"When Doves Cry" was performed on the sampler | |
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thank you so much for sharing that!! | |
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corrected, thank you
Thunderstorm Intro
4. When Doves Cry
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Finally got some time to write this review, I felt this show was incredible, Prince did look physically exhausted from the beginning but his enthusiasm, singing, dancing more than made up for it. For those interested in his appearance, yes he had noticeable bags under his eyes, his hair has seen better days, and his face overall looked really tired but not in a lack of sleep kind of way, More of this is my 5th city, 6th show in as many as 10 nights and forgive me if I haven't had time to meet with my stylist because I been working my ass off, kind of way. Working is something he has definitely been doing, evident in the changes since the last shows I had seen in Toronto on November 25th, and 26th. Many of the concerns and complaints seem to have been addressed as if Prince himself had been looking over the reviews of each nights show. Shelby J as well as I can recall did not say "Put Your Hands Up" once. Prince allowed equal time for all members of the band to be in the spotlight, introducing them to the crowd one by one, Literally, throughout the show and giving them a couple minutes to do what they do best. From bringing Ida up to the tip of the symbol stage, helping with her guitar strap and letting her jam. Morris Hayes somewhat in his own little world on the other side of the arena was given an intro and played a fine tune on his rig. Even Maceo Parker got to shine playing alongside Prince during a number of songs. Prince sang his heart out, really without much of a break, putting on quite a show for rather small venue in London. His voice was great and the sound quality was better than some of the recent shows I've experienced, likely due to the smaller setup of the John Labatt Centre. Speaking of the John Labatt Centre, Either they have got the most unprofessional security team or Prince is really cracking down on these Canadians to start enforcing the no cameras, no recording rule. The security had gone berserk as if they had gotten debriefed prior to the start of the show with the words, "Let's go crazy, Let's get nuts, Look 4 anyone with a camera and eject them from the show, Let's go." It was literally to the point of disruptive, security continually squeezing through rows to confiscate cameras and cell phones from anyone holding one in sight. In front of me a security person was manhandling some poor girl for taking a picture, literally, without warning grabbing at her arms, tugging roughly on her sleeves, in a tug of war for her digital cam until she handed it over, all while her companion was trying to reason with security and appeared to be holding back from not knocking the security guy out and spending the night in some Canadian prison. Other fans were ejected for using their Iphones, etc. It went on from the beginning of the show until literally the end, security staff swarming aisles and rows like sharks, totally unprofessional. Manhandling women, not cool. I've been to the Izod Center in NJ, MSG in NYC, Air Canada Centre in TO, for Prince shows and never have I seen something like this. Usually, warnings are issued and I understand rules are rules but it was unreal at the John Labatt Centre, which leads to believe either some John Labatt security personnel wanted to be heroes or Prince doesn't want his recently rough appearance captured. Aside from having to hear security/ fan negotiations and threats throughout the show, it was everything a Prince concert should be. Prince opened with Gold, which is a favorite amongst many. He ackowledged and thanked the fans, somewhat reminicent of the way Micheal Jackson would, a real class act and in a rather befitting way ended the show with Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough and Cool. IT WAS INCREDIBLE! A must see purple performance. [Edited 12/6/11 23:40pm] [Edited 12/7/11 0:00am] | |
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Pop Life....WOW....would love to hear that live..don't think he's done that for a while...
Bodyguards manhandling the fans though is not cool.....he should not go to that extreme...at the Hop Farm gig lots of people were taking pics and video but no-one was harrassed.. [Edited 12/7/11 3:05am] | |
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i know this isn't the place 2 talk about this but yeah i've never believed prince has had a real piano on stage since the days of the lovesexy tour and nude tour. the piano used during the jam of the year tour wasn't a true piano beacuse u can see that some type of controller or special effect was being tweaked by prince on stage. and the piano he's using on this tour eithe is or similar 2 the one used during the O2 shows.
i might stand corrected if the piano that's breifly used during the rave un2 the joy fantastic might be his "truest" piano on stage in recent years. It was set up in paisley park during the xenophobia celebration but even that piano has some type of remote control 2 lift the height.
