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Thread started 04/21/23 6:23pm

Ramzoo

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"Dolphin" performance @ LETTERMAN

Just posted on the YT channel.
So happy to have the performance in pristine quality !!!

https://www.youtube.com/w...NGEjbgIJbg
"Money won't buy U happiness but it'll pay 4 the search."
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Reply #1 posted 04/22/23 1:13am

bwaaatch

Ramzoo said:

Just posted on the YT channel.
So happy to have the performance in pristine quality !!!

https://www.youtube.com/w...NGEjbgIJbg



I know a lot of people like this song, and I’m not a hater, but I always found it a strain to listen it. This performance really highlights that the vocal line is essentially just slightly out of his comfort zone. Too deep to for him to get sufficient power or control.

I feel the song has other issues too — like the backwards sentence construction he was I to at the time (to your ways I will not bend) and the nature of the guitar effects. Also, when it ‘kicks in’ it just never feels powerful like those moments should.

No hate. But no love. And this performance helps me clarify my reasoning.

Thanks for posting. Interested to hear other opinions, or perhaps someone can point to performances where my concerns are addressed? (Because of course this is his job, and yours! This is a joke).
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Reply #2 posted 04/22/23 4:06am

themanfromnept
une

bwaaatch said:

Ramzoo said:
Just posted on the YT channel. So happy to have the performance in pristine quality !!! https://www.youtube.com/w...NGEjbgIJbg
I know a lot of people like this song, and I’m not a hater, but I always found it a strain to listen it. This performance really highlights that the vocal line is essentially just slightly out of his comfort zone. Too deep to for him to get sufficient power or control. I feel the song has other issues too — like the backwards sentence construction he was I to at the time (to your ways I will not bend) and the nature of the guitar effects. Also, when it ‘kicks in’ it just never feels powerful like those moments should. No hate. But no love. And this performance helps me clarify my reasoning. Thanks for posting. Interested to hear other opinions, or perhaps someone can point to performances where my concerns are addressed? (Because of course this is his job, and yours! This is a joke).

+1

I always think this is a good song with a "wrong" voice tone and needed a different arrangement.

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Reply #3 posted 04/22/23 6:58am

OnlyNDaUsa

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the song is great. He was going for an odd underwater or maybe surreal sound with a disorienting left right channel back and forth...(much more noticeable with head phones)

He does sing in a slightly off putting KEY which he reffrences in the song...

and NOTE! on letterman he cuts the 2nd verse (the "Why does my brother have to go hungry")

this was prince's idea to avoid taking to David... also last minute Prince told them to do a gun shot effect and he would fall down 'dead' and the body guard would pull him off....

....edit
It also reveled that he uses pre-recording vocals (at least to some extent)

[Edited 4/22/23 7:00am]

"Keep on shilling for Big Pharm!"
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Reply #4 posted 04/22/23 8:35am

eduJ

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Loved it the night it aired. Still love it today. I feel it was the beginning of the end as far as Prince's live "theatrical" performances, when you never knew what you were going to see or hear. Soon it would just be pimp suits, horns instead of keys, and a Vegas style revue. Entertaining till the end but this was his peak for taking chances on a public stage.

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Reply #5 posted 04/22/23 11:22am

RJOrion

Letterman jokingly telling Paul that he should get his band some of those swirly things Mayte had, was the highlight of the episode.
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Reply #6 posted 04/24/23 2:49pm

SPYZFAN1

I remember staying up late to watch this. I've always liked this song. Kinda has a "S.O.T.T" era vibe for me.

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Reply #7 posted 04/24/23 11:39pm

funkbabyandthe
babysitters

One of the best songs from this era.
The lyrics are a tad mannered but its easily one of his best rock songs of the 90s and has more layers to it than something like endorphin machine.
ppl just laughed at it cos of the lyrics at the time (and well, the other stuff going on)
Dont understand the comments about his vocals, everything fits nicely here.
[Edited 4/24/23 23:40pm]
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Reply #8 posted 04/25/23 3:46am

jasopig

Which is the better acted death scene? This from letterman, or Christopher in UTCM? I really like the trickling blood from the mouth in UTCM, but the initial reaction when being shot is much better here. The debate rages on...
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Reply #9 posted 04/25/23 4:54am

RJOrion

jasopig said:

Which is the better acted death scene? This from letterman, or Christopher in UTCM? I really like the trickling blood from the mouth in UTCM, but the initial reaction when being shot is much better here. The debate rages on...


