Prince (1958-2016)

[FrauBlucher]

The final track listing for the Purple Rain reissue.

[hearthesilence]

What happened to the second live DVD? (Allegedly to be the famous 1983 First Avenue show.) F-ing hell man, I was looking forward to that one.

[flyonthewall2983]

Too bad there's no surround mix.

[hearthesilence]

I got the BD Sign 'O' the Times - it is indeed the REAL deal, an HD transfer off of good film elements, not an up convert etc. The one exception is the "U Got the Look" chapter, which is basically the original music video - they apparently copied the video master onto film and spliced it into the film negative, so unless that music video was shot on film and they saved the OCN AND they were willing to go back and re-do the edit for this film, I doubt it will ever be improved. Regardless, buy with confidence!

[ando]

That's cool. Here's a nice raw version of the album. Fun.

Part 2

[hearthesilence]

Ah, just noticed something about that crappy looking "U Got the Look" sequence - as mentioned before, they basically dropped the music video into the film, but I noticed another reason why it looks so bad - it's blown up. The music video is academy ratio (which makes sense - music videos were meant for television broadcast, and this was when MTV et al were still academy ratio), but the feature is 16:9, so they blew up the image, thus cropping out the top and bottom portions of the frame of the music video.

[zedz]

Ah, just noticed something about that crappy looking "U Got the Look" sequence - as mentioned before, they basically dropped the music video into the film, but I noticed another reason why it looks so bad - it's blown up. The music video is academy ratio (which makes sense - music videos were meant for television broadcast, and this was when MTV et al were still academy ratio), but the feature is 16:9, so they blew up the image, thus cropping out the top and bottom portions of the frame of the music video.

I don't think that's the fault of the digital transfer, though. As I recall, it was cropped to fit in the theatrical prints.

[hearthesilence]

I know, that's what I was implying.

[ando]

Hey Guys. The Paisley Park label material has just had a wide release with music services. Discogs has compiled an extensive list.

[zedz]

That's fantastic. I heartily recommend the self-titled albums by The Family and Jill Jones: Prince at the height of his powers, but with different vocalists subbed in. The second Mavis Staples Paisley Park album (The Voice) is very good as well, though Prince was less involved in the production of that one (he still wrote most of the album).

[ando]

Sadly, no Mavis Staples or George Clinton material were included with the streaming release.

[The Fanciful Norwegian]

Showtime to air Sign o' the Times in September 16th. No indication of whether they have any non-TV rights (e.g. DVD/Blu).

[Jean-Luc Garbo]

Will this appear on the Showtime subscription thru Hulu?

[flyonthewall2983]

Would see no reason why it wouldn't be

[hearthesilence]

For one week in late November, Sign 'O' the Times is returning to theaters for its 30th anniversary in a 2k restoration. (Doesn't say, but one wonders if it's the same restoration used for the import-only Blu-Ray.)

[bearcuborg]

Dig if you will, this picture...Prince to return Sunday as a hologram.

I get that it’s Minnesota-but it’s pretty well known Prince didn’t care for Timberlake...for Christ sake, just do a N’sync reunion or let’s see how Janet is holding up, not this...

[flyonthewall2983]

Dude should have just stuck with acting.

[Big Ben]

If it makes any of you feel any better this is going over as well as a corpse at a wedding banquet on social media. To say people are upset is a bit of an understatement.

[bearcuborg]

Janet just said she won’t be part of the show-there goes the only reason I wouldn’t tune into the Puppy Bowl during halftime...

[Roger Ryan]

With the term "hologram" conjuring memories of Tupac at Coachella or Obi-Wan Kenobi, it might straighten ruffled feathers to learn that they simply projected footage of Prince onto a sheet behind Timberlake and incorporated his vocals into the mix so the two could briefly "duet" on "I Would Die 4 U". Nothing too distasteful.

[tavernier]

With the term "hologram" conjuring memories of Tupac at Coachella or Obi-Wan Kenobi, it might straighten ruffled feathers to learn that they simply projected footage of Prince onto a sheet behind Timberlake and incorporated his vocals into the mix so the two could briefly "duet" on "I Would Die 4 U". Nothing too distasteful.

But pretty pointless anyway in a distinctly unmemorable performance.

[Roscoe]

Overall it came off like a group of Mark Wahlberg career clips that also included a tribute to Daniel Day-Lewis.

[Lemmy Caution]

At least they tossed in a Prince tribute.
Which was the only part of that performance I liked.
Timberlake's outfit was ugly.

[ando]

Dude should have just stuck with acting.

Agreed. Don't get the attraction in general. He can obviously follow choreography but he doesn't come off as a natural dancer. Kudos for the Prince props.

[hearthesilence]

He had the potential to make groundbreaking dance-pop on the same level as Michael Jackson's Off the Wall, but unfortunately FutureSex/LoveSounds turned out to be a peak rather than a harbinger.