03/17/2010 5:00 am
Culture
Liz Smith: Will Prince and 'Purple' Reign Again?
Also from Our Gossip Girl: Miss Diana Ross to tour … K.D. Lang – Living a quiet life, still making magnificent music!
Prince © PR Photos
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TWENTY-SIX years ago, rock-star Prince set the world on fire with his epic semi-autobiographical movie musical "Purple Rain." The film (and the album) spawned giant hits such as "Baby, I’m a Star," "Let’s Go Crazy," "When Doves Cry" and, of course, "Purple Rain."
The high-heeled genius never looked back and never had to, through all his incarnations – remember when he was The Artist Formerly Known as Prince? He has set the standard for funk, pop, soul and new-wave sounds.
On the stage he’s a diminutive glam version of Bruce Springsteen, playing hot guitar – and other instruments – performing for hours on end, until his audience is reduced to screaming pulp.
Now, at age 51, we are told that Prince is definitely planning to film a sequel to "Purple Rain." (We are assured this "definite" is more definite than past definites.)
Once again, the movie will touch on his own experiences. The ambitious character he played in the original, "The Kid," is now a famous 50-year-old, with no record contract and forced to compete with younger artists in an unrecognizable music industry.
If this is gonna happen, it better start filming … yesterday. Prince wants an Oscar for his score, and already he is talking about how he’ll knock ‘em out performing on next year’s Academy Awards. (Apparently, he was offered a slot on this year’s show, but declined. Interesting. I can’t imagine the people behind the Oscarcast were planning on having him do the Neil Patrick Harris number?!)
However, Prince would have really livened up Oscar. I’ll never forget him at the MTV Video Music Awards way back in the day. He wore skintight pants that were revealing enough from the front. He was a guy, for sure. Then he turned around and only a sheer layer of fishnet stood between Prince and total exposure.
Lady GaGa ain’t got nothing on The Purple One.
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GOOD NEWS for fans of a real star. On May 15, in Boston, Miss Diana Ross kicks off a cross-country tour, titled "More Today Than Yesterday."
The supreme Supreme will hit Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Cleveland, Tennessee, Georgia, Missouri, California and Canada.
I don’t have to urge Miss Ross’s fanatically devoted fans to rush to make sure to see her, but let me try to convince those of you who aren’t so sure.
This woman puts on one hell of a show. Like Cher, Diana gives the audience what it wants. Glamour! Costumes! Big hair! And … hit after hit after hit. The Supremes’ songs, the solo smashes, the disco era, the "Lady Sings the Blues" medley – you want it, Diana is more than happy to oblige. And, her show doesn’t drag on forever. At least it didn’t last time I saw her in New York. It’s like 100 minutes of POW! and then she’s gone in a moveable feast of glittering tulle.
Diana Ross, 1973 © AP Photo/Dave Pickoff
Unlike our girl Madonna, who wants to challenge and provoke amid the spectacle, Diana wants people to have a good time, feeling perhaps we are all challenged and provoked enough just trying to get through the day.
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21 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment
Thank you for the heads up about kd lange. I love her music and her pure, sweet voice. She always reminds me, but does not imitate, Patsy Cline.
Also she has talent, so why is her name in the same column with Madonna, who does not. Diana Ross would be so much better if she would reunite with the last living Supreme and someone new.
Dear SheraSutherland…the time for a Supremes reunion has long come and gone. Diana tried it a few years ago and it was a mess. I forget now if Mary Wilson was involved at first, but she wasn’t by the end. Believe me, her show is fabulous and she does bring out the old Supremes numbers. Let’s face it, tho Mary and Flo Ballard (and later Cindy Birdsong) were not untalented, none of them had that "little something extra" that made Diana a star. It could have been any two girls standing behind Diana and going "ooooo….baby, baby." (Natch, it didn’t hurt that Diana was intimate with her boss, Berry Gordy. But no matter Gordy’s personal interest, Diana was the standout, hands down, right from the start.)
As for Madonna, and talent, I won’t get all up in your business comparing voices. I think Madonna has a fine and distinctive pop voice—though she rarely uses it now, enslaved as she is by electronica. But lest we forget, Madonna has written almost all of her great hits. So, so know, that’s a little talent, yes?
Sorry, Mr. Wow, but Madonna to me is nothing more than a marginal performer with a great PR agent. Her voice/music is atrocious. Cher, Barbara, Bette, kd, Faith Hill, Janis, and yes, Diana, leave her in the dust. The woman just can’t sing.
And yes, Diana’s last concert tour was a disaster. No matter, what I won’t go see her. Or Miss No Talent, Madonna. Even for free. I remember seeing all of these ladies when they very first started out. Talent wills out over a great publicist.
I dont believe Diana’s last tour was a disaster—the one I was speaking of was quite a few years ago—-the "Supremes reunion." I remember all of them when they started out too, and I’ll still go see ‘em. Expect for poor Janis, of course. Unless you mean Janis Ian. Or Janis Paige!
Dear PatriceBaldwin—-as does Miss Streisand. Of course Barbra’s nose notes are far superior to Madonna’s.
I am addicted to Cole Porter’s music. I still remember the first time I saw the controversial music video of k.d Lang singing So In Love. I remember at the time being shocked at the video subject and likewise being shocked at how hauntingly beautiful her voice was. I love k.d.’s voice, it is so soothing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6Ye9G3HEsQ
Purple Rain was a horrible movie and Prince is not a great actor. Some of his music is excellent, but most of it misses the mark with me. Like Madonna, Brittany Spears and countless others, much of his success comes from not a true and authentic singing voice, but moreso because of the character and persona he has created. I for one won’t be rushing to a theater to see his film, but I am betting I will be in the minority, he will have millions of fans clamoring to see him.
Doesn’t she Patrice….it’s as I said, hauntingly beautiful.
My suggestion when you buy it: Run a warm sudsy bubble bath, light some candles, darken the bathroom, get a glass of wine (or your favorite beverage) and put on k.d. Lang…..you will be so relaxed by the 3rd track, you may even fall asleep. *Smile*
Madonna has never been one of my favorites, but I must admit I LOVED her on the Marriage Ref. Her persona didn’t come close to what I am use to from her. She seemed much more real and authentic.
I hear what you’re saying about her Mr. Wow, but boy oh boy if she was more like this than the fake British thing or the over the top - pushing the envelope wild child, I sure would have been more of a fan.