4 me tho the worst type of keyboard prince has ever used on stage was this red midi during the european leg of the npg festival tour ..i so wanted 2 chuck that thing with it's whinning sound. best example of hearing this keyboard is on the one when the "flute" solo is supposed 2 be or on the jay leno show when he did come on 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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i actually asked the security guard near me before the show and he told me that the word had come down from the prince camp that they were to show zero tolerance for the camera. i think what would have been the best thing for the fans would have been for them to come on the pa system right before prince hit the stage and clearly explain there was a zero tolerance policy in effect and that if people got caught, their camera's would be erased and they could be kicked out.
i had read here that they were using a three strikes policy before giving people the boot...so if prince changed it to no strikes, it probably would have been a smart idea to let the fans know. otherwise, how the heck would they know??
the guard in my area, right at the front in front of the piano and just behind the vip section was the nicest, most professional security i met at a gig. he did his job BUT he was kind and nice about it. he didn't rough anyone up, he'd just go and tell them the rules and make them delete the pics they had taken. i actually didn't see anyone near me get tossed. only warned...after the gig i made a point of telling him i was impressed with is work and his level of professionalism. i've been to thousands of gigs and this guy was a rare gem!
and thank you j123 for the great review! i had a wicked time at the gig and i was happy to see the other, smaller london can rock like it's big brother across the pond | |
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I agree with figital, I was in the VIP section to the left of the point and the security guards in that section were totally professional while still enforcing the 'rules'. I did see some 'squezeing through rows' to get to a 'perp' but I didn't see any evidence of manhandling or anything like that. I too spoke with a couple of security guards before the concert started and they stated that they had never worked at a concert at the JLC like this one. "He controls everything", one said..."The soudcheck, when to let people in, when the show ends..." The other on added, "We usually let cameras and cellphones in and allow people to take pictures but He told us there is absolutely NO pictures aloud, and if they find pictures posted on the internet the next few days from this show, they will put in a formal complaint to the venue". But you know what? Who cares! I'm there to experience Prince and the entire spectacle...not to concentrate on getting the best possible 'shot' all while missing the best parts of the show, so the NO PICTURE policy didn't bother me at all. It actually allowed me to focus on the show with my complete attention without struggling with a camera and struggling to take pictures without security noticing. | |
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Good Job j123 | |
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thanks....BTW im lovin your aviator! | |
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hey, just got back to the chicago area awhile ago. Thought the show was great, nice selection of songs. There were some of my favorites that didn't get played... specificially anything from Dirty Mind... but a lot I enjoy got played too... like Gold, Take me with u, purple rain, a little bit of forever in my life ect.
I agree that the security was overbearing on the camera issue. I'm a photographer... I brought a small digital camera in, just to get photos for myself... maybe one for the wall if it came out well enough. And it was apparent right after the show started that security wasn't down with cameras. I snapped a few but nothing great, I wasn't really close enough to get a quality shot. But all around me security was coming up and making people delete photos they had taken. One guy near me, he must of took 20 shots during the first song and half and then was sitting there with security deleting photos during the purple rain solo, what a thing to miss. I also saw them making people delete photos off phones as well. They were also very adament about people on the end of our section staying in the row and not coming out and dancing or even standing a little outside the seats. I was in section 101 at the back. | |
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You would think, given the money he is making from these shows, that he might feel generous enough to let a few clips of the concerts show up on You Tube. For those who are big fans, but cannot make it to the shows because they live on the other side of the world (or for other valid reasons), or for a fan who has never been able to see a live performance, having a few YT clips available from each concert would open a small window to the experience. In fact, a few clips from the first concert did make it on to YT (I do not know if they are still there, but I rather doubt it), but I just checked for the London, Ontario performance, and there is not one single clip on YT available, at least that I can find. Wait, there is one clip (of When Doves Cry), but it is already blocked by NPG. They must have someone sitting there monitoring YT 24/7. The only clip available is the promo video put out by the Labatt Centre.
I think this policy really sucks. It comes across as churlish and small minded. IMO. When you don't have a case, yell RACE! | |
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For what it's worth, I posted my above comment before having read what others here were saying (I came here specifically to make my point after not being able to find even short videos of some of his performances in Canada).
Now I see the posts about the security patrols. That explains why nothing got out. It's very unsual not to be able to find even a small sample of a live performance online. ...
Does he actually think that a few videos are going to reduce the number of fans who attend his shows? Or that allowing one or two songs to be posted online is going to negatively impact him, monetarily or otherwise?
