For you guys who have been to multiple shows what is your opinion.

I went on the 28th August with the family all really enjoyed it and I was so relieved that there was none of that audience on stage nonsense and only one cover (come together). Also a fantastic opening LGC, 1999 & TMWU. Areas for improvement - show could have been slightly longer, the dropping of Black Sweat and Musicology he has far better material than these and wanted more guitar work.

How have thinhs been since then?

Judging from the set lists (for the main show) alone, I think he started off quite good, but started losing some inspiration from the 17th until the beginning of September. Lately the shows seem more balanced and have a lot more twists and turns.

As for the 28th, the only main show in the O2 I saw, it was the least interesting show by Prince I have seen him do.

I went on 7 Aug and loved the show but after going last night I have to say that it overtook the 7th for me by miles. Loved everything about last night, was in block 118 which I didn't think would be too good but Prince came round that part of the stage a lot last night, the sound was not too good to start but definately improved after the first 15-20 mins and I thought he seemed to be enjoying himself - chatting and joking a fair bit. This was my 7th time ive seen him (not that many times compared to a lot of people on here) but last night was definately my fave

symbolina said:

i also attended the 7th and last nights..but the 7th was amazing especially enterring the stage with with LRC!!

But last night was spectacular, great set list and the opening with shelby was badazz!!!!

i can remain happy even if i dont attend the 21st show..

The set list looked pretty average, but it sounds like folks enjoyed it (a first time friend of mine went last night, so I hope it was good). The 13th was great and the encores unbeatable, for me.

I think there was a low point there in the middle - I went on the 28th Aug (no 3) and it wasn't the best ... also though - thought the 12th (no 5) was flat but 13th (no 6) was INSANELY good up there with the 6th (no 4)

So .. hmm having read that it seems to be up and down... i think it's all down to personal taste to be honest

Aug 1st - Great energy, long set, P was in great mood, just so exciting!

Aug 3rd - A bit short, not as exciting, just didn't feel the same as the previous night

Sep 1st - Unbelievable, great set list, non-stop action, best yet

Sep 21st -

How can u knock Musicology?? Love that song. Love it.

Done ten now and apart from the 18th, they've all been top notch. The 7th was special for reasons that are all a little blurry but there was something about that show. After about 6 or 7 shows I was starting to feel like I'd seen it all. Then something happened. I'm not quite sure what it was but it's most likely the realisation that it's all coming to an end very soon now and I'm enjoying the main shows more and more.

Didn't think last night was as good as Thursday 13th but it was still a great party. Out of all of the shows I've seen I would rate the 13th as the best one to have attended for a one off. It just seemed to have the perfect blend of songs and the Elton John performace was fantastic to see too.

Skipper1958 intersesting user id niickname dob.

I find musicology very plodding and lifeless.

I was just on a non prince site and someone has starte a thread entitled 'Prince was shit last night and a hypocrite' so I guess his answer to the orginal poster would be 'no'

vivid said:

Did they elaborate?

I think it has to be a resounding YES

He's mixing it up more, although retaining some of the same tunes, I think he is more relaxed the more dates he plays, and seems to be having more fun.

Most recently he's started to play almost underground tracks like Something in the Water (does not compute). I'm only sad this week will be the last, what will we talk about then....

having heard over 5 of these shows, i would say the main shows r lifeless. the aftershows seems 2 b where its at, at least he's playing more current material there then the main shows. i think prince said it best one night after doing black sweat.."prince ur such a tease! play something we know!" and I felt bad 4 him cause he's trying 2 introduce where he's at now, but y'all just want the bloody hits that he's done so many times b4.

the low point 4 me on this tour is him doing 1999 ..just sad

and can someone in london hip prince 2 when he music was made? because controversy was done in 1981 NOT 1982!

L4OATheOriginal said:

Come on, this tour was billed as 'Performing his hits for the last time' That's why he has filled a 20 000 seater for 21 nights. Casual fans still deserve to get what they paid and came for. Even die-hards like myself haven't heard the hits since '98, nearly 10 yrs ago so am quite happy to be hearing them again. He can come back next year and play the jazz cafe, and just do instrumentals and I'll be there, but this is a hits tour, so what are you talking about?

In reference to my previous post, the guy was pissed off as he was expecting hits and didn't get many and called P a hypocrite for going on about real music by real musicians then playing samples of hits whilst singing over them. Shame he only went to that night.
[Edited 9/17/07 23:16pm]

It seems that view is that generally things have kicked on another gear since the beginning of Sept.

