Monday 20th October 2003 - MELBOURNE


***SECRET GIG***

On 20th October 2003 (day b4 the official tour start in Melbourne), while searching the NPGMC and ORG sites through sheer excitement of the following nights extravaganza, I stumbled on to a post that mentioned PRINCE rumoured to appear at Bennetts Lane in Melbourne for a special secret gig.. I nearly passed out at the thought and started to arrange with some members a meet up at Bennetts. So, I quickly got ready and raced out the door nearly in tears with excitement.. once there.. well a secret gig.. not so secret. There were hundreds of people there all trying to somehow worm there way into the venue (apparently a radio station had leaked the information out). There was a doorlist but unfortunately a doorlist that was not for NPGMC members. Lots of celebraty types were getting priority entry while us sad fans outside had to bare the fact we were not getting in. So the next thing, was to just hang around and hope to hear what was going on inside. At times you could hear a pin drop with the fans being so quiet as to hang on to every note that was played inside. I have to admit, I was feeling a little sad.. thinking is this the only opportunity to experience Prince and the NPG in a jammin environment.. had I missed my one and only chance? The Bennetts gig finished up at about 1am and the band played for approx. 1 hour. All I remember is that I could hear "When the Saints Go Marching In".

I had 5 hours sleep this night!



Tuesday 21 October 2003 - MELBOURNE


***PRE-MEET UP and SOUND CHECK***

Now, its Tuesday 21st October 2003 - the OFFICIAL "PRINCE LIVE" 2003/04 T0UR start - Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena. I went to work and do you think I could work - NO WAY, I managed to get a half day off from work and left at 12noon to meet up with "Meet the Melbourne members" at Phoenix bar. It was such a delight to meet so many lovely people and I think I have made some cool new friends.. I can almost see some of us actually all travelling 2gether if P puts another Celebration on at PP.. wouldn't that be cool? After the meet at Phoenix bar, we all went to Rod Laver Arena for the 3.30pm pick up of our Diamond tickets and VIP laminates. I was a Diamond ticket holder for the 1st concert and the NPGMC had it all organised like a breaze - just line up, show ID and into the venue. Now for my first ever soundcheck.. we had to wait like 45 minutes b4 Prince and NPG allowed us in to see them - WHAT A SHOCK, I really wasn't expecting to see him already in action on stage as I was still walking into the arena, it took me by surprise, but gee it really made up for not getting into Bennetts Lane the night before, it almost sounded like a repeat of what I could hear in the alley way of Bennetts Lane. Woo Hoo.

The 1 hour soundcheck setlist included: 1. Xemplify 2. Band Jamming (a jazzy instrumental) 3. Elephant and Flowers 4. Life Of The Party 5. Bambi 6. Whole Lotta Love 7. not sure? 8. Xemplify 9. When The Saints Go Marching In


Once the soundcheck was over, the NPGMC Diamond ticket holders were told to go to an area to pick up our wristbands for the after show party while the VIPs went into a private function room. As a diamond ticket holder I quickly raced to get my wristband and then it was time to eat and mingle with the NPGMC members.. like Jacquie! it was too much fun!


***CONCERT***

It's now 7.30pm.. Groove Terminator is playing his DJ tracks.. he wasn't too bad and had quite a few people up grooving away. My seating was 8 rows back from the stage on Rhonda's side.. it was pretty good, but was wishing I was in Row 6! At 8.55pm, the lights went down and I could hear the intro and lots of screaming, my friend and I somehow ended up in Row 3 - a little stampede happened with fans wanting to get to the front, but it wasn't a dangerous one .. so I was very, very happy that I was closer than I thought I could get. He did 2 costume changes, starting with the white pinstripe suit with red shirt and the 2nd outfit was all in white (hard to explain this one). I loved the part where he was trying to work out how to say "Melbourne". I had a little cry when I heard "The Beautiful Ones" and "Purple Rain", and I got to hear Controversy and DMSR live for the 1st time, woo hoo! This was a great concert and now I can't wait for the next night as I was a VIP holder with a front row seat.

