On Prince Concerts

It’s confession time, again.

I’m a little bit excited to go to a couple of Prince concerts in the weeks ahead. You probably heard that he is playing the O2 Arena in London (the former Millennium Dome) for 21 nights this August and September. I’ve been reading reviews of his first 4 shows like crazy. Of course, the people on the Prince message boards praise each concert over the last.

While reading the forums I came across an entry were the fans posted lists of the Prince concerts they had attended. They also denoted front row views with a little *. And I thought I had been to a lot of Prince concerts. Remember: there is always a bigger nerd.

I am fully aware that I am dating myself with this list, but here it is:

27-08-1988 Frankfurt – Waldstadion – Lovesexy Tour
07-06-1990 Hamburg – Alsterdorfer Sporthalle – Nude Tour
12-06-1990 Berlin – Waldbühne – Nude Tour
31-05-1992 Berlin – Waldbühne – Diamonds & Pearls Tour (I’m not sure about this one)
03-06-1992 Frankfurt – Festhalle – Diamonds & Pearls Tour
31-08-1993 Paris – Palais Omnisport de Bercy – Act II Tour
01-09-1993 Paris – Palais Omnisport de Bercy – Act II Tour
25-11-1994 Berlin – Tränenpalast
04-03-1995 London – Wembley Arena – Gold / Ultimate Live Experience Tour
05-03-1995 London – Wembley Arena – Gold / Ultimate Live Experience Tour
07-03-1995 London – Wembley Arena – Gold / Ultimate Live Experience Tour
23-08-1998 Zürich – Hallenstadion – NewPowerSoul Tour
22-12-1998 Frankfurt – Festhalle – NewPowerSoul Tour
13-10-2002 Frankfurt – Festhalle – One Nite Alone Tour
19-10-2002 Berlin – ICC – Festhalle – One Nite Alone Tour

I think my favourite concert was at Tränenpalast in Berlin. He played a 2 hour+ set after his 5 minute performance at the MTV Europe Awards. There were only about 300 people in attendance and my friend Yvonne and I were standing in the front row.

Maybe I’m thinking of this concert so fondly just because Yvonne and I had to work hard for this: We were standing at the entry for three hours, pressed against iron bars. Through the Prince fan base we had heard about the “secret” show and got in line at 10 pm, even before the MTV awards were over. Finally, the doors opened at 1 am. After we waited for another hour, Prince got on stage and blew the house down. He even spoke German: “Kaputt!”, referring to a mic that was quickly replaced.
I think it took days to get that stupid grin off my adolescent face.

Prince during a Nude Tour concert (source).
I’m still in love with the pattern of the suit.

I met my friend Yvonne on the local bus to the Nude Tour concert at Waldbühne in Berlin. Taking the seat next to her I said: “I want to be front row and you?”. She was in. Together, we ran down the steps of the arena, landed in the 2nd row and had a blast.

Paisley Park: Slow

Yesterday afternoon, I was on the streetcar, still a bit hung over from the night at the Sugarshack (pictures soon), so I listened to some of my favourite Paisley Park slow jams. Only the last two were released on Prince’s Paisley Park label, but I think it is a good name for the mini extreme playlist featuring Prince produced songs by some of his protégées.
Listen to the songs using the flash player below.

Monie Love – In A Word Or 2 (Paisley Park Mix)
It’s 1993, Monie raps the verses, Prince sings the chorus. Her second album of the same name featured several Prince produced songs.

Martika – Love…Thy Will Be Done (Prince Mix)
One of my all time favourite Prince remixes. I think it is basically an extended version of the already Prince produced original, having the extended dubby part at the beginning of the song. Wonderful. It was the lead single to her second album, Martika’s Kitchen, released in 1991.
The video is one of the first directed by Michael Haussman, who later did Madonna’s Take A Bow, one of the three clips for Kanye’s Jesus Walks and most recently, Justin’s SexyBack.

Mavis Staples – Time Waits For No One
This is the title track from Mavis’ first Paisley Park album. The video is very cute, especially at the end, when Mavis is heading out to the balcony and Prince is on the street, playing guitar next to a burning barrel. Very ghetto.
Sadly, the youtube clip doesn’t have the full guitar solo, but you’ll get the idea.
The whole album is one of the best Paisley Park releases, including the funky Jaguar and another favourite of mine, Train.

Sheila E. – Noon Rendezvous
From her 1984 debut album, The Glamorous Life.
I love the sparse instrumentation. Is this romantic?
I’ve been wondering what 2 wear
I love our noon rendezvous

http://mp3player.poqbum.com/player.swf

(Flash player found via the wonderful daughters of invention)

Prince Is Willy Wonka

I want my purple ticket and I want it NOW! And I am not Augustus, you fatso, thanks.

Prince is including seven purple tickets inside random copies of his latest CD, 3121, with which you are invited to a private concert at his home.

Clipoverload

I am a little bit addicted to youtube.com. The streaming videos made my Sunday.

