He threw two Telecasters to the front row!

Very remarkable choice of songs that were played over the PA before the show: a few Camille songs Semi-a-colia / Good Love / Shockadelica / Le Grind / Love (from 3121). Also Screams of passion (The Family) / I like it there / Hot with U.

Before the concert started, I saw Morris Hayes, Renato and John Blackwell walking in front the stage, shaking people’s hand and getting pictured from the first rows. Remarkable, no press was brought in.

We – the Misses and I – were in seats in section 104 and had a good view on the stage. Rather a distance, but very much acceptable if you go for the Live Experience of hearing, seeing, feeling… I wanted to see the whole show with my eyes, not through a lens. What a waste that is I guess… Still I took one picture of the minivan at the gate. Here’s a range of songs I recall from last nights:

Stratus / Party Hearty / Which way is up? / Raspberry beret

Mountains / Shake your body / Everyday people / Higher /

Le Freak / What have you done for me lately / Partyman / A love bizar /

SHH / Let’s work / Cream / COOL / U got the look /

Controversy / Housequake

Love… Thy will be done / Purple Rain / Let’s go crazy / Delirious / Kiss

Sometimes it snows in April / Little red corvette / Uptown / 1999 / Dance in the disco heat / Baby I’m a star / The Bird / Jungle Love / The Glamorous Life / Soul sacrifice outro

The concert could not have started any better than with Cobham’s Stratus. Prince entering and the whole house was on fire! He let all members play solo’s and from his guitar he went to Sheila’s percussion set and next he took over bass. They even played bass together on that one instrument, she played the groovy melody and he pumped some two or three licks through it.

He accepted 3 bouquets of flowers from the first row and placed them on the piano.

After the first set they all went off stage, which I found rather strange. I’m not sure if Prince was content with his first songs, as it seems that there was something wrong with his guitar he’d put on Renato’s piano. In this first break Kamasutra songs were played.

The band came back. Of course there was more. He did some funny dancing (which reminded me of the mimics he did in the Parade tour: brushing teeth) and played with the ladies. Oldskool dancing, everyone was dancing.

Somewhere he called us Rotterdam, really. Nevermind. “I am here… Where R U?”

While SHH he picked a lady from the front row, he escorted her onstage and pointed her to take place on Renato’s piano. Happy as a little girl she sat while Prince played his ass off in the climax of this golden song.

During Controversy he let about 20 people on stage. Everyone started dancing and enjoying that moment. Prince playing guitar at his stand. One guy starting dancing on the front edge of the stage, crowd applauding. Prince moved swiftly to Renato’s spot and one long guy with a white shirt and grey waistcoat started followed him, dancing. Prince rather jumped quickly through the people back to the front and his mic. That same guy danced his feet of together with another boy in his sleeveless top. They even danced like Jerome Benton & Wally Safford did during the Purple Rain concert finals. He asked the audience to all show their cell phones. House lights turned down. The whole bunch continued funkin’ and dancing on stage.

Love… Thy will be done by one of the ladies on vocals. But just one song as a break, I guess Prince was not likely to wait longer and Purple Rain was started. Beautiful as ever. We all sung as loud as we could.

Kiss was kiss ass good! On the one he stopped the song “Y’all aint ready!” Show his butt to the crowd, everyone crazy! Did some nice dancing.

The somanieth encore Sometimes It Snows In April he played very tense together with Renato. How beautiful and apt this song is after so many years. Next, the wonderfully new arranged version of Little Red Corvette. Slow down…

Still, he could not stop. “I got too many hits!” He started that up-tempo disco tune, played some more percussion and sung the musical like tune with the ladies. What a show!

More encores, he opened up the Eighties case with the Time and Sheila E songs and then rounded off with that Soul Sacrifice ending on guitar. And there he threw his second Telecaster!

We left the hall after this point, not 100% sure if the show was over. Once outside, left from entrance A, we were held on that spot by security. Two police motors would escort a range of Mercedes with dark tinted windows. Another car. A luxurious fan or mini bus. And the man signaled to others, still one more. That one left as well. We strolled back to the parking lot recalling all songs and impressions of this concert.