Can't understand why people get so upset about him playing old hits as generally that is the music we all lgot into him with. If like me you are taking your teenage son and wife to the shows you need this rype of material to get them in the mood.

As I said previously I personally don't want covers when there is so much quality material to choose from.

However I am very surprised that T1UW2C, Guitar and CR have not been played more frequently as they lend themselves perfectly to a live show in an arena and are far far better than BS and Musicology.

I do want a longer set on 21st 1h 30min with intervals is too short.
[Edited 9/18/07 2:32am]
[Edited 9/18/07 2:33am]

I think there was more band involvement early on in the tour - lately it has been more centred around Prince - keyboard etc.

I've been:-

Aug 4th - Ok show loved Lolita(I love 3121 album anyway) but I was up top so couldn't see him really
Aug 18th - Ok, shorter set and I was in 115. First one I was at with best mate who also loves him so good to share the love and then the 18th a'show with that hat was great!
Sep 6th - Got tkts for floor B2 on the day, was amazing. Great view and 'The Beautiful Ones' was brilliant his vocals made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The a'show that night was fun with PE songs played and a lovely 'Somewhere Here On Earth'(that girl at the 16th main show got lucky there being invited on stage for him to sing to her!!)
Sep 12th - Foolishly got a'show tkts - no show but let him off due to shows before
Sep 13th - Great show, this was my friends bday pressie, originally we should have gone 25th Aug but she was ill so I sold them and then got block E2 row A on TM later. Well it turned out perfect he did a bit of her fav 'I Would Die 4 U' and Elton John came on another one of her favs, so it ended up being a perfect pressie to a great friend

Bring on 21st! Can't wait for the show but don't want it all to end.

trebor67 said:

Completely agree about the hits being played. How else was he going to sell out an arena like this for 21 nights without them?

I can't believe he hasn't played The One U Wanna C in a main show yet but was lucky enough to hear at an aftershow. Guitar was getting a lot of play early on, then disapeared for a while but seems to be back in favour lately. Chelsea Rodgers also seems to be in favour lately too.

We need 8:30 - 11:00 on the 21st with 00:00:-03:00 in the Indigo. Am I asking for too much?

vivid said:

Well, I'm not so sure anymore, since I can't find the story anymore, but I thought 3121 denied the 'hits for the last time' advertisement.

On the other hand,


Casual fans really seem to enjoy the shows, singing purple rain when they exit the O2. I guess that's a good thing. Also the org seems to be getting a lot of new members.

Having said that, I agree with l4oatheoriginal, the main shows do seem a little 'jukebox with a heartbeat'. Luckily Prince is professional and skilled enough to make them enjoyable, but it's not the Prince of the aftershows, where he loves, breaths and enjoys the gift of live music.

Don't know but on 4 August the "casual" fans coming out of the arena were saying how " shite" he was.....one girl said it to two of the security staff and they agreed!!

I thought he did a great show on the two nights I saw him. Some people probably expected too much.

The only thing I will say is that NOT every seat is a " great" seat.....the upper tier is just too upper.

skipper1958 said:

Agreed. Especially live. Actually that's probably the song I think is most approved live.

TheEnglishGent said:

i would agree - 13th really good 16th not so 14th best first time i saw Prince live - went a bit mental (shame my boss was there) and 17th also good - took 8 newbies and they loved it

vivid said:

wasn't the musicology tour billed the same way? and the nude tour? etc etc ...

there is only so many times u can fool folks

there's 2 shows per night

one is in an arena that seats 20,000 people

the other is in a small 2,000 capacity venue

i'd say even the slowest witted among us could quite clearly see what the deal was gonna be...

if you don't want to hear the hits (although why on earth anyone wouldn't is completely beyond me) then don't go to the main show - it really couldn't be simpler

honestly cannot believe there are so called Prince fans who are complaining about this tour - we're the luckiest people on the planet for fuck's sake

ionlywannafeeluup said:

It's unbelievable isn't it. I've had such a great time at these shows and am just enjoying them more and more. I'm just savouring each one now and can't believe it's nearly over. So glad that I live so close by and have been able to get to so many.

ionlywannafeeluup said:

did u attend the ona tour or the gold experience tour? and if he decided 2 go back the format of those shows, would u go and have a good time or bitch cause he didn't do the hits? just curious