Really, this thread is just an excuse to get this over in the Non Prince section where I wanted to get opinions from orgers over here. What did u all think of P's halftime performance? Me, I thought it was great, especially under the conditions. Personally, I didn't want to hear him do hits from the early 80's BUT I expected it and I understand it. I wasn't surprised that P was so good being that I've seen him sooo many times in concert. Dating all the way back to his Controversy tour. He was BAD then. His guitar playing was typically good. Although he's playing was a little off during his solo to Purple Rain. I think this was due to the weather as his guitar sound was hella warble-ly, which I've never heard in his tone before, and the Symbol guitar was kinda out of tune. Being the bonafide pro that P is, he realized this and cut the solo a little short. The rain, I felt, added to his performance, ESPECIALLY during the song Purple Rain. I REALLY dug his version of Dylan's/Hendrix "All Along The Watchtower" and The Foo's "The Best Of You". He played that waaay better than the Foo's themselves. P kicked ass like he always does. U can't touch him as a performer. He's one of the best to ever live and that's the stone truth. I was happy for him. He turned it out like I always expect him to. Anyway, what did ya'll over here in Non P Music think?

I thought it was great. I'll cut and paste what I said in the Prince section so I won't have to retype it again.

Bleepin' brilliant! He needs an official studio download of it on his website like NOW.

The fact that it was real rain was great. Nothing could have been more appropriate especially seeing the rain through all the purple lighting. This is going to be one of those historic performances like Diana Ross performing in the rain in Central Park.

BG I really agree with your assessment. I would rather not hear Let's Go Crazy/Purple Rain, but he'd kind of be an idiot not to play them.

And I never liked The Best of You, but I liked Prince's version. Also All Along The Watchtower was changed just enough to be interesting. It was nice to have something not from Purple Rain.

I think he made the most of the opportunity.

Well i'll go ahead and play the contrarian role.
Personally, I think it was a blown opportunity seeing as you've probably got the biggest captive viewing audience internationally.
(outside of the World Cup maybe.)

If it were me i'd have...

a) A new album released (or about to be released) that i'd be showcasing.
b) An upcoming tour announcement.

...at the very least.

Who knows, maybe something along those lines are in the works that we'll hear about in the next few weeks.

I really didn't get the "cover band" deal (Watchtower, The Best of You, Proud Mary) with the extensive catalog he's got.
Pull some tunes the "general public" (if that's who he was trying to appeal to) hasn't heard so that you have the appearance of presenting new material. What I got from listening to the Jim Rome sports show this morning (although the host likes him), the general consensus was that they were watching a has-been. By tomorrow I should have a soundfile of his commentary for anyone interested.
It was actually pretty funny but simultaneously gives you a perspective of what those outside the Purple Circle (pardon the pun) are thinking.

The inclusion of Purple Rain given the weather situation turned out to be quite appropriate.

When it was still raining approaching half-time I said to my wife, "I bet he has on some kind of head gear."
My bet was on the derby but maybe he didn't pack it.

I didn't hate the performance, just thought it was a bit disappointing.
My viewing experience goes back to the dissing he got at the hands of the Rolling Stones fans at the L.A. Colliseum in 1981.
I thought he was good then and everytime i've seen him since.
There was just something off about this one and i'm sure the weather didn't help.

I'm guessing the lady in white was Shelby Johnson (who has been doing the Rio shows)?
Sounds like she can sing so for her y'all.

Just one man's opinion.
Got my survival gear on, so bring it...



tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

As far as the SB performance, I thought he messed it up a bit when he transitioned from Watchtower into Best of You, it's as though he scrambled the lyrics or forgot his place. I would have preferred he do either song on its own rather than the blended effect, but that's just me. Just like anything he does, He will probably put a nice touch on Best Of You if that ever makes it on his next album, it's a song that fits his style well, it's like the same thing he did with One Of Us, he put some extra guitar and power chords on it.

I've got another confession to make.....Prince rules!

Much respect to Dylan and Dave Grohl but Prince blew them away.
[Edited 2/5/07 20:17pm]

LOVED,LOVED,LOVED it!

I've been playing Prince's version of "Best of You" over and over again in my head all day today.

LOVED IT

good lyrical choice too, especially following a song about the Watchtower

Never.Ever.Cover.The.Foo.Fighters.Again.Ever.THANK YOU

Am I getting through?

He should've continue with All Along The Watch Tower

Quite interesting

It really had my attention, until it was cut short.
[Edited 2/6/07 0:32am]
[Edited 2/6/07 0:33am]

theAudience said:

Nah nah nah Aud. No survival gear needed. Good post. I myself was talking mad shit about 2 weeks ago over in the Prince section on this site that I REALLY didn't want to see P play any of his early 80's stuff. He's so much more deeper than that. I don't like the Foo Fighters. HATE their version of Darling Nikki. Obviously he digs them enough to want to cover The Best Of You. He SHOULD have played a James Brown song and shame on him for not doing so. He owes sooooo much to James, it's not even funny. THAT he should have done. Him covering All Along makes perfect sense and would have loved to see him go longer on that song. I feel he did it justice for the little he did play. Me, since he obviously wanted to showcase his guitar, would have loved to see him do the song 3121 at the very least if he must play Let's Go Crazy. I was happy the way Purple Rain turned out, with it actually raining. That could have not been better planned. GOD was helping Prince out with that one. And the marching band added a nice touch, especially on Purple rain. P, to me, looked truly moved. In many ways, he's still that little 22, 23 year old with a huge chip on his shoulder and a world of shit to prove. He's long since embraced his legend. He KNOWS what most folks dig about him.