I have seen 7 or 8 times since 1990, but this was way the best show ever witnessed. Thanks Prince and band for this thrilling night. Great that you came to Holland again! Grazie!

What a great concert and what a great audience

Young and old mixed singing, swinging and dancing their asses off

Oh and Rhonda on the bass

AndGodCreatedMe said:

What a great concert and what a great audience

Young and old mixed singing, swinging and dancing their asses off

Oh and Rhonda on the bass

NOT Rhonda !! Ida Nielsen

SmearMrTroof said:

While SHH he picked a lady from the front row, he escorted her onstage and pointed her to take place on Renato’s piano. Happy as a little girl she sat while Prince played his ass off in the climax of this golden song.

From OOR:
[img:$uid]http://www.oor.nl/uploads/2852.jpg[/img:$uid]

[Edited 11/19/10 1:37am]

xenophobia2002 said:

AndGodCreatedMe said:

What a great concert and what a great audience

Young and old mixed singing, swinging and dancing their asses off

Oh and Rhonda on the bass

NOT Rhonda !! Ida Nielsen

Oops, sorry didn't had a good look on the stage.

Anyway she played great

SmearMrTroof said:

He threw two Telecasters to the front row!

Still, he could not stop. “I got too many hits!” He started that up-tempo disco tune, played some more percussion and sung the musical like tune with the ladies. What a show!

Too many hits, but he didn't play a single on (of his own) after that being said.

I forgot about the flowers part.... nice ...I think he said something first to the light or sound technicans so he could put down his guitar to take them. He also once said, turn the lights down to groove level and then he went to towel off his face. Must have been hot under all those lights.

I thought the lights were done well and I didn't notice any pop up screens? In fact, I saw lovely visuals where they multiplied the picture, going backwards really fast and thought it was effective. Also a lot of pyschedelic visual like the video in the 80s for, I think it was rasberry beret???

What is a telecaster?

I'm a little sad we missed the second percussion part in Disco heat...but getting out easily is also important. Time is precious. I thought the organisation was good. We got there, albeit it took 2.40 minutes coz of traffic the whole way, but we parked literaly 3 mins from ingang E and as it was already 8:15, it took us 5 mins to get in. With the lights on it was also kind of special...a nice warmer inside.

That pic from Oor with the girl on the piano is nice. It was so funny, she didn't look at him at one point but looked at the audience and she was so close to him! Lucky girl!

Believe it or not, last night a video online at 1am or so, had already been taken down by the NPG so he wasn't kidding when he said "I'll find you" when he asked the audience to see their phones

Magic night!

dualboot said:

SmearMrTroof said:

While SHH he picked a lady from the front row, he escorted her onstage and pointed her to take place on Renato’s piano. Happy as a little girl she sat while Prince played his ass off in the climax of this golden song.

From OOR:
[img:$uid]http://www.oor.nl/uploads/2852.jpg[/img:$uid]

[Edited 11/19/10 1:37am]

That was cool. It was so funny that he was looking at her very naughty and she didn't realise and was only looking to her friends in front row until finally she realised he was looking at her. He has such great and funny facial expressions.

The semi-quote Billy "The Kid was in rare form last night".

Yes, the photograph is superb. Catches the moment perfectly. She was probably just stunned that she was chosen

We did try to sing back "you do you do" when he asked who knew about the quake, but not enough people knew the cue unfortunately.

Bohemian67 said:

I thought the lights were done well and I didn't notice any pop up screens? In fact, I saw lovely visuals where they multiplied the picture, going backwards really fast and thought it was effective. Also a lot of pyschedelic visual like the video in the 80s for, I think it was rasberry beret???

Pop ups where there, at least on the 'side-screens', towards the end of the concert.

vusuals where noce though.

How long did he play, I went in Antwerp. I misses last nite unfortunately.

But it is good to read how it was (actually I have tears in my eyes because I missed it...).

And damn I'm glad he didn't come to the Effenaar. Cause then I was reading now that he was in my hometown and that I missed that. Probably then I was crying the rest of this year....

[Edited 11/19/10 3:03am]

Remko:

Oh ok. We were at the back then and dancing a lot so maybe didn't see them.