The setlist included: 1. Let's Go Crazy 2. I Would Die 4 U 3. When Doves Cry 4. Baby I'm A Star 5. Shhh 6. Dmsr 7. I Feel 4 U 8. Controversy 9. The Beautiful Ones 10. Nothing Compares 2 U 11. Insatiable 12. Sign O' The Times 13. The ? Of U 14. The One 15. Let's Work 16. U Got The Look 17. Hot Pants/Life O' The Party (JB song with Lyric change to LOTP) 18. Soul Man (sung by Chance) 19. Kiss 20. Take Me With U 21. Everlasting Now ENCORE 22. Purple Rain



***AFTER PARTY***

When the concert finished (started at 8.55 finished at 11pm), we hung around for a little and John was handing out drumsticks. We then left and headed for the after party which was held at the "Prince of Wales" fitzroy street, St Kilda... NPGMC members got in for free, while others had to pay $30 which went to charity. We were told that Prince will only be making an appearance and not a performance, which was still cool. Prince rocked up at about 1.45am and had the DJ (Groove Terminator) to play tracks that Prince chose.. while Prince was listening, bopping his head and playing with the crowd.

I had 4 hours sleep this night! And 31 performed songs later!



Wednesday 22 October 2003 - MELBOURNE


***SOUND CHECK***

Wednesday 22nd 2003.. back at work again, no pre-meet up today with members, just had to get to the box office to pick up my VIP laminate. Soundcheck started a bit earlier today, but it was a shorter one. Prince said he had to cut it short due to an inteview he had to do! This soundcheck felt loads different to the day b4, I felt that Prince was feeling relaxed around the fans - like he was starting to get to know us, he asked if we were at the 1st concert.. most of us said Yeah. Out of the blue, he decided to walk off the stage and walk out on to the floor behind us. I was hoping no one would do something stupid by going up to him. I noticed that there was a channel 9 film camera on him and us. Prince was checking the sound and I also felt like it was a little test of trust. Every1 was on there best behaviour. After that, Prince got back up on stage and I was completely overwhelmed as Joshy yelled out to Prince to play "Joy in Repetition" and guess what.. Prince started playing it for Joshy! How special! Prince was wearing all black and a turtle neck jumper. Prince was telling us how he was looking for John, but John was getting his nails done - that's why he was late to soundcheck.. he was making a joke of John.
Hey and it was nice meetin' ya PanthaGirl.

Setlist for the 40 minute sound check: 1. Superstition 2. A really long band jam ("We want the funk" & "Shake your money maker" chanting) 3. Joy in Repitition


***VIP ROOM***

Now that I was a VIP ticket holder, I was able to go into the VIP room where the VIP members can mingle, eat and drink. (the only bummer about this is, i wish that the Diamond NPGMC members could also come along too). As well as collect our wristbands (drama on it's own though! - they nearly didn't give me a wristband for the aftershow party - every1 out there reading this, always make sure you buy your tickets throught NPGMC as it's hard to prove u r a member to get the wristband!), collect our ONA Box set and grab a tour poster. I had a great time mingling with Marko, Andrew, Zab, the italian girls - Lori and Rita, Helen and loads of others.


***JOHN B & SEATING for CONCERT***

I then proceeded to go into the arena and noticed John B checking out the crowd from the side of the stage. I waved at him and pointed at my watch, he then came over, and I said "Cmon, hurry up" in a joke, he laughed and said I don't know when we will start, it's up to Prince. I said to him "I have a really good feeling about 2nite, like I can feel that 2nite the show and after party show is going to be fantastic".. he said "You'll see". Yeah, I saw alright and I had sore feet because of it! Another NPGMC member beside me asked John why they didn't perform the night before at Prince of Wales, and his reply was that it was a night off, he then asked John if they were playing 2nite and John replied "We have too". John is a man of very few words but to the point.

