The moment Prince decides to do a tour of him singing ballads, it'll be a wrap for every male r&b singer. Prince has never done a tour like this and it would hit the demographic that dig Prince the most: women. Damn near every female celebrity would be backstage, with female fans paying top dollar for front row seats. He has arguably the greatest catalog of sensual and sexually charged songs (Marvin Gaye-the G.O.A.T.), his appeal with younger and older women is still high and he possesses the musicality to still sing in his trademark falsetto. With a strong backing band like John Blackwell, Andrew Gouche, Xavier and NPG Horns (w/o the NPG Divas), he would clean up big at the box office while the custodial crew clean the floors from women getting wet with excitment. Prince could get real creative with merchandise from purple satin sheets, purple candles, purple lingerie for example. Set list for example could be something like this:

1. Forever In My Life

2. If I Was Your Girlfriend

3. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore

4. Sometimes It Snows In April

5. The Beautiful Ones

6. When We Dancing Close And Slow

7. Still Waiting

8. It's Gonna Be Lonely

9. Gotta Broken Heart Again

10. Insatiable

11. Scandalous

12. When 2 R In Love

13. Call My Name

14. I Love U But I Don't Trust U Anymore

15. The One

16. Joy In Repetition

17. The Question Of U

18. Damn U

19. Most Beautiful Girl In The World

20. Adore

Forever In My Life,
If I Was Your Girlfriend


Some of his best songs ever,

but....... these 2 above, these are mid-tempo songs and not ballads, imo.....

Maybe:

Do Me, Baby

Purple Rain

Could be added instead...?

Otherwise a wonderful list....

Please no. As much as I like his ballands, right now Prince needs to pick up the tempo not slow it down.

Besides, I can just see this tour being sponsored by Ambien and Godiva Chocolates.

Aerogram said:

Please no. As much as I like his ballands, right now Prince needs to pick up the tempo not slow it down.

Besides, I can just see this tour being sponsored by Ambien and Godiva Chocolates.

thedance said:

Forever In My Life,
If I Was Your Girlfriend


Some of his best songs ever,

but....... these 2 above, these are mid-tempo songs and not ballads, imo.....

Maybe:

Do Me, Baby

Purple Rain

Could be added instead...?

Otherwise a wonderful list....

I forgot about "Do Me Baby". I'm kind of disappointed with the uptempo songs Prince has released lately anyway but Prince has always BROUGHT IT with the romantic ballads. There have been D-List singers that have done this but with Prince's cache, he could do mid-sized theaters or arenas. The sponsor offers would be plentiful.

Here's my ballad wish list:

• Condition of the Heart (The few times it's been played live often were short/abbreviated teases.)
• Under the Cherry Moon
• Baby (Never been played live and that's criminal)
• I Love U In Me (again, I've only heard it as an abbreviated tease)
• I Wish U Heaven (I've only heard Sheila E's vocals live)
• Had U
• Love (Yet another live tease, pull the damn trigger man )
• Noon Rendezvous (Such a rare treat - I want more)
• Comeback (I know this will never happen but this track moves me big time)
• An Honest Man (Full piano ballad version pretty please)

Hey bashraka! A ballads tour is a stellar idea; although I don't quite see something like this being a world tour. More than of few of Prince's 80's ballads became classics after heavy and enduring rotation on (American) black radio. While I think a ballads tour would be received very well around the world, I'm wondering if greater demand for a tour of this kind would be found here in the states.

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A ballads set would be very well suited to an upcoming Essence festival, or as Valentine's day performance, or maybe a series of concerts during the month of February (in honor of Valentine's Day).

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It's not only a great idea for a tour but a really smart and sweet way to pay honor to his female fan base.

.

BTW, I would definitey add "Diamonds & Pearls" and "Nothing Compares 2 U" to the set list. If he did a series of ballads shows, I'd like to see him add the following songs to play on different nights: "The Dance", "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold", "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore", "Somewhere Here On Earth", "Betcha By Golly Wow", "Here", "Shhh" (for some spice), and "She Loves Me for Me". It would be very cool if he did "Adonis and Bathsheba" for the female hardcore fans.

