{{{His Name Is Prince and He Is Funky
http://www.undercover.com...rince.html
by Paul Cashmere of Undercover

Prince played up his geographic location last night telling his Melbourne audience how he was in his hotel that day working out how to pronounce the name of Australia's second largest city.

"Is it Mel Born, Mel Burn or Mel Bin" he said as the crowd roared to the sound of the latter as The Artist pronounced their city like a local. Then he added "I call it Funky".}}}

Prince knows how to work an audience and work an audience he did. The two hour show was more like one long party jam than a concert.

Opening with four songs from Purple Rain, Prince teased the performance with some sounds of other songs. During the opening lines of 'When Doves Cry' "Dig if u will the picture Of u and I engaged in a kiss" the signature 'Kiss' intro was used as a sting at the end of the "kiss" word in the lyric. He also stamped in the thump for '1999' for all of a few seconds at the start of 'Baby I'm A Star'.

Prince knew he owned the audience. "Any critics here tonight?" he said. "There are lots of happy faces".

He has a subtle sense of humour too. I wonder how many fans noticed the change in lyrics for 'Kiss'. "U don't have 2 watch Queer As Folk 2 have an attitude" he sang. Alicia Keys 'Falling' was subtly interwoven into 'The One'.

A small group of fans who paid $1,000 each for their ticket also had the privilege to be used as stage props and watch the show from tables set up around the band. They became his star dancers for the night and had a once in a lifetime dream come true.

The show mirrored the Hong Kong performance from last Friday song for song but with a band that well oiled you can't go juggling a set-list to fit in audience requests.

Sax player Maceo Parker was brilliant, keyboard player Renato Neto mesmerizing and new member Rose Ann Dimalanta gave the performance soul. (She sang the Alicia Keys 'Falling' part).

Prince, forever the egotist ended the show with the bold statement "Don't hate me because I'm fabulous".

The set-list for Melbourne October 21, 2003 was:

Let's Go Crazy (from Purple Rain, 1984)
I Would Die 4 U (from Purple Rain, 1984)
When Doves Cry (from Purple Rain, 1984)
Baby I'm A Star (from Purple Rain, 1984)
Shhh (from The Gold Experience, 1995)
D.M.S.R. (from 1999, 1983)
I Feel 4 U (from Prince, 1979)
Controversy (from Controversy, 1981)
The Beautiful Ones (from Purple Rain, 1984)
Nothing Compares 2 U (from The Hits, 1993)
Insatiable (from Diamonds and Pearls, 1991)
Sign O' The Times (from Sign O' The Times, 1987)
The ? Of U (from Graffiti Bridge, 1990)
The One (from New Power Soul, 1998)
Let's Work (from Controversy, 1981)
U Got The Look (from Sign O' The Times, 1987)
Hot Pants/Life O' The Party (new?)
Soul Man (Sam and Dave cover)
Kiss (from Parade, 1986)
Take Me With U (from Purple Rain, 1984)
Everlasting Now (from The Rainbow Children, 2001)

Encore:
Purple Rain (from Purple Rain, 1984)

Australian dates for Prince are:
Tonight, October 22, Melbourne, Rod Laver Arena
October 24 and 25, Sydney, Entertainment Centre
October 27, Brisbane, Entertainment Centre

Melbourne fans are well advised to head to The Metro after tonight's Rod Laver show for the official arfter show party. You never know who might be in attendance.

WAHEY!SOUNDS FUCKIN AWESOME!!the comeback starts here folks!

Is it just me or does his eyebrows look painted on?

How can it be a comeback tour is hes singing just old stuff which he going to retire off anyway?

Could the have picked pictures that where any less flaterring? Lawd, looks aweful. Can't wait to hear new material. Isn't Rainbow Children kind of old now too?

A Question ? Did anyone know what chain o(-> was wearing around his neck after the costume change into the white Victorian lacey number ... Man that thang was shiny and wow just want one... Such dedication like Coltrane.. 'l be his sassy anytime..
[This message was edited Thu Oct 23 23:22:21 PDT 2003 by kitten2fly]
[This message was edited Thu Oct 23 23:23:07 PDT 2003 by kitten2fly]