Publication: Hollywood Reporter [US]
Date: April 14, 1997
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Title: "Concert Review - the Artist"
Reviewed By: Marc Pollack

Whatever he may choose to call himself, His Name is Prince - and He is funky!

Once the Minneapolis native took the stage, there was no question who was performing. "Names just don't matter," the diminutive and colorful eccentric exclaimed during the set. "Just call me Mr. Happy tonight."

And happy he was. Dancing and strutting about the stage, Prince at times played piano, bass and guitar. He also sang, rapped and scatted during the two-hour set, which nearly didn't happen.

Toying with canceling the show due to an illness, Prince did the right thing by showing up. He then gave a lesson in funk that would have left James Brown's mouth hanging open in awe.

"I'm sorry about being late. I was home watching myself on TV," Prince said, referring to his appearance on the VH1 Honors, which took place the night before but aired Friday.

He exploded on stage with a vicious rendition of "Jam of the Year," and marched into a few lengthy funk maneuvers, conducting his New Power Generation band and taking them wherever he headed. A true maestro, he allowed the musicians to show off their individual skills, but when Prince took lead with either his boogie-style piano playing or piercing guitar leads, it was magical.

Riding the crest established during the opening tune, Prince served up a host of selections that spanned his career, but stayed focused on the material from his latest release, "Emancipation."

More aggressive and taking a more powerful political stand than he has in the past, Prince's agenda was one of black power. Speaking of freedom and sexual awareness throughout the show, Prince hit his mark with such tunes as "Take Me With U", "Raspberry Beret", "Purple Rain", "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World", "Holy River", "Sexy M.F.", "Do Me" (sic) and a upbeat cover of Joan Osborne's "What if God Was One of Us" (sic). And on "Face Down", Prince worked while the crowd laid down the backbeat by chanting "Dead Like Elvis ... Face Down".

A thoroughly enjoyable show - if he had only been healthy...