U2 Superbowl vs. Prince Superbowl

U2FanPeter · 02-05-2007, 01:07 PM

Who was better? Please be specific.

I think Prince flattened U2's performance. Although u2 captured the post 9/11 US better than any actual American.

U2's performance felt more scripted, and I think some of the Beautiful Day vocal was canned(when Bono walked through the crowd.

u2fp

The Disciple · 02-05-2007, 01:15 PM

I'm an equal fan of Prince's as I am 2 U2, 4 different reasons. U2 4 more emotional reasons, Prince more 4 the sheer talent of the man.

And as gr8 as the 2002 per4mance by U2 was, I have 2 say that I think Prince's per4mance was probably the best yet at a Super Bowl. Also, take in2 consideration the conditions.... monsoon-like.

That per4mance of "All Along The Watchtower/Best of U" alone was worth the price of admission!!!

U2FanPeter · 02-05-2007, 01:40 PM

u2 2002:

Beautiful Day/MLK/Streets

Prince 2007:

Let's Go Crazy/1999(intro)/Baby, I'm a Star/Proud Mary/Watchtower/Best of Me/Purple Rain

Bonus points for Prince having the TRON Marching Band.

u2fp

BonoVoxSupastar · 02-05-2007, 01:48 PM

I love Prince, was looking forward to his performance and thought it blew. First of all I'm not a big fan of medleys, but even as medleys go some of the transitions were just horrible. Plus I want people to play their own songs(too many covers) and to actually sing, I'm convinced some of Prince's vocals were backing tracks.

MrsSpringsteen · 02-05-2007, 01:59 PM

I thought Prince was awesome. It appears that all Super Bowl halftimes are all being "scripted" in the same way now-crowd running and acting in the same staged way, same sort of general themes, etc. I liked the covers mixed in and the energy. As for comparing it to U2, apples and oranges. I don't think U2 could have been like Prince in light of the more somber tone of theirs-for that reason it had to be more "scripted". U2 isn't like Prince anyway, but they are both very good live performers.

Snowlock · 02-05-2007, 02:06 PM

Prince's performance blew until Purple Rain. Yeah, throughout he rocked the guitar, but his voice was lost, Let's Go Crazy was too short, and then he covered "The Best Of You" by the Foo Fighters? Why?? Do your own stuff! Actually, I wonder if the covers medley was scripted or he was just up there improvising?

If Prince had done the entire Let's Go Crazy followed by Little Red Corvette with a snippet of Purple Rain for the crowd participation, I would have at least enjoyed it. This mess though...

Absolutely buried by U2's performance.

U2FanPeter · 02-05-2007, 02:28 PM

Prince released a radio only version of "Best of Me" a couple weeks ago. It was played by Howard Stern apparently. Could be counted as his new single.

Foo Fighter covered Darling Nikki a couple years ago.

u2fp

LarryMullen's POPAngel · 02-05-2007, 02:50 PM

I had forgotten about the Foos covering Darling Nikki

Like MrsS said, it's like comparing apples and oranged. U2's halftime show was the perfect thing after 9/11, but Prince was just awesome (was in the shower almost until halfway through it, but have since seen it online).

AtomicBono · 02-05-2007, 04:38 PM

not really a Prince fan, so I guess my opinion doesn't count, but I'm gonna go with U2

JCOSTER · 02-05-2007, 04:49 PM

Is there really anything to compare?

ShellBeThere · 02-05-2007, 05:42 PM

omg, I thought Prince was fantastic...yeah, I agree about how 'all along the watchtower...' alone was worth the admission price, as it were...

I love looking at the tape of the U2 superbowl gig, but I never saw it live and so missed some of its impact as performance. Still, they were so necessarily different in context. The 2002 Superbowl almost didn't happen because of 9/11, we were a nation in deep mourning still and wondering indeed if the Superbowl itself was safe from attack.
The emotional impact of U2's performance was huge. It might have felt less spontaneous, but there's no way it couldn't have and still achieved what it did, what it needed to, as spectacle and statement.
I thought Prince actually made use of some aspects of U2's performance feel in his...
and surely his apparent spontaneity was really very carefully rehearsed of course.
He just gave a kick-ass performance, and did it in incredibly challenging conditions and really just so confidently took that stadium over.
I also just loved it that he included stuff like 'watchtower' and 'proud mary' and such.
It was a great identity-politics moment in its way. Prince messes with that, androgynous and african-american and unapologetic...
and this was a superbowl where finally finally african-american coaches got to play, got to get past identity-politics barriers and play.
I thought it was just great, and tasteful, and the danger factor and the wet factor altogether

