It was yet another great night.

This was my third show , Thursday and Monday being the others , so I was hoping for third time lucky with a soundcheck!!!

He did not disappoint , we got in - 4th row , great view again most of the band were on stage and after 5 or 10 mins Prince strolled onto the stage , talking to the band and glancing once or twice at us.He sat at his piano and asked us if there was a party last night ? "any good" he said "I was asleep".

He then played Money Don`t Matter Tonight , awesome , then a funky jam starting with 1+1+1 , with a snippet of Housequake in , then A Question of U starting at the piano and then to a rapturous reception he put on his guitar , they then played Pop Life (which is one of my favourites) and finally an absolutely blinding Sign Of the Times.

The songs were excellent , at times he would break off and give the horn players some guidance or change the tempo , slightly - it was great to watch him putting them through their paces the songs themselves sounded incredible.
He had a good interaction with the crowd as well.
It was a joy to watch and more than made up for the other 2 soundchecks.
I got a feeling he was in a party mood.
I thought to myself , some artists could have made a career out of those songs in the soundcheck - he rarely plays some of them !
It was that good , that if the show was subsequently cancelled I would have gone home happy.

There was a great atmosphere in the hall and the bar.
Anticipation was sky high.

The show itself was closer for the first hour or so to Thursday nights (with a few less songs - if that makes sense) , and had a definitley funkier vibe than Monday night which was jazzier and had had lots of incredible guitar play (couldn`t get onto the site Tuesday AM to write about Monday ).

Highlights were Strollin` with that amazing extra bit , Money Don`t Matter , Sign Of the Times , Pop Life , Alphabet Street (clearly the ultrafunky mix) , All the Critics , Gotta Broken Heart , his vocal on The Beautiful Ones , his pop at the media , "they would rather report I`m mad than review my concerts , I don`t feel mad today , I`m not dressed mad today".
He did The Ladder to close , this was by far the best version of the three I had heard and his speech was beautiful , he simply stated his beliefs and his faith in God and if we agreed fine , if not that was cool also.
It was sincere and heartfelt and genuinely moving.

I heard a few grumbles going out , "we don`t want to hear preaching at a concert".I was too high to argue , but they are so wrong.His faith has been a constant feature of his work and without it would be flat and empty , what he said was short sweet and true and straight from the heart.
If there is another world war (with potentially catatrophic results) it will be a war fought because one side believes in one God and the other side believes in another , surely there is only one God ? which was all he was saying.

So after 4 years when my enthusiasm has waned a bit , I have had three of the best days of my life.
Maybe it`s the long wait since the last time he came , maybe I was just ready to see him again , but these shows were the best I have ever seen him , even better than Lovesexy , the mix of songs , the intimacy of venue , the musicianship of the band , his genuine joy , he looks so happy and relaxed - no one comes close when he is like that - how can one man have so much talent and make it look so effortless ?
Prince I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Finally I have met some really great people over the last few days sorry if I have forgotten some names , Javed and Vicki (Javed the guitar solo he did for you and his facial expressions will live with me - and you thoroughly desreved it !) , Paul (Savage) you`re a top bloke , Auralee glad you made it to Manchester , the American lady with the tickets (sorry I forgot your name , but thanks for your organisation) , Col (you really threw down on the stage during Alphabet Street) , Javed`s friend (sorry crap with names ) , Pam (with your lovely outfit) and partner (good to see you on stage too!), Adrian , and the three Forest Fans from Monday night.

I`ve never really mixed at a concert before but it was great to meet you all , and I hope to see you all again soon.

Nice review and you summed it up perfectly

"Best 3 days of my life"

Couldn't agree more, great company and also some wonderful warm genuine people who made it all feel like the little family was back together.

Rainbow child - what a great review. U really got it right when you mention the religious piece, eas always part of his art and comes straight from the heart. This is the Prince of today ...

WOW! Had member tix 4 the 7th and the 8th and I still can't catch my breath.

We were front row on the 7th, and I was right next 2 the speakers (every1 has 2 talk 2 me in my 'good ear' at the moment)...
I was so freaked out being so close 2 him, with nothing between us, I can't say I remember all that much about Monday. Spent the whole nite just staring at the man thinking 'what the hell am I doing here...how surreal!!'.

Tuesday we were both much more relaxed...row 4 and by then we'd got used to having him there talking 2 us, and being just another guy who hangs out with us...so I really let myself go.

He played virtually different hits both nites, 2gether with the standard trax from TRC (TRC, Muse, Mellow, The Work, 1+1+1, Family Name, Everlasting Now).

I might have got some of these wrong what with the mind-blowing experience of it all, but from what I can remember:

Monday: Whole Lotta Love, Raspberry Beret, Take Me With U, Empty Room, A Case Of U, Nothing Compares 2 U, Girls & Boys, The Beautiful Ones, Starfish & Coffee, When U Were Mine, Sometimes It Snows in April, Adore, Strange Relationship, The Question of U, How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore, One Kiss At A Time...and the closing number...Purple Rain!

Tuesday: Money Don't Matter, Strange Relationship, Pop Life, Sign O the Times, Strollin, The Ladder, Gotta a Broken Heart, Beautiful Ones, Raspberry Beret, Take Me With U, Housequake, A Love Bizarre, When U Were Mine, All The Critics Love U In England, Extraordinary, The Ballad of Dorothy Parker, A Case Of U, Nothing Compares 2 U and Alphabet St.

We were also there on Saturday in London, and I think he also did Seven, Pink Cashmere, Peach, Days Of Wild, The Other Side Of The Pillow, The Ride, Don't Play Me, Diamonds & Pearls...

As this show was the only of the UK set I attended and after being spoilt with previous ONA reports and bootlegs I must admit that great as the show was I felt let down when it ended before 10.30pm without Family Name or a piano segment (Adore, HCUDCMA etc).

my first prince show and it was great!

starbass said:

Thanks it was great wasn`t it ?

riverjones said:

Thanks I had tears in my eyes when he said what he said , he stood there , held the mike stand and spoke from the heart there has been loads of debate about JW and other stuff , but to me as a "soul boy" black music is about emotion and feeling and in that short speech he said as much about our society as Marvin did when he recorded "What`s goin` On "

TheRainbowChild said:

I couldn't agree with you more. I couldn't believe how much that little speech of his, with The Ladder playing on, afffected me. The man is truly amazing.