introduction

At 5 in the afternoon yesterday (26th of July 2011) I posted a status on my Facebook page "putting on my dancingshoes for the finale: a greatest hits show of Prince - or will he surpise me once more?"

I went with a friend who is a musician and had never attended a Prince concert before - he is more a fan of Beatles insprired rockbands. But he has seen all major artists, for example he went to Michael Jackson Bad Tour back in 1987/8? (yes we're that old - will come back to that ).

We arrived on time in the Ahoy, found our seats on the second ring, directely opposite of center stage. Good view and remarkable good sound. I found it a bit too loud, but with earplugs it was fine. My friend found only the synthesizer too loud (obvious for a rockfan LOL).

The Opening

GOLD!!!! I am not a big fan of that song, but after 3 NSJ concerts, 2 De Melkweg shows this starting of the show just blew me off my feet... The gold glitters, the light show - me and my friend just sat there in awe. I had shivers through my spine what was a sign of things to come...

Not the youngest man crying

Then Purple Rain (actually I expected this to be the opener) and he brought us to the chorus. Although I don't need to hear this song, I will always sing along... and yesterday I started 'Purple Rain, purple rain I only wanted to...." and my voice broke and tears started rolling and didn't stop until the guitar solo started... There you go, 46 years old and crying like a baby during Purple Rain. Never before had this song taken me in that way (not even the first time, August 18, 1986). I found it hilarious. Some might say embarrassing but really I don't care what you think.

My friend (he's just 40) told me later he also had watery eyes and goosebumbs... he's a Prince fan now!

Hold up - where is my guitar?

During Let's Go Crazy/Delirious/Let's Go Crazy reprise Prince starts with his guitar, during Delirious he is without guitar and when going back to Let's Go Crazy, Prince gives Mr. Hayes the hint (organ solo) and then we're back at Let's Go Crazy with Prince on the guitar.

Yesterday (yes he did this same, lame, combination AGAIN!!!) ... Prince gave the leadline hint to get back into Let's Go Crazy to the band, Mr. Hayes did his organ trick and Prince stood center stage in front of the microphone, all geared up to go into the finale of Let's go Crazy. But... he had forgotten to pick up his guitar!!!!! LOL Prince told the band to stay in the leadline and ordered Mr. Hayes to play the organ once more and ran back to collect his guitar to go into a fierce guitarsolo. Hilarious moment!

The girl with a rose

Cool with Don't Stop Till You Get enough... people wanted on stage. The first one picked out by Shelby was a woman in a beautiful (black and white?) dress. Well Prince was impressed by her clothes, he complimented her. She also had a rose in her hand. Prince: "wow is that for me? Andy, can I accept this?"

At the end of the song, Prince walked with the rose to the audience making a gesture to throw it into the audience, turned back and gave it to Andy... funny

Sucking up the audience

Before Kiss, Prince said "what a night huh? we've been having a wonderful tour, this night is even better than all the rest. Thank you so much". Check here if you're quick: http://www.youtube.com/wa...Z684F-pGhE

Oh Prince you're such a people pleaser LOL

You're still here?

Before the second encore, Prince said through a megaphone [edit:] bullhorn (maybe not literally): "You're still here? They told us you were going home, so we packed our stuff and went too! Don't you have to go to work tomorrow?" I was already lying on the steps of the sitting area - after Sunday and Monday at De Melkweg I was totally worn out at that point in the concert - and that comment (and the way he did it) made me rolling over the floor laughing out loud.

conclusion

Was it the best show Prince did? Of course not. But to me it was the perfect way to end my little affair with Prince that started Friday July 8 (or Sat. July 9, it was that night)... This was the best month of July I had in my life. Prince doing 6 different shows in the Netherlands - just try to comprehend this... 6 shows in just over 2 weeks in one of the smallest countries (as in population and square kilometres, I know we are one of the wealthiest and richest countries too) in the world...

So what he did some tracks twice or three times? I don't care - I just love his music, his musicianship, his energy, his humor, him entertaining the audience. My friend was overwhelmed with the quality enterainer Prince really is, he said he had never seen an entertainer like this before. And truly I believe many people in the audience felt it like that.

Overviewing the audience yesterday (and the Saturday and Sunday at the NSJ-festival, on Friday I was too busy grooving with the pure funk he gave us that night) he obviously entertained almost everyone to (over?) the top (some prince.org subscribers were not pleased with the show yesterday - he didn't do ................! (fill in your favorite outtake)).

Prince did what every artist does: he gave the people a wonderful night out, clapping, dancing, singing and grooving to the music. If you're not moved by that... well such a shame.

Keep on playing that funky music like you want to Prince! But, please leave the Netherlands for now - I can't take it anymore - LOL

Ronald

ps: if the woman in the red dress who danced yesterday in the row in front of me (vak Hf) is on prince.org and read this... please contact me

[Edited 7/27/11 8:23am]

Very nice review, It was a great night for many in the audience!!

Great write up, love the details and the video is great.

Glad to hear of yet another Prince convert. Seems like there were a lot of them there last night. I only saw two of the six Holland shows, but I still feel so lucky!

Indeed, this was again a great show. And, although I've seen Purple Rain several times live, I got tears in my eyes too...

And this is also a great review, with a lot of emotion.

Well done Prince and well done Ronald!!