Having heard that seminal recording of the 1984 birthday show (which is everything I wanted to see and hear since it was written about in the Random Notes section in Rolling Stone magazine way back then), I am reminded of seeing those pictures and posters of the performance with Prince stroking the geetar lasciviously while wearing the flowery pink and black clothing with torn fishnet stocking armwear on and wondered exactly what the hell was going on at that performance. Why the odd(er) clothes than the glam funk trenchcoat and such?

On the recently unearthed recording of that night, I notice how he is speaking to the audience several times. What was distinguishing to me was that he calls out Roy "The Best" Bennet, the awesome lighting director who helped create the "dramatic" lighting of such stage shows of the Controversy and 1999 tours, much less gave his wife up to the purple throne to be part of Vanity 6. Well, as he calls out to Bennet, "Misterrr Benneeeet..I cantttt seeee." He sounds so...vulnerable/unsure? Hearing shows in the past like the Dirty Mnd tour etc. you hear Prince speak to the audience with a closed off reserve. On the 84 bday show, he seems a bit more open but he still sounds like a shy hometown kid. He sounds not as if he is mumbling, but embarrassed in front of the crowd. A big change from the call outs to "G.W.! Turn the lights on!" from the ONA shows in the 2001 era.

After the deluge of rain that was purple, you can hear his confidence rise in other off shows where there is banter with the audience. Of course one is obviously going to become more confident as time and experience is had, and musicianship gets better. But at the 1984 show, he had already mini-toured Europe, been baptized by punk funk kang Rick James (hi max lol), and finished the grandiosity of the Controversy and 1999 tours. Why is he seemingly so unsure sounding to the audience in the 1984 bday banter? This isn't about the actual performance.. no no...because of course that is slammin'. It's just what I noticed about his "heard" stage presence. Even the infamous warehouse rehearsal of that nights show shows him to be cocky.

I'm aware that the birthday show was a club show and not a huge stage performance so he didn't have to pull out all the stops with his banter or whatever you call it, but it seems with past tours before the birthday show, he was in great command. So why the deer in the headlights demeanor? It is almost like you can see growth in him, not via the music as we all have done these past decades, but how he converses with the crowd. Compare that 1984 show to, let's say, 'Small Club' and how confident he sounds with the audience. Hell, go one further by going one step (tour) back with the 'For Those Of U On Valium', 'Sign O' The Times' sneak peek and how he introduces himself and the band. See/hear the difference?

Fast fwd to the present day. Big stage, Los Angeles, last show. Almost last song....almost, but it might have been well his first or last song or he could have just did this song and it would have been worth it. All the build ups from all the tours lead up to the great, great, performance of ADORE. He introduced a little banter but he also sang the whole song ("No! I know we aren't going to do this song!" in mock ecstasy of the audience reaction) as we know now, but seeing him sing it and hearing him do it the way he did, it seemed like all the secret shows, after shows, and major shows, all in one classic ballad. Bettering the unicorn of In A Large Room, With No Lights On Because I Did Not Pay The Bill...Again (see what I did there?). I've read about him doing Adore at other venues this year and in the past (Xenophobia tour, witnessed him teasing with it on the Lovesexy tour etc.), but I'm not so sure how poweful those performances were. I'm sure good to spectacular but what it boils down to is even the greatest rock n roll frontman, Jagger, reached an apex ages ago. The last decade, the Rolling Stones have put on some great and awesome performances, but Jagger has seemed to have reached an apex. The last decade of Stones performances have been good to great, but Jagger cant take it any farther (no fault to him, hell he is Methusala age). Hell, Prince could do a whole show of just ballads..just ballads..b-sides only...and not have to run around in circles and it would still be one of the greatest shows on earth. Maybe this means because of Adore, his skill and mastery that appears to come so effortlessly to him(which isn't so, it's not god-given..it's form hard assed work that we all know about but dont get to see unless its bootlegged etc.), he has topped The Stones. Im calling it. The Greatest Rock And Roll BAND On Earth isnt The Stones or U2, though U2 and The Stone's have been tossing it back and forth the past two decades. It is Prince. Yes he is a solo artist in essence but that's how this has worked out. Now, could he have received this by doing 'Do Me Baby'?

rdhull - on the 1984 bday show: I think he may have been more vulnerable/shy-ish at the 1984 birthday show - not just because it was at 1st Avenue - but also because it was a more intimate gathering with mainly his friends and associates who attended. I'm pretty sure it was an invite only show. This was over a month before PR came out, and he had not quite hit that mountain top superstar status, so there would not have been people trying to bang down the door to get inside...well, maybe some, but not like after PR exploded.

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Might have been a reason why he seemed a bit unsure, silly, chill, etc. I've listened to it several times, and it just sounds like it was a super chill and fun atmosphere. Maybe he even had a little bit to drink before he went on stage? Lisa even messed up the beginning notes to Irresistable Bitch and said, "sorry!", and Prince replied, "that's alright, that's alright" in a very sweet and calm tone. So, he was definitely in a different zone that night. Probably happy it was his birthday and he was done with the work on the PR film/album

[Edited 8/26/19 17:07pm]

Oh, gonna get me with the eyes AND hands. Those will enthrall me!!!