Firstly, I finally sat down and waited for the show to begin, but this time I had a plan (if any1 knows me now, I always have a plan LOL ). I was sooooo disappointed with my seat at the front (can you believe I was disappointed?), ticketek had told me that my seat was more towards the middle of the floor, but it turned out it was the very last chair on the left hand side of stage.. I was not a happy camper. I talked to the security guard and he told me that the 1st 5 rows they have no control over, so he suggested that I should put my running shoes on if I want the middle. So I asked Zab and Andrew (who were sitting in the middle at front - they were from Adelaide) if I was to get there really quickly would they mind me if I could squish in the front with them, they didn't mind at all. Anyway, I knew at 8.50 I should stand up and get ready for the run of my life, the lights went down and I bolted like a maniac, I think I even jumped over people and chairs - for a little girl, I had such determination. I got to the front, middle, at the front of where Prince was going to sing. I started jumping around like a little kid, I have never been in the very first row in my life and now I was in the front row for a PRINCE concert - OH MY GOODNESS, I COULD CRY!


***CONCERT***

The show was magical, funny and FUNKY. Prince was in fine form, he seemed to be quite energetic and more happier than the night before, just from seeing his vibrant self made me realise for sure that this concert was going to be a hit. The fans at the front were going mental and I was happy that I wasn't the only nut at the front. The more we gave, the more Prince & NPG gave back to us. I lost my voice with all the chanting, but it was worth
it: OH WEEE OH, OHHHHH. I laughed my butt off with Zab, we were in hysterics just from being so silly, we were wondering how we looked to Prince and we'd imagined from his point of view, it wasn't a pretty sight - hair everywhere, make-up dripping down our faces.
Prince was in such a fine mood, he was cracking jokes and he extended a couple of tracks like controversy (great for me!). At one stage of the night, he decided to pull up someone out of the audience and he picked MisterRon – this was too funny, MisterRon bolted to the stage without hesitation, did a finger point, a spin and straight into the splits.. every1 was cheering and screaming and even Prince was impressed. Prince could not have picked any1 better for the spotlight. (During the day I met MisterRon while walking to the Rod laver arena and a man in a wheelchair approached him asking for directions and Misterron helped him out and I think from that good deed – MisterRon got one in return).
Prince did this whole thing about Pimp Walking to the car which he get RAD to help him out with his demonstration.
The best part of the evening was still to come, the encore! I was assuming it was going to be Purple Rain again, but in the dark I could see the roadies bringing out a large black object and it was keyboard that was placed at the centre of the stage. I get a chill now just thinking about it, Prince came out to the stage and performed a few extra songs. I didn’t want the night to end, I became teary eyed once again, but this time over the sheer fact that I was experiencing the most rarest talent in the world. When he was singing “Don’t make me sleep on the couch” (not sure on title), he was moving in a way that I wanted to ROARrrrrr. Once Prince finished playing the keyboard, the lights went down again, more chanting and now for the finale encore - Purple Rain. He played like I had never seen or heard before – it was stunning. The night ended at 11.45 – an extra 45 minutes to the set from the previous night. What a finale for Melbourne, and just think.. there was still the after party gig at the Metro. I was ready to shake my money maker that night!

Setlist for Melbourne no. 2 concert: 1. Let's Go Crazy 2. I Would Die 4 U 3. When Doves Cry 4. Baby I'm A Star 5. Shhh 6. DMSR 7. I Feel 4 U 8. Controversy 9. The Beautiful Ones 11. Nothing Compares 2 U 12. Insatiable 13. Sign O' The Times 14. The ? Of U 15. The One 16. Let's Work 17. U Got The Look 18. Hot Pants/Life O' The Party 19. Soul Man 20. Kiss 21. Take Me With U 22. Everlasting Now 1st encore: 23. Adore 24. Don’t make me sleep on the couch 25. Forever in My Life 26. Alphabet Street 27. All the Critics Love U in Melbourne 28. Days of Wild 2nd encore: 29. Purple Rain


