Just back home sweating and thirsty...That was the best show for me so far, been to 5 now and more to come...Every show has been different...He did nearly the whole show in a red suit and everyone else in the band had red on too..He only changed once right at the very end...He did 2 encores tonight which I have not seen yet, after crazy and nothing comnpares, he went off for 5 mins and they started setting up the keyboard for him..I had made my way down to the front by then and was standing in B1, the view up close is amazing...I had to get my phone out to film it...I got him bowing right in front of me at the very end...Cant wait til the next time...x

Yeah, i just got back too. i've been 9 times haha and this has to be one of my favourites yet.. the encore with the keyboard 'sample' song remixes of his own hits is so awesome!!! I didn't expect him to do that 3rd encore but he did and he LOVED the loud roar of the crowd who stayed behind...

I bet he does an aftershow tonight as he was in a real good mood tonight. Though I'm hoping he does an AP tomorrow as I already have tickets for show and AP hehe.

Can't wait to do it all over again tomorrow.

ps. Reyaz thank you very much for the free ticket. Appreciated!

Thought tonight was ok, not the best not the worst. The keyboard encore at the end actually saved it for me, I'd have been very disapointed if he'd finished with I Feel 4 U/Controversy and NC2U as that is exactly how he ended on Tuesday. But after ages he came back out and the keyboard teases really worked tonight. I think the crowd was just so happy to see him back that they didn't mind the tease. Prince took the mickey himself too, pulling angry faces and shaking his fist during a tease. He knows we want him to play the whole song but he just really enjoys stringing us along.

Nice to see 1000 hugs and kisses make a pretty full appearance during the piano medley tonight, I didn't expect that.

TheEnglishGent said:

And when he did the keyboard encore at the end, was he wearing flat trainers with red lights at the back? I saw the red lights at the back and was sure that they were flatties but my brother says not.

DoMeBaby69 said:

I spotted them and they made me laugh as my 2 year old insists on trainers with lights. They were also definitely not flat, they had a see through wedge of a heel.

I loved the start sequence, very unexpected order of songs.

I thought he went a bit too far with the number of covers tonight.
[Edited 8/31/07 16:21pm]

TheEnglishGent said:

I totally agree. I was in 110 which was the deadest block of people I've ever been in for a Prince show and when he came out with Musicology I thought 'uh-oh' and then it was just cover after cover after cover... not one for the casuals at all (although elsewhere around the arena it seemed people got into Musicology eventually). And then when he does "hits" he does Shhh!, Black Sweat, Sometimes It Snows, 1000 Hugs And Kisses...and Shelby sings two songs. Hmmm.

I thought it was utterly dis-jointed and to be honest not a patch on the other shows I've seen, although as you say, the final keyboard medley saved it for me too. My friends who were dotted along 111 though thought it was wonderful so perhaps my perception of it was skewed by being on my own amongst a sea of OAPs who were on the waiting list for hip replacements? I just tried to ignore that and enjoy it for myself, but it does sap the atmosphere a bit...

Highlights for me were a cracking '7' and as always Sometimes It Snows & Controversy...

People in my block though...honestly. Apart from a couple of guys in front of me in Row B who truly were dancing like it was 1999, everyone else was mummified! There was a dreadlocked guy who seemed intent on walking down the steps and standing in the aisle at the front and then decided to light up a joint and smoke it openly in front of the security. Whilst this was happening a couple in the second row spent at least a third of Prince's on-stage time trying to get this guy ejected. I mean, sure, it's a bit annoying, and he shouldn't have been there, but really - you're there to enjoy the show, not stress yourself up into a tizzy over someone else...

When he had the crowd on stage and the women dressed in black was wailing into the microphone. Up popped Prince, gave her a 'what the hell are you doing' look and took away the mic. Priceless. He seems to quite like getting a few people on stage.
[Edited 9/1/07 1:26am]

Yeah, but in the second song before you've even done a track most of the audience recognise?

