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Thread started 12/01/11 9:09pm

luv4u

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CONCERT REVIEWS (Post Here) - Sat 12/03/11 - Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place

Post your concert reviews and experiences here folks.

Any other threads created will get the lock and be redirected to this sticky.

canada

Ohh purple joy oh purple bliss oh purple rapture!
REAL MUSIC by REAL MUSICIANS - Prince
"I kind of wish there was a reason for Prince to make the site crash more" ~~ Ben
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Reply #1 posted 12/02/11 10:13am

Chemutai

Got great seats to the Ottcity show - and I think Ottawa will surprise Prince & the NPG - not instinctively a "funky town" but during the Hit n' Run he sold out in minutes and he killed the aftershow.......(yes we had an afterSHOW!)

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Reply #2 posted 12/02/11 11:17pm

carinemjj

avatar

Hi guys!

I have a problem and may need your help.

I'm going to the Ottawa concert tomorrow and a friend was supposed to pick me up after the concert and take me to her place to sleep.

I just got a very immature email from her saying she has a xmas party tomorrow night and ''hopes'' she'll be ok to take me after the show.

Since there is no way I'm getting in a car with someone drunk, I was wondering if any of the people going at the show would be kind enough to give me a lift to the Ottawa Youth Hostel after the concert, as I probably won't sleep at her place.

The hostel is located in Ottawa at:

75 Nicholas Street

near the rideau Centre

If someone could help me with i'd be really grateful!

If you can, please send me an orgnote about it and I'll answer to you in the morning.

confused

Yeah, I love Graffiti Bridge movie, so what? ''Oooooooooooh Montreal, say it!''
If you can't be nice to someone on the net, you probably ain't worth much talking to in real life either.
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Reply #3 posted 12/03/11 6:33pm

DJFreelan

Is he on stage, or will he ever get there? 9:30 and I see nothing nowhere from anybody.

"I never want to stop singing this song!" Prince in Montreal, 12/2/11, just before performing Purple Rain
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Reply #4 posted 12/03/11 6:41pm

Voog

avatar

Look up #princeOTT on Twitter!
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Reply #5 posted 12/03/11 8:02pm

AtenO

OTTAWA is such a SLEEPY town....not ONE report....no wonder all the politicians live there!!!

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Reply #6 posted 12/03/11 8:33pm

FunkyMan

So sad I had to miss this bc of work. Even Max Keeping was tweeting from the concert and having a great time!

http://yfrog.com/keaejvtj

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Reply #7 posted 12/03/11 9:51pm

carinemjj

avatar

Just give me the time to get back at my friend's place!!! The arena is already 30 min away from everything!! lol

SO!! OMG!!! Can't believe what I just experienced.. I just want to cry!!!

Ok, first the show!

He started arounf 8h40 or something, end ended at 10h50 or so.

That show was AWESOME!!!

He started with D.M.S.R. just like in Montreal.

I don't remember all the songs again, but it was similar to Montreal BUT he played Guitar and If I was your girlfriend, The Bird, Love Bizarre, Jungle Love...

Andy was wearing the shirt Prince was wearing in Montreal (the one with Andy's face on it wink

But it's not just all that that made my night...

I'll explain: In Montreal (and Halifax) I was wearing the same clothes.

In Montreal I was just next to the VIP tables and I was dancing like crazy so Prince and Shelby noticed me and my motivation... wink

Tonight in Ottawa, I still have the same clothes (yes i washed them!) but I wasn,t on the floor since the VIP seats were in the first 5 rows of the lower bowl... STILL Prince recognized me O_O

Why do I say that (or even think that!)? He's been looking at me many times during the show (I was still dincaing like crazy) and when he asked people to get on the stage, he looked at me and made a hand sign that meant 'come' I pointed at me and said 'ME?', he nodded and did the 'come' hand move! I (with my hands) tried to tell him that I couldn't cause they wouldn't let me go to the floor section... he continued to play guitar a little and then said ''Do we need more people on that stage?' Then he said 'There's one person missing on that stage'

AAAAAAAH!

Prince, honey, sweetie, my baby... next time you want to invite me on that stage, do it when I CAN go on the stage.