***AFTER PARTY***

This was amazing.. could these guys get any better? I got to Metro and again the NPGMC members didn’t have to line up and could walk in for free (Prince your so generous to the club members) and Andrew, Zab and I headed immediately to the stage. Non members had to pay $70. The stage was quite high, but was excellent for every1 to see.. but the hardest part about this party, was the long wait. John B came out and tested the drums, we knew it wasn’t going to be too long now and out of the blue the whole band came out from backstage. We all forgot about the long wait and ready to forget about the pain in our feet. The first track had a really long intro, we were all grooving like there was no tomorrow and then we heard the strings with a familiar sound, WOW, Prince is going to sing PEACH! I cried again! I didn’t at all expect this one. At one point Prince was looking over my way and he sang “Dressed in Red”… ummmm, was he singing that at me? Looking around like mad to see who else was dressed in red.. then he looked back over my direction again.. sang the next line…. Oh my, was it my imagination, did I really party so much at the front row at the concert that he actually noticed my bright red hair and red top. I will never know, but I do know that I had no one dressed in red around me. Well I like to think it was for me - I’m such a looney and a dreamer.
It really still didn’t hit me that I was at the after show party gig, I’ve always wanted to attend one of these up close and personal gigs, never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would experience one.
OK, back to the party… then I finally got to hear “MUSICOLOGY” LIVE, oh another big WOW from me. It was sooooo damn funky I just couldn’t control myself. Some1 told me that Prince had never performed this live yet, and this was a premier. I also noticed that Mani was videoing the crowd using a camcorder at this gig.. I waved at the camera (couldn’t help myself) then got back into focus with the music. The gig went for an hour. I have to admit that I was feeling a sad when Prince didn’t wave goodbye or anything, it was left up in the air. I needed CLOSURE, writing this makes me look at myself for being selfish.

Prince is the MUSIC

Setlist: 1. Musicology 2. Brick House 3. Peach 4. The Work 5. Ohh sung by RAD 6. No Diggity sung by Chance with Prince 7. When the Saints Come Marching In

Only 3 hours sleep – I need sleep now and a foot massage. And 39 performed and extended/full songs today!



Thursday 23rd October 2003

Up early, can’t miss Prince on the box. As mentioned before, Prince did an interview with Channel 9’s Richard Wilkin’s for the morning program. I liked the interview and for once in my life I thought Richard did well and he showed respect for Prince and you could see that he was an obvious fan. He seemed to be blown away by how Prince’s personality can come across off camera and he mentioned that he really admired him. Prince said that Melbourne was a party town.. he’s got that right!
I had to go to work that afternoon (bummer) and every1 was asking me all sorts of questions. I couldn’t keep off the web as I wanted to read every1s reports and experiences. It then started setting in that I may never see Prince again or basically if I did, I would never hear those hits again.. I started to miss the live music already and felt a bit lost.



Friday 24th October 2003 - MELBOURNE

That’s it, I have no money and I want to go to Sydney. I started writing to people on the web to see if any1 had a spare ticket but I had no success. I know what to do.. I’ll go and see the finale gig in Brisbane. At 4pm, I rang ticketek and bought a Diamond ticket which had me in Row 5 Centre of stage, then at 5pm, I booked my flights via the net, it was only $300 return – I did well. Had no accommodation and just booked this with hope. Woo hooo, I’m going to feel the magic one more time. (Thank goodness to credit cards)


