independent and unofficial
Prince fan community
Welcome! Sign up or enter username and password to remember me
Forum jump
Forums > Prince: Music and More > 30 years ago.....
« Previous topic  Next topic »
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
Author

Tweet     Share

Message
Thread started 06/01/20 8:52pm

GeurtWalraven

30 years ago.....

.....remarks the kick-off for The Nude Tour , Rotterdam/Netherlands. Besides the rain, it ended earlier, it was dissapointing. I attended the Parade , SOTT and Lovesexy tours. The Nude Tour was a totally different set-up. Along with The Jam Of The Year tour, The Nude Tour, ill consider his weakest.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #1 posted 06/01/20 11:27pm

TrivialPursuit

avatar

Lovesexy was the last time he did a conceptual tour. Although, SOTT may be the only real conceptual tour he's done. Up to Purple Rain, it was straight ahead music. PR was the movie as a concert, in effect. Parade Tour came across as a revue (like Ike & Tina, etc.) That's an idea more than a concept. Lovesexy had two acts, an intermission like a play, the first half was Camille and the evil stuff, the 2nd act had him literally coming out of the ground, like Adam created from dirt. It was his garden of Eden, songs about God, songs about love (opposed to lust and carnal desires). It was exhausting to watch when I saw it live. I think he was just sorta done with that stuff. And by the time GB had flopped, it was better to turn into a Greatest Hits type act for a bit, just sing the songs. The revamping w/ D&P., etc were nice turns, but there still wasn't much concept after that.

I did find The Nude Tour boring in song selection and had some pacing problems. (Many shows do.) I think The Ultimate Live Experience show I saw on YouTube was one of the most thrilling of the 90s. It was focused, powerful, purposeful. Took no prisoners. No fluff, all raw in your face music.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #2 posted 06/02/20 2:39am

SantanaMaitrey
a

I will always remember what the wheather was like on June 2, 1990. My first Prince concert and it was a soaking wet affair. The next day was better, but only about 10 minutes longer.
If you take any of this seriously, you're a bigger fool than I am.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #3 posted 06/02/20 4:47am

dopedog

The Nude tour will always be special to me, as it was the first time seeing him, saw him in Birmingham England, with Mavis Staples supporting. Loved the set list, When Doves Cry being a highlight, and also Question of U. Saw him i Manchester a week later(i think:)), and i remember not enjoying it as much, don’t really know why, all i remember is he got booed when it ended, seemed a very short concert. Don’t think it was a great crowd, the atmosphere sucked. But the Birmingham one was fantastic:)
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #4 posted 06/02/20 7:37am

TheKid94

Wasn't alive to see this tour in person but it's one of my favorite concerts to listen to. The Future, 1999, Housequake - Sexy Dancer house sequence is a fucking thrill. Alphabet St, When Doves Cry and Baby I'm A Star from Tokyo are 🔥.
-
Not to mention his dancing was on point on this tour. The game boyz dumb it down but he was absolutely killing it with the splits and the choreography. I'm sure coming off of Lovesexy it put fans off at the time, but from the videos I've seen the audience looks like they're living their best purple lives!
prince
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #5 posted 06/02/20 9:30am

SantanaMaitrey
a

One thing that was unforgettable was when he played The Question of U, remember, for the very first time, nobody knew it, and everybody took their lighters (you could still smoke everywhere at that time) and lighted them on the beat. Boom... Boom boom... Flash... Flash flash... The whole stadium was full of lights flashing on the rhythm. It was a magical moment, but when it started raining again, Prince began to lose his grip on things.
If you take any of this seriously, you're a bigger fool than I am.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #6 posted 06/02/20 9:39am

SantanaMaitrey
a

TheKid94 said:

Wasn't alive to see this tour in person but it's one of my favorite concerts to listen to. The Future, 1999, Housequake - Sexy Dancer house sequence is a fucking thrill. Alphabet St, When Doves Cry and Baby I'm A Star from Tokyo are 🔥.
-
Not to mention his dancing was on point on this tour. The game boyz dumb it down but he was absolutely killing it with the splits and the choreography. I'm sure coming off of Lovesexy it put fans off at the time, but from the videos I've seen the audience looks like they're living their best purple lives!

That's the whole thing: there was no way he could have done anything that was even more spectacular than the Lovesexy tour, so going back to basics was a logical step, but fans and especially critics were still so thrilled by his previous tours that they saw this tour as less than great. Also, the fact that this was his 4th European Tour in 5 years made the whole thing less exciting. But you're right, the opening segment was as funky as anything he ever did and Alphabet Street was good too. When Doves Cry was rarely played, by the way.
If you take any of this seriously, you're a bigger fool than I am.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #7 posted 06/02/20 2:13pm

skywalker

avatar

TrivialPursuit said:

Lovesexy was the last time he did a conceptual tour. Although, SOTT may be the only real conceptual tour he's done. Up to Purple Rain, it was straight ahead music. PR was the movie as a concert, in effect. Parade Tour came across as a revue (like Ike & Tina, etc.) That's an idea more than a concept. Lovesexy had two acts, an intermission like a play, the first half was Camille and the evil stuff, the 2nd act had him literally coming out of the ground, like Adam created from dirt. It was his garden of Eden, songs about God, songs about love (opposed to lust and carnal desires). It was exhausting to watch when I saw it live. I think he was just sorta done with that stuff. And by the time GB had flopped, it was better to turn into a Greatest Hits type act for a bit, just sing the songs. The revamping w/ D&P., etc were nice turns, but there still wasn't much concept after that.