As far as I can tell, having access to clips would create more fans who would be willing to pay to see him live, and to make existing fans feel they are part of the club. When you don't have a case, yell RACE! | |
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After my GOLD experience at the show, can't stop playing GOLD! | |
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Interesting about the security. . .'cause where we were sitting--lower bowl seats--not a single security guard was around and we were taking LOTS of cell phone pics and video. | |
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1999 was played too... after delirious perhaps? | |
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What a week it's been I went to London to see prince and to get a new apartment. I did both I'm just getting to my laptop now, I'm shocked no pictures? I took really crappy ones and 2 real short videos
Loved how playful he was. Like during Nothing Compares 2 U He was about to sing the next line but Shelby started singing from off stage and the look on his face was like " that's not my voice!!" [Edited 12/9/11 22:07pm] 12/05/2011
P*$$y so bad, if u throw it into da air, it would turn into sunshine!!! | |
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This was my 2nd Prince show. The 1st was the one in Toronto.
I loved this show WAAAAAY better. Me and my friends dressed up in silver disco glitter pants and tops (maybe you saw us) and we enjoyed ourselves.
I was kinda miffed how the stage wasn't centred in the middle of the arena. We sat in the boxes (where hockey players sit).
I loved this show. Maceo Parker. Energy.....songs......wow. He is too talented for words. When he grabbed the bass and started to solo....I lost it.
It has taken me so long to sign up and post on this board, I've forgotten so many details.
When the "larger" woman made it to the stage to dance, Prince acted like a gentleman and pretended to do the "bump" with the woman....... He did a joke and moved across the stage like he was bumped too hard. The lady was too excited for words. Classy move on her part not to huge him.
Prince singing.... "I wanna talk about your body baby......" "SLOW DOWN"....
The man is a master.
How do I get my hands on a tambourine? Dang. | |
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I remember seeing you! 12/05/2011
P*$$y so bad, if u throw it into da air, it would turn into sunshine!!! | |
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I saw you, too! | |
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It's taken some time to make my post but it seems fitting since it is the last night of the Welcome to Canada tour. I was lucky enough to be at the London show. Front row VIP table seats right at the armpit of the arrow and the curly part of the symbol. It goes without saying that seeing Prince from up close is a rare treat. But at this show i got to see a few things that the rest of the arena may have missed. First off, Prince was in a strange mood. Most songs were performed by him only with the singers and band taking a back seat. It was almost like the band was in a fight or he was not happy with them. This was the first time on the tour that he played the sampler set early. More evidence of some tension. The next thing was when he was performing The One. At one point he was making arm gestures to "bring it down" (you know the one where he sticks his arms out as if in flight then brings them both down slowly). But the band didn't listen. He said it again with the arm gesture. This time the band stopped but Cassandra kept going. He silently did the hand gesture but Cassandra kept playing. Then he turned his head back to face her and with an angry glare yelled CASSIE! She stopped. At another point in the show someone gave Prince two roses. While singing he walked over to Andy playing her guitar and laid them down in front of her, sort of a peace offering. From that point on the band became funkier and more involved in the show. The last thing to happen which was very funny was when Prince threw his mic to the guitar tech (yes, this is the guy that catches the guitars that Prince throws in the air). The only problem was that guitar tech wasn't there to catch it and the mic landed on the floor with a loud crash. The guitar tech suddenly ran out from below the stage in panic mode searching around. He did this a couple of times until our table yelled "it's under the chair!" just in time to hand it back to Prince. The last thing I will say is that Prince thrives on audience participation and how loud and how involved they are will determine the vibe of the show. London definitely passed the test! | |
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So all was not well in the Kingdom of Prince? Ha ha. This post was worth the wait. Hilarious. Thanks, you made me laugh.
When you don't have a case, yell RACE! | |
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I must have been at the table right next to you, but I completely missed most of what you saw, except I did see him lay the flowers in front of Andy. What I noticed different from other shows is he seemed to perform right in front of the piano more - lucky for us! And the girls looked absolutely gorgeous up close. The things that I noticed when my eyes weren't glued to Prince were... the security guy guarding the stairs to the stage was taking his job very seriously - he did not smile or let the head bob the whole time - but the security in front of the piano was pretty friendly. And one time when P tossed the guitar to the tech, it went a little far and I was scared for the tech that he was going to fall over backwards! It was very cool to see all of the guitars neatly lined up under the stage before the show started!!! It was a pinch me I'm dreaming moment. | |
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I heard him yelling at Cassandra--I noticed there were also a few kind of strange "breaks" in the action, especially when the lights were way down on the stage. Still--overall a great show. | |
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