We went on Sunday September 9th. Got to the venue which is fantastic.
Doors opened at 18:00, he got on stage at 20:15..... Kicking off with Lets Go Crazy. Great, I thought it's gonna be a fantastic show.

Sadly I was wrong.

He then started singing The Beatles - Come Together / Play That Funky Music White Boy, then moaned his way through 45mins of love songs. I was struggling at this stage. 2nd half was much better with Kiss / I Wanna Be Your Lover / Little Red Corvette / Purple Rain... Then for the encore he sat at his piano twiddling away then ended with a couple of hits. I went to see a legend perform his hits, not karaoke covers. Prince has over 1000 songs to choose from. Great entertainer but needs to concentrate on what the fans want. I've seen him a few times before & he was so much better back then.

To sum it up in one sentence - All too little too late.

ps - drop then stupid scraggy dancers.

Peace.

Well at least you got to see him? I paid to go on August 11th and he didn't turn up. Didn't mean to say I didn't have a great time anyway. I really don't understand why you have reason to moan.

PureScience said:

I was there that night too.... out of the 7 I went too I have to agree it probably wasn't his most rounded night of back-classics. nothing more you can say really except it was a shame you didn't get the songs you wanted!

JDInteractive said:

It says 'an honest review' in title, not 'a moan'

Shame you didn't see him.

PureScience said:

Fair enough although you do moan a little.

Really? I saw him in Mpls at the Target Center and everything about that show was amazing! Even though he played alot of the same old hits...he played some rare ones too like Seven.

This is more like an 'opinion' and everbody's got one.

wlcm2thdwn said:

He calls it a review which is subjective or one's opinion, and indeed he has put hyperbole aside and done an "honest review", thanks and well done. No one expects a Dirty Mind energy level, or a show on par with Lovesexy or Sign O the Times.

Bitch...bitch...bitch...

Genesia said:

They paid their money and has the right to share their thoughts. If they weren't happy it's all good ... Prince is great but every movie is going to be a blockbuster, every album isn't going to be #1 (it's been a long time) and every show isn't going to tear the roof off. Folks should be able to share their thoughts on the site.

It's all good

I've never seen a bad Prince performance. It seems some have, but fortunately I haven't. I guess everyone can have an off night.

I went that night too, and I thought he was great. In fairness I have never seen him live before but I thought he did an amazing show, true he didnt do all the hits but you cant deny he had the place jumping-even with his covers, he was funky as hell.

I have many happy memories of that night especially when I listen to some of the songs he played, I thought his version of somewhere here on earth and Adore at the piano was amazing!!

And to end with controversy and I feel for you wow!!

prime said:

I've heard a number of the O2 shows (please don't ask me where -- they're out there and that's all I'll say) -- including the 9/9 show. It was an excellent show -- and he played a lot of hits. (I'd be happy to produce a playlist if you don't believe me.)

I get very tired of people getting pissy because he didn't play that one song they wanted to hear. When I saw him in Vegas in February, he did Pink Cashmere and Something In the Water -- two of my absolute favorites -- the night after I was there. But you didn't hear me whine about it. You pays your money, you takes your chances. (Especially when it comes to Prince -- people should know that by now.)

And certainly, people have a right to their opinions. But if they don't want any reaction -- they should just keep them to themselves.

I've never seen a Prince show that I didn't absolutely love.Honestly.

Genesia said:

for £31 main show and £25 aftershow final night second row block 112 thought they were brilliant performances and great VFM i.e. for £56 got to hear 5 hours of Prince - what more could we ask for?

PureScience said:

I knew sooner or later someone would come up with these type of comments. Of course, its your opinion but where the problem is, you have come in at the end of 21 nights, many of which were rocking with every hit under the sun INCLUDING SEVEN.
At the start, Prince said he expected many fans to go to more than one concert (one reason I guess for £31.21 price). This meant 21 nights were never going to be the same and you cant expect him to play the same old BIG hits 21 times - man, that would do everyone's brain in.
He always played the core hits (you mentioned these) and the remaining time was different at every concert. Sometimes he crammed in more great album tracks which was fantastic. They were either jumping or more mellow. Sometimes he added a few unexpected great covers - also a pleasure to see him play. The fact that it was different every time was fantastic/inevitable.

