But he can be really good to them too. The London gigs last February are a recent example, as are the Paisley Park After Dark shows. But the Xenophobia Celebration seems like the holy grail - the highpoint of Prince fan interaction, as far as I know, nothing before or since comes close. A whole week of incredible intimate shows (and whatever else was going on) for $250 or however much it was.

I'm a huge fan of TRC/ONA era.

thisisreece said:

thisisreece said:

Two posts for the price of one...

I never really see this discussed - but Xenophobia is really an incredible track. The hornline is menacing, Renato's keys are freaky, Blackwell on drums (always a winner), and Prince's guitar playing is off the chain. Musically, it has to be one of Prince's best pieces. I wish Prince had released a proper follow up to TRC, with 'Xenophobia' as the title track. What does everyone think of this track? And has anyone heard the studio version?


And, the track's had me thinking about the Xenophobia Celebration. People say Prince can be shit to his fans... and he can. But he can be really good to them too. The London gigs last February are a recent example, as are the Paisley Park After Dark shows. But the Xenophobia Celebration seems like the holy grail - the highpoint of Prince fan interaction, as far as I know, nothing before or since comes close. A whole week of incredible intimate shows (and whatever else was going on) for $250 or however much it was.

I'm a huge fan of TRC/ONA era.

You dont see other major artists doing something like the celebration for their fans. WHen you consider amount of music, artists and activties - all inside his amazing studio - you can not accept anyone bitching about Prince not doing anything for fans. I mean I met Tavis SMiley and Cornel West, caught a drumstick that Sheila E threw in the crowd, sat in Prince's bike from Graffiti Bridge, and actually sood in the studio at the board where he recorded some of the greatest songs of all time. And I saw him a different show for 7 straight days. Even met a chick from KY who I banged for a while afterwards. What could have been better?

It was a fun time. I even walked right by Prince, shoulder to shoulder, we were walking in opposing directions (both alone) at the back of the concert hall in front of the bleachers) and I didn't notice until the last moment (Victor Wooten and his brother had me glancing towards the stage as I walked), it was that casual sometimes.

Don't forget when he took us to see Minority Report after one of the shows, as a means to make up for the A/C problem. That was definitely surreal.

I saw many prince concerts, but this week was the definite top prince experience.

Surreal doesn't even begin to describe it.

Those amazing setlists with so many rare one-off performances...fans on stage...the workshops...that ridicilous minority report pajamas party...the xenophobia water sold inside...the awesome fans from fucking everywhere...

Also, He was in his peak form as a performer.

Great time prince was still underground. U got a friend (wish he sang the whole song) The boot is complete and timeless!

Nothing before or after has topped that experience as far as being a fan. What a remarkable experience that week was.

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Don't forget when he took us to see Minority Report after one of the shows, as a means to make up for the A/C problem. That was definitely surreal.

Was that not in PJs too?

thisisreece said:

I was there the whole week. Amazing! Each show was different. Full concert style show, electric jam, acoustic , funky etc. and sets by Victor Wooton, Sheila E, Norah Jones, Common, Maceo Parker and others. Beautiful week!

thisisreece said:

SchlomoThaHomo said:

Don't forget when he took us to see Minority Report after one of the shows, as a means to make up for the A/C problem. That was definitely surreal.

Was that not in PJs too?

Yep. Prince got us dressed up in our pajamas and then took us to the cinema at 2am. He stood in line for popcorn with everyone else.

Askani said:

That 2002 celebration is the pinnacle of Prince fandom. It was really fantastic to be there.

I am glad I did it. There probably wont ever be something like this again.

What did he look like? Long hair? Style of clothing? Are there pictures from this event?

I was there as well. I look back at that week as a highlight of my life. It's up there with my wedding and kids being born. It was a surreal seven days. Here was a guy I had been following since I was 11 years old, and now I was in his studio. The place I had only seen in rare pictures, a place that had birthed songs that were the soundtrack of my life. It was there in the flesh. Who else but Prince would do something like that? Who else could make that kind of magic? Could you sit around Abbey Road with Paul McCartney listening to Beatles tunes? Sit on the couch at Skywalker Ranch watching Empire Strikes Back outtakes with George Lucas? Absolutely not, but for the few who were there, that summer in Minneapolis, we got to do something just as extraordinary and rare.