Didn't he make a joke about one of the people dancing on stage that she was his lawyer?

Just remember now.

[Edited 11/19/10 3:04am]

lavas said:

How long did he play, I went in Antwerp. I misses last nite unfortunately.

But it is good to read how it was (actually I have tears in my eyes because I missed it...).

And damn I'm glad he didn't come to the Effenaar. Cause then I was reading now that he was in my hometown and that I missed that. Probably then I was crying the rest of this year....

[Edited 11/19/10 3:03am]

2015 up to 2310-ish

JeePee said:

dualboot said:

From OOR:
[img:$uid]http://www.oor.nl/uploads/2852.jpg[/img:$uid]

[Edited 11/19/10 1:37am]

That was cool. It was so funny that he was looking at her very naughty and she didn't realise and was only looking to her friends in front row until finally she realised he was looking at her. He has such great and funny facial expressions.

The semi-quote Billy "The Kid was in rare form last night".

That is cool She looks happy and scared same time

hestilllovesme said:

JeePee said:

That was cool. It was so funny that he was looking at her very naughty and she didn't realise and was only looking to her friends in front row until finally she realised he was looking at her. He has such great and funny facial expressions.

The semi-quote Billy "The Kid was in rare form last night".

That is cool She looks happy and scared same time

No she didn't seem to be scared but more pulsing between 'can believe this happening and I'm the most happiest person in the world right now'. Started laughin'and waving to friends whole the time Made me smile quite a bit.

lavas said:

How long did he play, I went in Antwerp. I misses last nite unfortunately.

But it is good to read how it was (actually I have tears in my eyes because I missed it...).

And damn I'm glad he didn't come to the Effenaar. Cause then I was reading now that he was in my hometown and that I missed that. Probably then I was crying the rest of this year....

[Edited 11/19/10 3:03am]

Both shows were very good actually, but I think the Antwerp show was better, so IMHO if you could have been present at just one, you made the right choice.

MarcelS67 said:

lavas said:

How long did he play, I went in Antwerp. I misses last nite unfortunately.

But it is good to read how it was (actually I have tears in my eyes because I missed it...).

And damn I'm glad he didn't come to the Effenaar. Cause then I was reading now that he was in my hometown and that I missed that. Probably then I was crying the rest of this year....

[Edited 11/19/10 3:03am]

Both shows were very good actually, but I think the Antwerp show was better, so IMHO if you could have been present at just one, you made the right choice.

He started the show around 2020 hrs (lucky for us her started 20 minutes later, since the travel to the stadium incl the busride from the parking took us over 2 hours, normally 45 minutes!!) and ended around 2300 hrs, so a 2 hours and 40 minutes show! Not too bad! Missed a little bit more of his own hits or newer work as mentioned before by others, but definitely one of his best shows ever since it was funky and danceable the whole show! London O2 was a great experience, but this was more funky due to the great musicians as well! Missed Maceo though.......

Bohemian67 said:

Remko:

Oh ok. We were at the back then and dancing a lot so maybe didn't see them.

Didn't he make a joke about one of the people dancing on stage that she was his lawyer?

Just remember now.

[Edited 11/19/10 3:04am]

I thought he made the remark about a guy dancing next to him, but i was at a different angle than you . But i herd the joke as weel.

Another question;

Am I the only one who was a bit irritated by the way they operated the house lights?

Ahhh ok....... I see I'm not the only one quote in dutch from Metro;

"

MarcelS67 said:

Another question;

Am I the only one who was a bit irritated by the way they operated the house lights?

Ahhh ok....... I see I'm not the only one quote in dutch from Metro;

"

Toch werd dat het publiek nog wel enigszins moeilijk gemaakt gedurende de avond, want ook na de eerste drie kwartier vond de lichtman het nog nodig om een keer of dertig de felle zaallichten aan te schuiven. Een enkele keer gebeurde dat op verzoek van Prince zelf en had het, in ieder geval voor hem, dus nog een functie, maar iedere andere keer voelde het alsof plotseling het licht aanging aan het einde van het jaarlijkse schoolfeest. Compleet meegevoerd worden op een muzikale trip werd hierdoor lastig en het ging ook nog eens ten koste van de prachtige, sfeervolle lichten op en rond het podium, maar zelfs dat was iets wat Prince muzikaal gezien kon overwinnen."