By far, the best acted death scene was Clarence Williams III (Prince's father in Purple Rain) in the movie "Sugar Hill", when he died from that bad dose of heroin
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Reply #10 posted 04/25/23 8:29am

JoeyCococo

i always loved this performance for the wicked guitar playing...it's brief but so aggressive. For those watching, he always did some super musical displays....

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Reply #11 posted 04/25/23 8:44am

BlueShakooo

My only complaint about this performance is that it's an edited "Dolphin" version, with the second verse missing.
Always loved this song, should have been a big hit IMO.
[Edited 4/25/23 8:44am]
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Reply #12 posted 04/25/23 10:24am

funkbabyandthe
babysitters

the other good thing about this song is the arrangement. it has so many cool changes. might be the finest song on TGE actually. also if you like weird prince, this song hits the spot. id reissue this if i were the estate with animal kingdom as a limited 7". animal-themed prince is def underrated.

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Reply #13 posted 04/25/23 11:22am

lurker316

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funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

the other good thing about this song is the arrangement. it has so many cool changes. might be the finest song on TGE actually. also if you like weird prince, this song hits the spot. id reissue this if i were the estate with animal kingdom as a limited 7". animal-themed prince is def underrated.

Animal Kingdom is too corny.


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Reply #14 posted 04/25/23 12:07pm

nayroo2002

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RJOrion said:

Letterman jokingly telling Paul that he should get his band some of those swirly things Mayte had, was the highlight of the episode.

NOPE!

When Paul introduces Dave as the "Artist Formally Known As Pinhead" to prince was the lol

"Whatever skin we're in
we all need 2 b friends"
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Reply #15 posted 04/25/23 12:36pm

LILpoundCAKE

one of my top 10 prince songs. must have listened to it about a thousand times by now,
never ever get enough of it. in love from the very first time I caught the video on mtv.

however, i think it's one of those songs that he never managed to get quite right when
performing it live. it always seemed to somehow be 'out of breath' musically, if that
makes any sense.

there are a few live versions of it that I quite like, but for a song that I love so much and
so deeply, it's funny how there is no live version that comes close to the studio cut.


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Reply #16 posted 04/25/23 1:35pm

PJMcGee

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I was working in midtown & thought I'd go over to the Ed Sullivan theater & try to buy my way in. I asked a couple people if they would sell me their ticket, but they looked at me like I was crazy. I felt pretty crazy.

I got to see him come out afterward. The flashes hit his makeup & he looked kinda clownish.

& I'm kinda glad I didn't make it in. The performance was leaden, by his standards.
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Reply #17 posted 04/25/23 1:59pm

lustmealways

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this song... this song is good but... not one of the stronger 2nd golden era 93-95 traxx.

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Reply #18 posted 04/25/23 2:09pm

funkbabyandthe
babysitters

Whats better from 93 to 95?
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Reply #19 posted 04/25/23 2:31pm

lustmealways

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funkbabyandthebabysitters said:

Whats better from 93 to 95?

too much to list so i'll just say everything on gold except pussy control. the entirety of come. all the song songs on exodus...

pretty much everything and i do like dolphin, i just think it's a little over the top and silly in a way that falls short. see strays of the world for something over the top and silly that works.

[Edited 4/25/23 14:32pm]

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Reply #20 posted 04/26/23 6:31am

dodger07

LILpoundCAKE said:

one of my top 10 prince songs. must have listened to it about a thousand times by now,
never ever get enough of it. in love from the very first time I caught the video on mtv.

however, i think it's one of those songs that he never managed to get quite right when
performing it live. it always seemed to somehow be 'out of breath' musically, if that
makes any sense.

there are a few live versions of it that I quite like, but for a song that I love so much and
so deeply, it's funny how there is no live version that comes close to the studio cut.


I also love the studio track, don't really like the live versions from The Undertaker and Letterman but thought it sounded great later when he started doing it at some ONA aftershows.

.

Always thought he should've done it with 3EG

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Reply #21 posted 04/26/23 8:23am

leecaldon

dodger07 said:

LILpoundCAKE said:

one of my top 10 prince songs. must have listened to it about a thousand times by now,
never ever get enough of it. in love from the very first time I caught the video on mtv.

however, i think it's one of those songs that he never managed to get quite right when
performing it live. it always seemed to somehow be 'out of breath' musically, if that
makes any sense.

there are a few live versions of it that I quite like, but for a song that I love so much and
so deeply, it's funny how there is no live version that comes close to the studio cut.


I also love the studio track, don't really like the live versions from The Undertaker and Letterman but thought it sounded great later when he started doing it at some ONA aftershows.

.

Always thought he should've done it with 3EG

He did do it with 3EG. Not sure how often though.

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