I only hope lightning strikes again.

I was there and had a blast. Best Prince experience ever. Great shows, great choice of songs, great people. My favorite concerts were the one when Prince played right after Bernard Allison and of course the acoustic night (Kirk on the bongos and Prince saying:"Kirk, is the water warm enough?")

It was also good to see Eric Leeds and Renato and talk with them, and of course Sheila.

-

It´s strange the this event never gets mentioned by celebrities who´ve been there and played there, for example Norah Jones who was not that wellknown back then. Her Paisley Park concert does not seem to exist in her list of shows she´s done, nor does she ever talk about it.

PS: Just wanted to add that this was also Prince at his most humble , personal and most grateful, thanking his fans for sticking with him through the thick and the thin, apologizing for the bad AC and taking us to the movies, mentioning his late father, and basically being the best and most likeable incarnation of Prince I´ve ever seen over the decades.

Good times, great experience.

paulludvig said:

What did he look like? Long hair? Style of clothing? Are there pictures from this event?

It was during the One Night Alone tour look. But he wore a suit with a wedding dress style train on the last night to play "Empty Room", and that train went back on the floor for 6 feet or more... it was a crazy outfit. It might have been red.

The mind really can't remember details accurately... which shows how bunk the witness system of court cases is.

thisisreece said:

Two posts for the price of one...

I never really see this discussed - but Xenophobia is really an incredible track. The hornline is menacing, Renato's keys are freaky, Blackwell on drums (always a winner), and Prince's guitar playing is off the chain. Musically, it has to be one of Prince's best pieces. I wish Prince had released a proper follow up to TRC, with 'Xenophobia' as the title track. What does everyone think of this track? And has anyone heard the studio version?


And, the track's had me thinking about the Xenophobia Celebration. People say Prince can be shit to his fans... and he can. But he can be really good to them too. The London gigs last February are a recent example, as are the Paisley Park After Dark shows. But the Xenophobia Celebration seems like the holy grail - the highpoint of Prince fan interaction, as far as I know, nothing before or since comes close. A whole week of incredible intimate shows (and whatever else was going on) for $250 or however much it was.

I'm a huge fan of TRC/ONA era.

I would love to hear the whole track. Only have the snippet that was online as an intro to the website.

Did you know that song was recycled from Overnight, Every Night on Eric Leeds' Time Squared album from 1991? The Eric Leeds track is a faster tempo but it's the same main riff.

Can't comment on the Xenophobia celly cause I didn't attend but would have loved to. I agree - it's holy grail stuff from what I understand.

I do have the 12 CD (bootleg)set that circulatedwith great sound quality.

Now if I only had a time turner....

ufoclub said:

paulludvig said:

What did he look like? Long hair? Style of clothing? Are there pictures from this event?

It was during the One Night Alone tour look. But he wore a suit with a wedding dress style train on the last night to play "Empty Room", and that train went back on the floor for 6 feet or more... it was a crazy outfit. It might have been red.

The mind really can't remember details accurately... which shows how bunk the witness system of court cases is.

It was white.

But he wore red during the rock night. After the Bernard Allison concert. Now THAT costume looked great.

Specific recording dates are not known, but initial tracking took place in autumn, 2001 (most likely at Paisley Park Studios, Chanhassen, MN, USA), with saxophone overdubs by Candy Dulfer in early December, 2001. The song was included as the first track on the album Xenophobia before the title track was removed and the album renamed Xpectation. The released live version includes Prince reciting a line from Silicon, but this is not included in the studio version, which is fully instrumental.

The title was used in June 2002 for the name of Prince's third week-long Paisley Park Studios "celebration", Xenophobia Celebration, at which he played a live show each day. -PrinceVault

Welcome to the power of surrender
First things first
You must surrender your expectation
For those of you expected to get your 'Purple Rain' on
You in the wrong house

See, we're not interested in what you know
But what you are willing to learn
Come on, y'all, uh, leave that blood alone
Don't you know dead blood kills interferons?
NPG, are you ready? Come on now, ow

We 'bout to get deep tonight, y'all
And that's the only way that we can rise up
Rainbow children, are you in here?
On the trombone, Mr. Greg Boyer
Warm it up, Greg, warm it up

Say Candy, what you think?
Candy, does he need a passport?
Can we let him stay?
I'll have to search him first, that's what
We loving it Greg, come on, y'all, whoo