cheers!
edit: but since you asked for a real choice, I'd still go with U2!
It was more beautiful and technically pleasing, despite some highlight moments from Prince (I agree a lot of his vocals were hard to hear or weird). U2's show almost belongs in a special category because it was so much more than merely a superbowl halftime show given the circumstances.
Still, Prince beat the pants off all the shows since U2!

MrPryck2U · 02-05-2007, 05:51 PM

U2's was better. Prince was good, though.

I and I in the · 02-05-2007, 06:12 PM

I was hoping for Sexy Motherfucker.

STING2 · 02-05-2007, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by U2FanPeter
Who was better? Please be specific.

I think Prince flattened U2's performance. Although u2 captured the post 9/11 US better than any actual American.

U2's performance felt more scripted, and I think some of the Beautiful Day vocal was canned(when Bono walked through the crowd.

u2fp

"Scripted"?

Which artist had multiple peformers and an entire University marching band?

In contrast, U2 had, U2, the same people who played the Ritz in 1980, the Limerick talent contest in March 1978!

U2's performance was a mini-concert, Prince's performance was a show using all kinds of things including other peoples music.

Earnie Shavers · 02-05-2007, 10:01 PM

It's a Super Bowl halftime show for goodness sake, tacky is the name of the game.

02-05-2007, 01:07 PM	#1
U2FanPeter Refugee Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 2,449 Local Time: 03:51 AM	U2 Superbowl vs. Prince Superbowl Who was better? Please be specific. I think Prince flattened U2's performance. Although u2 captured the post 9/11 US better than any actual American. U2's performance felt more scripted, and I think some of the Beautiful Day vocal was canned(when Bono walked through the crowd. u2fp

02-05-2007, 01:48 PM	#4
BonoVoxSupastar FreedomFighter Premium Gold Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: between my head and heart Posts: 20,301 Local Time: 09:51 PM	I love Prince, was looking forward to his performance and thought it blew. First of all I'm not a big fan of medleys, but even as medleys go some of the transitions were just horrible. Plus I want people to play their own songs(too many covers) and to actually sing, I'm convinced some of Prince's vocals were backing tracks. __________________ my music Why is it that the one's with the most closed minds have the most opened mouths?

02-05-2007, 02:06 PM	#6
Snowlock Refugee Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Minneapolis, MN Posts: 1,009 Local Time: 09:51 PM Images: 1	Prince's performance blew until Purple Rain. Yeah, throughout he rocked the guitar, but his voice was lost, Let's Go Crazy was too short, and then he covered "The Best Of You" by the Foo Fighters? Why?? Do your own stuff! Actually, I wonder if the covers medley was scripted or he was just up there improvising? If Prince had done the entire Let's Go Crazy followed by Little Red Corvette with a snippet of Purple Rain for the crowd participation, I would have at least enjoyed it. This mess though... Absolutely buried by U2's performance. Last edited by Snowlock; 02-05-2007 at 02:08 PM..

02-05-2007, 04:49 PM	#10
JCOSTER Behind blue eyes... Premium Gold Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Upon a rock. Posts: 13,013 Local Time: 10:51 PM	Is there really anything to compare? __________________ And in our world of plenty we can spread a smile of joy Throw your arms around the world at Christmastime

