Let's Go Crazy

When my betrothed produced tickets to a sold-out Meshell Ndegeocello show for Sunday evening at the Independent, I was thrilled. Not because my betrothed is a magic man (which he is) or because I love Meshell (though she does have an awesome voice) but simply for the fact that she was doing a concert of all Prince covers.

I forgot to take my camera to the concert, and I couldn't find any photos from other people. But I did find this one, and I think it's absolutely perfect.

I don't know if I've mentioned this to you, but I love Prince. Let me clarify: I'd have his love child. I credit my friend Kari Tsujimoto in the 7th grade for my affection for the great purple one—she was crazy-big into Prince. She even had a life-size cutout of him in her room (which isn't as big as it sounds since he's a slight man). The very first tape I owned was 1999, and my second was Purple Rain. I know all the lyrics to most of his songs, even the obscure ones.  

So of course I was super excited for the concert.

Unfortunately, it was a dud. Mostly sound quality was bad, but also I didn't love a lot of the songs she chose to sing. However, Meshell did sing a sexy, love ballad-y version of I Wanna Be Your Lover that ROCKED. I get goose bumps thinking about it. It made the entire show worth it. Well, that and the crazy motorcycle ride up and down San Francisco's hills in the rain afterwards. I felt like I was in Purple Rain.

But none of that is the point of this blog.

"So what the heck is your point, Kate?" you exclaim with an exasperated huff.

Allow me to elucidate. I started thinking of Prince, all his songs, and which ones I'd perform if I were a singer. And it inspired a list.

Some Days I Feel Tangerine, Some Days I Sing Too: Kate Covers The Artist

1. Tangerine
   This is what I'd open my Prince-cover-concert with. Picture it: me, sitting on a stool with just a guitar singing the poignantly sweet song.
   
   
2. Raspberry Beret
   How can you NOT sing Raspberry Beret, right? 
   
   
3. Diamonds and Pearls
   My romance writer heart would find it ultimately satisfying to sing "If I could, I'd give you the world, but all I can do is offer you my love." Just saying. And, actually, I'd do this as a medley, straight into...
    
4. Pink Cashmere
   I've always wanted a coat of pink cashmere.
   
   
5. 200 Balloons
   Any song about balloons, much less 200 of them, is fantastic in my book. You can't go wrong with balloons.
   
   
6. On the Couch
   You probably don't know this one but, trust me, it's a good one. Although I had a hard time deciding between this and Call My Name. 
   
   
7. Gett Off
   Because I'm not sure everyone knows there are 23 positions in a one-night stand. Also the beginning of a medley, into...
   
   
8. Erotic City
   A classic never dies.
   
   
9. 7
   One of my all-time favorites songs by the paisley master. I perk up every time I hear it. My shoulders are shimmying as I'm humming it right now.
   
   
10. Purple Rain
    You HAVE to end on Purple Rain. I think it's a commandment, right after "Honor thy mother and father." 

I don't know—maybe you'd pick a different set of songs to cover. Or maybe a different artist. Tell me. But if you don't like Prince, you better keep that to yourself¹.

¹ Bradley, this means you.