The Beautiful Experience (TV) Prince video

Paisley Park Pictures

video

COME

The Beautiful Experience is a concert movie aired as a TV special, initially in the UK. The film runs for exactly 60 minutes and features six songs captured during the 50 minute show Prince performed in the soundstage at Paisley Park Studios to a capacity audience of 1,375 on 13 February 1994. It is essentially the filming of the live show as part of his Interactive Tour, a series of concerts performed at Paisley Park and across his three branches of Glam Slam nightclubs throughout the spring and summer of 1994.

A storyline was integrated into the concert footage with studio shot segues featuring Nona Gaye. The premise is that she is home and lonely and finds a computer chat program which speaks to the NPG Operator. On paying $19.99, she watches a series of videos that boost her self confidence to find a partner, convincing her she is the most beautiful girl in the world. The movie also features a studio version of Come not available elsewhere. Prince appears as Prince Love Symbol.

The Beautiful Experience first televised in the UK by Sky One on 3 April 1994 and then on Channel 4 and French TV. Although this was a television special and never formally released for purchase, a low quality VHS version – simply a copy videotaped directly from Japanese TV – was later available to buy via Prince’s 1-800-NEW-FUNK website. It was available in PAL and NTSC formats and contained in a plain white VHS slipcase with a hole cut where a home-made label was stickered and titled Prince Love Symbol The Beautiful Xperience.

In addition to the live concert footage are various studio-shot promotional videos, created all recorded at Paisley Park Studios early in 1994 and were all premiered in this movie. The videos for Loose! and Papa were recorded in the summer of 1993, again at Paisley Park shortly before embarking on their European Act II Tour although not intended for The Beautiful Experience. Also notably included is The Most Beautiful Girl In The World, freshly shot at Paisley Park on 29 January was premiered as part of the 13 February live show. In some broadcasts the promotion video of Beautiful was aired following the closing credits.

The premise behind The Beautiful Experience is very futuristic considering the infancy of the internet in 1994 and depicting a platform which offers fans the ability to stream music videos via a paid software-based distribution service. Prince achieved that in reality with NPGOnlineLTD.com in 2000, for which he was recognised in 2006 with a Webby award for pioneering achievement.