Now call me crazy, tell me I imagined all that or anything you want, I don't care! I just hope there is a youtube video of that that pops up soon!!!!

I Love you anyway Prince wink

Also during the show, near the beginning, he asked Shelby to pick someone to come on the stage, she picked a little girl, maybe 8-9 years old.. She was so happy, she just couldn't believe it, he took her by the hand so she could dance next to the musicians and he danced right beside her. That was just so adorable, That girl will have the sweetest memories for sure!!

[Edited 12/3/11 21:52pm]

Yeah, I love Graffiti Bridge movie, so what? ''Oooooooooooh Montreal, say it!''
If you can't be nice to someone on the net, you probably ain't worth much talking to in real life either.
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Reply #8 posted 12/03/11 10:07pm

TrueFunkSoldie
r2

carinemjj said:

Just give me the time to get back at my friend's place!!! The arena is already 30 min away from everything!! lol

SO!! OMG!!! Can't believe what I just experienced.. I just want to cry!!!

Ok, first the show!

He started arounf 8h40 or something, end ended at 10h50 or so.

That show was AWESOME!!!

He started with D.M.S.R. just like in Montreal.

I don't remember all the songs again, but it was similar to Montreal BUT he played Guitar and If I was your girlfriend, The Bird, Love Bizarre, Jungle Love...

Andy was wearing the shirt Prince was wearing in Montreal (the one with Andy's face on it wink

But it's not just all that that made my night...

I'll explain: In Montreal (and Halifax) I was wearing the same clothes.

In Montreal I was just next to the VIP tables and I was dancing like crazy so Prince and Shelby noticed me and my motivation... wink

Tonight in Ottawa, I still have the same clothes (yes i washed them!) but I wasn,t on the floor since the VIP seats were in the first 5 rows of the lower bowl... STILL Prince recognized me O_O

Why do I say that (or even think that!)? He's been looking at me many times during the show (I was still dincaing like crazy) and when he asked people to get on the stage, he looked at me and made a hand sign that meant 'come' I pointed at me and said 'ME?', he nodded and did the 'come' hand move! I (with my hands) tried to tell him that I couldn't cause they wouldn't let me go to the floor section... he continued to play guitar a little and then said ''Do we need more people on that stage?' Then he said 'There's one person missing on that stage'

AAAAAAAH!

Prince, honey, sweetie, my baby... next time you want to invite me on that stage, do it when I CAN go on the stage.

Now call me crazy, tell me I imagined all that or anything you want, I don't care! I just hope there is a youtube video of that that pops up soon!!!!

I Love you anyway Prince wink

Also during the show, near the beginning, he asked Shelby to pick someone to come on the stage, she picked a little girl, maybe 8-9 years old.. She was so happy, she just couldn't believe it, he took her by the hand so she could dance next to the musicians and he danced right beside her. That was just so adorable, That girl will have the sweetest memories for sure!!

[Edited 12/3/11 21:52pm]

so which show was better to u?? montreal or ottawa??

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Reply #9 posted 12/03/11 10:13pm

carinemjj

avatar

TrueFunkSoldier2 said:

so which show was better to u?? montreal or ottawa??

Actually, I'd say their equal.. Now I have to go to bed!!

Bye!! smile

Yeah, I love Graffiti Bridge movie, so what? ''Oooooooooooh Montreal, say it!''
If you can't be nice to someone on the net, you probably ain't worth much talking to in real life either.
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Reply #10 posted 12/03/11 10:22pm

sandrined

carinemjj said:

TrueFunkSoldier2 said:

so which show was better to u?? montreal or ottawa??

Actually, I'd say their equal.. Now I have to go to bed!!

Bye!! smile

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

did U go to the afterparty in MTL?