Monday 27th October 2003 - BRISBANE


***SOUND CHECK***

I stayed on the Gold Coast Saturday and Sunday night and finally made contact with people from Sydney who were flying up to Brisbane. I caught a train back to Brisbane airport and met up with Marti and his wife at 12.30pm. We then hung around until 2ish for Christel (she was the young lady who got to dance with Prince in Sydney to the track “U got the look” – she was wearing black and white spotted blouse) but we missed her. Anyway, we all headed to the Brisbane entertainment centre. I was becoming a little upset at the thought of not getting the opportunity to see the soundcheck, and I discovered that I along with 2 others were in the same predicament as me. I still had hope and guess what, it’s true – there is a light at the end of the tunnel. To cut a long story short - I got to see the sound check.
I thought the sound check 2nd Melbourne concert was awesome.. well I will call this awesome too and really funny (the 2nd Melbourne sound check was more personal). When walking (actually I was grooving) into the auditorium, the band were playing GIRLS and BOYS. “I luv ya baby, I luv ya so much”. I was in the front for the sound check, Prince was on his keyboard. When he finished this track, all of a sudden he started to play the intro to Billie Jean.. I’m thinking “WHAT” and not sure what Prince was up to, but I didn’t mind at all. I like MJ too! Then he asked the audience who can sing it? I don’t think any1 at first knew what Prince was asking and then he repeated himself again. Then Paul Black from Western Australia put his hand up.. then b4 you know it, Paul is up on stage. Prince gave Paul the mic and off he went.. singing and impersonating Michael Jackson. I again had tears running down my face from laughter. Prince and NPG were laughing too and to be honest Paul could sing and dance.. which was a surprise. Prince eventually wanted to finish it and Paul seem to sense it, so all of a sudden Paul yells “ON THE 1” and Prince and NPG all stopped playing. That was the funniest part of all. Then Paul being all cool, wanted to put the mic back on the keyboard for Prince, but it didn’t seem to work.. Paul got a handshake from Prince. Paul had his spotlight and no way in this world any1 (nor him) will ever forget it in that room. Prince said “Never a Dull moment in Australia”. This sound check was also different because they had the full light show going on too.
I finally got to meet Ronny, his wife - Espy, Andrew and BMTL – all such lovely and warm hearted people. I also had BMTL offer a spare seat for me in her limo to the After show party, then Christel and I were offered a front row seat (better than sitting 5 rows back), centre for the concert!! Prince also asked us who had travelled from Sydney.. some people put their hands up, I yelled “AND MELBOURNE”.
Prince was wearing a beanie and he also mentioned that he was going to Hawaii next. It was like he was stirring us to see who would fly out there to see him again. He said about Brisbane “Nice weather”. Sound check lasted close to 1 hour.

For the first time I had LUCK.. still more to come too! This was meant to be.

Sound check setlist: 1. Girl & Boys 2. Billie Jean (sung by Paul Black from W.A.) 3. THE BALLAD OF DOROTHY PARKER 4. OOH BABY BABY 5. PINK CASHMERE 6. WHEN U WERE MINE/HEAD snippets 7. PARTY UP 8. BRICK HOUSE 9. OYE COMO VA


***CONCERT***

It just gets better and better. Its like Prince was saving the best for the last show? I’m more relaxed this time around, we had the security people telling us that in the previous concerts in Australia that the first 5 rows could move around, but in Brisbane it was NOT going to happen. We had to stay where we were seated, thank goodness that I was in the front, being such a short girl.
Before the concert started, I had some1 else (George's wife) offer me a wristband for the after show party as she couldn’t attend due to work for the next day… can I experience any more luck? The concert began at 8.55pm again, this time I had space around me to groove and I didn’t necessarily have to stay put by the front railing. The stage in Brisbane was higher too, so it worked out better not always to be up against the railing. I was a little worried to begin with, as some of the crowd stayed seated, but it just meant the band would have to work harder to get them moving. Prince told them to get up and they did. This concert was the longest one of all, it lasted all up for 3 hours. Prince also told us to sit down too when he sang, which I never had a chance to do at any of the Melbourne concerts. It was really nice to sit there and feel the music and just to appreciate. The highlight just for me was the encore when he was sitting on the keyboard and out of the blue “little red corvette” and “raspberry beret” and “Diamonds and Pearls”, guess what, I CRIED again.. I was soooo happy, words could not describe the feeling. Prince said “So many hits, so little time”
Also because I was in the front, it appeared the camera man took a liking to me (well, that’s what Christel thinks), he could not stop putting the camera on me and Christel, it was all fun to begin with and I kind of enjoyed it, but then it became overkill and I was feeling embarrassed (but more about that later, another lucky thing happened). I even noticed Prince looking down when the camera was on me.. it wasn’t fun by then. I tell ya now, there better be a DVD of this and I hope I’m on it, I had to work hard when that camera was on me!! (he, he, he).
Another exciting part of the night, Larry G came out on stage and he really got the place funkin big time. His wife also raced onstage, a very extroverted woman waving a cloth at her husband and at Prince, she was funny and very proud of her husband – which was great to see. She was dressed in white like Larry. Larry then hopped off the stage and let the front row touch the bass (YEP, I TOUCHED THE BASS!). The difference with this concert was that Prince didn’t do an encore just for Purple Rain, instead he just did it straight after Days of Wild. I liked that all the concerts were very different… if Prince thought there was never a dull moment in Australia, well I can say there is never a dull moment with Prince! Prince did 3 costume changes for this show 1: dressed in all white wearing a shirt, pants and white boots 2: white pinstripe suit with matching pinstripe pumps/boots 3: grey suit with white hat (my favourite). He wore the grey suit for the keyboard encore. He then made RONNY get up onstage to do his thang.. Prince said “I didn’t know there were pimps in Brisbane”. Ronny looked fabulous up there and he stood out with his white rimmed hat and feather. I looked over at his wife Espy and she had tears in her eyes, she was so happy for him. At the end of the concert, I did my bowing/praising thing again for Prince and this time he noticed and just b4 he walked off stage, he looked at me and blew me a kiss with a pointed finger at me.. that was special to be acknowledged like that and that he knew I really admire his music.

