Hi All

I'm a lurker who's taken the posting plunge recently and I wanted to share my review of last night with you all. It's my second of four O2 shows. I've been a fan for over 20 years but somehow missed him live so often. I first saw him as a 13 year old in 1990 and had to wait until last Tuesday to see him again. I do have a review of that show too if you like this one. Be gentle with me ;o)

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I feel lucky this morning. Ok, I slept fitfully so technically I feel pretty rough but the glow from last night is very much intact. I think back to my parents youth and marvel at the unique opportunities they had to see concerts in the 60s and 70s - the Stones in Hyde Park, Dylan at the Free Trade Hall, the Isle of Wight 1970, Miles at the Royal Festival Hall, Joni/CSNY at Wembley, the Montreux Jazz Festival, Zappa in London, Led Zep in Manchester... I could go on and on. But last night I added a piece of history to my own gig record - one that already includes Plant, Bowie, the Stones, JB, Dylan, Bjork, Crosby, McGuinn and plenty more... this was Prince. Again. One week after I saw him for the first time in 17 years.

The experience couldn't have been more different than last week. I came in at 8.30 and caught the end of the excellent Beverley Knight, who definitely has a Tina vibe going on these days. My seat was in a great spot, block E1 - switched from half way up the side last week, looking down at the left side of the symbol, to the block right behind the top right of the stage I got as close as I ever will. Much of the gig was spent looking at the backs and sides of the players but in its own way that was special. Seeing the interaction between all the band members and Prince, every nod, wink, hand movement, spin and grin. He spent plenty of time in each part of the symbol so I got a good look close up - he is absolutely perfect. He looks about 30 up close, clad in black pants, smallish heels and ruffled white silk shirt. Not a hair is out of place, not a bead of sweat, not a foot set wrongly, not a note off centre, singing or playing. As Kevin Smith once said, it looks like his clothes are stitched five minutes before he wears them. I was ready for the beginning this time, the usual gig start of either Purple Rain or just him with guitar doing a little medley. So when he started the show with his first O2 performance of 1999 the roof came off.

He supposedly retired the song in 2000 so it was quite a shock to hear it. It was followed by the familar trio of Musicology, Cream and U Got the Look. Musicology really takes on a new lease of life, live. His guitar playing was out of this world all night. A solo will usually make a crowd run for the exits but not this time, the masses were glued to their seats. He even did a killer bass solo during Black Sweat. That song is becoming one of my faves live. He teased by asking if he should perform Raspberry Beret or Sign O The Times and as the cheers rang out he switched, fast, toward the band and they started Kiss. The roar was deafening. This man gets crowds on their feet, dancing, singing, jumping; the usually jaded Londoners and the sheer delight on their faces.

And talking of, he did point to the heavens last night a few times. Clearly his faith has become much stronger in the last few years and it's fueling him. Good luck I say. But despite his new found piety, he still milks the raw, base, sexuality of his songs like a pro. If I Was Your Girlfriend was a highlight - the band stopped so he could just say the line 'Would u let me wash your hair' to frenzied screams from every woman in the arena. He might love Jesus these days but he's not ditched his old persona entirely.

Up close, he has this kind of teasing, playful cheekiness to him. After he went off the second time and reappeared wearing all black, including hat, came Controversy, again a huge highlight of the evening. He must have covered every inch of that stage a hundred times. One particular moment will stay with me. When over on my side of the stage, he did one of those little spins and then winked at the crowd before turning and flicking the back of his hat with his index finger so it fell over his eyes. All in one move. Utterly perfect. Then we had a game. The band and him vanished. The noise raged around me. Then the lights came on, the main house lights. A couple of minutes passed, scattered boos filled the air. After all, he'd 'only' been on for 100 mins. A couple next to me had left. The woman was into it at first but her guy stood, arms folded, almost the entire way through. He clapped but no more. What a waste of a ticket. Why bother if you're not going to let go even a tiny bit? I could see she wanted to really let go but was tethered down, seemingly wanting to remain cool in front of her bloke. Shame. So off they went, as soon as the lights went up. The lights stayed on, the crowd chanted and refused to budge.

I waited. 5 mins passed and then, the noise level rose - as the band made their way through the crowd, via a passageway leading out of the floor directly to the stage. I couldn't believe it, good job I hadn't given up waiting! They got back on stage and started a cover he's often done, Crazy. It was going well, the 2 singers were belting it out with gusto. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a black stage equipment case on wheels being taken through the same passageway. Was he in it? Who knows! He appeared, out of nowhere to finish off Crazy. The lights went off and the final song was an exquisite rendition of Nothing Compares 2 U. And that was it, he was gone and I bounced, breathlessly, out of the venue. These London shows, if you're up for the party, are a unique opportunity. If you're not going to give yourself over to him, stay home. It's not a night for the subdued personality. He'll give you a good time if you open up and I'm taking as many chances as I can to do just that.

Great review!

Highlight of the night for me was Forever in my Life. Never heard him do it live before and my all time favourite song. Unbelievable!