I remember watching this live and thinking to myself "no..........NOOOOOOO...............NOOOOOOOOOOO", in UTTER denial that Prince was doing Purple Rain IN THE RAIN...at the super bowl, With the stadium lit up in purple lighting, thereby changing the rain to purple. HE literally did PURPLE RAIN...IN THE PURPLE RAIN at night, on the largest stage in the world...and not just any rain, warm soothing Miami rain that makes you want to take you shirt off and scream the lyrics of your childhood out to the sky ...not run and take cover for shelter. Only God can do that. The only thing that can beat this is if Michael Jackson were to perform Thriller, on Halloween, during a Zombie apocalypse... and the zombies would have to join in perfectly with Michaels choreography just like the rain joined in with prince.
The thing that sets this PERFORMANCE Apart from all the rest is simple - this man did not play to any one crowd, he played for all, across the spectrum, across race, across genre, everyone could enjoy what he brought to the world that night and they could acclaim what he shared with them! Simply Wonderful and his passing was a great loss to the world beyond music.
We’ve had superbowl shows with more spectacle and we’ve had shows with more pomp but there is nothing more epic than a musician having the guts to go out on stage with nothing than the stage some backup dancer’s and letting it all out with their voice and instruments and completely commanding the crowd
There is nothing more epic than playing Purple Rain in an outside concert in the midst of a rain storm. It's as if God Himself was a fan, and caused the heavens to rain and then sat back, watched the performance, and declared it was good. No glitz, no glam, no pomp and circumstances. Just the Creator marveling at His creation. There can be no greater compliment!
Always felt this performance ended the argument who was better Prince or MJ. The fact that the spirits made it rain during Purple Rain is epic as it gets!
I was floored watching this show and i wasnt even a Prince fan back then. I wish i appreciated this performance when it aired but i can look back at it now and proclaim, with the help of this documentary, this is the BEST halftime performance. 🕊
Prince broke the SB halftime show. This was the pinnacle. Literally impossible to top this. If you think it can be improved upon, you're wrong. There simply isn't anyone left in music that is so universally loved, is so talented, and has a song that perfectly meshes with a freak weather phenomenon. This is proven by how utterly terrible, forgettable, and frankly offensive they have been since then. Its sad, with so many things in America, we can only look to the past, to fill the void that is left by what used to be hope.
I mean the super bowl is a yearly event, we were gonna run out of people to do the half-time show at some point. A new band doesn't come out of nowhere in a year and become an icon that fast. So we're just sorta stuck with sub-par performances here and there until a new band makes it big and makes a hit for the halftime show to use.
@@SpaceMan101South Are you serious? There are over 300 artist/bands in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame, that are still alive and kicking. We haven't even made it to 60 superbowls. So no, it isn't a lack of talent issue. In addition, there have been acts that have come out of nowhere in half the time, many times before. The problem, is the NFL trying to be "hip" and "cool", thinking the horrible rap shit, and pseudo Motown wannabes, flashing their boobs is what the masses want. You want to smash Superbowl halftime records? Sign Def Leppard, ACDC, Metallica..... they would rip the soul out of Rhianna's numbers. But, those are white males. And we know why that is a problem these days.
While I’ll agree with you that Prince is the magnum opus of super bowl performances, the Snoop/Dr. Dre super bowl was honestly one of best shows ever, especially if all of those songs came out when you were growing up. You can’t even act like the energy in the stadium when Eminem performed Lose Yourself wasn’t off the charts. Lady Gaga and Beyonce were both awesome as well in their performances. Picking white males and rock artists isn’t what they’re against - it’s pretty much what they’ve done historically since the super bowl began doing halftime shows. Allowing representation of other genres and groups of people to take the stage is a good thing. We’ve now gotten to the point where the NFL’s median age group grew up listening to rap music, and so it actually makes sense that they did the rap show when and where they did it. 50+ years and they hadn’t allowed an artist from the world’s most popular genre to headline the super bowl. Be honest when you ask yourself why that was. Also it isn’t like they’ve been choosing slouches - Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Mary J Blige, Rihanna and now Usher are some of the most commercially successful and universally recognizable artists of the past 30 years. I regret to inform you you’re in the minority of people who was mad at any of these recent performances.
As it happened I was so blown away I plugged in my Les Paul and played to in front of my wife and guest we hosted a super bowl party.. I knew right then and there it was the best and never to be topped. Love Prince always have and will. Miss him so much
I get goosebumps anytime and everytime I see this halftime show or if it EVER comes up in conversation!!! It was THAT EPIC of a performance turning the weather in his favor. I’ll always cherish this performance!!! We’ll always love you Prince!!!!!! 🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣🟣
"Can you make it rain more" classic Prince......great post man, this performance was epic. Rain during Purple Rain? It just couldn't have worked out any better.
The marching band comes on the field and I think to myself, this is something that each of those band members will remember as one of the most (if not THE MOST)significant events in their lives. People in the stands have said it wasn't nearly as fantastic seeing it live as seeing the full video (not this, which fills in the other points that make it so remarkable).
To have 100,000 people and more sing your song would have to be one of the most amazing things a human being could experience. I've been alive for every super bowl played. Most of the halftime acts have ever made such an impact on me as Prince that night iin Miami. He is truly missed.
Had forgotten that Prince wore Miami Dolphins colors😏and that he covered one of the BEST 'covers' EVER in All Along The Watchtower, by his Minnesota brother Dylan😗
Remember seeing this live. Got together with the boys to watch Superbowl. Don't recall anticipating Prince. I showed up to watch football, drink beer & eat pizza. Anyways, this performance came about and, man, I knew this was a sight to see. Amazing performance/musicianship. This guy was far from being a "has-been". Not surprised re: continued focus.
The NFL had this on its channel, with the title: Prince Performs “Purple Rain” During Downpour | Super Bowl XLI Halftime Show | NFL I can't understand why it was removed. 🎶