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Reply #11 posted 12/04/11 12:48am

L4OATheOrigina
l

avatar

seems that the only difference was the addition of the song guitar

man, he has such an amazing body of music that it's sad to see him constrict it down to the basics. he's too talented for the lineup he's doing. estelle 81
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Reply #12 posted 12/04/11 12:52am

SometimesIwond
er

L4OATheOriginal said:

seems that the only difference was the addition of the song guitar


Prince Vault says Mama Feelgood was sung by Shelby. Now that is Fuuuuunky stuff! wink
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Reply #13 posted 12/04/11 2:04am

FindingMyself

avatar

carinemjj said:

Just give me the time to get back at my friend's place!!! The arena is already 30 min away from everything!! lol

SO!! OMG!!! Can't believe what I just experienced.. I just want to cry!!!

Ok, first the show!

He started arounf 8h40 or something, end ended at 10h50 or so.

That show was AWESOME!!!

He started with D.M.S.R. just like in Montreal.

I don't remember all the songs again, but it was similar to Montreal BUT he played Guitar and If I was your girlfriend, The Bird, Love Bizarre, Jungle Love...

Andy was wearing the shirt Prince was wearing in Montreal (the one with Andy's face on it wink

But it's not just all that that made my night...

I'll explain: In Montreal (and Halifax) I was wearing the same clothes.

In Montreal I was just next to the VIP tables and I was dancing like crazy so Prince and Shelby noticed me and my motivation... wink

Tonight in Ottawa, I still have the same clothes (yes i washed them!) but I wasn,t on the floor since the VIP seats were in the first 5 rows of the lower bowl... STILL Prince recognized me O_O

Why do I say that (or even think that!)? He's been looking at me many times during the show (I was still dincaing like crazy) and when he asked people to get on the stage, he looked at me and made a hand sign that meant 'come' I pointed at me and said 'ME?', he nodded and did the 'come' hand move! I (with my hands) tried to tell him that I couldn't cause they wouldn't let me go to the floor section... he continued to play guitar a little and then said ''Do we need more people on that stage?' Then he said 'There's one person missing on that stage'

AAAAAAAH!

Prince, honey, sweetie, my baby... next time you want to invite me on that stage, do it when I CAN go on the stage.

Now call me crazy, tell me I imagined all that or anything you want, I don't care! I just hope there is a youtube video of that that pops up soon!!!!

I Love you anyway Prince wink

Also during the show, near the beginning, he asked Shelby to pick someone to come on the stage, she picked a little girl, maybe 8-9 years old.. She was so happy, she just couldn't believe it, he took her by the hand so she could dance next to the musicians and he danced right beside her. That was just so adorable, That girl will have the sweetest memories for sure!!

[Edited 12/3/11 21:52pm]

Sounds like you had a ball lol biggrin lol dancing jig

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Reply #14 posted 12/04/11 3:42am

rialb

avatar

FindingMyself said:

carinemjj said:

Just give me the time to get back at my friend's place!!! The arena is already 30 min away from everything!! lol

SO!! OMG!!! Can't believe what I just experienced.. I just want to cry!!!

Ok, first the show!

He started arounf 8h40 or something, end ended at 10h50 or so.

That show was AWESOME!!!

He started with D.M.S.R. just like in Montreal.

I don't remember all the songs again, but it was similar to Montreal BUT he played Guitar and If I was your girlfriend, The Bird, Love Bizarre, Jungle Love...

Andy was wearing the shirt Prince was wearing in Montreal (the one with Andy's face on it wink

But it's not just all that that made my night...

I'll explain: In Montreal (and Halifax) I was wearing the same clothes.

In Montreal I was just next to the VIP tables and I was dancing like crazy so Prince and Shelby noticed me and my motivation... wink

Tonight in Ottawa, I still have the same clothes (yes i washed them!) but I wasn,t on the floor since the VIP seats were in the first 5 rows of the lower bowl... STILL Prince recognized me O_O

Why do I say that (or even think that!)? He's been looking at me many times during the show (I was still dincaing like crazy) and when he asked people to get on the stage, he looked at me and made a hand sign that meant 'come' I pointed at me and said 'ME?', he nodded and did the 'come' hand move! I (with my hands) tried to tell him that I couldn't cause they wouldn't let me go to the floor section... he continued to play guitar a little and then said ''Do we need more people on that stage?' Then he said 'There's one person missing on that stage'

AAAAAAAH!