All Along The Watchtower is a great song (both versions) so it was nice to hear it from Prince though it was pretty short!

...but I hate the Poo Fighters so that cover did nothing to me.


Oh, come on P! You could have found better songs to cover for SB...
[Edited 2/6/07 3:05am]

I loved it. Interesting to see him do some more "basic" rock for once. And it fit his voice so well, I thought he really sounded fantastic, especially on the chorus.


And concerning this quote of you, blackguitaristz:

blackguitaristz said:

Dig this shot of our man:

I found it a fun performance and he was quite a trooper to brave such horrid weather.....

Choice of stuff to play: he could have made better choices....

Yeah, the head gear was a bit drippy (literally and figuratively).....and the twins were distracting and added little value IMHO....

I'm thinking perhaps he realized a Super Bowl audience would not largely be made up of his avid fans, and maybe he chose familiar 'covers' that would appeal.....just a guess.

Anyway, if the weather had been great, I think ALL of it would have come across better....Prince, the special effects, and the FAMU Marching 100.....

The weather is what I found disappointing, not pariticularly the performance or the choice of pieces to play.....

I found myself hoping one or both of the Twinzzz would slip and break their necks. I enjoyed his performance, but I didn't get why he did THREE songs from Purple Rain. I didn't realize the cover tune was a Foo Fighters number but it was good. The rain added a special touch to PR and almost brought a to my eye.

funkpill said:

Exactly.

it was pretty deece.

cubic61052 said:

this is one thing that's cracking me up about the commentary i've read so far on fansites: everybody's talking about the weather and how he was able to pull through it and what-not.

ya'll tend to forget where he's from. rain ain't shit to 'im, probably.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

Someone posted Alan Leeds' comments on the show over at the quake and he says that Prince HATES rain. Except it's purple.

P>I>P>O

Pimp In
Pimp OUT

I really liked that part of the performance... Everything was great for the whole performance except I didn't like Prince's solos (esp Purple Rain) that much... maybe it was the guitar tone... when he was playing rhythm I loved it (especially on the Foos cover)...

calldapplwondery83 said:

don' matter. a rain shower ain't shit compared to a snow blizzard.

theAudience said:

I hear what you're saying, and it's a totally valid POV. But I see the Superbowl as a moment in history, not just any promotional appearance.

While as a fan I don't want to hear those same damn songs, I would hate for him to sing some unknown song that left the audience (not you) scratching their heads.

Most viewers aren't Prince fans and they aren't sick of Purple Rain. That was Prince pushing his own legacy, and I think it was smart not to put all his chips on some new stuff that wouldn't have necessarily moved the crowd.

And the covers were something new to us, at least. Something to talk about. My guess is they were personal selections, something he's feeling right now.

But I do understand the critics. Hasn't he said he was going to stop playing those songs many times over?!

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

But does he stand up on a stage and perform during a snow blizzard?

Being accustomed to the elements, and performing in the middle of them are two different things.

I could have done without the covers. Although, I enjoyed and thought "The Best Of You" was a new song of his (when I say I don't listen to music by current artists anymore, I mean it ).



I understand fully what you are saying and would agree if we were living in a different day and age. Look what the majority of the general public is buying these days....shit hop, the whole shit hop, and nothing but the shit hop. Since most of them refuse to buy anything else, at least promote the hell out of something old and popular so maybe their parents will enjoy it and go out and buy a "Purple Rain" CD to replace their vinyl that they bought when they were young.




The word "has-been" doesn't bother me anymore. All I have to do is think about who is not a has-been these days and it makes me consider the word a compliment.

blackguitaristz said:

Yeah, I guess I was just expecting something else.
Bottom line, if the crowd dug it, case closed.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I thought the covers were cool and added an interesting element to the show. I would have preferred him playing some of his other material but in the end his choices seemed to have resonated with the audience. In terms of the overall show, it was good to see Prince do his thing in spite of the horrible conditions. He proved how great he is and that legends are consummate professionals. I think young artists really need to go back and pay attention to that because a lesser artist would have coward under those conditions.

The one thing that illustrates Prince's greatness is the fact that a by the numbers performance (ie could have done that in his sleep sans rain) makes headline news for being an outstanding Super Bowl show. That speaks volumes about his level of talent, and conversely about the current state of popular music. Imagine if these people actually got a chance to see him in his element, they would be floored. As far as the Jim Rome and the has been talk, who cares. As Vainandy said, that's a compliment today. Besides, the general public doesn't pay attention or appreciate anything outside of nostalgia or in terms of a commodity. Moreover, they don't remember anything that happened longer than 5 minutes ago.
[Edited 2/6/07 14:06pm]

DorothyParkerWasCool said:

exactly. it's better to be a has-been than a never-was.


that's another thing that bugs me about what passes for entertainment nowadays--it's so disposable. thankfully for prince and the few others out there, they came up in a time where performers would do stuff to make damn sure that you remember them, and they understood that and carry that torch now.