I think its a shame you didn't appreciate his unbelievable guitar playing ability and diversity, such talent all round. It appears all you wanted was him to roll out the same old songs you have heard year after year.
Towards the latter dates, some of the new tracks off Planet Earth were added - a fantastic new CD - did these bore you too?

ritaw said:

That, too!

The last Prince show I attended (in Vegas) cost me over $800 for two people for the show and aftershow.

Of course, he was practically in my lap at the aftershow...so I thought that was worth it!

Genesia said:

was it worth it (I would think yes myself)

Genesia said:

Oh the Vegas aftershows! How I miss the 3121 Jazz and the very very intimate party!

seanysean said:

do you think he will do that again or was it just a one-off season - never been to vegas and never fancied it but would go to see Prince

seanysean said:

It was definitely one of the more magical nights of my life. I can't imagine another Prince "experience" topping it, frankly.

I would have been happy just being there. But it just wasn' t ment to be. I can say that NYE in Vegas for the main show and the aftershow was worth being in debt for a month afterward The man was less than 5ft from me *sigh* that was my Place In Heaven.

bex23 said:

I think that those of us who were there on the 31st had a similar problem - Prince was great on-stage but there were too many covers... back-to-back as well. It got a lot better towards the end too but by then I knew it wasn't going to be a life-changing experience (unlike the last show at the O2 )

ritaw said:

If you ever do find yourself in Vegas and Prince isn't there, do yourself a favour and go and see the tribute band "The Purple Reign". Next best thing I assure you.

Genesia said:

What part of "no" don't you folks understand? Enough with the PMs already!

Genesia said:

Oh you are so right! I sometimes looked at London with envy for the 21 shows but looking back nothing can top sitting 2 feet from the band having to move my head as i was that close to the trumbone!!

DoMeBaby69 said:

Indeed a quality nights entertainment!!!

is there enough purple kool aid going around 4 all of us? cause i didn't get any and probably neither this person's honest reflection of a show he/she saw. the minute someone doesn't like what prince has been doing on stage, people want 2 jump down their throats and saying it's a moan.

i never went 2 any of these shows but i have a vast majority of them. i can say by LISTENING 2 these shows, i have found the aftershows more inspiring. the synth set is a joke and a insult 2 every prince fan that attended. there is a full band right there..no need 4 the sample tease. the fact that he says on one night after doing black sweat, the audience reaction wasn't crazy so he says "oh prince ur such a tease, play something we know" ..i felt quite sad 4 him. is it his fault that he's trying 2 move on but fans constantly bitch and moan that he doesn't do the hits anymore. that's not his fault at all. as the dates were coming 2 a close, i also noticed while during purple rain, instead of the usual "it's time we all look out 4 something new, i ain't talking about just me, i'm talking about u 2"..it became strictly "i'm talking about u london" ..:hmm2" if he wants 2 try out new music, he should b allowed 2. if anyone didn't have a good time at these shows, don't bemoan them cause they have xpressed themselves. just respect how they feel and move on.

and on 9/12 when he did a 30 second sample of mountains and didn't do the whole song ..y'all should have stormed the stage and him!!

I went to that show, for me it was great but then it was the 3rd time I had been and certainly not the last.

I felt it had the best party atmosphere, like Prince was doing what he wanted and was having a good time doing it. It was his show after all so you just had to appreciate whatever he played but I'd rather see him do a passionate performance of something he enjoys playing than a half-hearted performance of an old track.
Maybe it is different if it's the only show you got to go to though.

We all know Prince's best days are behind him, but that doesn't mean he still can't be entertaining.