nside Paisley Park and the psyche of Prince fans
By Amanda Palleschi
Correspondent

Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Visitors stream into Paisley Park during an afternoon open house June 17.

Judging by the picnic tables on Audubon Road, purple pride is alive in the Twin Cities. No, not the Vikings. Though Randy Moss and company can serve up scandal and play to packed houses, Prince has made headlines and millions while earning the love of dedicated fans from his hometown and beyond.

On Wednesday, June 16, crayoned fan notes adorned the white-paper-covered picnic tables outside of Prince's Paisley Park Recording Studios as his production company, NPG Music, hosted the second day of their Prince-a-palooza of sorts: three nearly sold-out concerts at the Xcel Energy Center, followed




by midnight after-shows at Paisley Park as well as daytime open-house tours of the purple palace.

"Prince--Thanks for 25 years of great music and a huge thank you for the best show ever," wrote one fan in robin's egg blue, while Joanie chose, appropriately, the violet purple Crayola to express her gratitude:

"I turned 50 and saw you at First Ave. in 1976!"

Others etched out more political statements on the tables, such as one message dated June 16: "Praise the Lord and bless him for the gifts he's bestowed on Prince."

A reference to Prince's much-publicized turn to Jehovah and PG-rated concerts? Perhaps.

But while Prince may have toned down public displays of affection in his shows, his fans certainly haven't when showing love for what they regard as a true "artist." The recurring theme in Prince's fan-penned picnic letters strayed from discourse regarding his new religion or his recent airport confrontation with a camera-toting fan. What can really be learned from scanning Paisley's picnic benches amid Prince-a-palooza? Paisley Park may be Chanhassen's -- and even the Twin Cities' -- biggest and only true tourist attraction.

"We (insert red-rose colored heart) U & we came from Australia," one message read, while another was even etched in an Asian language.

John Jamison wasn't surprised by the dedication and variation of Prince fans at Paisley Park this past week. Jamison traveled from his home in San Diego, Calif., to the Twin Cities with his family, wife Jackie and daughters Reyna, 7 and Alizah, 4 to see Prince perform his "Musicology" tour on home turf.

"You'll notice something when you go to a Prince show," Jamison said. "What's neat is that you'll see so many different nationalities and age groups. Other artists usually have one group that defines their fans. Prince appeals to everyone, especially now."

Jamison, who attended his first Prince show in San Diego in 1995, has been to several since and is glad to be able to have his two young children along for the ride this time. Minnesota is as far as he's traveled for a Prince show. "I'll come out here if there's something big," he said.

Indeed, "Musicology" and the opening of Paisley Park to the public were of rock-star proportions, and Prince wouldn't have it any other way in his hometown. During the second night of his sold-out show at the Xcel Energy Center, Prince made several references to Minnesotan culture and how it "feels good to be home."

During the public tours of Paisley Park, it was as if Prince and NPG music were saying, like Prince's titillating hit "Get Off" so boldly did in 1991: "If you want to, baby, here I am" as they gave fans all-access to all four state-of-the-art recording studios, including the newest "Studio D."

Electronic junkies, aspiring musicians and decorating fanatics alike found something of interest on the Paisley Park staff-led tours. For $15, park-goers learned about the evolution of Paisley's sound equipment, complete with a viewing of the early 1980s 8-inch floppy disc computer used on "Purple Rain."

They also experienced Prince-style feng shui: "He likes lots of light," one guide explained as she led her tour group through the sunlit atrium where Prince's infamous symbol is festooned on the tile floor.

After all his image re-creations, Prince's mystique remains. Though Paisley's recording studios have heard the musical chops of other artists like Sting, REM and Janet Jackson, the park and the public tour are still distinctly Prince. As the scent of lit candles (purple ones, of course) filled every corridor, Prince fans finished the tour with something left to the imagination. Sure, they saw his cardboard-cutout timeline, MTV and Grammy awards in addition to recording studios, but they didn't get a glimpse of the stage on which he'd be performing his midnight shows.

Fans like Jamison weren't hurt by the tour's omissions.

"I thought the tour was great. It was really exciting to see all the sound equipment," he said, as his wife and daughters perused the gift shop set up in a tent outside the park.

Like other fans at Paisley, Jamison would rather be found basking in Chanhassen's "Purple Rain."

Here's the link:
http://chanvillager.com/m...ectionID=2

So, there's now a Studio D? Intersting to note that in light of specualtion regarding Paisley Park's demise/sale. Cool little article.

Paisley Park being sold was just another lame ass rumor. Prince has never stopped recording there and it doesnt look like he is planning on it. Toronto is a second home and he as many other rich ass MF-ers have more than one home. The purple house on Riley Lake in Chanhassen on Kiowa Trail was torn down. At one time people actually were saying that Paisley Park was being torn down. The rumors are crazy just like many of his FANs.~Exhales~.....Ahhhh, now I feel better....MplsFunk lives!

Did anybody ever figure out what that little round building next to Paisley Park is?