Prince, honey, sweetie, my baby... next time you want to invite me on that stage, do it when I CAN go on the stage.

Now call me crazy, tell me I imagined all that or anything you want, I don't care! I just hope there is a youtube video of that that pops up soon!!!!

I Love you anyway Prince wink

Also during the show, near the beginning, he asked Shelby to pick someone to come on the stage, she picked a little girl, maybe 8-9 years old.. She was so happy, she just couldn't believe it, he took her by the hand so she could dance next to the musicians and he danced right beside her. That was just so adorable, That girl will have the sweetest memories for sure!!

[Edited 12/3/11 21:52pm]

Sounds like you had a ball lol biggrin lol dancing jig

But was it a crystal ball?

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Reply #15 posted 12/04/11 5:37am

Praxis

avatar

carinemjj said:

Just give me the time to get back at my friend's place!!! The arena is already 30 min away from everything!! lol

SO!! OMG!!! Can't believe what I just experienced.. I just want to cry!!!

Ok, first the show!

He started arounf 8h40 or something, end ended at 10h50 or so.

That show was AWESOME!!!

He started with D.M.S.R. just like in Montreal.

I don't remember all the songs again, but it was similar to Montreal BUT he played Guitar and If I was your girlfriend, The Bird, Love Bizarre, Jungle Love...

Andy was wearing the shirt Prince was wearing in Montreal (the one with Andy's face on it wink

But it's not just all that that made my night...

I'll explain: In Montreal (and Halifax) I was wearing the same clothes.

In Montreal I was just next to the VIP tables and I was dancing like crazy so Prince and Shelby noticed me and my motivation... wink

Tonight in Ottawa, I still have the same clothes (yes i washed them!) but I wasn,t on the floor since the VIP seats were in the first 5 rows of the lower bowl... STILL Prince recognized me O_O

Why do I say that (or even think that!)? He's been looking at me many times during the show (I was still dincaing like crazy) and when he asked people to get on the stage, he looked at me and made a hand sign that meant 'come' I pointed at me and said 'ME?', he nodded and did the 'come' hand move! I (with my hands) tried to tell him that I couldn't cause they wouldn't let me go to the floor section... he continued to play guitar a little and then said ''Do we need more people on that stage?' Then he said 'There's one person missing on that stage'

AAAAAAAH!

Prince, honey, sweetie, my baby... next time you want to invite me on that stage, do it when I CAN go on the stage.

Now call me crazy, tell me I imagined all that or anything you want, I don't care! I just hope there is a youtube video of that that pops up soon!!!!

I Love you anyway Prince wink

Also during the show, near the beginning, he asked Shelby to pick someone to come on the stage, she picked a little girl, maybe 8-9 years old.. She was so happy, she just couldn't believe it, he took her by the hand so she could dance next to the musicians and he danced right beside her. That was just so adorable, That girl will have the sweetest memories for sure!!

[Edited 12/3/11 21:52pm]

that is beautiful...thx 4 sharing, wow

biggrin

No justice, No peace
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Reply #16 posted 12/04/11 6:02am

Praxis

avatar

Here is a review for the interested:

Prince, Scotiabank Place

Dec. 3 only

OTTAWA — Prince sure knows how to host a party. On Saturday night at Scotiabank Place, the rock legend provided the soundtrack for a purplicious good time, packing the evening full of hits so funky that 10,000 people didn’t bother sitting down for more than two hours.

Compared to the last time Prince swung through Canada, way back in 2002, when he deconstructed his hits, played covers and preached to excess, this time the Purple One created music that was surprisingly fresh and accessible. Hit after hit bombarded the crowd, like marshmallows fired from a cannon.

Dressed in a white suit that wouldn’t have been out of place on Saturday Night Fever, the ageless artist was a consummate showman who carried torches for both James Brown and Michael Jackson as much as he paid tribute to his own success. The diminutive American made his grand entrance from below, rising to the surface of the love symbol-shaped stage in a haze of fog. The configuration was in-the-round, with the crowd surrounding the stage. The concert was not a sellout, but it was one of the biggest turnouts on his Welcome 2 Canada excursion, the final leg of a world tour that started last year.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I bring to you real music,” Prince declared. “I bring to you real musicians.”