Setlist for 3 hour concert: 1. Let's Go Crazy 2. I Would Die 4 U 3. When Doves Cry 4. Baby I'm A Star 5. Shhh 6. DMSR 7. I Feel 4 U 8. Controversy 9. I Like Funky Music 10. Xpectation Track (don't know which, sorry) 11. The Beautiful Ones 12. Nothing Compares 2 U 13. Insatiable 14. It's Gonna B A Beautiful Night 15. Sign O' The Times 16. The Question Of U 17. Let's Work (will fit in here 4 now) 18. The Ride 19. Life O' The Party 20. U Got The Look 21. Soul Man (with Chance Howard) 22. Kiss 23. Take Me With U 24. Everlasting Now Encore 1: Prince Solo Piano Medley: 25. Anna Stesia 26. Diamonds & Pearls 27. Little Red Corvette 28. Raspberry Beret 29. How Come U Don't Call Me Anymore? 30. The Most Beautiful Girl In The World 31. A Case Of U Encore 2: (all the band) 32. All The Critics Love U In Brisbane 33. Alphabet St (with Larry G) 34. THE JAM (with Larry G) 35. Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) 36. Days Of Wild 37. Purple Rain

Just think, this wasn’t going to be the end yet!


***AFTER SHOW PARTY*** (party indeed!)

Ran out of the concert centre like a mad idiot and raced to meet up with BMTL and her friends for the ride in a limo. Kind of fun having a little bit of luxery, I was entertained with listening to BMTLs (Melissa) beautiful and superb singing voice. We had plenty of time as the club wasn’t opening up until 12.30am which I thought was a fabulous idea. I wish they had done that in Melbourne too. As we arrived in the limo, we were laughing our butts off, cause we imagined that people in the non-members line would think it was Prince rocking up. But apparently every1 could see my bright red hair anyway. Christel who was already lined up said she thought it was hysterical seeing my little head but big red hair.
As soon as we got out, we waited a few minutes and they let the NPGMC members in first.. others had to pay $50. I was in THE FRONT again (too LUCKY now and Prince must be getting sick of me!), we didn’t wait a real long time, but this was the best gig of all and the most up close and personal gig – this is what its all about, this night!
Prince and NPG were standing on a stage that would have been approx: 20-30 cm high, he was 2 steps away from where I was standing and this felt like a real Australian gig. I’m use to seeing bands in pubs/clubs and this was fabulous to see Prince in this type of environment and it really suits him. He came out wearing all black with a white skivvy/polo neck under a black jumper/sweater (he must have been boiling). Maceo and Greg played right in front of me on the Left hand side of stage (facing the stage). I had to avoid nearly being hit in the head with the trombone which later on Greg and Maceo joked with me. The band came on at 2.30am and lasted until 4.40am.
Larry got up and jammed with them too which I copped a bit of spit from his mouth which landed on my lip (I wasn’t that impressed)… NOW can you see how close I was?
This was the ultimate jam, nothing that could be put into words really. It was hot, smokey, sweaty and in-ya-face. Prince at times asked if we were tired yet.. we all screamed “NO”, but at one point I was almost showing him my watch as a hint that I had to catch a plane at 5am and I couldn’t leave unless they stopped! We were exhausted but couldn’t stop grooving, by now I was thinking how on earth can they play this much – they really love MUSIC, it’s unbelievable to see. How many entertainers do you know that would do this? I also felt that by now, that I just looked at Prince like it was the next guy and that he was a musician instead. I was really getting use to him around and not thinking of him as a star anymore, but just an incredible musician. Some1 that I almost felt that I could have a chat with about everything and anything if I had the chance – but unfortunatly that will never be an option for me, as there are too many people that want a piece of him. I had so much fun at this gig, Christel and I had a ball at the concert and now this party was the icing on the cake. I could go on and on about this, but I will only bore every1 reading all of this.
Oh and John B gave Christel his very used drumstick.. how hard does he hit that snare?

