The year was 1980, virtually no computers, no cell phones, just another late weekend music show on your color console TV. Then, as now, I was a musicphile, so of course I was watching "Midnight Special" that evening. (Hey, I was really young then too U know...)

The hosts started in about some young musical genius that played all his own instruments, wrote his own songs, sang them too, and I thought, "boy, this is going to be a bust!" and then he came on. Started the set with his back to the cameras in his crazy black boots and zebra bikinis, and then he turned around and started to sing. When he got to the part in "I want to Be Your Lover" when he sings I want to be the only one you come for....I almost fell off the couch! I said to my boyfriend, "Did you hear what he just sang?" I think I said something about I know this is late night TV, but I can't believe the censors let him get away with that!!

(The second time he sang it, he did a few moves that left no question as to his meaning...) At that instant, really, I did think; this guy is going to be somebody to watch. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he could be capable of the storm that was Purple Rain in a few years. Anyone else here remember the first time you ever saw him sing? Just thinking back to it gives me the chills....

Seahorsie said:

The year was 1980, virtually no computers, no cell phones, just another late weekend music show on your color console TV. Then, as now, I was a musicphile, so of course I was watching "Midnight Special" that evening. (Hey, I was really young then too U know...)

The hosts started in about some young musical genius that played all his own instruments, wrote his own songs, sang them too, and I thought, "boy, this is going to be a bust!" and then he came on. Started the set with his back to the cameras in his crazy black boots and zebra bikinis, and then he turned around and started to sing. When he got to the part in "I want to Be Your Lover" when he sings I want to be the only one you come for....I almost fell off the couch! I said to my boyfriend, "Did you hear what he just sang?" I think I said something about I know this is late night TV, but I can't believe the censors let him get away with that!!

(The second time he sang it, he did a few moves that left no question as to his meaning...) At that instant, really, I did think; this guy is going to be somebody to watch. Never in my wildest dreams did I think he could be capable of the storm that was Purple Rain in a few years. Anyone else here remember the first time you ever saw him sing? Just thinking back to it gives me the chills....

I'm way more than old enough to remember 1980, but sadly, I heard Prince sing many times before I saw him sing. Too bad, as seeing him sing is, of course, a thing of beauty.

Thanks for your description here. Have loved this performance ever since I first saw it years ago. I didn't see it as it was aired, though. Props to you! Your description got me watching it again. So much fun! Can't believe it, but it never really registered that P makes one of those arms-spread-wide gestures toward the end of the song. Still noticing new things in clips I've watched many times.

Being there in the time before the internet and Youtube, the first time I remember seeing him sing was on MTV when they would play 1999 and Little Red Corvette. Heavy rotation, too, as there weren't that many music videos at the time. Needless to say I was head over heels in love with the man from that point on......