Indeed. The band that accompanied him was fantastic, capable of everything from deep funk to disco to jazz. On sax was the great Maceo Parker, who used to accompany James Brown, and another longtime sideman of Prince’s, drummer John Blackwell. The other three instrumentalists were women: Ida Nielsen on bass, Cassandra O’Neal on keyboards and lithe, attractive Andy Allo on guitar and general booty-shaking. Judging by the smiles they exchanged, she seemed to have a special relationship with Prince. Three female vocalists with stunning voices rounded out the lineup.

Prince wasted no time in getting down to business. Condensed versions of What’s My Name, Let’s Go Crazy, Delirious and 1999 flew by, delivered as a medley, before the red lights glowed and Little Red Corvette changed the pace for a moment. Prince’s guitar playing radiated fire and brimstone, while his fluid, soulful voice lent its distinctive character to each musical phrase. Also impressive was his ability to dance: at 53, Prince still moves with a sensual swagger, and the camera made sure we knew how cute his butt was.

In a nod to the 80s that was met with shrieks of delight, the artist tore through another string of popular songs, including Take Me With You, Raspberry Beret, Cream and a few bars of Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, eliciting a massive singalong and as much boogeying as one could get away with in a stadium seat.

It was fun, but the clipped format felt rushed. Prince would tease fans by dangling a tidbit of a song, but instead of finishing it, he’d move on to the next one, which kept them dancing but left them longing to hear a whole song.

The teasing escalated when Prince bid farewell at the one-hour mark . “Thank you, Canada,” he said. “Good night.”

Huh? It wasn’t the end, of course. There was another hour of music, but Prince made the crowd work for it, doling it out in medley-laden encores. In the first chunk, When Doves Cry, Sign of the Times, Hot Thing and I Would Die 4 U led up to a majestic version of Purple Rain that inspired everyone to sing along and wave their arms.

There was a long wait for the next encore. Almost 10 minutes went by, the house lights came up and people headed towards the exit before the eccentric bandleader deemed us worthy of more music. Reappearing in a new outfit, he performed If I Was Your Girlfriend and Kiss, which featured his still-riveting falsetto, as well as an eye-popping solo dance routine that oozed sexuality. In the third and final encore, an extended jam found fans on stage dancing with their hero as explosions of purple confetti brought the exhilarating night to a climax.


Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen....z1fZfys2Yy

No justice, No peace
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Reply #17 posted 12/04/11 6:14am

mask

These shows should be called "The Phone It In Tour".

I am soooo tired of the background singers and the stage full of audience members dancing.

Just seems like a bad Vegas/ oldies soul revue show.

He will not be getting my money again for a live show until he changes things up,big time.

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Reply #18 posted 12/04/11 7:04am

alexnvrmnd777

mask said:

These shows should be called "The Phone It In Tour".

I am soooo tired of the background singers and the stage full of audience members dancing.

Just seems like a bad Vegas/ oldies soul revue show.

He will not be getting my money again for a live show until he changes things up,big time.

highfive That's what me and L4OA been sayin'!

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Reply #19 posted 12/04/11 7:43am

schrik

MJ's show were identical to every second night after night.

Exact same word at exact same time every night. Exact same songs exact same order every night.

Was that ever concidered a problem ?

[Edited 12/4/11 7:44am]

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Reply #20 posted 12/04/11 8:00am

RodeoSchro

mask said:

These shows should be called "The Phone It In Tour".

I am soooo tired of the background singers and the stage full of audience members dancing.

Just seems like a bad Vegas/ oldies soul revue show.

He will not be getting my money again for a live show until he changes things up,big time.

Then don't go to any shows. Also, please zip it.

I'm tired of you "These shows suck! And I know because I read about them on the Internet!" people.

Honestly, just go away and find something else to do.

No offense.

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Reply #21 posted 12/04/11 8:02am

RodeoSchro

schrik said:

MJ's show were identical to every second night after night.

Exact same word at exact same time every night. Exact same songs exact same order every night.

Was that ever concidered a problem ?

