Back in the eighties, as a young Prince
fan, I dreamed of going to one of his concerts but had to settle for
concert videos to get the live experience. Sign O' The Times, the
concert movie, 1987, Cineplex Odeon Films, gave me the ultimate pleasure of
Prince's musical magic. 'If I Was Ur Girlfriend' is considered the
ladies “favourite” amongst Prince fans and it surely got played
out by me on my walkman back in the day. Once I watched the live
performance, listening to the album version just isn't the same.
That's part of Prince's magic.
Kitted out in a black playsuit, low-cut
at the front and sides, his trademark heeled boots, loose curled
afro, a feathered earring and a white fluffy jacket, Prince looks
divine amongst the peach and black colour theme of the set and
lighting. His dancing, winding his hips, toying with the jacket and
those mesmerising eyes had me crying like a baby, wishing I was in
the place of his backing singer/dancer Cat (Catherine Glover). The
chemistry between them is electrifying throughout this movie but
stands out more in the 'If I Was Ur Girlfriend' performance,
especially when they go to the love bed, a big love hearted prop,
surely one of the most memorable stage props of all time. I was
insanely jealous as a child and slightly embarrassed as an adult.
However, I never tire of watching this live performance. Thank God
for youtube, as it saves the life of my video cassette. I can watch
it as many times as I want. I don't hear the vocals so well now but
the arrangement is still stuck in my head, after all these years.