I did find The Nude Tour boring in song selection and had some pacing problems. (Many shows do.) I think The Ultimate Live Experience show I saw on YouTube was one of the most thrilling of the 90s. It was focused, powerful, purposeful. Took no prisoners. No fluff, all raw in your face music.

Act 1 was a bit of a conceptual tour as well. Was it not?

"New Power slide...."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #8 posted 06/02/20 11:11pm

TrivialPursuit

avatar

skywalker said:

Act 1 was a bit of a conceptual tour as well. Was it not?


I always felt those had the aesthetics of the album mixed into it, but there wasn't necessarily a promoted storyline in the show. Of course, every artist pulls in the trinkets of the project, whehter it's clothing, colors, designs, slogans, symbols, etc. Lovesexy had a full on Adam and Eve redemption storyline. Other tours, even stuff like Purple Rain, had the album's accoutrements in it. But I wouldn't say it was conceptual like Lovesexy. The first half was prince stuff, and the second was the greatest hits. Lovesexy really used all his songs to carry the narrative of evil vs. good (as did the tour programme). Remember, he was on that religioius "I saw God" kick. Clearly, that left by the time The Nude Tour was in play.

What I really liked about The Nude Tour, despite some pacing issues and weird moments, was the opening medley. The Linn cranked out "The Future" drum pattern throughout "1999," "Housequake," "Sexy Dancer," and "Kiss" in a blazing medley of hits.

"eye don’t really care so much what people say about me because it is a reflection of who they r."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #9 posted 06/03/20 4:31am

dodger

TrivialPursuit said:

skywalker said:

Act 1 was a bit of a conceptual tour as well. Was it not?


I always felt those had the aesthetics of the album mixed into it, but there wasn't necessarily a promoted storyline in the show. Of course, every artist pulls in the trinkets of the project, whehter it's clothing, colors, designs, slogans, symbols, etc. Lovesexy had a full on Adam and Eve redemption storyline. Other tours, even stuff like Purple Rain, had the album's accoutrements in it. But I wouldn't say it was conceptual like Lovesexy. The first half was prince stuff, and the second was the greatest hits. Lovesexy really used all his songs to carry the narrative of evil vs. good (as did the tour programme). Remember, he was on that religioius "I saw God" kick. Clearly, that left by the time The Nude Tour was in play.

What I really liked about The Nude Tour, despite some pacing issues and weird moments, was the opening medley. The Linn cranked out "The Future" drum pattern throughout "1999," "Housequake," "Sexy Dancer," and "Kiss" in a blazing medley of hits.

I love the Act 1 tour, just a shame there are no soundboards around.

.

I thought he played it perfect. The first half virtually all the new album, Goldnigga tracks and Carmen's Everybody Get On Up. And the second half was not too greatest hits heavy with him pulling out She's Always In My Hair and Irresistible Bitch (which both sounded great with this band)

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #10 posted 06/03/20 5:33am

SchlomoThaHomo

avatar

skywalker said:

TrivialPursuit said:

Lovesexy was the last time he did a conceptual tour. Although, SOTT may be the only real conceptual tour he's done. Up to Purple Rain, it was straight ahead music. PR was the movie as a concert, in effect. Parade Tour came across as a revue (like Ike & Tina, etc.) That's an idea more than a concept. Lovesexy had two acts, an intermission like a play, the first half was Camille and the evil stuff, the 2nd act had him literally coming out of the ground, like Adam created from dirt. It was his garden of Eden, songs about God, songs about love (opposed to lust and carnal desires). It was exhausting to watch when I saw it live. I think he was just sorta done with that stuff. And by the time GB had flopped, it was better to turn into a Greatest Hits type act for a bit, just sing the songs. The revamping w/ D&P., etc were nice turns, but there still wasn't much concept after that.

I did find The Nude Tour boring in song selection and had some pacing problems. (Many shows do.) I think The Ultimate Live Experience show I saw on YouTube was one of the most thrilling of the 90s. It was focused, powerful, purposeful. Took no prisoners. No fluff, all raw in your face music.

Act 1 was a bit of a conceptual tour as well. Was it not?


Definitely conceptual. It was more than just the album tracks and aesthetic. There were vignettes from the very start (with hired actors or just crew members in costume) trying to concoct a narrative about "Princess Mayte" and God knows what. The 3 Chains 'O Gold?


"Before we begin tonight's concert, we would like to acknowledge some very special guests in the house. Tonight, if you will, please join us in welcoming King Abdul Aziz, and his lovely daughter, Princess Mayte."