Say Maceo, they trying to describe funk
I don't know if you can describe if it ain't funky
Come on, Maceo, blow your horn
Y'all know who that is? Act like you know
Say, "Maceo blow your horn"
(Maceo blow your horn)
(Maceo blow your horn)
(Maceo blow your horn)

Maceo, Maceo
(Maceo, Maceo)
Ow, yeah, yeah, yeah
Don't hurt 'em, baby, don't hurt 'em
Hold on, hold on, yeah, come on, y'all
Yeah yeah

If you drove up here in a 'Little Red Corvette'
You might be surprised at what you gon' get
Portland, can you hear me, tonight?
Yeah, yeah, whoo

On the keyboards, the master, Renato Neto
Oh, now I know he's gotta check his passport, whoo
Let it rock, ah, check it out
Yeah, watch me now

You've been randomly selected to be searched
Can I get any volunteers?
You must remove your shoes
We gon' get funky, on the drums, John Blackwell
Aw, you know we don't mean nobody no good
1, 2, 1, 2, 3

I got a question for ya
Is it better to give or to receive?
(It's better to give)
Alright then, then give up your seat
To this person back here in the back
Come here, sister in the red
I'ma call your bluff
Can she have your seat? Alright

Is it better to be a leader or a follower?
Better to be a leader or a follower?
(A leader)
A leader? Too bad
Who thinks it's better to be a follower?
You? Follow me, have a seat right there
I'ma play the guitar for you, alright?
Can I get you anything?
Can I get you anything? You cool?

OldFriends4Sale said:

thisisreece said:

But the Xenophobia Celebration seems like the holy grail - the highpoint of Prince fan interaction, as far as I know, nothing before or since comes close. A whole week of incredible intimate shows (and whatever else was going on) for $250 or however much it was.

.

Well, except for the often atrocious organising, the "hey guess what's happening next week" way of announcing etc.

BartVanHemelen said:

thisisreece said:

But the Xenophobia Celebration seems like the holy grail - the highpoint of Prince fan interaction, as far as I know, nothing before or since comes close. A whole week of incredible intimate shows (and whatever else was going on) for $250 or however much it was.

.

Well, except for the often atrocious organising, the "hey guess what's happening next week" way of announcing etc.

Was it a last minute announcement? Typical.

fms said:

I would love to hear the whole track. Only have the snippet that was online as an intro to the website.

Did you know that song was recycled from Overnight, Every Night on Eric Leeds' Time Squared album from 1991? The Eric Leeds track is a faster tempo but it's the same main riff.

Can't comment on the Xenophobia celly cause I didn't attend but would have loved to. I agree - it's holy grail stuff from what I understand.

I do have the 12 CD (bootleg)set that circulatedwith great sound quality.

Now if I only had a time turner....

Yeah, I was aware it was reworked from the Overnight, Every Night instrumental. I perfer Xenophobia though. It's much more aggresive and weird.

Yeah, the boot is great. Really an amazing stream of concerts.

BartVanHemelen said:

thisisreece said:

But the Xenophobia Celebration seems like the holy grail - the highpoint of Prince fan interaction, as far as I know, nothing before or since comes close. A whole week of incredible intimate shows (and whatever else was going on) for $250 or however much it was.

.

Well, except for the often atrocious organising, the "hey guess what's happening next week" way of announcing etc.

I don't remember how much advance notice there was, but I seemed to remember it being sufficient. And it was the best organized of his three celebrations.

In addition to the nightly concerts (different set every night, with a different opening act!) the daily programming was well organized--panels/master classes with Sheila E., Eric Leeds, discussions with Cornel West, Femi Jiya in studio talking about engineering, etc. And they were very responsive to attendee neeeds--I remember after a few nights when people complained of having stand too long in the soundstage during concerts, they brought chairs in.

And of course after the A/C broke down--Prince opened up the loading dock door, performed his set in full, and then took us to the movies. That was surreal... I remember when he said to the audience, "Who wants to go to the movies?" And people had no idea he was serious. Until he said at the end of the show--"Follow my car." "Minority Report" was not all that of a film, but Prince paid for everyone's drinks and popcorn, and folks got to sit with Sheila E, Prince, Cornel West, etc. to check the flick out.