Having been a fan of Prince's music for over twenty years, sticking it out through the last ten years or so has been pretty rough. I can remember first seeing the video for "Little Red Corvette" on MTV back in grade school and thinking that there was something wonderful about this song and this man who had created it. I was still probably too young to understand the meaning of the lyrics, but just the music itself was mysterious and catchy all at once.

Of course, who could forget Purple Rain and how it launched him into complete stardom? This man had almost singlehandedly brought forth a new age of rock, funk, dance, new wave and popular music to the world. In 1984, the auspicious year when so many wonderful things came together, he seemed to have it all before him.

But then what happened? I think the sheer, unabashed virility of 1999 and Purple Rain (as well as the film) were simply too much for my mother to expose me to. So I was only able to hear his few mainstream hits after that, like "Raspberry Beret", "U Got the Look" and "Kiss". And for five years, Prince remained a distant musical aside as I started listening to more rock and heavy metal, then moved to rap and hip-hop. It wouldn't be until Batman that I heard him on the radio again, and since the music was tied to a TREMENDOUS film of the same name, I was easily allowed to go out and make the purchase myself.

It was at this point that I began my second phase of Prince-liking-ness(?). I bought Batman and loved it, warts and all. Then I went out and bought Purple Rain and 1999, then still widely available on cassette. This time around, those albums had a totally new meaning and depth that I hadn't discovered before. Now I was able to grasp more of what he was saying in his music. It was about love, sex, style and fun, but in a new way. What I heard made me want to live life on my own terms, play by my own rules. I was gonna do it and do it my way. It was empowering. But not every one saw it that way.

Even as Prince's popularity faded, his talent stayed strong. My hopes that this musical genius might have another streak of hits beyond compare only led to disappointment after disappointment. I was there all the way up to "Crystal Ball", which had enough stinkers to discourage me from ever buying another Prince album. Sad indeed.

Then, as if from out of nowhere, he showed up at the 2004 Grammy Awards. It was a rare event to be sure, with Prince having pretty much abandoned any televised performances outside of morning news shows or late night television. But he then followed with an appearance at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony that reportedly blew the roof off the place. The spotlight had come his way again.

Having bought my tickets months ago, I was more than ready to see Prince in concert. I figured it might be one of the last chances I ever have to see him perform live (and in Houston). The last time I can remember him coming to this city was back around 1998 or so, and I had thought I missed my chance. At the time, his stardom was beginning to fade into the history books, and with the year 1999 right around the corner, who knew what—if anything—he'd do after that.

But it was a beautiful night in every sense. For all the reports that he'd only be playing new stuff, the set was almost entirely old jams, with some classy reworkings that were completely unexpected. To hear an acoustic version of "Little Red Corvette" and see the entire arena bathed in red light, to see this one man in the center of it all while the crowd of thousands sings along with every word... Amazing.

Approximate setlist:

Musicology
Let's Go Crazy
I Would Die 4 U
When Doves Cry
Baby I'm A Star!
Shhh
D.M.S.R
Pass the Peas
I Feel 4 U
Love Bizarre
Housequake
Controversy
D.M.S.R.
Georgia on My Mind
Sometimes It Snows In April

--Begin Acoustic--
Little Red Corvette
I Wanna Be Your Lover
Raspberry Beret
Cream
Prince And The Band
Alphabet St.
The Rules
On The Couch
Adore
7
--End Acoustic--

Sign O' The Times
Pop Life
Let's Work
U Got The Look
Life O' The Py
Soul Man
Kiss
Take Me With U

Encore:
Beautiful Ones
Nothing Compares To U
Purple Rain

Yeah, he played all that. Over two hours of almost non-stop jamming (except for the half-hour acoustic set) and I'm betting this was an ordinary night.

Houston Chronicle - Prince hypnotizes 1st packed audience
NPG Music Club
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame