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In July 1991, the Special Olympics was held in MPLS-St. Paul. As a seasoned humanitarian + MN native, Prince was an *obvious* choice for Closing Ceremony headliner.
Prince + Rosie Gaines opened the show with a soulful performance of "Diamonds and Pearls". | #Princerversaries
Prince + Rosie Gaines opened the show with a soulful performance of "Diamonds and Pearls". | #Princerversaries
With his 13th album (containing 13 tracks) on the way, Prince decided to kick off his almost 13-minute set with its title track.
In honor of the 'Diamonds and Pearls' album release 29 yrs ago 2day (10/1/91), you can watch that entire set here: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4bf00n
In honor of the 'Diamonds and Pearls' album release 29 yrs ago 2day (10/1/91), you can watch that entire set here: https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x4bf00n
In addition to the smooth stylings of “D to the I to the A to the M, O to the N to the D to the pearls of love”,
Prince also treated attendees to a rousing rendition of “Baby I’m A Star” + an acrobatic display of “Push” (also feat. on ‘Diamonds + Pearls’) after all this beauty.
Prince also treated attendees to a rousing rendition of “Baby I’m A Star” + an acrobatic display of “Push” (also feat. on ‘Diamonds + Pearls’) after all this beauty.
After ‘Lovesexy’ and 2 soundtrack releases (‘Batman’ and ‘Graffiti Bridge’), Prince was looking for a total reset and chose to introduce a new colorful, glossy era; which was fittingly introduced through the lustrous sheen of the precious gemstones which inspired its name.
His biggest non-soundtrack seller since 1985’s ATWIAD, ’Diamonds and Pearls’ was Prince’s 1st album also credited to the New Power Generation. TV performances, multiple high-end music videos + a tour followed.
Although his extensive vault was still handily equipped with a slew of unreleased tracks, Prince decided to forgo the method he employed for ‘Graffiti Bridge’ (treasure hunting through his own archives), and instead recorded a batch of new material.
The original 'Diamonds and Pearls' album cover included a hologram which you can read about it here: https://recordmecca.com/news/working-with-prince/
And in addition to a new look and new sound, Prince introduced a new set of sidekicks, aptly (nick)named Diamond and Pearl.
You can read more from Robia on that relationship in this interview from Delayed Gratification magazine: https://www.slow-journalism.com/from-the-archive/two-years-with-prince
You can read more from Robia on that relationship in this interview from Delayed Gratification magazine: https://www.slow-journalism.com/from-the-archive/two-years-with-prince
Diamond (Lori Elle) + Pearl (Robia LaMorte) served as Prince’s first set of “twin” dancers.
Although he later employed true “twinz” (sisters Nandy + Maya McClean), Prince decided Lori + Robia resembled each other enough to appear as such during auditions for the “Cream” video.
Although he later employed true “twinz” (sisters Nandy + Maya McClean), Prince decided Lori + Robia resembled each other enough to appear as such during auditions for the “Cream” video.
Robia LaMorte-Scott still acts, after turns in ‘Silk Stalkings’, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ + ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ in the 90s.
I always loved the fact that she played a tough-talking NYer alongside Brandon Walsh’s midwest character considering she really IS from NY (like me!).
I always loved the fact that she played a tough-talking NYer alongside Brandon Walsh’s midwest character considering she really IS from NY (like me!).
You see, I can talk about ‘Diamonds and Pearls’ for hours, as it was the first big Prince rollout I witnessed firsthand as a teenager. Getting ready to enter HS around the D+P era was when I really felt that ‘poster-on-your-bedroom-wall-kinda-crush love’. https://twitter.com/IAmMissTLC/status/939344727912124417?s=2
But although *I* happened to love the album, I do understand why many diehard ‘fams’ - who grew up following Prince in the 80s as teens + young adults during his ‘Dirty Mind’ to ‘Batman’ run - were perplexed by THIS particular incarnation of Prince.
Granted, it wasn’t the first time that particular group of admirers scratched their head at Mr. Nelson’s style flips + experimentation. But it was the first time that Prince seemed to be following trends as opposed to setting them; which the cover (albeit beautiful), reflected.