Otherwise, great great show lots of energy.

The light-people had some wierd thing going on (paddo?) On and off sometimes vice versa Princes requests. But also Prince had many lights on requests (to see the People).

dualboot said:

MarcelS67 said:

Another question;

Am I the only one who was a bit irritated by the way they operated the house lights?

Ahhh ok....... I see I'm not the only one quote in dutch from Metro;

"

Toch werd dat het publiek nog wel enigszins moeilijk gemaakt gedurende de avond, want ook na de eerste drie kwartier vond de lichtman het nog nodig om een keer of dertig de felle zaallichten aan te schuiven. Een enkele keer gebeurde dat op verzoek van Prince zelf en had het, in ieder geval voor hem, dus nog een functie, maar iedere andere keer voelde het alsof plotseling het licht aanging aan het einde van het jaarlijkse schoolfeest. Compleet meegevoerd worden op een muzikale trip werd hierdoor lastig en het ging ook nog eens ten koste van de prachtige, sfeervolle lichten op en rond het podium, maar zelfs dat was iets wat Prince muzikaal gezien kon overwinnen."

Otherwise, great great show lots of energy.

The light-people had some wierd thing going on (paddo?) On and off sometimes vice versa Princes requests. But also Prince had many lights on requests (to see the People).

I would say the fisrt 40 minutes was on purpose, tot give it that support act feeling(?). But yes, houselights on was a bit too much in my opinion. Not only there where Prince's requests (wich he has done for years) but the ligh-man was very fond of it as well. added together: maybe a bit too much.....

Hi there!

"Piano Girl" is finally in...still floating at these big purple clouds which I never ever want to leave...

What an amazing unforgettable night! First of all I really want to thank Prince giving me this awesome opportunity sharing his stage with me for a while!

Yes, I definitely was stunned! First of all, I thought Prince was saying something about the purple rose he throwed back towards me and my fiends. Didn't noticed at all the whole story about dancing on stage, what I heard afterwards, he was talking about...lol…

For a second, I realised he was asking me on stage and at the same time people were pushing me to get over the gates to His Royal Prince…

Wow, the 1^st moment already was unforgettable. I walked to this stairs who will leading me to this big show area of The Artist. Get there down these stairs, Prince already was waiting for me, holding his hand up attending me up on stage. Like, probably most of the people of course already know, we walked closely together crossing the stage to end up next to the piano. Here he asked me to get on to it, trying to sit down as feminine as I could…NOT…haha…

I can tell you it’s a such an exiting experience noticing your on stage, thousands of people are watching you and most important, sharing this whole indescribable feeling with, in my opinion, the biggest artist ever.

Can remember it so well, my second concert ever in my life, many, many years ago in my youth…to young to stay in the crowd in front of the stage. Prince in Rotterdam, Holland. I felt so bad the show had to stop early because of all the rain. More than twenty years already Prince is leading this red line in my life. And then this year first Antwerp, Belgium, front row, amazing concert, couldn’t think this could be better. Not knowing that moment ,about ten days later, I would join this great man on stage in front of 30.000 people at my own country Holland!

So crazy, seeing all the people I was camping with outside the stadium and had such a cosy time with, when in the meanwhile my favourite was playing and singing that close to me. This piano moment was fantastic, although I first not realised Prince was looking at me with his “only-Prince-can-look-with-that-expression-in-his-eyes”… Stupid girl…haha. Luckily, on time, I looked at the RIGHT direction… Enjoying the moment, but also thinking I was dreaming getting awake every moment and had to finish me to get ready going to the Prince Concert. Shortly…so unreal! Absolutely because after our “goodbye-moment” I walked back to the exact spot I came from!

Like it was all an imagination…

This morning, after a night with…no sleep (to full of adrenaline and excitement), I noticed above picture and I realize more and more yesterday something has happened what is personally indescribable, unforgettable and will always have a big big place in my heart.

Really, the most wonderful time of my life!

Thank you so much Prince and hope to see you back soon!

