rainbowchild said:

What really tells you how great he was, and how great this performance was, is the background information which came out after he died. The people from the NFL and the production company said he was the consummate professional - no complaints, no whining, no diva behavior. He played them the set he planned to do on a recording in a hotel room, then months later came in and played like the rock star he was. Even these people, who have worked with other big stars, said he was the absolute best. No comparison. Nobody better. Thank you for the photo, Rogifan. I had never seen that before.

rogifan said:

rainbowchild said:

I love everything about it. Surprised it took that long for him to get an invite to perform at the Super Bowl.

It wasn't really until the 2000s the the super bowl even had half way decent half time shows. The '91 half time show was Disneyland characters with New Kids on the Block. And another year it was an Indiana Jones theme with Patti Labelle and Tony Bennett. WTF?

The great thing about Prince's performance is it wasn't tied to anything. He wasn't promoting a new album or anything. Bruce Springsteen's performance was centered around promotion of a new album and coincided with a greatest hits CD deal with Walmart that fans hated and he later admitted was a mistake. Everything about Prince's performance was authentic. And the end when he bowed and thanked the crowd and had this humbled look on his face with his hair messed up and soaking wet from the rain....oh man it just melts the heart.

1Sasha said:

and his outfit matched the Dolphins who's stadium they were playing...make it rain some more ..we got this

Rogifan, I didn't know that. Just more evidence of the perfectionist he was and how important his craft was to him.

Doozer said:

PurpleDiamonds1 said:

Doozer said:

PurpleDiamonds1 said:

Doozer said:

Great article by Charles Coplin, head of programming for the NFL in 2007, about the selection of Prince to play and how it came together: . http://www.thedailybeast....mance.html

Thank you. Miss him.

Co-sign on everything rogifan said.

I loved the performance, the choice of songs, the attitude, the rain, the way he took off his bandana and the humbled look on his face when it was all over.

In my opinion one of the best moments and best decisions of his career. He touched many, many hearts that night. And it was amazing how he kept his cool and just did what he does best, despite the heavy rain...and how he used the rain to his advantage instead of being distracted.

Naysayers could probably come up with a bunch of things to dislike (like the coversongs, the performance, whatever...) but that performance was the epitomé of what Prince was about, and I learned a lot from that performance and that attitude.

No matter how bad the odds and circumstances are, with a bit of self confidence and attitude, you can still do your thing, and do it like nobody else can.

Unforgettable.

The commercial for it was hilarious.

I couldn't agree with you more rogifan, the whole performance was majestic. He certainly was in top form that year.

rogifan said:

rainbowchild said:

I love everything about it. Surprised it took that long for him to get an invite to perform at the Super Bowl.

It wasn't really until the 2000s the the super bowl even had half way decent half time shows. The '91 half time show was Disneyland characters with New Kids on the Block. And another year it was an Indiana Jones theme with Patti Labelle and Tony Bennett. WTF?

The great thing about Prince's performance is it wasn't tied to anything. He wasn't promoting a new album or anything. Bruce Springsteen's performance was centered around promotion of a new album and coincided with a greatest hits CD deal with Walmart that fans hated and he later admitted was a mistake. Everything about Prince's performance was authentic. And the end when he bowed and thanked the crowd and had this humbled look on his face with his hair messed up and soaking wet from the rain....oh man it just melts the heart.

KoolEaze said:

Co-sign on everything rogifan said.

I loved the performance, the choice of songs, the attitude, the rain, the way he took off his bandana and the humbled look on his face when it was all over.

In my opinion one of the best moments and best decisions of his career. He touched many, many hearts that night. And it was amazing how he kept his cool and just did what he does best, despite the heavy rain...and how he used the rain to his advantage instead of being distracted.

Naysayers could probably come up with a bunch of things to dislike (like the coversongs, the performance, whatever...) but that performance was the epitomé of what Prince was about, and I learned a lot from that performance and that attitude.

No matter how bad the odds and circumstances are, with a bit of self confidence and attitude, you can still do your thing, and do it like nobody else can.

Unforgettable.

Co-signing on your co-sign

MORE TO THE POINT: What brand of make-up must P have been wearing that night for there to be NO RUNNING MASCARA, and NO SMUDGES on his jacket sleeve when he repeatedly wipes his face???

.

Superhuman, I tells ya!!!

I agree with all that has been said, everything about this performance from his outfit to his choice of songs was perfect! Prince was the consummate professional, who totally owned the stage and stadium that night. I love the story of when someone told him that it was raining, he responded by asking whether the person could make it rain harder? You gotta love the guy, he was something else, so special.

Taylor Hawkins said the Foos didn't know he was going to sing their song - in fact, they thought he was angry they had previously covered one of his songs - and I have never read that Prince ever told them why he picked their tune. Brilliant!

KoolEaze said:

The best super bowl performance ever.

Prince raised the bar.

Epic. I have always had a question. Near the end when he knocks over his mic does that mess up the guitar? It sounds like you can no longer hear the guitar near the end. Other than that, it was a flawless performance.

rogifan said:

His entire set was amazing. I've revisited a lot of Super Bowl performances and most of them were dreadful. Too many artists on stage lip syncing songs that don't translate well to a big stadium; too many older acts that really showed their age (looking at you Rolling Stones and The Who); too many productions full of random artists that don't really belong together (like Aerosmith, Britney Spears and N'Sync). Prince was just Prince on stage with his guitar and the best marching band in the country. A marching band that wasn't just a prop; one that was brilliantly used throughout the performance. Looking back at other half time shows very few from 1991 onwards utilized a marching band. I think it was brilliant that Prince did. One thing associated with football (high school and college) is marching bands. And I think his song choices were brilliant. He wasn't there because he was promoting a new album and playing a bunch of songs nobody knew. He's Prince yet he throws in three covers all of which flowed and fit the set perfectly. His Purple Rain solo when the white sheet comes up and all you see is his silhouette is iconic and will forever be remembered. And of course playing in the rain....it was the first and only (so far) Super Bowl where it rained. I know U2 usually top people's list of the best Super Bowl half time show but I think that's more to do with them performing right after 9/11 than anything else. For me no performance before or afte tops Prince. Sorry Michael, Bruce, Madonna, Beyoncé. Prince has you beat. Anyone else agree?

I'm with you, hands down the best halftime show ever, such an incredible, joy-fueled performance. It's one of the best videos to help convert people to the purple side Thank you for sharing that beautiful pic, it does melt the heart. Have you seen his very short, very sweet thank you video? It's on one of the Lotus TV DVDs along with a few other extras. Screenshot:



The best extra IMO was the press conference for this show. It was pretty epic too. He brought a few friends, and he went from zero to guitar face in nothing flat, and stayed there for the duration.

I agree best Superbowl halftime performance - ever!!! He was on fire and everything worked even the rain!!! He was such an awesome performer, we all knew this fact. But for him to show it to the world like that and be bad ass doing it, come on now. In my opinion no one has or ever will top that performance.

That´s a great picture.

Especially when juxtaposed with your avatar picture from Under the Cherry Moon and that slicked back hair. All those decades later, and he hadn´t changed much and still looks so young in this screenshot.

In my opinion it was one of his most memorable, most iconic performances and one of his finest moments.

AnnaStesia10 said:

I agree best Superbowl halftime performance - ever!!! He was on fire and everything worked even the rain!!! He was such an awesome performer, we all knew this fact. But for him to show it to the world like that and be bad ass doing it, come on now. In my opinion no one has or ever will top that performance.

It was the very best performance. ever.

My heart still weeps that we lost our Prince.