02-05-2007, 05:42 PM	#11
ShellBeThere War Child Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: ann arbor mi Posts: 788 Local Time: 11:51 PM	omg, I thought Prince was fantastic...yeah, I agree about how 'all along the watchtower...' alone was worth the admission price, as it were... I love looking at the tape of the U2 superbowl gig, but I never saw it live and so missed some of its impact as performance. Still, they were so necessarily different in context. The 2002 Superbowl almost didn't happen because of 9/11, we were a nation in deep mourning still and wondering indeed if the Superbowl itself was safe from attack. The emotional impact of U2's performance was huge. It might have felt less spontaneous, but there's no way it couldn't have and still achieved what it did, what it needed to, as spectacle and statement. I thought Prince actually made use of some aspects of U2's performance feel in his... and surely his apparent spontaneity was really very carefully rehearsed of course. He just gave a kick-ass performance, and did it in incredibly challenging conditions and really just so confidently took that stadium over. I also just loved it that he included stuff like 'watchtower' and 'proud mary' and such. It was a great identity-politics moment in its way. Prince messes with that, androgynous and african-american and unapologetic... and this was a superbowl where finally finally african-american coaches got to play, got to get past identity-politics barriers and play. I thought it was just great, and tasteful, and the danger factor and the wet factor altogether cheers! edit: but since you asked for a real choice, I'd still go with U2! It was more beautiful and technically pleasing, despite some highlight moments from Prince (I agree a lot of his vocals were hard to hear or weird). U2's show almost belongs in a special category because it was so much more than merely a superbowl halftime show given the circumstances. Still, Prince beat the pants off all the shows since U2! Last edited by ShellBeThere; 02-05-2007 at 06:18 PM..

02-05-2007, 01:15 PM	#2
The Disciple Refugee Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Florida Posts: 2,043 Local Time: 10:51 PM	I'm an equal fan of Prince's as I am 2 U2, 4 different reasons. U2 4 more emotional reasons, Prince more 4 the sheer talent of the man. And as gr8 as the 2002 per4mance by U2 was, I have 2 say that I think Prince's per4mance was probably the best yet at a Super Bowl. Also, take in2 consideration the conditions.... monsoon-like. That per4mance of "All Along The Watchtower/Best of U" alone was worth the price of admission!!!

02-05-2007, 01:40 PM	#3
U2FanPeter Refugee Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 2,449 Local Time: 03:51 AM	u2 2002: Beautiful Day/MLK/Streets Prince 2007: Let's Go Crazy/1999(intro)/Baby, I'm a Star/Proud Mary/Watchtower/Best of Me/Purple Rain Bonus points for Prince having the TRON Marching Band. u2fp

02-05-2007, 01:59 PM	#5
MrsSpringsteen Blue Crack Addict Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: I just want to be ok today Posts: 18,188 Local Time: 10:51 PM	I thought Prince was awesome. It appears that all Super Bowl halftimes are all being "scripted" in the same way now-crowd running and acting in the same staged way, same sort of general themes, etc. I liked the covers mixed in and the energy. As for comparing it to U2, apples and oranges. I don't think U2 could have been like Prince in light of the more somber tone of theirs-for that reason it had to be more "scripted". U2 isn't like Prince anyway, but they are both very good live performers.

02-05-2007, 02:28 PM	#7
U2FanPeter Refugee Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Vancouver, BC, Canada Posts: 2,449 Local Time: 03:51 AM	Prince released a radio only version of "Best of Me" a couple weeks ago. It was played by Howard Stern apparently. Could be counted as his new single. Foo Fighter covered Darling Nikki a couple years ago. u2fp

02-05-2007, 02:50 PM	#8
LarryMullen's POPAngel Wonder Woman Premium Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: doing my best impression, of my best Angie Dickinson Posts: 50,006 Local Time: 10:51 PM Images: 200	I had forgotten about the Foos covering Darling Nikki Like MrsS said, it's like comparing apples and oranged. U2's halftime show was the perfect thing after 9/11, but Prince was just awesome (was in the shower almost until halfway through it, but have since seen it online).

02-05-2007, 04:38 PM	#9
AtomicBono Rock n' Roll Doggie FOB Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moonspace: space on the moon: in space: space moon Posts: 8,601 Local Time: 10:51 PM	not really a Prince fan, so I guess my opinion doesn't count, but I'm gonna go with U2

02-05-2007, 05:51 PM	#12
MrPryck2U Rogue Premium Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Long Island, NY, U.S.A., Earth Posts: 2,960 Local Time: 10:51 PM	U2's was better. Prince was good, though. __________________ The only thing that's for sure is that nothing's for sure.

02-05-2007, 06:12 PM	#13
I and I in the Acrobat Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Harford County, MD Posts: 369 Local Time: 11:51 PM	I was hoping for Sexy Motherfucker.

02-05-2007, 10:01 PM	#15
Earnie Shavers Rock n' Roll Doggie Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 3,445 Local Time: 03:51 AM	It's a Super Bowl halftime show for goodness sake, tacky is the name of the game.

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