[Edited 12/4/11 7:44am]

It would have been if some of the zeroes that post here were around!

I saw KISS in 1977. And I saw them again 20 years later, in 1997. The shows were EXACTLY the same - song-for-song, word-for-word! Except Paul Stanley added the words, "Oh yeah - don't drive drunk" in his speech to the audience.

I loved both shows!

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Reply #22 posted 12/04/11 8:24am

bouche

carinemjj said:

Also during the show, near the beginning, he asked Shelby to pick someone to come on the stage, she picked a little girl, maybe 8-9 years old.. She was so happy, she just couldn't believe it, he took her by the hand so she could dance next to the musicians and he danced right beside her. That was just so adorable, That girl will have the sweetest memories for sure!!

[Edited 12/3/11 21:52pm]

Yeah, that was incredible. That girl was all smiles and funky arms. I can't imagine what she was thinking. prince kneeled down and got to her level, made eye contact and she just lit up!

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Reply #23 posted 12/04/11 9:37am

thebanishedone

avatar

RodeoSchro said:

mask said:

These shows should be called "The Phone It In Tour".

I am soooo tired of the background singers and the stage full of audience members dancing.

Just seems like a bad Vegas/ oldies soul revue show.

He will not be getting my money again for a live show until he changes things up,big time.

Then don't go to any shows. Also, please zip it.

I'm tired of you "These shows suck! And I know because I read about them on the Internet!" people.

Honestly, just go away and find something else to do.

No offense.

Why are you tired?

Everybody have a right to express their feelings about their favorite performar.

And yes Prince is faking the funk these days.

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Reply #24 posted 12/04/11 9:49am

rialb

avatar

Praxis said:

Here is a review for the interested:

Prince, Scotiabank Place

Dec. 3 only

OTTAWA — Prince sure knows how to host a party. On Saturday night at Scotiabank Place, the rock legend provided the soundtrack for a purplicious good time, packing the evening full of hits so funky that 10,000 people didn’t bother sitting down for more than two hours.

Compared to the last time Prince swung through Canada, way back in 2002, when he deconstructed his hits, played covers and preached to excess, this time the Purple One created music that was surprisingly fresh and accessible. Hit after hit bombarded the crowd, like marshmallows fired from a cannon.

Dressed in a white suit that wouldn’t have been out of place on Saturday Night Fever, the ageless artist was a consummate showman who carried torches for both James Brown and Michael Jackson as much as he paid tribute to his own success. The diminutive American made his grand entrance from below, rising to the surface of the love symbol-shaped stage in a haze of fog. The configuration was in-the-round, with the crowd surrounding the stage. The concert was not a sellout, but it was one of the biggest turnouts on his Welcome 2 Canada excursion, the final leg of a world tour that started last year.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I bring to you real music,” Prince declared. “I bring to you real musicians.”

Indeed. The band that accompanied him was fantastic, capable of everything from deep funk to disco to jazz. On sax was the great Maceo Parker, who used to accompany James Brown, and another longtime sideman of Prince’s, drummer John Blackwell. The other three instrumentalists were women: Ida Nielsen on bass, Cassandra O’Neal on keyboards and lithe, attractive Andy Allo on guitar and general booty-shaking. Judging by the smiles they exchanged, she seemed to have a special relationship with Prince. Three female vocalists with stunning voices rounded out the lineup.

Prince wasted no time in getting down to business. Condensed versions of What’s My Name, Let’s Go Crazy, Delirious and 1999 flew by, delivered as a medley, before the red lights glowed and Little Red Corvette changed the pace for a moment. Prince’s guitar playing radiated fire and brimstone, while his fluid, soulful voice lent its distinctive character to each musical phrase. Also impressive was his ability to dance: at 53, Prince still moves with a sensual swagger, and the camera made sure we knew how cute his butt was.

In a nod to the 80s that was met with shrieks of delight, the artist tore through another string of popular songs, including Take Me With You, Raspberry Beret, Cream and a few bars of Michael Jackson’s Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough, eliciting a massive singalong and as much boogeying as one could get away with in a stadium seat.