Love Angel. Xxx

[Edited 11/19/10 6:35am]

Angel1974 said:

Hi there!

"Piano Girl" is finally in...still floating at these big purple clouds which I never ever want to leave...

What an amazing unforgettable night! First of all I really want to thank Prince giving me this awesome opportunity sharing his stage with me for a while!

Yes, I definitely was stunned! First of all, I thought Prince was saying something about the purple rose he throwed back towards me and my fiends. Didn't noticed at all the whole story about dancing on stage, what I heard afterwards, he was talking about...lol…

For a second, I realised he was asking me on stage and at the same time people were pushing me to get over the gates to His Royal Prince…

Wow, the 1^st moment already was unforgettable. I walked to this stairs who will leading me to this big show area of The Artist. Get there down these stairs, Prince already was waiting for me, holding his hand up attending me up on stage. Like, probably most of the people of course already know, we walked closely together crossing the stage to end up next to the piano. Here he asked me to get on to it, trying to sit down as feminine as could…NOT…haha…

I can tell you it’s a such an exiting experience noticing your on stage, thousands of people are watching you and most important, sharing this whole indescribable feeling with, in my opinion, the biggest artist ever.

Can remember it so well, my second concert ever in my life, many, many years ago in my youth…to young to stay in the crowd in front of the stage. Prince in Rotterdam, Holland. I felt so bad the show had to stop early because of all the rain. More than twenty years already Prince is leading this red line in my life. And then this year first Antwerp, Belgium, front row, amazing concert, couldn’t think this could be better. Not knowing that moment ,about ten days later, I would join this great man on stage in front of 30.000 people at my own country Holland!

So crazy, seeing all the people I was camping with outside the stadium and had such a cosy time with, when in the meanwhile my favourite was playing and singing that close to me. This piano moment was fantastic, although I first not realised Prince was looking at me with his “only-Prince-can-look-with-that-expression-in-his-eyes”… Stupid girl…haha. Luckily, on time, I looked at the RIGHT direction… Enjoying the moment, but also thinking I was dreaming getting awake every moment and had to finish me to get ready going to the Prince Concert. Shortly…so unreal! Absolutely because after our “goodbye-moment” I walked back to the exact spot I came from!

Like it was all an imagination…

This morning, after a night with…no sleep (to full of adrenaline and excitement), I noticed above picture and I realize more and more yesterday something has happened what is personally indescribable, unforgettable and will always have a big big place in my heart.

Really, the most wonderful time of my life!

Thank you so much Prince and hope to see you back soon!

Love Angel. Xxx

That moment was great fun. I think we all enjoyed it very much

Angel1974 said:

Hi there!

"Piano Girl" is finally in...still floating at these big purple clouds which I never ever want to leave...

What an amazing unforgettable night! First of all I really want to thank Prince giving me this awesome opportunity sharing his stage with me for a while!

Yes, I definitely was stunned! First of all, I thought Prince was saying something about the purple rose he throwed back towards me and my fiends. Didn't noticed at all the whole story about dancing on stage, what I heard afterwards, he was talking about...lol…

For a second, I realised he was asking me on stage and at the same time people were pushing me to get over the gates to His Royal Prince…

Wow, the 1^st moment already was unforgettable. I walked to this stairs who will leading me to this big show area of The Artist. Get there down these stairs, Prince already was waiting for me, holding his hand up attending me up on stage. Like, probably most of the people of course already know, we walked closely together crossing the stage to end up next to the piano. Here he asked me to get on to it, trying to sit down as feminine as I could…NOT…haha…

I can tell you it’s a such an exiting experience noticing your on stage, thousands of people are watching you and most important, sharing this whole indescribable feeling with, in my opinion, the biggest artist ever.

Can remember it so well, my second concert ever in my life, many, many years ago in my youth…to young to stay in the crowd in front of the stage. Prince in Rotterdam, Holland. I felt so bad the show had to stop early because of all the rain. More than twenty years already Prince is leading this red line in my life. And then this year first Antwerp, Belgium, front row, amazing concert, couldn’t think this could be better. Not knowing that moment ,about ten days later, I would join this great man on stage in front of 30.000 people at my own country Holland!

