http://www.undercover.com...rince.html

His Name Is Prince and He Is Funky

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.

I'm sooo jealous of people who get to hear "DMSR," a full version of "Controversy" and "Let's Work" live.

I'm so happy for y'all.

His eyes and skin look weird in these recent pictures. What is it about them?

he never plays stuff other than kiss or sometimes it snows.." from parade ..badtimes.

This latest tour really gets me excited...
The Prince of old is back!!!

A great balance between musicianship and showmanship, hits, new songs (mainly at aftershows), covers, ...

Weeeyeee!

Excited about the future!...

TRON said:

it looks like he's using less makeup...

which reveals the fact that he's of african-american heritage (coupled with the new 'do) for a change and alsoo...

...he's getting older.

july said:

I may have been going deaf by this stage but I'm pretty sure it was 'Queer eye for the straight guy' not Queer as folk'. Not that it matters much.

july said:

Looks to me like Prince might be having a moment.

Moonbeam said:

i know, i know!!! man, hurry it up to the UK will ya!

"unnhhh, Lawd i hate travellin'! it backs me up."

DAMN!

i want a hits concert in america!!!
and the queer as folk/queer eye thing is frigginh ihlarious!

that having been said, wtf is up with those pics? he looks like crap

Little Richard?

Milty said:

Romance1600 said:

w/ a hearing aid!

cborgman said:

I guess the JWs aren't letting him make himself up real pretty anymore.

Romance1600 said:

Yeah exactly what I thought! Scarey, but true

Romance1600 said:

Prince is getting old.

I think he looks great. That show HAD to be incredible.


btw, isn't he starting to resemble his dad more these days?

Slick.

Prince is sportin that suit well... Tight suit... to go with a funky show...

antoon said:

The Prince of old is back?? LOL!! Where are you getting that from, and what are you smoking? I need to take a hit off of it, too.

He look like the drunk uncle who always tries to kiss his niece on Xmas..lol

room319 said:

Yes! I've thought that for the last year or so...as he grows older, he really is looking vert much like his father.

LittlePill said:

LMAO!!!

violator said:

Dude , I truly hope I look that good at 45. hee looks as old as my friends that are in their early 30's

as a heterosexual male...damn he looked good!


& it was queer eye 4 the str8 guy he was refferring 2.

Mountains & 7 were on the stelist,my friend was backstage & got 2 meet him with onstage seats...
& he saw the setlist.
but they were ditched from the show.

DMSR was in the top4 from the show.
with Shhh,PurpleRain & ah heck all of it!

These pix don't do him any justice. He doesn't look a day over 35. He did have dark circles under his eyes at yesterdays soundcheck though.

charlottegelin said:

I agree.

having seen him real close after the last couple of days, he looks 10 years younger than his age.

He doesnt wear much makeup now and looks better for it imho.

Photo credits. all photo by Ros O'Gorman
Tuesday October 21, 2003
Prince at Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne, Australia.