Overall review of Prince shows during the North Sea Jazz Festival 2011by The Undertaker
I've gathered her with myself, to get to this thing called "review problem". Really, I feel the strong need to write down my version of the NSJ weekend, while at the same time I'm sure that the proper and adequate words will not come to me. Still, I have to do this. Right now my starting point is that NSJ was about perception and perspective, about the dilemma between hopes and expectations, about emotions and circles.
The four of us witnessed (part of) the following concerts:
Esperanza Spalding, Paul Simon, Janelle Monae, Larry Graham & GCS, Ben L'Oncle Soul, Chaka Khan, Seal, Candy Dulfer, Jan Akkerman, Raphael Saadiq, Tom Jones, Snoop Dog Doggystyle, Bootsy Collins, Prince, Prince, Prince
This list helps to bring into perspective the Prince (shows) we've witnessed. Check the list and see for yourself. A certain amount a true music legends that had (still have) impressive careers, repertoire and beautiful, often timeless music. And at the same time, we enjoyed great new talents, working very hard and delivering at this high standard festival. Of course many more great names were present, but for this review that doesn't change anything.
And then we have Prince. Of course we are prejudiced. But the difference and distance simply is of obvious evidence. I know, Paul Simon's songs will still be played in a 50 years. Sure Jan Akkerman more easily plays extreme difficult guitar pieces, than he breathes. Yes, Tom Jones' charisma has not faded a bit after al these years. Call them geniuses in their own field and do them justice by doing just that. And after having done that, it still is easy to determine that Prince is able to reach a ridiculously higher level, if he only decides that he is going to show it. We as hardcore fans both adore Prince as well as criticize him. And probably that is matched by how Prince both challenges us as well as he spoils us. This weekend Prince put back everything in the only right perspective. He is the musical genius between the geniuses. And the great musicians in the world all are very aware! Seal jumped around like a little, heavily surprised child at Prince's stage, knees shaking, not being able to reproduce the lyrics nor finding the right notes. Prince playing three two-hours plus shows and only doubling 1 song (Controversy, I don't count Pass The Peas, as this more or less was used as a beak for Prince). There's at least some hard evidence in these findings, that Prince reaches far higher levels than any other performer on this planet. Prince never before had that many high level support acts as he had on NSJ, and still he simply proved to be truly uncontested. No trace of any competition for him to be found!
Now, what was this...the first show on friday? Bad sound indeed. It ruined an important part of the pleasure. Still, looking at the setlist (which you all know, so no need to mention), it was a very good and Prince worthy show. One long funk jam until the encores. Maybe a bit too many covers, but hey...check the amount of covers played by the other geniuses on NSJ!!! Still, it's fair to say that in the end, the first show lacked the overall expected quality, mainly because of the circumstances. But even when noting this, we must admit that the opening (a cover!) Jimi's Foxy Lady was mindblowing, and that Only Heaven Knows (incl. America) bass jam was out-o-space funk. For those that judge that the friday show must be criticized (partly justified), I want to counter that this first show importantly defined what happened the following two days.
In the course of saturday, everybody discussed the first show. All of us talked about what happened and what to expect. About the difference between what we had hoped for and what took place. For me, a never before experienced vibe started to go though the Prince fans. Emotions took control and with the many fans we spoke (and yes, also had beers with), each progressing hour these emotions became stronger. And then, finally, the second show started. Well, the way he opened with Joy In Repetition, in my emotion, gave me the feeling that all performances of this song the last 20 years just were rehearsals for this evening. Our group, while instantly being in shock, at the same time exploded. As we re-exploded during The Love We Make. Probably for an important part as a consequences of all built-up emotions, the renditions were great. This was what we needed. And it came at the exact moment with the exact intensity, that we needed it. Perception and emotion, together with the quality of the performance defines how I experience it. Well, Dear Mr. Man, I Like It There and Bambi, all of them performed "like it's 1999" just kept us in our common coma. When We're Dancing Close And Slow gave the show it's well deserved rarity moment (and a rather long one). As a special remark it has to be said: NObody had any complaints about the covers: a great Stand and If You Want Me To Stay. I think it's simple: if there's nothing to complain about, you even don't start looking for complaints! Even that probably is driven by one's emotions. This second show SHOULD have ended with Peach. That would have made this concert an instant legendary one for me personally. I will not try to find words that can describe what happened and how we experienced it. Let's just call it genius.
Now, on sunday another show had to be done. Saturday was impossible to be outdone, in our perception. And as no "greatest hits" show had been performed so far, this exactly was what most of us put their money on. Again an example of struggling with perceptions, expectations and emotions about what was going to be next. Well, in these circumstances (but in any others as well with THIS setlist) Prince again blew my mind. I couldn't help myself when I asked someone whether or not I was dreaming. Laydown exploded the venue from the first second. The One/Gingerbread Man was awesome. When I Lay My Hands On You, in a completely rebuilt arrangement, stopped me dancing at a certain moment. I couldn't move anymore and was just standing there with my hands covering my mouth, watching what happened in complete awe. And if that hadn't been enough, the rendition of Empty Room, just finished me off. The other rarities have already been mentioned by others. I know, I don't do them justice by not mentioning them. But at the end, the message is, that the first 70 minutes of this show simply were unique. In the true sense of the word. Of course Girl and the rare, complete and ridiculously beautiful rendition of Something In The Water importantly contributed to the quality of the show. In our judgement, still the second show was the most legendary, but ranking the last two shows will probably not result in relevant differences.
At the end of the day, my personal feeling is that that way I experience a Prince concert always will be defined by the mixture of my expectations, my hopes, the circumstances and my emotions. And of course by the setlist and the quality of the performance. The latter two drive my emotions as well as most probably the audience's emotions drive Prince's performance. During NSJ 2011, everybody, including Prince, started with an unexpected open field, where the first night started to define a rare circle. At the end the circle was closed. By all of us, again including Prince. And he knew. He let us know when he said it: "Real music, by real musicians.......for real music lovers". I will cherish this weekend, leaving me with the question: Will I ever experience something like this again?