MinneapolisFunk said:

I'm happy Prince keeps recording there and is still investing in the studio, even though I'm a Torontonian who's honored he has recorded here, just like I'm honored the Stones rehearse here. Paisley Park is truly in Prince's heart, and it would be a darn shame if he did not keep the studio.
[This message was edited Thu Jun 24 15:14:02 2004 by Aerogram]

I really njoyed the tour this time When I went up b 4 n 2002 part of Paisley was closed cuz some ASSHOLE stole something! The main thing that I really wanted 2 c was his Oscar,n I did The whole tour was AWESOME,I just loved how everywhere smelled soooo good . Oh yeah n the furniture was so pretty,Prince has style.

Aerogram said:

"Paisely Park is in your heart....."

BlueEyedAngel said:

It was to be a restaurant and Prince changed his mind so it sits unfinished.

BlueEyedAngel said:

It's the NPG Missile Silo. Launch off, and welcome to the dawn.

NCC2012 said:

Great to see the local newspaper acknowledging the universal appeal of Prince and Paisley Park. Even the Chanhassen Inn had “Purple Reign” on their sign this year. And for those who didn’t reserve rental cars in advance…they were hurting. As I was standing in line at the airport terminal waiting for the rental car, two guys were going from company to company trying to get a car for the night with little success. Finally one commented to me, “I don’t know what’s going on in Mpls….we can’t find a car anywhere.” I said, “Oh, Prince is having a party.” He said, “Prince!!! Damn!!! My brother would have loved to go to that.” He was so amusing. (They finally went in style in a luxury sedan)

Yes, as usual, people came from all over the world to Paisley. There is nothing like seeing Prince at his own house. And it is nice when people from diverse backgrounds and diverse perspectives can come together on common ground.

Although I had been to a couple of other Musicology concerts, it wasn’t until the third night at Xcel when Prince was performing some of the songs toward the end, “The Beautiful Ones,” “Nothing Compares to You,” and “Purple Rain,” that it hit me: this is perhaps the last time I will hear Prince perform these songs - songs that many of us have heard a number of times and that some of us perhaps have grown a little too accustomed to - but songs that are classics. I was quite overwhelmed.

At the concerts and after shows - it wasn’t about the “setlist” - it was about being there and experiencing the gifts of one of the greatest artists and one of the greatest performers of all time. Prince consistently raises the bar. He spends hours with his band rehearsing every night because no two nights are the same. Sure, some of the same songs may be performed, but each night there are different instrumental or vocal diversions that are included according to the vibe he is feeling. And different songs added to the set on different nights.

Even after the hours of rehearsals, hours of performing for sold-out crowds at Xcel, and hours performing until the wee hours of the morning at the Paisley after shows, Prince could not sit down and relax in his own house when he wasn‘t on stage. He was tireless in his efforts to make sure everything was going smoothly and that people were enjoying themselves. He was giving all he had to give. He was giving the love. His performance of an emotional “Beautiful Strange” after an exhaustive dance set in closing the second Aftershow was priceless. And Friday into Saturday morning he delivered the funk in royal fashion like the people wanted, but his tender version of “Adore” for the encore on that night was simply incredible. For many of us who stayed to cheer once he said good night that evening, it really wasn’t about the expectation that he come out and perform an encore. He truly had “partied until the sun came up” with it being nearly 5:00 a.m. However, Prince came back out, just as touched. He shared some sweet comments in closing and then sang both Purple Rain and Adore and left us with the words, “U, I love.”

This is why people all over the world come to Paisley Park .....Prince!

With all of the new equipment at Paisley, there is no doubt that Prince has more surprises in store. While he maintains all of the old 24 tracking tapes for recording, all studios in addition have audio / digital workstations with Pro Tools computer software that allows all the capabilities and more of the 24 track system in addition to being more versatile and compact. There are special studios / feed rooms which allow for isolation of various components for recording such as a drum room designed with granite walls to enhance the percussion acoustics. Paisley Park is alive and well. And Prince’s creative genius will continue to flow.

However, how long we will be able to experience his extraordinary performances no one can be certain. Priorities change and people move in new directions. Therefore its good to show the love in the here and now. Sometimes you never know how much you value something until you don’t have it anymore. That is why, it is so good to see the media and the locals acknowledging Prince and his accomplished career. It couldn’t be more deserved. This is Prince’s year and he is shining royally.

um...i think i did this about 4 or 5 years ago PRINCE .ORG

Habibi of NuPowarGnaratn
http://communities.msn.co...warGnaratn

Amanda Palleschi

said:

wow

pretty interesting since Prince didn't even enter the state of California in all of 1995 ...



.
[This message was edited Thu Jun 24 23:44:40 2004 by FunkyStrange]

NCC2012 said:

he's hiding all the WMDs?

Jamison, who attended his first Prince show in San Diego in 1995,


wow

pretty interesting since Prince didn't even enter the state of California in all of 1995 ...

_____

I think she meant 1997!!

WOw any of u guys get a look at his guitar equipment like effect n stuff?????

I think that you summed it all up and it was heart-felt here. I really believed that Prince gave his all. Considering rehersals, the actual concerts, then partying with us all night long. The committment that Prince shows, is unlike any other artist. This is why I don't think twice about buying multiple concert tickets. I feel his passion and his rigor and it is simply breath-taking.