He couldn't hit those screams, and the last few records weren't the strongest vocals. His live shows sounded all around stronger though, like he'd found the fountain of youth, or secretly got a vocal coach that specializes it maturing vocal chords.

pinkcashmere23 said:

benni said:

I look at attending both shows as bitter sweet. I'm glad I was able to be there, but then when I think that I saw him perform this song or that song for the very last time, it's heart breaking. And don't get me wrong, both shows were incredible, it's just that vibes were very different between both shows.

Here are the blogs I wrote on 4/15/16 and 4/16/16.

7 PM show:


https://onevoice4peace.wo...-2-heaven/


10 PM show:

https://onevoice4peace.wo...he-groove/

I understand. Yes,it is heart breaking. When you say the vibes were very different are you talking about from Prince or the audience? Thanks for sharing the links to your blogs

Both.

In the first set, he seemed much more mellow. I mean, the show was incredible, but it felt like the energy just wasn't quite there yet. Though, keep in mind, this is the first show Prince performed since he'd been sick the week before. There, also, seemed to be more people in the audience that were casual fans. Like one guy kept yelling, "Play Purple Rain!" and someone else even yelled out, "Play Freebird!" It was like Prince and the audience from the first set didn't connect as deeply, if that makes sense? There were real fans in the audience, too, and you could tell that, but there were just more of the casual fans and they were louder, it seemed like to me.

In the second performance, it was like the audience and Prince gelled right from the start. But these were the people that were willing to be up late, go to work the next day sleep deprived because it was that important to see Prince perform. The dynamics, between Prince and the audience, were much more intense, the connection much deeper.

If any of that makes sense...

benni said:

pinkcashmere23 said:

I understand. Yes,it is heart breaking. When you say the vibes were very different are you talking about from Prince or the audience? Thanks for sharing the links to your blogs

Both.

In the first set, he seemed much more mellow. I mean, the show was incredible, but it felt like the energy just wasn't quite there yet. Though, keep in mind, this is the first show Prince performed since he'd been sick the week before. There, also, seemed to be more people in the audience that were casual fans. Like one guy kept yelling, "Play Purple Rain!" and someone else even yelled out, "Play Freebird!" It was like Prince and the audience from the first set didn't connect as deeply, if that makes sense? There were real fans in the audience, too, and you could tell that, but there were just more of the casual fans and they were louder, it seemed like to me.

In the second performance, it was like the audience and Prince gelled right from the start. But these were the people that were willing to be up late, go to work the next day sleep deprived because it was that important to see Prince perform. The dynamics, between Prince and the audience, were much more intense, the connection much deeper.

If any of that makes sense...

I understand. It sounds like the second show had more fans who realized what a privilege it was to witness him in such an intimate setting. The gentleman I spoke with seems to be a casual fan,though he said he saw Prince when he was here in '98 so he must have liked him at one time. He's a Baptist preacher so I was surprised that he had attended. He said he seemed a bit tired during the first show but you could tell that he was still trying to give it his all. I really enjoyed reading your blog. It was beautifully written!

soladeo1 said:

One of the most amazing things about Prince's dazzling, multi-decade career was that he hever had any diminishment in his voice.

Right at the end, in the P&M concert in Atlanta, his voice was strong, subtle, rich, and like always, seemingly effortless.

A friend of mine, a very talented musician in his own right and who is very critical of poor and lazy musicianship, attended the earlier P&M show in Oakland could not believe how fantastic Prince sounded...I remember getting several texts from him with tons of exclamation points, gushing about how phenomenal Prince's voice was...

And this was a guy who was we-now-know battling some pretty severe health issues...

Amazing!

[Edited 3/7/19 12:15pm]

[Edited 3/7/19 12:16pm]

Mikado said:

Have y'all heard 1000 X's & O's? I'm not sure how you could say his voice didn't change at all. All artists face some decline in their voice by the time they're 60 (or close to it). [Edited 3/9/19 22:49pm]

Right on. Are people tone deaf?

I remember listening to Parade and Planet Earth back to back and being shocked at the decline in his vocals. As you said, all singers will face a vocal decline by their 50s or 60s.

Prince aged like everyone else, and that's perfectly ok. He didn't fail, and nothing was wrong he could still sing great and create new music, but it's clear on many songs from the 00s onwards his voice matured.

simm0061 said:

OperatingThetan said:

simm0061 said:

Right on. Are people tone deaf?

I remember listening to Parade and Planet Earth back to back and being shocked at the decline in his vocals. As you said, all singers will face a vocal decline by their 50s or 60s.

Did you see Prince live in his later years? Because if anything, he sounded better in the live setting vocally. I was amazed by his vocal performance at several shows in 2014 and they were among the very best performances I'd heard from him in that respect.

Thank you! I heard him at small clubs close up in 2014 and his voice was wonderful, even singing "Something In The Water." Falsetto on point. Goosebumps on skin from the emotive vocal wails. Wonderful guitar playing and keyboard. Up close. Personal. A few feet away. Don't tell me that his voice and musicanship had diminished. They hadn't. I was there.

*snap in Z formation*

iZsaZsa said:

*snap in Z formation*