That was by far the best Prince show I've ever seen. He was on fire right from the start! The crowd were brilliant as well, especially when they were waiting for him to come back to do the medley at the end. Just amazing.

ace1967 said:

And I saw that same woman leaving the O2 tonight and she could barely walk - being held up by two men - she was so pissed.

There was a woman next to me tonight who only smiled when he did Purple Rain and she looked like she truly loved it. But for everything else, nothing at all. The only song she sang along to was Come Together! Her boyfriend stood motionless for the whole thing and it made me wonder why they bothered just to hear one song. I'm all for casuals in the audience but these were practically comatose.

I'm suffering a bit from main show overdose I think. Seeing very little new now and considering the 150 song boast, I think he should be mixing it up a little more as we get near the end of the stretch. I shouldn't really criticise too much as not many people will have seen 7 or more shows now but why bother with the 150 boast if you're only playing 60 of them? I know he's playing other stuff at aftershows but there's so much he could put into the main that he's not playing and that's why the covers annoy me.

It was a strange show tonight but like I say, not the worst. I can't see what was really in it for the casual fan or the one offers tonight.

I'm begninning to sound like a right whiney git now but that's really not the case. Like I said previously, I personally liked the start, was delighted to hear 1000 hugs and kisses and loved the end encore.

I think I might avoid further main shows other than the 13ht and 21st that I already have tickets for. It's just that those last minute ticketmaster seats are so bloody tempting. I'm weak.

ace1967 said:

I thought he gave her that look when she didn't start singing the song. I think we were due another audience sing along but it didn't go to plan.

Did anyone else see the girl he pointed out when he said he needed someone to dance with him? She was at the front on the squiggly side of the symbol. She and her friend were dancing like nutters and Prince pointed to her after saying about getting someone to dance. She was going crazy but the security just shook their heads. Prince also mocked her doing a surprised, 'what me' kind of look while pretending to go weak at the knees.

Tzar said:

Yes, the crowd were excellent at the end and I'm actually wondering whether that final keyboard segment was actually part of the plan. I'm sure I heard the O2 announcer declaring it was time to leave during the noise of all the cheering for more.

The 'screamer' girl got directed off the stage quicksmart after that, did you see? Hehe.

Note for those who care - will.i.am from the Black Eyed Peas was there in the stage suite tonight and ex-Eternal singer Kelly was being snapped by Prince's official photographer on her way in posing with her new Prince tee and ticket.

Awww I'm gutted I missed the keyboard bit at the end! I did see it get set up and everything and I did hang around for 10 mins or so but I had to catch the tube to get to Paddington to get the last national rail train home... I'm quite distraught actually..

But I still enjoyed the show in red tonight, he blew a kiss my way!

And I'm back tomorrow! yey! The trains runs half hour later on saturdays so I won't miss the encore 3 -if there is one!

Loved it - still hyper - can't wait for tomorrow - must calm down

stereoboy said:

Michelle Gayle was also there tonight. I saw her at the main merchandise stand.

I just got from the show and thought it was great. I went down to the O2 box office and got tickets this afternoon and ended up in Block 102 in Row G after Ticketmaster said the best available were in Row S in the upper tier. The O2 has it's own ticket allocation so it's worth going down there if you want tickets if you have not already done so.
The woman wailing in black was totally drunk it was funny when she followed Prince and he held his hands up walked away and did the crazy sign. I loved the show and yes the last encore was fantastic with Prince saying that we all gonna miss our trains, the trainers with what looked like perspex (sp?) wedges that lite up were a trip, though I am a sucker for Prince in hats (so sexy).
I been to a couple of shows and frankly I think the twinz are a waste of space, they may have their fans but I cant see what the deal is, they cant sing, their dancing is medicore at best though they have perfected flicking their hair. Perhaps it's just their choregrapher that needs a kicking but personally I dont think they added anything of value to the show. I had a few copies of Planet Earth, I gave some away and now have one more spare so in the unlikely event that anyone from the org doesn't have a copy let me know and i'll send it to you, heck i'll even pay the postage.
ooohh and I made eye contact with Prince and a nearly drenched the floor (sorry about lowering the tone), he is the cockiest person but you gotta love him.....

