After wanting to see this for a while, i finally got my roomate to rent this thru netflix. All I have to say is, thank God I didn't buy this.

What went wrong? More like where do I start, P acomplished the remarkable feet of releasing something that failed on practically every level. First of all, as stated here many times, the camera work is very bad, it really looks like it was homemade, not even artschool level. The sound gives the bad camera work a good run for it's money too. Not only was the mix really poor, but prince loves to have the audience sing the hooks instead of him and this really looses all effect when there are no audience mics.

The song selection was really poor too. I knew that going in, which is actually what saved me from buying this. It started out with a decent version of Pop Life and just went down hill quickly from there. I also knew I was in trouble early on when he pulled the plug very quickly on "money don't matter 2 night" (one of the only songs I was really looking forward to seeing!) Everyone's performaces were lackluster too, nobody really rocked. I do have to say, I truly enjoyed the ozzy osbourne dance, that was hillarious. The novelty of John Blackwell hitting the linn drum snare sample every 8 beats became tyring after the first few songs and he continued doing it practically every song! (thank god he's not doing that on this tour).

It was clear that the crowd wasn't even that into it, the only glimmer of hope was "take me with you" and it was clearly too little too late. I swear, the only reason I was able to make it thru this was looking at Shiela E, Damn, she looked real good. She was not looking so good on the Carmen Elecktra Driven on MTV, but she looked fine that night

This DVD I guess really seperates the fans from the fams, cause I can't imagine anyone really thinking this was P at his best. After seeing the Musicology tour 1 week ago tonight, it's clear why P is back on top and why he alienated his fan base up until this year. P, I'm glad you came around and got out of the rut.

if you don't own this and LOVE IT, you're not a true fan, goddamit.

LAProducer said:

Yes, but the sight of her playing the cymbal even after it had fallen to the floor was, frankly, embarrassing.

The quality of this Aladdin DVD is shoddy, but there again so is the quality of everything else that Prince puts out apart from the actual music tracks and performances themselves. His record covers have often been rubbish and his website is an ugly disaster.

I'm often confused why I can like his music performances so much when all the rest of his creative output is so very bad. He desperately needs to find collaboraters of his calibre for: Art Direction, Concert Filming, Web Production.

mrdespues said:

Dude, I really am a true fan, believe me, I just couldn't remotely get into this and i explained why. I respect the fact that all P fans enjoy his art in different ways (some people like the ballads, some people like the rock, some people don't like musicology, whatever) and wish others could respect the same about me. just cause I have opinions and don't like it all, DOESN'T meen i'm not a true fan and i'm sick of people saying this. And this goes for all the true fans that disagree with me too!

It seems to me that the beauty of Prince is that everybody likes different songs. Just ask about emancipation sometime here and you'll see all the diff Prince fans come out. It's just subjective and it's just my opinion

I think that those of us who love this DVD despite it's flaws know that it's not necessarily Prince at his best....but it's really nice to have a document of the One Nite Alone tour.

...but man, if you only saw this on a pay per view, you missed the best part! The bonus track The Ride....truly skilled guitar playing.

MrGeorge said:

honestly, I really thought the actual music tracks and performances themselves were as weak as the audio and video. It was a piss poor package all around

Fair enough. And I couldn't agree more about the snare sample.

LAProducer said:

Wow - this is a scathing review. I haven't seen this yet, but I've also heard his wasn't the best DVD quality-wise. I'm with you - I thought the the Musicology performance was excellent and I've been hoping to keep up the momentum of that expereience in these filmed performances (I have the Purple Rain Tour 1985 on DVD) but perhaps I should wait for a DVD release of Musicology to quench my thirst

If you're looking to buy a Prince DVD I would recommend the Rave
DVD before anything else.

bigsexy said:

Funny you should say that... I orderd that from Amazon last week! I really like my Purple Rain Tour DVD - it's a good contrast to how and what he performs now 20 years later - and he sings Darling Nicki on it which I doubt we''ll see again. But I would love a Musicology show on DVD as well.

LAProducer said:

Actually, that was an editing/production failure as well. The crowd was VERY into this show, from beginning to end. One of the top 3 shows I've seen, and there were plenty of hits mixed in as well. The DVD does a major disgrace to what was a fantastic show. Fortunately I'm made it into the DVD singing the last line of Take Me With U, so I'm okay with it!