It was fun, but the clipped format felt rushed. Prince would tease fans by dangling a tidbit of a song, but instead of finishing it, he’d move on to the next one, which kept them dancing but left them longing to hear a whole song.

The teasing escalated when Prince bid farewell at the one-hour mark . “Thank you, Canada,” he said. “Good night.”

Huh? It wasn’t the end, of course. There was another hour of music, but Prince made the crowd work for it, doling it out in medley-laden encores. In the first chunk, When Doves Cry, Sign of the Times, Hot Thing and I Would Die 4 U led up to a majestic version of Purple Rain that inspired everyone to sing along and wave their arms.

There was a long wait for the next encore. Almost 10 minutes went by, the house lights came up and people headed towards the exit before the eccentric bandleader deemed us worthy of more music. Reappearing in a new outfit, he performed If I Was Your Girlfriend and Kiss, which featured his still-riveting falsetto, as well as an eye-popping solo dance routine that oozed sexuality. In the third and final encore, an extended jam found fans on stage dancing with their hero as explosions of purple confetti brought the exhilarating night to a climax.


Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen....z1fZfys2Yy

Isn't Prince playing more covers now than he did on the One Nite Alone tour?

Was Morris not there or did the reviewer just forget about him?

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Reply #25 posted 12/04/11 9:52am

Praxis

avatar

Peter Tosh once sang, you cannot please everyone, so you have to please yourself. Prince cannot satisfy everyone and personally I am glad that he is going his thang....as the song goes "I did it my way." biggrin But one thing is for sure, the media is giving him rave reviews, and unlike some complainers, they were actually at the show

lol

here's another review: found here

One tablespoon of Prince contains all of your recommended daily dose of funk. The 10,000 or so people who saw His Purpleness rip it up at Scotiabank Place on Saturday night should be fully funked for some time to come.

There was no question – when the two-hour plus show began with a pulsing, throbbing D.M.S.R. – that it was going to be all about the funk. Prince did slow it down or change tempo with some songs, but only occasionally and briefly, as if too many moments that weren’t fully charged funk might derail the whole “house party” atmosphere he managed to build in that cavernous arena.

And, boy howdy, he sure did keep that house party going. From the first beats leading to that opening, sing-along chorus — “uh huh, all right, dance, music, sex, romance” — the man had the place in his skinny, 53-year-old hands. He played in the round, on a stage shaped like the stylized symbol that, for a time a few years ago, was his name, and he skipped and shuffled and swaggered and strutted to every corner, intent on making every fan in every corner feel a part of the party. Near the end of a sprawling “House Party” medley, Prince was in full James Brown flight, here, there and everywhere on the stage, arms outstretched as if to embrace us all and pull us into his music, his moment, his feeling. It was glorious, without question the most impressive thing I’ve seen any musician do on stage in 2011, at least.

Photos were not permitted at Prince's show in Ottawa. But, ahem, if you had been at the show, and you were in a box on the 100 level, and you took a photo halfway through the concert, it would look like this. Ahem.

If there was a singular moment in the show it came at the end of Kiss, a popular choice (judging by the number of fans yelling for him to play it) in the second of two encores. While the sizzling, tight band, led by sax-man Maceo Parker, played the song out, Prince stood alone at centrestage and danced in tight, almost serpentine fashion. This was no random burst of exuberant energy, no watch-what-I-can-do display of athleticism or choreography: rather, Prince never left the spot at centrestage, where he twisted and writhed in indisputably sensual fashion, as if he was briefly lost to us, alone in an ecstatic moment that we 10,000 were fortunate enough to witness. One female fan tweeted, “may panties just melted off.”

All of this is not to say the performance was perfect. As a fan who has long believed Prince is under-rated as a wickedly good guitar player, I would like to have seen him play it more. He strapped on his Fender Telecaster a couple of times — surely a high point in the show for all assembled was the guitar solo in Purple Rain, which I still vividly remember seeing and hearing for the first time on television almost 30 years ago — but there was too little of it.

