Sign O' the Times (1987) REVISIT

Sign O' the Times remains my favourite Prince album and one of my favourite albums of all time, yet I had never before seen the promotional concert film released in 1987 to promote the album. Shot mostly at Paisley Park to a live audience with some additional sequences added in, the film does manage to capture what a Prince concert was like (I was fortunate to experience this myself) even if it is somewhat constructed and not a true filmed live concert. In many ways it is really more than that. It is Prince's vision of his concert experience. He has put together a filmed representation and it is incredible.

It is a reminder of what a showman he was. There is a bit of a story flowing through the concert and he's performing, so much better than he does in his fiction movies (like Purple Rain). But it's not just him. Sheila E is featured, along with Boni Boyer, and there is an appearance by Sheena Easton in the music video for U Got the Look inserted in the middle. It's all exhilarating fun. For a Prince fan, who won't get to attend his concerts again, this felt like a balm on that wound.

Neon and smokey, quite essentially 80s, in many ways the way as the film Sign O' the Times is more lush and beautiful than a lot of concert films shot in actual stadiums. Yet with a real live audience it has all the energy of a real concert. And the result is cinematic. He plays through one of his best albums, one of the best albums. It's a retro treat and truly of its time. It captures a lot of what was great about late 80s pop energy. It is sexual and vibrant and just damn big. It reminded me of how lucky we all were to live in a time when he was making music and spectacle.

Sign O' the Times 

Starring, written, directed by Prince