Reno 911

Here are some clips of my favourite comedy TV series, Reno 911:
Jim Dangle buying new boots
Sky diver
Assistance call with a dog

Kate Bush

Rocket Man music video
This is one of my favourite Kate videos ever. Another evidence that a wind machine is always good.

Kate performing Kite and Wuthering Heights live at German TV show, Bio’s Bahnhof, February 1978
Love her dancing at the end of Kite. She wears the same dress at this rare “Red Dress Version” of the Wuthering Heights music video, filmed in the woods. Youtube has a lot of TV apperances by Kate, just do a search.

Pete Burns

Pete moves into the Celebrity Big Brother UK house. Auch etwas krass.
There are more BB clips of him. He is the best.

Mariah Carey

MTV Cribs – Part I, II and III
Her famous MTV cribs episode. Don’t miss her shoe room in part III.

Prince

Electric Intercourse
Live performance at First Avenue, Minneapolis on August 3rd 1983. Electric intercourse is a Purple Rain outtake and has never been released on any album. I love this song.

Vanity 6 – He’s So Dull
I’ve written about the video a few weeks ago.

MC Froggy – My Dumps

This is not on youtube.com but on Peaches MySpace profile. On Friday night, I’ve been to the last monthly Vazaleen party. We had a great night and the DJ played this super version of My Humps. Enjoy.

produzentin private: emancipation

As I am free from all contractual obligations (at least for a year) I can sing Emancipation with Prince. Feel free to join me. Next song on the list is Free. Again, by Prince.

I’ve been tryin’ 2 break the chain
Get my little ass out the game
I’d rather sing with a bit more harmony
…
Emancipation – break the chain, break the chain

Vanity 6

Zuerst sollten sie The Hookers heißen. Brenda und Susan waren schon in der Band. Dann kam Denise Matthews. Ihr wurde der Name Vanity verpaßt und aus dem Trio wurde Vanity 6.
Und obwohl sie nur ein Album in 1982 veröffentlicht haben, sind sie immer noch eine meiner Lieblings-Girlbands. Sexuell verführerisch, volle Kontrolle und Girlpower.
Da vor allem der Song Nasty Girl oft gesamplet oder zitiert wurde, so hat man auf jeden Fall indirekt von der Band gehört (z.B. Britney – I’m A Slave For You und Boys, beide produziert von den Neptunes). Der Sound der Linn LM-1 drum machine ist so gut, erzeugt den besten Electro-Pop und ist unverkennbar.

Der Look von Vanity 6 ist natürlich großartig. Es gibt drei Videos, zu Nasty Girl, Drive Me Wild und He’s So Dull. Letzteres ist das Beste. Vanity, Brenda und Susan sehen spitze aus, tanzen vor rosa und hellblauen Wänden, die Windmaschine läuft und sie haben tolle Moves. Dazu singen sie:

He’s always callin’ on the telephone (Brenda rollt die Augen, siehe Bild)
He won’t go out without a chaperone
Cuz he’s so afraid 2 be alone with me
…
He’s so dull, still livin’ with his mother
He’s so dull and he won’t get anywhere with me

Prince hatte sich das Trio ausgedacht und auch dadurch ist es etwas ironisch. Ganz wunderbar ist If A Girl Answers (Don’t Hang Up), in dem Vanity bei ihrem Ex-Freund anruft und die neue Freundin (gesprochen von Prince) abhebt. 5 Minuten bitchyness.
Vanity entschließt sich vor den Dreharbeiten zu Purple Rain, die Band zu verlassen. Eine neue Frontfrau, Patricia Kotero, springt ein und aus Vanity 6 wird Apollonia 6.

Ich würde so gerne alle Texte des Albums posten. Ich mag den Humor und die Attitude. OK, noch zwei Auszüge:

My made-up name is Vanity cuz a girl’s best friend’s her pride
And a working girl don’t have 2 tolerate the mailman’s tricks
(3 x 2 = 6)

Ooh, look at me, I’m a radio
Call me up, make a request
I’ll do anything, just name it
When I’m bad, baby, I’m the best
(Drive Me Wild)

Crying At The Cote d’Azur

Eigentlich wollte ich während meines Provence und Cote d’Azur Urlaubs einige Drehorte von Under The Cherry Moon aufsuchen. Der Prince Film aus dem Jahr 1986 wurde in Nizza und am Cap d’Antibes gedreht. Da ich mir den Klassiker schon lange nicht mehr angeschaut hatte, konnte ich mich jedoch an kaum einen Ort erinnern.

Nur die Villa Eilen Roc hatte ich vorher recherchiert. Im Film wohnen Mary Sharon (Kristin Scott Thomas) und ihre Eltern in dem Haus. Doch als wir mit unserem kleinen Flitzerauto um 17 Uhr bei dem Park ankamen, wurden die Pforten gerade geschlossen. Eine Träne floss meine perfekt geschminkte Wange hinunter.

Die Stimmung besserte sich jedoch schnell, als wir in Monaco ankamen. Das herrliche Dachmosaik an der Uferpromenade hinter dem Casino und der Oper ließ mich wieder aufatmen.
Voila!