The string of medleys also became frustrating by times, when he would toss out 10 or 20 seconds of a song — say, Darling Nikki or I Would Die 4 You or Hot Thing — and it would be over and onto something else before you had time to sing “masturbating with a magazine.” There was a sameness to these over-stuffed jams, and it was almost a relief when he focused on one song for a few moments. For me, almost all the high points came with songs we actually got to hear most of, such asRaspberry Beret or Purple Rain or Let’s Go Crazy (though it had a slice of Deliriousstuffed into its middle).

Another problem — and it has to be mentioned — was the absurd security clampdown on photos. To prohibit the media from taking photos is bad enough, but harassing fans is inexcusable. Security guards at the admission gates were loudly warning fans that no photos were allowed, even with cell phones, and that Prince might stop the show if he sees anyone take a photo. I laughed when I heard that, and the security guard who said it turned to me and with a hapless shrug (he doesn’t make the rules) said, “he’s done it before.” For a full half hour inside the venue, before the show started, the digital boards warned all not to take photos, and I saw tweets from people at the show who said security guards ordered them to stop tweeting and put away their cell phones, lest they take a photo. (Obviously some snuck through.) There’s no basis for a ban on photos, and it seems petty.

Those gripes aside, it was a tremendous performance, one in which the sometimes mercurial star shone bright and was clearly intent on giving his fans what they wanted. “You know how many hits I got?” he teased during the first encore. “We’ll be here until next week.” He kept rolling them out — 1999, When Doves Cry, Sign o’ the Times — giving the people what they wanted, encouraging them to sing along, at the end bringing them onstage to dance with him.

What an intimidating challenge that must have been. Prince, over two hours, had made it plain that he’s one of the truly great talents of his generation, part Michael Jackson, part James Brown, and all musicology. If you have the courage to get up in public next to that guy and dance, well, baby, u r a star 2.

-30 -

No justice, No peace
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Reply #26 posted 12/04/11 11:03am

bouche

Fantastic show. I had a great floor section A seat which allowed me to dance out in front of the stage (the point) all night. When Prince invited people to come dance, security was looking at each other mouthing "what do we do?" and the other one mouthed in response "I don't know.". haha. so now the floor has packed up to the stage. Security couldn't hold back a few sneaky people from climbing on one of the woofers to access the stage. It was great. I helped a girl up by distracting a couple rookie security dudes. Everyone was having a blast up there. I held back from climbing up because after about 4 of those Creemores, and the slippery purple confetti, I could only picture myself slipping on my ass in front of 11,000 people.

It was a night of purple madness.

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Reply #27 posted 12/04/11 11:31am

rialb

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Regarding the cameras he does somewhat contradict himself. In Halifax at one point he asked the crowd to wave their cell phones (I guess the effect was similar to holding up a lighter).

I also thought it was funny when he sang the bit "take a picture sweetie" from "Baby I'm a Star."

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Reply #28 posted 12/04/11 1:48pm

L4OATheOrigina
l

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alexnvrmnd777 said:

mask said:

These shows should be called "The Phone It In Tour".

I am soooo tired of the background singers and the stage full of audience members dancing.

Just seems like a bad Vegas/ oldies soul revue show.

He will not be getting my money again for a live show until he changes things up,big time.

highfive That's what me and L4OA been sayin'!

and some others there too can't forget those that have seen the light

man, he has such an amazing body of music that it's sad to see him constrict it down to the basics. he's too talented for the lineup he's doing. estelle 81
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Reply #29 posted 12/04/11 1:57pm

L4OATheOrigina
l

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thebanishedone said:

RodeoSchro said:

Then don't go to any shows. Also, please zip it.

I'm tired of you "These shows suck! And I know because I read about them on the Internet!" people.

Honestly, just go away and find something else to do.

No offense.

Why are you tired?

Everybody have a right to express their feelings about their favorite performar.

And yes Prince is faking the funk these days.

it's because we are not allowed or refused 2 bow down any longer ..so yeah i guess we're the banished ones now

man, he has such an amazing body of music that it's sad to see him constrict it down to the basics. he's too talented for the lineup he's doing. estelle 81
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Forums > Concerts > CONCERT REVIEWS (Post Here) - Sat 12/03/11 - Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Place