And speaking of the original hologram cover...
UPDATE: Thankfully, we've been getting QUALITY projects like #1999SuperDeluxe, Originals + the current outstanding release of #SOTTSuperDeluxe instead of hologram tours. https://twitter.com/IAmMissTLC/status/899735592258482176?s=20
UPDATE: Thankfully, we've been getting QUALITY projects like #1999SuperDeluxe, Originals + the current outstanding release of #SOTTSuperDeluxe instead of hologram tours. https://twitter.com/IAmMissTLC/status/899735592258482176?s=20
Either way, a new “New Jack Swing/rapping Prince” wasn’t exactly what the kind of listeners who loved his ‘against the grain’ sounds like trippy world music from ATWIAD, electro-sex-rock from 1999, ethereal French pop from Parade, and/or soul-punk from Dirty Mind expected.
But alas, Prince forged forward w a diverse set of songs (of which I believe there are really strong gems).
I don’t fully ‘dislike’ anything from the project except for Jughead, but my personal favs are MDM2N, Willing + Able, Insatiable, Strollin’, Gett Off + the title track.
I don’t fully ‘dislike’ anything from the project except for Jughead, but my personal favs are MDM2N, Willing + Able, Insatiable, Strollin’, Gett Off + the title track.
And speaking of "Gett Off", Prince's MTV VMAs performance of said track was forever 
.
Prince's final facial expression & the love symbol tambourines punctuated it. | #LegacyMoment
.Prince's final facial expression & the love symbol tambourines punctuated it. | #LegacyMoment
In fact, Prince's outfit *might* be the most famous ensemble ever donned on that VMA stage. | #GettOff #Princerversaries
Jay-Z even referred to the iconic wardrobe choice in his 1994 verse on Big Daddy Kane's "Show & Prove"... https://twitter.com/IAmMissTLC/status/831998808846385154?s=20
Speaking of Prince + rap, the cover art for the 'Diamonds and Pearls' album also featured lyrics to Prince's own rap from the song "Push", which namechecked one-half of the tracklisting.
(As well as "Horny Pony", which was pulled from the final tracklisting before release.)
(As well as "Horny Pony", which was pulled from the final tracklisting before release.)
Due to the glossy performance nature of this new era, it made sense that Prince also focused on a full visual music video package to accompany the album.
Videos were filmed for D+P, Cream, Willing+Able, Gett Off, Insatiable, Strolln’, plus 2 for MDM2N. https://twitter.com/IAmMissTLC/status/782104147164266496?s=20
Videos were filmed for D+P, Cream, Willing+Able, Gett Off, Insatiable, Strolln’, plus 2 for MDM2N. https://twitter.com/IAmMissTLC/status/782104147164266496?s=20
And speaking of "Money Don't Matter 2 Night", you can watch both versions on the Prince YouTube channel.
(1/2) The stripped-down performance-focused version here:
(1/2) The stripped-down performance-focused version here:
And (2/2), the Spike Lee-directed film version...
WHICH COULD REFLECT THE STATE OF 2020 AS MUCH AS IT DID THE STATE OF 1991(!)
WHICH COULD REFLECT THE STATE OF 2020 AS MUCH AS IT DID THE STATE OF 1991(!)
And I'm not even halfway joking about the similarities in Spike's "Money Don't Matter 2 Night" prophecy vid w what we're facing now, considering a certain someone appears during a message about greed and a damaged soul....... https://twitter.com/IAmMissTLC/status/1087898530231009281?s=20
The VHS package also included live footage + interviews.
Between band clips + the overall tone of “Strollin” w Diamond + Pearl, you can sense Prince’s gears already turning on development of the Mayte/Arabia story + ‘3 Chains O Gold’ plot tied to the forthcoming Love Symbol era.
Between band clips + the overall tone of “Strollin” w Diamond + Pearl, you can sense Prince’s gears already turning on development of the Mayte/Arabia story + ‘3 Chains O Gold’ plot tied to the forthcoming Love Symbol era.
