Jam of the year

The Artist couldn’t wait ’til 1999

On one past tour, The Artist Formerly Known as Prince was strutting on stage in butt cheek-exposing pants. On another tour, he was singing about doves crying while a veil drooped from a hat and covered his face.

These days, The Artist (as he’s calling himself now) has been in cover-up rather than exposure mode. Though last year His Purpleness released a new album, Emancipation, he’s remained awfully shy: no media blitz, few press interviews, few TV appearances, few live shows. Hmmmm, maybe he should call himself The Enigma Formerly Known as , Prince.

In any event, The Artist’s concert tonight at the Nashville Arena isn’t a total enigma, despite his shyness. Here’s a : guide to things Princely past, present and future, including what fans can expect to see and hear in Music City tonight.

[Non-interview content clipped]

WORDS FROM A FORMER PRINCE

The Artist Formerly Known as Prince may be media shy, but evidently he’s not Internet shy. The latest press release from The Artisfs camp says he loves America On Line and all things Internet.

So, when The Artists press liaison said to fax His Purpleness some questions and The Artist would respond via e-mail, we at The Tennessean said sure.

Here are the questions we submitted, and the answers we received.

Have marriage and family made you rethink, or refute, such songs as Darling Nikki, Sexy M.F. and Irresistible Bitch?

Not at all. I was 24 at this time. Had I not visited that place in my psyche I would not have written Emancipation.

Given the mixture of spirituality and eroticism In your music, have you had any Interesting feedback from Christian ministers on songs such as 7 or God?

No, the holy people I know believe in a much broader spirituality. There are no enemies.

What’s the one song that you’ve released that you are least proud of, and why?

I love every song that I’ve written. They are like my children. They are all integral parts of my journey.

What song that you are performing on your current tour has given you the greatest buzz, and why?

One of Us and Face Down — playing either one furthers my enlightenment. (Note: One of Us is the Joan Osborne song with the refrain “What if God was one of us?” Prince’s version appears on his Emancipation album.)

What will you be doing on Dec. 31, 1999?

I will be at a party and you are invited.

Getting there

The Artist Formerly Known as Prince will be in concert at 8 p.m. Friday at the Nashville Arena. Tickets are $66 for Purple Circle seats, and $51 and $36 for other seats, plus service charges. Tickets are available at the arena box office, Ticketmaster outlets and through Ticketmaster’s charge-by-phone line at 255-9600. However, Purple Circle seats are available only through the Ticketmaster charge-by-phone number. For more information, call the arena at 770-2040.