I think if you look at the Nude tour in comparison to Lovesexy Live, you're bound to be disappointed, because the differences are striking. You're looking at the biggest stage show he ever produced contrasted with his most stripped back show in years. There's just less "stuff." But that was the point. You really only need Prince, and he knew that. And it also provided him the opportunity to recoup, after the financial disaster that was the Lovesexy Tour.

I loved the Nude Tour. I thought the stripped back concept was cool. The arrangements, band, and playing were killer. There were some really cool set list additions, like Sex, The Future, Question of U, Batdance, and Bambi. As others have mentioned, that opening block of songs was unreal, and unrelentingly funky.

I think this tour reminded people that he was a beast, with or without a multimillion dollar stage set up.

"That's when stars collide. When there's space for what u want, and ur heart is open wide."
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #11 posted 06/03/20 7:47am

GeurtWalraven

The European Lovesexy Tour was a huge succes. And well recieved by the media. The dissapointing ticket sales for the US leg, was the reason for the loss of money and high production costs. The Japanese leg made such an big amount of money, to cover up for the losses fof the US leg.

The Nude Tour, didn't, like previous tours, promote an album. It was just an Greatest Hits tour. It was also organised by a new management team. Its been said, that some large venues were re-scheduled to smaller venues, because of the several other big names that were touring during the summer of 1990.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #12 posted 06/03/20 9:00am

PurpleColossus

avatar

I think Prince tours are more enjoyable when they revolve around promoting an album...It makes the shows feel way more cohesive. While I usually enjoy different versions of his hits, the Nude Tour setlist has always felt a little odd to me. I would have made the tour more Batman album heavy, perhaps include tracks like Electric Chair and Vicki Waiting.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #13 posted 06/03/20 10:13am

SantanaMaitrey
a

PurpleColossus said:

I think Prince tours are more enjoyable when they revolve around promoting an album...It makes the shows feel way more cohesive. While I usually enjoy different versions of his hits, the Nude Tour setlist has always felt a little odd to me. I would have made the tour more Batman album heavy, perhaps include tracks like Electric Chair and Vicki Waiting.


By the time the tour started, the Batman album had already slowed down in terms of sales and Prince was already working on Graffiti Bridge, so using this tour to promote Batman would have been a bad idea. But, yeah, him rocking the guitar on Electric Chair would have been great! Such a shame that there were no aftershows...
If you take any of this seriously, you're a bigger fool than I am.
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #14 posted 06/03/20 10:56am

PurpleColossus

avatar

SantanaMaitreya said:

PurpleColossus said:

I think Prince tours are more enjoyable when they revolve around promoting an album...It makes the shows feel way more cohesive. While I usually enjoy different versions of his hits, the Nude Tour setlist has always felt a little odd to me. I would have made the tour more Batman album heavy, perhaps include tracks like Electric Chair and Vicki Waiting.

By the time the tour started, the Batman album had already slowed down in terms of sales and Prince was already working on Graffiti Bridge, so using this tour to promote Batman would have been a bad idea. But, yeah, him rocking the guitar on Electric Chair would have been great! Such a shame that there were no aftershows...

Yeah, that is a fair point about the promotion. I think for me, opening with The Future and peforming Batdance/Partyman always made this a quasi Batman Tour, so more of those tracks would have fit right in. I also agree that it's a shame there were no aftershows...Which is surprising because he did so many incredible aftershows in his last tour. He could have had some very interesting setlists for them.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #15 posted 06/03/20 1:13pm

funkaholic1972

avatar

PurpleColossus said:

SantanaMaitreya said:

PurpleColossus said: By the time the tour started, the Batman album had already slowed down in terms of sales and Prince was already working on Graffiti Bridge, so using this tour to promote Batman would have been a bad idea. But, yeah, him rocking the guitar on Electric Chair would have been great! Such a shame that there were no aftershows...

Yeah, that is a fair point about the promotion. I think for me, opening with The Future and peforming Batdance/Partyman always made this a quasi Batman Tour, so more of those tracks would have fit right in. I also agree that it's a shame there were no aftershows...Which is surprising because he did so many incredible aftershows in his last tour. He could have had some very interesting setlists for them.

I suppose he needed time to work on GB...

RIP Prince: thank U 4 a funky Time...
  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
Reply #16 posted 06/04/20 2:04pm

funkypixie

I think its a fairly underated tour, very lean and funky. As others have noted, the intro run of songs is awesome. Also, when played, I think the version of When Dvoes Cry is the best live version he ever did.

At the same time it does feel like a bit of a cash grab and the first tour where he's cruising a bit at times. I think between the relative finanical failure of the Lovesexy tour, Paisley Park records not really taking off and maybe the full realisation of how much Paisley Park itself cost to run, someone got in his ear about needing a cash injection. Given his huge popularity in Europe, a stripped back summer tour was the best option.

I also think thats why there werent any aftersows and the shows themsevles were relatively short, he wanted to cram in as many as he could in a shortish period of time playing consecutive nights where possible.

  - E-mail - orgNote - Report post to moderator
  New topic   Printable     (Log in to 'subscribe' to this topic)
« Previous topic  Next topic »
Forums > Prince: Music and More > 30 years ago.....