LAProducer said:

Just saw this last night and would have to agree with a lot of what you posted here. I thought the direction was very poor - didn't like the stills inserted randomly either. I wasn't crazy about the set list (and I did notice the snare drum mentioned your post). However I did like the bonus track with Shelia E on drums. It's definitely a DVD for hardcore fams... but of all the performances captured on DVD (boot or retail) this is one of the weakest I've seen thus far.
[This message was edited Fri Jun 4 15:38:27 2004 by DiminutiveRocker]
[This message was edited Fri Jun 4 15:38:54 2004 by DiminutiveRocker]

wait 8 months, rent it again.

Gotta Broken Heart Again, Pass The Peas, Strange Relationship, The Ride, Sometimes it Snows in April, Push & Pull, Whole Lotta Love, U want Me.

These songs are all great on the DVD, some of you should be sober when you check this DVD out.

"pull ya cell phone out, call ya next of kin cause we 'bout to get funky!"

It was a great show ya know . Prince should have made it a bit longer.

2 cut down on production this was fan shot! There r other fan shot dvd's which r even better:

I love that dvd

madartista said:

i am going to try and spot you now !!!

dawntreader said:

i did ! cool !

were you there with Milty ?

bigsexy said:

I'd say you should try to hunt down the Sign 'O' the Times DVD.

While I don't see the Live at the Aladdin DVD as Prince as his best (especially since it's only 80 minutes long!), I think it's an ok if unspectacular DVD overall. Too short, terrible visual quality, no surround mix (to my knowledge), uneven volume levels (can ANYONE hear "Gotta Broken Heart Again?"), but a high energy performance that kicks ass in some parts.

"Strange Relationship" is my choice for the biggest highlight, though "Pop Life" is pretty close. "Gotta Broken Heart Again," that Nikka Costa song, and "Money Don't Matter 2nite" being chopped are the lowpoints though.

Next time he releases a live CD/DVD, and he says "Money Don't Matter 2nite" is on there, he should include a full version. That was, like, half the reason I was looking forward to the DVD.
[This message was edited Sat Jun 5 7:37:38 2004 by croweonbranch]

dawntreader said:

No, with my friend Cris -- girl with red hair.
I didn't know Milty yet.

madartista said:

so milty is not in the shot ? looks like him.

dawntreader said:

that guy does resemble Milty -- he's much shorter, though.

madartista said:

figures the two threads with you and milty and free on it these past week.

just noticed, CHRIS and CRIS, nice couple !

dawntreader said:

I met Milty the first time in March, when I went to Europe with Cris!
She was my roommate when I lived in West Hollywood.
The Grace to my Will. She ROCKS!!!!

madartista said:

and who are Jack and Karen ?

i wonder... would Will and Grace like Prince ?

i know in one episode they go and see Joni,

LAProducer said:

-----
The quality of the picture is not great but there is nothing wrong with the performances.
Also don't think you realize that this show was four hours long and be all accounts was a great show.

LAProducer said:

LAProducer said:

Well I disagree. What I don't get is that so many of you buy bootlegged tapes of Prince performing here and there and never one complaint. As a matter of fact praise, praise, praise. Yet Prince releases a very good DVD and people trip because it's not shot on film or beta.
I believe the format used was mini dv. Despite the fact that consumers can get this for their cameras. Mini DV is a viable and professional broadcast quality format. I love the 'dirty' look of this DVD and most importantly the sound quality is a good as any DVD I have heard.
If you don't like the song selection then hey what can I tell you. This DVD is really the companion to the ONA tour and live boxed set. I believe it is safe to assume that you did not like either of those offerings? I think the purpose of that DVD and that tour really was to be a bit more subdued. I do believe the crowd was into it though. I mean watch it again (if you can) and you can see the crowd is truly feeling this show. Just watch the response to 'Got A Broken Heart Again'
I mean what can you say? This was not meant to be a greatist hits show. Nor was it meant to be a barn burner type show. That whole tour was a concept tour that people really felt. No not on Musicology's level but they felt it just the same. I think it was focusing on the music and the more laid back songs in Prince's catalouge that really never see a lot of attention. I don't look at this as a rut. I feel it is an adventure and I am gratefull that Prince is talented enough to do different types of tours. Obviously this one was not for you. But I for one do not feel in the list bit alienated by the Live at the Alladin show.
Peace

laurarichardson said:

If this was four hours long, why didn't He give us the ture highlights, cause I can't believe these were the highlights. What else did he play? Didn't the CD at least have "rhaspberry beret", I think I read that somewhere. I also agree with the poster who daid if you're going to advertise it as having "money 2 night" it should cantain more than part of a verse