Setlist of After show party Brisvegas style: (mind you this is only some of it, not all – we were dancing so much and became so involved with the sounds) 1. 1+1+1=3 2. Love Rollercoaster 3. Skintight 4. The Work 5. Girls and Boys 6. Everyday People 7. Peach 8. U Can Make It If U Try 9. No Diggity (vocals by Chance Howard on) 10. I’ll Take U There (vocals by RAD, but she didn’t know the song well, but it was fun) 11. I Wish (snippett) 12. Superstition 13. I Want 2 Take U Higher

_____

for the LUCKIEST part of the whole night… here goes, as you know the after show party finished at 4.40am, I still had to get a cab/taxi to the airport to catch a flight at 5.05am.. I missed it, as you can guess. I had no money to get another flight and I knew that they wouldn’t exchange it as it was a really cheap air ticket. Christel was with me, anyway the lady at Qantas said out of the blue “Did you have fun last night at the Prince concert”, I said “How did you know”, she said “she saw me on the big screen all night” I was thinking oh cool, I said “Well, it just finished only 25 minutes ago and now I’ve missed my flight”.. she gave me another ticket to Melbourne for 6am – for FREE.. HOW LUCKY!! And not to mention, it was a good thing to be filmed by the camera man now. The bad part, I was stinky, looked like a cheap kinda girl with a low cut front red top and I needed a good bath.. being on the plane with all these business people heading for Melbourne was embarrassing. They were staring at me quite a lot and I just smiled and tried to keep my head up from sleeping. It was still worth it no matter what. I FEEL FULFILLED, COMPLETE and the HAPPIEST WOMAN ALIVE in all sorts of ways!

Slept from 12.30pm Tuesday through to Wednesday 7am – EXHAUSTED. And 59 performed songs today!

Thanks Prince for the music. I hope you are feeling better soon and sorry to have the gig so pumping from the audience that you, yourself could not stop playing. I hope to see you within the next 2 – 2.5 years at the most here in Australia and playing the funkiest hep joints around town.

I SAW & HEARD 129 TRACKS LIVE IN TOTAL IN AUSTRALIA
(some were short, some were extended and some where down right fonky)

THANKs to Christel for the extreme crazy fun we had at the Brisvegas concert, I hope you got your flight back home to Sydney OK. AND to Zab and Andrew for the SILLY and Hysterical laughter at 2nd Melbourne show.. I haven't been THAT happy for a ages, and I just crack up when I think about you all.

The DIALOG:

“So many hits, so little time”
“There’s never a dull moment in Australia”
“Melbourne is a party town”
“Nice weather here” (about Brisbane)
“it means forever and that’s a might long time, but I’m hear to tell you, there’s something else.. THE TRUTH”
“Is it Mel BORN, Mel BURN or MEL BIN? We’re got a make it funky like a rubber ball, I’ll call it Mel BOING”
“It ain’t over”
“Shake your money maker”
“Girls, shake you... bITS” – girl shimmying on stage, spurred this remark.
“Girl you aint nasty, your nice-ty” – to Rhonda
“Reading a cookbook”
“You all hate me coz I'm fabulous”
“I’m so funky, I can’t sleep with myself” (some1 help me out with this dialog?)
“OH WEEEE OH, OHHHHH”
“Walk out to the car like you have been some where important” (gotta do a pimpwalk to this).
"MELBOURNE - Did you miss me? I missed you too!"
"Call him PRINCE, if it's a boy"

PS if you can't remember who I am, I have bright RED long wavey/curley hair (no fringe) and was groovin big time - mostly in the front

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[This message was edited Mon Nov 3 20:49:36 PST 2003 by Kylee]

Kylee, Great Post! I read this over at NPGMC, thanx 4 the detail. Shame we didn't see u at the Sydney concerts, but no doubt we'll see u here next time!

