Sign 'o' the Times

Sign 'o' the Times (1987)

**** (out of 4)

Excellent concert film has Prince and his band performing tracks from various albums with the main focus being on 'Sign 'o' the Times.' If you ask most people what their favorite Prince album is I'd guess that the majority would answer 'Purple Rain' and there's no question that it's a classic but to me 'Sign 'o' the Times' is another masterpiece and deserves a lot more credit than it deserves.

The concert isn't a complete concert from that tour as there were many more songs performed live but this is pretty much a "greatest hits" package that shows off classics like Little Red Corvette but also takes us through the current album. The title track is one of the musician's greatest numbers and he turns in a great version here to get things started. I Could Never Take the Place of Your Man gets an incredible jam that's certainly the highlight of the film but we also get great tracks in Hot Thing, Now's the Time and The Cross.

The band is certainly at the top of their game but what's so great about this concert is that it shows people what a genius Prince was. Not only is his voice wonderful but so are the lyrics that he wrote and he can also dance, play guitar, piano and various other things. Watching him work his way around the stage doing various jobs is certainly something to behold as it's pure beauty.

I don't see how people could rate this film lowly. I think the "acting" is pretty great and the whole thing is very energetic. Sure Prince lip-syncs, but the performances are all very energetic.

The only thing you can rate this movie on is the performance and the music... and I don't see how either of these fail to satisfy. This is one brilliant song after another.

The only qualm I have is using the music video for U Got The Look instead of a live performance. Oh, and not including Strange Relationship.

But really, it has all of the album's best songs like Housequake, If I Was Ur Girlfriend, Play In The Sunshine, I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man (Oh, man that keys solo in the beginning is amazing).

This movie is just fun all-around and perfect to see with a group of friends.

(Damn, Shiela's fiiiine in this movie. =d)

The only reason I don't give this movie a 10, is that its not a "Perfect Film". On the other hand, it is The Best Concert Film Made to Date. PERIOD. It deserves to be seen on as big a screen as you can find and turned up LOUD. I was fortunate enough to see it in a theater. I had no idea of how remarkable a performer Prince is before I saw Sign 'o' the Times . All the previous reviews will give you a much more in depth analysis, individual artist's descriptions, etc. What I have to offer is a pure gut-level reaction: We were Blown Away. My friend went back to the theater the next night to see it again. It impressed me so much, I'm getting a copy for my own collection.

From the opening with the title song, you can feel the energy created by the cast of musicians, the star and the audience. This energy builds and flows from one exciting song to the next; even the slow ballads are so full of power that it is hard to sit still; this film is a testament to the power of Prince... it is the definitive demonstration of his awesome talent; the live versions of these songs, including a "Little Red Corvette" sing along, make the studio album sound sterile and that is something damned-near impossible to do to Prince (And only Prince could do it!) If you want to see him at his peak, this is it!! There is dancing, singing and music, music, music. The band includes some members of the Revolution and some future NPG members, but the real stand-outs are Cat, Sheila E. and Bonnie Boyer. If you have only heard the studio album, check this film out...so good it'll make you slap yo' mama!!

This concert is really one of prince's best performances. The band prince and the audience all together appear to be having the time of their lives. Plus the versions of sign o' the times, house quake, it, and the cross I think are more intense live. This lineup of musicians is the best. Even people that say they are not prince fans tend to eat their words by the the third song in. This concert shows great guitar playing as well of the multi-talents of Shelia E. Also shows excellent vocal solos from prince as well from the band. I like lending the video out to people that are unfamiliar with prince to see their reaction. I have seen Prince live and this video captures what he is all about, when some live albums or videos do not.