Heute habe ich mir den Film im Schnelldurchlauf reingezogen. Dabei ist mir das Intro aufgefallen, dass die Handlung vorwegnimmt:

Once upon a time in France, there lived a bad boy named Christopher Tracy. (gespielt von Prince)
Only one thing mattered to Christopher: money.
The women he knew came in all sizes, shapes, and colors and they were all rich. Very rich.
Private concertos, kind words, and fun is what he had to offer them.
Yes, Christopher lived for all women, but he died for one. (für Mary Sharon)
Somewhere along the way, he learned the true meaning of love.

Upcoming Music

Har Mar Superstar – The Handler – Mid September

He is da man and I’m waiting for him to cross over to Germany. Why doesn’t he get a tour organized in mainland Europe? The UK gets the treat all the time and during my stay in San Francisco he didn’t hit the town either.
Anyway, I’m in love with his first two albums and his videos. He has style, a fantastic voice and the perfect beats. Check out Power Lunch and my favorite non-album track Shopping Spree!
The Handler, featuring Karen O. of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Michael Bland (former Prince drummer) among others, will probably get an early release on iTunes. The first single, about drug related telephone calls, DUI (Dialing Under the Influence), is scheduled for August 16th. The B-side is Sex-Tape. Listen

Le Tigre – This Island – October 19th

After a three year break they return with This Island. I’m really looking forward to this & their new videos. I especially liked their Well Well Well video, which will probably be included on one of the enhanced reissues of their older albums on August 24th.

Beck – As yet untitled – October

He is currently in the studio with the Dust Brothers, who produced the fabulous Odelay and Midnite Vultures with him. I’m so glad this is going to be an up tempo album and not a melancholy affair like the last one. One track is a collaboration with Jack White.

Mariah Carey – As yet untitled

You might have guessed it: This is the album I’m looking forward to most. There is no release date or title but her manager says that Mariah’s “new album is underway in New York. For the first time in years, she is not recording on the Isle of Capri.”. I’m not sure if this is a good or bad sign. I always wanted to go to Capri but now I don’t have a reason anymore.
Good news is, she will have Kanye West as a producer for one or more songs.

Kate Bush – As yet untitled

It’s been more than 11 years since her last album The Red Shoes and each year I get my hopes up. Supposedly, she is working on the new album in her home studio and a lot of musicians reported about the progress for years. I think, she is only doing her little fairy dance at the huge mansion. It would be a wonder if this album gets released in 2004.

Walks

When I walk the streets of San Francisco I listen to Princes 1980 masterpiece album Dirty Mind and Britneys In the Zone (2003, songs 2 to 9 only). I reckon that In The Zone is her watered down Dirty Mind. The other tracks off of Brits album are trash, don’t listen to them. Also, having 8 tracks of both artists makes it easy to alternate between them. Of course, Prince pushes the themes even further…

Uptown	Early Mornin’
It ain’t about no downtown Nowhere bound Narrow-minded drag It’s all about being free Everybody’s going Uptown	I was shaking my ass in the streets this morning Just walked in and it’s early morning Bump bump till the break of dawning It don’t stop till the early morning Passed out on the couch I’m yawning

Sister

My sister never made love to anyone else but me
She’s the reason for my, uh, sexuality
She showed me where it’s supposed to go
A blow job doesn’t mean blow
Incest is everything it’s said to be

Touch Of My Hand

I’m not ashamed of the things that I dream
I found my self flirting with the verge of obscene
Into the unknown I will be bold
I’m going to places I can be out of control
Cuz I jus discovered
Imagination’s taken over
Another day without a lover
The more I come to understand the touch of my hand

Summer Workout

To accompany the healthy eating habits I’ve put together a short (iPod) play list for the workout at the gym or the beach or wherever!

LL Cool J – Going Back to Cali

It has perfect beat to start with and gets you going. Just think of LL’s muscles and his sexy lips and you’re all fired up!

Kanye West – The New Workout Plan

This is the center piece of the play list. Kanye is a cutie! Repeat the song as often as you like. The beat changes once or twice, so it’ll suit the tempo changes of your cross trainer or spinning session. The lyrics are hilarious, just a few excerpts:

So first of all we gon’ work on the stomach
Nobody wants a little tight ass!
…
All the mocha lattes you gotta do Pilates
You gotta pop this tape in before you start back dating

Half way through the song, a bunch of girls share their success stories, here’s the first one:

Hi may name is Jill, I just want to say thanks to Kanye’s workout plan.
I was able to pull a NBA player and like now I shop every day on Rodeo drive
I just want to say, thank you Kanye! woooo! woooo! woooo! woooo! woooo! woooo!

The final conclusion is:

That’s right put in work, move your ass, go bezerk
Eat your salad, no dessert
Get that man you deserve

Missy Elliott – Work It

Maybe this song is too obvious and worn out but I couldn’t resist the beat and lines like these:

See my ass and my lips don’tcha
Lost a few pounds in my waist for ya

Prince – The Marring Kind

Slowing the tempo and allowing for your heart rate to go down, here comes Prince and he gets back at Missy on this one:

I’m gonna put her on the same diet Missy went on
U know she eat 2 much