Does any one know if Prince ever performed Had U or Solo live?

A few clicks on PrinceVault tells you this :

-

"Had U";

This track is not believed to have been performed live by Prince.

-

"Solo"

6 May '94, Le Bataclan, Paris france.

first confirmed performance, although possibly performed earlier in 1994)

RODSERLING said:

Vannormal said:

-

"Solo"

6 May '94, Le Bataclan, Paris france.

first confirmed performance, although possibly performed earlier in 1994)

"Solo" was performed on 4 May 1994 in Monte Carlo too.

"Solo" 26 July 1994 at Glam Slam, LA

FrankieCoco1 said:

"Had U" wasn't the lead single, it was the lead b-side (along with "Right the Wrong").

"Dinner with Delores" was the only single outside the US. I had a friend in radio who gave me the promo CD because they thought it was a horrible song.

Prince didn't give a good goddamn about that record, at least on the outside. It fed his narrative at the time about record companies, etc.

However, being his dual-sided self, did make videos for "The Same December," "Zanalee," "Dinner with Delores," and "I Like It There." He did the minimal bit of promotion for it including the few appearances on The Late Show, and Today, etc.

I think the pull of his music as it related to him who made it allowed him to perform the songs live because honestly - who cared? Who was going to read into him performing "Dinner with Delores" although he said the album was only a contractual obligation? No one.

I like that "Had U" was the last real WB song. It was a bookend with "For You." And, as noted, despite him never confirming it, he knew exactly what he was doing. It was a big middle finger to Warner.

So, to the subject at hand: I'd have to "Solo" is a more interesting song. "Had U" is historical for reasons I noted, but between these two, "Solo" has more melody, more interesting lyrics, it's moodier. It's also a real testiment to his voice and how amazing it was. He was jumping to a high falsetto then noodling down in lower ranges. It's just a fabulous track. Not one I'm putting on all the time, but when it goes come into play, I enjoy it.

TrivialPursuit said:

So, to the subject at hand: I'd have to "Solo" is a more interesting song. "Had U" is historical for reasons I noted, but between these two, "Solo" has more melody, more interesting lyrics, it's moodier. It's also a real testiment to his voice and how amazing it was. He was jumping to a high falsetto then noodling down in lower ranges. It's just a fabulous track. Not one I'm putting on all the time, but when it goes come into play, I enjoy it.

I would love 2 see what he would have done with those songs live.

Gooddoctor23 said:

I would love 2 see what he would have done with those songs live.

Yeah, PVault says he did "Solo" live. I think had he not been balls deep in that WB fight, he could've staged a great tour and incorporated that in there.

RODSERLING said:

Had U seems to be a secret love/hate farewell letter to WB ( could be to his audience too), by referencing his complete discography : Missed U ( For You : Prince wasn't complete before being in the music industry) Called U ( Prince : the success) Found U ( Dirty Mind ) Begged U ( Controversy : Rolling Stones concert) Convinced U 1999 : was an obvious success) Saw U ( Purple Rain : you all saw the movie !) Held U ( Around The World...) Kissed U ( Parade !) Fondled U (SOTT) Tempt U ( Black Album : WB wanted to release it as the new Prince album)) Undress U (Lovesexy, for obvious reasons !) Smelled U ( Batman, a successful album again) Wanted U ( Graffiti Bridge, he wanted to do Purple Rain 2) Asked U (D&P : Prince asked for more money) Thanked U (Lovesymbol : he was nominated vice-président of a WB départment) Minded U (The Hits) Hurt U ( Come, with the name changing) Disappoint U ( Gold and/or Black Album again, the Slave thing) Fuck U ( Emancipation) Had U ( Chaos and Disorder) [Edited 3/8/24 21:29pm]

nice

RODSERLING said:

Had U seems to be a secret love/hate farewell letter to WB ( could be to his audience too), by referencing his complete discography : Missed U ( For You : Prince wasn't complete before being in the music industry) Called U ( Prince : the success) Found U ( Dirty Mind ) Begged U ( Controversy : Rolling Stones concert) Convinced U 1999 : was an obvious success) Saw U ( Purple Rain : you all saw the movie !) Held U ( Around The World...) Kissed U ( Parade !) Fondled U (SOTT) Tempt U ( Black Album : WB wanted to release it as the new Prince album)) Undress U (Lovesexy, for obvious reasons !) Smelled U ( Batman, a successful album again) Wanted U ( Graffiti Bridge, he wanted to do Purple Rain 2) Asked U (D&P : Prince asked for more money) Thanked U (Lovesymbol : he was nominated vice-président of a WB départment) Minded U (The Hits) Hurt U ( Come, with the name changing) Disappoint U ( Gold and/or Black Album again, the Slave thing) Fuck U ( Emancipation) Had U ( Chaos and Disorder) [Edited 3/8/24 21:29pm]

I don't think it was as deep as all that, although looking at your list here,
there are a few really glaring stand outs that fit amazingly well.

both songs are two of the most interesting things he did in the 90s

do i want to listen to them all the time? no, but they are both special in diff ways.

had u is def a sort of conclusion or for you, considering he even wrote a song TO warners when he was making his first album for them (the one about what a great relationship it will be).

shame had u wasnt fleshed out more but its got some of the coolest stuff happening that he did in the first half of the 90s.

solos vocal is one of his all time best. some credit has to go to david henry hwang too. it seems a very diff song to anything prince did before and im guessing some of that is down to DHW. i dont know exactly how they collaborated though.

LILpoundCAKE said:

RODSERLING said:

Had U seems to be a secret love/hate farewell letter to WB ( could be to his audience too), by referencing his complete discography : Missed U ( For You : Prince wasn't complete before being in the music industry) Called U ( Prince : the success) Found U ( Dirty Mind ) Begged U ( Controversy : Rolling Stones concert) Convinced U 1999 : was an obvious success) Saw U ( Purple Rain : you all saw the movie !) Held U ( Around The World...) Kissed U ( Parade !) Fondled U (SOTT) Tempt U ( Black Album : WB wanted to release it as the new Prince album)) Undress U (Lovesexy, for obvious reasons !) Smelled U ( Batman, a successful album again) Wanted U ( Graffiti Bridge, he wanted to do Purple Rain 2) Asked U (D&P : Prince asked for more money) Thanked U (Lovesymbol : he was nominated vice-président of a WB départment) Minded U (The Hits) Hurt U ( Come, with the name changing) Disappoint U ( Gold and/or Black Album again, the Slave thing) Fuck U ( Emancipation) Had U ( Chaos and Disorder) [Edited 3/8/24 21:29pm]

I don't think it was as deep as all that, although looking at your list here,
there are a few really glaring stand outs that fit amazingly well.

That list is a stretch, to say the least. And no, it wasn't that deep at all. It's Princefandom trying to make nothing into something. (Don't get him started on the number 7 or something.)

TrivialPursuit said:

LILpoundCAKE said:

I don't think it was as deep as all that, although looking at your list here,
there are a few really glaring stand outs that fit amazingly well.

That list is a stretch, to say the least. And no, it wasn't that deep at all. It's Princefandom trying to make nothing into something. (Don't get him started on the number 7 or something.)

Or the number 17

TrivialPursuit said: