4/5
Syracuse Purplemen.
Running up that hill, Kate Bush is having a resurgence (like she ever left our collective consciousness) right now. Taken to the Max on a characters headphones and Walkman (remember (what are) those?!) in the first volume of the fourth season of Netflix's 'Stranger Things', culminating in a classic moment that runs and runs. All for a show that takes it back to the fond and nostalgic 80's like 'The Goonies' (one of them was even in it). The last fourth of July season of 'Things' was even set in the month and year I was born. So it's only right we take it back to 1985 again for the man who partied like it was '1999' and brought the house down with that very number like a millennium bug. We've had some powerful posthumous Prince releases that 'Holly Rocked' the house in all his star power since the purple one's tragic death in 2016. From the stripped-down 'Piano and a Microphone', to last years 'Welcome 2 America'. We've even had some revolutionary reissues, like the new power given to the 'Sign 'O' The Times' anniversary. But this remastered concert from Syracuse in 1985 during the reign of the 'Purple Rain' your, moviemaking in itself dunks on all of that with funk like Hakim Warrick's bag of nuts. Cutting down nets, never 'Melo. But as orange as wearing that colour on National Gun Violence Awareness Day. The last high pitched sample of '99 ("mama, what does everybody have a gun") ringing out in The Artist symbolism. Game. Blouses.
"Hello Syracuse, and the world. My name is Prince, and I've come 2 play with U." In more ways than one for this remixed and enhanced live album that in a bootleggers dream now becomes an official part of his classic catalogue collection for a definitive discography. The concert film entering the ranks as a great documentary too. The frills are back, but the thrill is far from gone in some amazing artwork amongst the purple pinstripe suits that scream the throwback 80's, as a Gatsby like face that even Maggie Rogers' eyes are surrendering too for her new album looks on. "Is there a doctor in the house", Prince asks the crowd as his keyboard player in scrubs let's rip in a mask years before his time. Because you're going to need some CPR after this. Resuscitating the sound of The Revolution, playing on Prince day, Happy Birthday to an actual King. From the signature 'Let's Go Crazy' opening with an elevation that will never bring you down. All the way to the epic encore after doves cried in swan song of 'I Would Die 4 U', 'Baby I'm A Star' and of course an 18 minute 'Purple Rain'. No two ever sounding the same like individual drips and nothing sounding quite like this in build-up and riff-roaring goodbye for the man's axe that strikes a love symbol down into the live stage like a microphone.
Much too fast, even at just a shade under two hours this album passes us by all too quickly like a 'Purple Rain' moped or a motorcycle like Easter Egg tribute in this year's 'Batman' movie for a man who once did an entire soundtrack for the Dark Knight like a 'Partyman'. But under the pale moonlight you're going to love dancing to this one, no devil, like the heavenly intro to 'Little Red Corvette' that feels as fresh as the day it came out. Or the 'How Come You Don't Call Me' yearning ode, a cult classic and standout here that Alicia Keys made famous like Patti Smith, Bruce Springsteen's 'Because The Night'. And just like The Boss, we know which version is more chart-topping famous. But nothing compares to the heart on the purple sleeve intention of the original's emotion. The instrumental 'Yankee Doodle' plays like a national anthem and Nelson plays with us on his introduction to 'God' and the spoken words he mixes from other tracks. "I've got too many hits" he said during his 21 dates at London's 02, touring there more than the local Tube line. This is why he goes 'Delirious' after he goes crazy, like the 'Raw' comedy of Eddie Murphy, or beating his late, great brother Charlie at basketball, like the brothers did Rick James' legs. Breakfast can wait, when your bacon and eggs is 'Take Me With U' and 'Do Me, Baby', served with a side of toast and 'Irresistible B####'. "Yes, Wendy' this album is everything like 'Computer Blue' and 'Darling Nikki'. Prince playing like a man 'Possessed'. All before the 'International Lover' headed to the South of France in 1985, touring for the world like all those young lovers who like to pretend their married. Dearly beloved, as we gather here today over these 20 tracks in a time were COVID-19 still leaves us gig shy in concert. 1985 comes alive again with the Prince who changed the world back then as he took the throne forever more. Smashing any picture that his legendary legacy would die in time, Prince paints a perfect picture on 'The Beautiful Ones', a track later covered by the 'Butterfly' honey of Mariah Carey and Sisqo of Dru Hill. Baby, baby, baby. What's it gonna be? Don't waste your time on anything that makes you lose your mind. Because I want THIS! A televised event now available for your Spotify streams. The Revolution will be immortalised. TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Setlist Picks: 'Little Red Corvette', 'How Come You Don't Call Me', 'Purple Rain'.
No comments:
Post a Comment