So crazy, seeing all the people I was camping with outside the stadium and had such a cosy time with, when in the meanwhile my favourite was playing and singing that close to me. This piano moment was fantastic, although I first not realised Prince was looking at me with his “only-Prince-can-look-with-that-expression-in-his-eyes”… Stupid girl…haha. Luckily, on time, I looked at the RIGHT direction… Enjoying the moment, but also thinking I was dreaming getting awake every moment and had to finish me to get ready going to the Prince Concert. Shortly…so unreal! Absolutely because after our “goodbye-moment” I walked back to the exact spot I came from!

Like it was all an imagination…

This morning, after a night with…no sleep (to full of adrenaline and excitement), I noticed above picture and I realize more and more yesterday something has happened what is personally indescribable, unforgettable and will always have a big big place in my heart.

Really, the most wonderful time of my life!

Thank you so much Prince and hope to see you back soon!

Love Angel. Xxx

[Edited 11/19/10 6:35am]

I totally enjoyed your stay on the stage! You were so authentic, watching the crowed and laughing

Couldn't see it all but it looked really nice

SmearMrTroof said:

After the first set they all went off stage, which I found rather strange. I’m not sure if Prince was content with his first songs, as it seems that there was something wrong with his guitar he’d put on Renato’s piano. In this first break Kamasutra songs were played.

LOL! Not strange at all but seriously Prince's best practical joke ever; he did the opening act himself! I was thinking wow what a bold chose of songs, more after-show material, and very laid-back...not pleasing the big crowd. Houselights still on, big black glasses on his nose. People looking at each other like huh, is this Prince?! Then about 30 min later they stopped and people paniced a bit of what happened...but then the time was to start of the main show!

Prince gave a suburb show, but for me it wasn't such a high as Antwerp cauz there I was in the Pit and now totally in the back. I thought the crowd was pretty restless, walking, talking, drinking and being busy with their camera's...so that distracts me a lot. Guess I'm spoiled over the years being in the GC. Then I'm not that tall so with all the extremely tall dutch fellas I watched practically the entire show from a screen...next time seated tix for me! btw the LRC extended version was my highlight!

^Angel1974...you got what every girl in the place dreamed of, I'm so jalous, but very happy for you! You looked great up there.

Angel1974, you were an excellent Piano girl. Perfectly Dutch blond and pretty!

I hope you cherish that moment forever! I think anyone up there would ever have imagined that they'd Prince would have looked so closely and playfully at them! You had every right to be totally stunned and on cloud 9! Hope it lasts a while

I actually liked having the lights on now and then, to see people...

[Edited 11/19/10 7:31am]

Thank you so much for you nice and warm reactions! This feels so great!

Bohemian67 said:

Angel1974, you were an excellent Piano girl. Perfectly Dutch blond and pretty!

I hope you cherish that moment forever! I think anyone up there would ever have imagined that they'd Prince would have looked so closely and playfully at them! You had every right to be totally stunned and on cloud 9! Hope it lasts a while

I actually liked having the lights on now and then, to see people...

[Edited 11/19/10 7:31am]

This feeling will always stay! It's totally stucked @ my heart 4ver!

Angel1974 said:

Thank you so much for you nice and warm reactions! This feels so great!

Your a star

[Edited 11/20/10 5:49am]

The show was great, they played for three hours, the energy was pumping. The audience was wonderful and Prince was in a good mood. It was my brother's first Prince concert and he told me he had never seen such a great show in his life. Now that is a compliment, coming from my brother. I had nothing but a great time too, Purple Rain was beautiful as always, sometimes it snows very touching, let's work, and Kiss were damn funky.

However, I can remember better shows. The sound was not so good, sometimes his guitar would just fall out and pretty often the band would be like a big wall of sound. Also, I tried to keep my expectations low about the setlist, but I was still pretty dissapointed that he played sooooo many songs from others. Then he says he has too many hits, but he plays like 10 songs from other people. WTF? He could have played so much more PRINCE music instead of whatever he jammed on back in the day.

But all that was made good by the fantastic atmosphere, the wonderful songs, the great musicanship and the three hours of sheer joy and fun with one of the greatest performers alive. Thanks Prince.