B-side tracks usually fade fast. “17 Days” didn’t. Prince kept it alive, night after night. And when he brought it to life at The Los Angeles Forum in 2011, it did not just make the cut, it stopped time. He turned what could have stayed hidden into a full-blown heartbreak anthem that danced through pain and landed somewhere close to freedom.
There is something about how Prince carries sorrow that makes you feel stronger not smaller. In “17 Days,” he leans into the ache of being left behind, the empty bed, the quiet phone, the echo of someone who is not coming back. But then comes the beat, the funk, the fire. As the horns swell and his band locks in tight, he does not just mourn, he fights. The performance lives somewhere between sadness and survival.
Prince – 17 Days (Live At The Los Angeles Forum, April 28, 2011)
Fans felt it. They shouted every line, cheered every riff and clung to the space between lyrics like they were holding onto someone they had lost. Shelby J., Liv Warfield, and Elisa Fiorillo gave backup vocals that felt like a sisterhood of strength standing behind him. One fan comment said it best: “He sings like the heartbreak is still fresh, but dances like he already made it through.”
That tension between ache and joy snaps into something brighter with “The Bird.” Where “17 Days” smolders, this one struts. Prince shifts gears without losing any heart, and suddenly the whole room is on its feet. This is not just another song, it is a release, a celebration, a dancefloor exhale after holding your breath too long.
Prince – The Bird (Live At The Los Angeles Forum, April 28, 2011)
He invites the crowd in, lets them lead, then follows with full abandon. The rhythm section takes off. The call-and-response feels like church. And Prince? He glides through it all with electric joy. It is funky, it is wild and it is fun without ever being empty. The pain from earlier is still in the room, it just got a new rhythm to walk to.
That is what Prince did better than anyone. He gave emotion its full range. He could be raw one minute and radiant the next, always honest, always in command. These live performances are not just concerts, they are proof of a life that refused to be one thing. Follow Prince on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. The next song might be exactly what you need.