[Edited 3/8/15 22:00pm]

Bluu said:

Hey bashraka! A ballads tour is a stellar idea; although I don't quite see something like this being a world tour. More than of few of Prince's 80's ballads became classics after heavy and enduring rotation on (American) black radio. While I think a ballads tour would be received very well around the world, I'm wondering if greater demand for a tour of this kind would be found here in the states.

.

A ballads set would be very well suited to an upcoming Essence festival, or as Valentine's day performance, or maybe a series of concerts during the month of February (in honor of Valentine's Day).

.

It's not only a great idea for a tour but a really smart and sweet way to pay honor to his female fan base.

.

BTW, I would definitey add "Diamonds & Pearls" and "Nothing Compares 2 U" to the set list. If he did a series of ballads shows, I'd like to see him add the following songs to play on different nights: "The Dance", "The Greatest Romance Ever Sold", "How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore", "Somewhere Here On Earth", "Betcha By Golly Wow", "Here", "Shhh" (for some spice), and "She Loves Me for Me". It would be very cool if he did "Adonis and Bathsheba" for the female hardcore fans.

[Edited 3/8/15 22:00pm]

Thanks Bluu. Great observations as well! Black radio in the United States really gave Prince so much lift in his career with his love songs. Sometimes I catch those "quiet storm" shows on the radio, and whenever I hear "Do Me Baby" before or after another song, the distance in quality between Prince and another artist is big.

With a tight backing band, Prince could do what you suggest and play at venues that are intimate and make female fans feel close to him reminiscent of the venues of the One Nite Alone tour. Some serious players would have to be involved, bring Greg Boyer (he can chart music for woodwinds) on board, Rhonda Smith (certain numbers she can play upright bass), Sheila E (for light percussion) etc. "Crazy You" because it is a short song, he can have fun by improvising lyrics to tailor for each performance. Also, he could design the stage with visuals that play up to his love of spirituality and sensuality. For reference, something like the "Te Amo Corazon" video with Morrokhan walls and design. If done right, the press would be tripping over themselves to cover the tour and give P the publicity Prince has enjoyed since Musicology.

Scary.

This is a great idea for when he carnt dance anymore, but not untill then.

Dare I say too much of a good thing?

He has written some ballads that are undeniably sublime. And they are without a doubt showstoppers. But an entire show of them? While it's one thing to do an unplugged show or a show backed by an orchestra, doing a show centered around one type of song might get a bit old fast.

LittlePurpleYoda said:

Dare I say too much of a good thing?

He has written some ballads that are undeniably sublime. And they are without a doubt showstoppers. But an entire show of them? While it's one thing to do an unplugged show or a show backed by an orchestra, doing a show centered around one type of song might get a bit old fast.

Possibly. Do a couple shows in each region. Play an arena or theater venue in New York, California, Midwest and South just to test the market. If there is overwhelming demand, then Prince could do it til he wants. The arrangements can be revoiced to keep it from being boring.

nah.. his ballads are gorgeous though.

SuperSoulFighter said:

And what would it be called? The Put U 2 Sleep Tour? Would be a very relaxing experience, that's 4 sure.

i was thinking same thing...it would be too much of one thing

the ladies would love it.He should call it the Prince Charming Tour

SuperSoulFighter said:

And what would it be called? The Put U 2 Sleep Tour? Would be a very relaxing experience, that's 4 sure.

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How about something along the lines of 4Play.

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Building off of bashraka's vision here, The 4Play Tour could have Rhonda on bass/upright bass, Sheila on drums, I'd add Rosie on keys, and lastly Prince on guitar and piano. (I know Sheila and P. seem to be not talking currently, and Rosie is going through challenges, but one can dream.) Or have as many musicians onstage as you like and make it four nights of ballad-heavy shows (The 4Play Concert Series: 4 Nites of Lo e...with Prince).