Reway said:

Me too. I'm going tomorrow and should really go to bed to get some rest for tomorrow (main and aftershow) but I am too hyper aswell. I'll pay for it tomorrow.....

BlueTopaz said:

Was funny to hear Prince referencing the Big Brother twins tonight... "I got my own twinz!" I wonder if he knew Samanda didn't win?

BlueTopaz said:

would u post the Album to Australia?

kyla said:

Yep anywhere in the world though if this was Parade I wouldn't be offering just rediscovered how much I love that album after hearing Prince sing Sometimes it Snows in April. Org note me the details and i'll post it tomorrow.

chidsta said:

Same here, took a friend who loves P for her birthday (31st) but had to race out for the tube, and I'm sure I saw the black box being wheeled out so thought it was safe to go. Darn, I really enjoyed the medley bit before as well

ace1967 said:

That was sooo funny.

I thought that start was a little wierd but as the show progressed it got better. By the end of the 1st encore all of the seats were shaking. Very pleased to hear 7 and NC2U.

Must go to bed.

TheEnglishGent said:

Hear what you're saying, EnglishGent, but it does sound like a case of main show overdose! You must realise that there is hardly any other artist that is doing or would do this? A run of 21 shows, all quite different and yet similar enough that most people, hardcore or casual fans, get to hear what they want and a majority of his most popular hits. Most artists stick to the same show, night after night and don't have the back catalogue to tease with a massive hit and then not play it - we are fortunate enough as it is.

There aren't many bands with this versatility and, when you do include the aftershows, I'll bet he's not far off that boast of 150 rehearsed songs.....and we still have 3 weeks to go

the crazy long hyped final encore was sick!!!!

we thought it finnished when the crew departed, Pince said a very strong goodnight to us all, then lights clocked on..it looked like it was over, finito..few sexy mami citas left the front row a2 block...then like 15 mins in with the staging of a stool and sample equipment...we all knew he was returning..we HOPED...then POP...he came on in his suave attire...INCREDIBLE!!!!!

TheEnglishGent said:

ill have any spare tickets if you would be so kind

sorry for asking but according to 3121.com, Prince played a Brand New Song during the piano medley tonight...

Anyone has more info???

we just fell in the door, what a F..... night, what time is it????, what a show, after show with Maceo holding court, amazing.....

tonights show was the after show in the big arena, blew my mind, and that final encore, a moment to treasure forever, anyway, to wrecked to write anymore, have to get up in 3 hours, to get tickets to people who want tonights indulgence, hehhehehehehehe, a chap i met last night gave me a ticket in BK 111 for free, for the 13th, just said, i have to give real fans something, thanks man, then we headed to Indigo, after the clipper back the river, with some guy from Manchester, who could sing all the prince stuff, especially the lovesexy tour stuff, on a near empty clipper, what a riot, almost as good as the concert itself.

but it has to be said, Prince had some balls, to start off with musicology, then another few obsure tracks, including pass the peas, Maceo's nite, Thanks Prince, for one of the most amazing nites ever.

Tonight (1st sept) will be my last night probably, but what a week it has been, 4 concerts, 2 aftershows till now (1 show and 1 aftershow left), and it feels like 6 different tours....

NOW TELL ME.... WHO CAN DO THAT IN A WEEK?????

TheEnglishGent said:

Yeah, i remember that, it was very early at the show, didnt see the girls, but remembered prince pointing at them, even though i was at the F3 part of the stage, opps, i am still in Koo Koo land after that show, just one question, were these girls wearing cream outfits????, abit gladiator style????