Take Care

Playa!

Great topic!
Of course, Rod Laver Arena, has the best sound acoustics in Australia, it was designed by architects to host music concerts. Nothing else in Australia compares...
I looked forward to Prince playing Rasberry Beret in Melbourne on the 2nd nite, but he didn't.Anyway, that's life. Overall, it was the greatest concert I have ever seen!

Great post Kylee, excellent!

Espy & I r still workin' on those darn photos, so I'd better get back 2 it.


Talk 2 u soon.

R.

Great post Kylee!

I've been waiting for this post! Excellent detail! Much better than I could have done.

Why does it seem so long ago now?

thanks kylee

makdat (=bmtl)

Hi Kylee!

I knew it was you on the big screen at Brisbane, because I recognised you from your avatar! Anyway, don't worry, if a DVD does come out, you'll look gorgeous in it.

I particularly liked you working it during "kiss", with the right motions at the right time... it deserves a wider audience than it got at the concert!

Incidentally, was Crystal the girl with the little ponytails and the white shirt saying "cha cha" or something? If so, my male concert companion was suitably impressed!

Oh, and great post by the way! I was so pleased to read your review, the most comprehensive one of the Oz shows by far.

Great post...now I'm getting depressed again!!! It's like a drug u cannot get enough of!

Doing Melb and Syd I don't think I would've lasted going to Brissy as well...don't know how Prince does it!!!

That was an awesome post Kylee. It was like being there all over again.
I can't believe your luck the next morning!!! Too cool.

Thanks Derek, 9moons, bkw, RonnyRon2000, madkat, dnaplaya, glad you enjoyed the read. I just edited my post to add extra quotes from Prince too.


Bohemia:
Ohhh, heee, he, he, ha, ha (now closing my eyes and covering my face with hands).. that bit when I did the "Mua, Mua, Mua, Kisss" thing 2 the camera. - oh goodness.
Chrystal was the girl standing next to me and was wearing all black and had white polka dots on her top - short dark hair.
Cha Cha was not next to me, she is a Melbourne girl too (I think there were only 2 people from Melbourne). I am not sure if she is on the ORG or NPGMC.

One of my favourite quotes from the concert was just before he sang a ballad (i think it was "Nothing Compares 2 u"? Correct me if I'm wrong) and he said: "sit down y'all, I'm gonna sing to you".
swoon...

thanks 4 the details

your excitement was heart felt

u have a wonderful spirit

i'm sure prince felt it

wish i was there

Did anyone see what was going on at the aftershow when Prince said something like "?Somebody? get out of my ass!". I heard that and looked up and Prince had left the stage with the rest of the band looking a little unsure of what to do next.

Did I misinterpret what went on? I was dancing back where there was some space (and air) and was worried that was the end of the show.
[This message was edited Sun Nov 16 21:22:35 PST 2003 by shespoke2me]

Gr8 post Kylee... hope 2 catch U in person at the next Prince meet-up in Melb sometime in Jan.

shespoke2me said:

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If this is the Brisbane aftershow then it may have been the group of people standing by the side of the stage to P's left(Oops, I was one). After the first set, they moved us away telling us that the P people weren't happy with us there. Yes indeed we had an interesting view of RAD's rear, but gee how were we expected to see a anything when they pick a venue where the stage is 1 foot high.

No apologies from me on that one.

Hey Kylee,
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. Made me feel like I was there.
How did you end up getting into the sound check in Brisbane. I hope you brought a lotto ticket that week, you were on a roll.

Kylee, I so envy you. I know I've been lucky to have seen sooo many concerts in Holland and Gemany already, but in those day's he didn't have these special tickets for special fans.
It made me realy long for those days again though
To make it even wors (for me that is) he played all his old songs that I love sooo much.

Thanks for sharing your experience