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If a show of that kind was marketed to the right audience, concert-goers would leave extremely satisfied. Female fans will be way too busy falling over themselves to take a nap at one of his shows. But I think you have a point in the sense that a setlist composed solely of ballads would probably benefit from periodic changes in tempo and tone to keep people engaged. So you pepper the silky sweet slow jams with something rousing ("The Beautiful Ones"); fiery ("Shhh"); one or two uptempo numbers that the audience can be brought in on to sing along with ("Forever In My Life", "When U Love Somebody"); something a bit dark and conflicted ("I Hate U"); and something dramatic and smouldering, like "The Dance". That show would be HOT. He could throw in "Love Thy Will Be Done" for that moment in the show where he invokes God/Jehova and merges the sensual with the spiritual in a torrential finish.

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I still think a show of this kind should be associated with Valentines Day and be a limited engagement. P could experiment and just do one show in a small, intimate venue to get an idea for how well the format does. But a show of that kind needs to be marketed ahead of time to attract the kind of fans who will appreciate a night of slow jams.

[Edited 3/9/15 21:37pm]

PurpleSkipper58 said:

International Lover could be added

"International Lover"--Of course! How could we have ever forgotten this classic. I had also forgotten about "Pink Cashmere".

.

This was a very cool thread. Fun putting together a dream concert in my mind...

I would rather see a B-sides tour. This would be incredible!!

Setlist

Hello

Rock and roll is alive

Gotta Stop Messin About

Horny Toad

200 Balloons

Horny Pony

Sex

Another Lonely Christmas

Alexa de Paris

God Instrumental

God

I Love U In Me

Girl

HCYDCMA

Escape

Scarlet Pussy

United States of Division

ENCORE 1

Shockadelica

LaLaLa Hehehee

Love or Money

Erotic City

ENCORE 2

Shes Always in My Hair

17 Days

[Edited 3/9/15 21:54pm]

[Edited 3/9/15 21:55pm]

TV networks would love to broadcast a concert of this kind of tour. It would draw heavy female viewership on topof ticket sales. It seems like something he would do before taking another break.

Prince doing any kind of tour would work but I don't think I'd like this.

The beauty of Prince is the variety.

trax said:

I would rather see a B-sides tour. This would be incredible!!

Setlist

Hello

Rock and roll is alive

Gotta Stop Messin About

Horny Toad

200 Balloons

Horny Pony

Sex

Another Lonely Christmas

Alexa de Paris

God Instrumental

God

I Love U In Me

Girl

HCYDCMA

Escape

Scarlet Pussy

United States of Division

ENCORE 1

Shockadelica

LaLaLa Hehehee

Love or Money

Erotic City

ENCORE 2

Shes Always in My Hair

17 Days

[Edited 3/9/15 21:54pm]

[Edited 3/9/15 21:55pm]

I'd definitely be down for a B-Sides tour! Though like a ballads tour, I'm seeing it as a limited series of shows in smaller venues as ticket sales would probably be driven mostly by a subset of Prince's fan base--the die-hards. But you bet I'd be there

trax said:

I would rather see a B-sides tour. This would be incredible!!

Setlist

Hello

Rock and roll is alive

Gotta Stop Messin About

Horny Toad

200 Balloons

Horny Pony

Sex

Another Lonely Christmas

Alexa de Paris

God Instrumental

God

I Love U In Me

Girl

HCYDCMA

Escape

Scarlet Pussy

United States of Division

ENCORE 1

Shockadelica

LaLaLa Hehehee

Love or Money

Erotic City

ENCORE 2

Shes Always in My Hair

17 Days

[Edited 3/9/15 21:54pm]

[Edited 3/9/15 21:55pm]

Now are are talking................

I remember when he played 3 sets in one night at LA Live at the time of Lotusflow3r, a lot of people who had waited hours to get into the late show at Club Nokia complained it was too many long, slow songs that they didn't know. It was after midnight and they wanted to party.

If he did this it would be good to let people know what they were in for, lots of people complained about that Nokia show but several were like "He played Large Room With No Light- best show ever!" Maybe call itThe ROOFIED Tour.

SuperSoulFighter said:

And what would it be called? The Put U 2 Sleep Tour? Would be a very relaxing experience, that's 4 sure.