The last time he was down under (and the first time for that matter) I was 12 years old, George Bush was President of the USA and America had just gone to war with Iraq, after an 11 year wait he's back!
It was a capacity crowd at Rod Laver Arena last night, easily filling up the stadium to 10,000 people. What was strange was that you would be suprised the diversity of Prince fans that were there. I mean you would think that you would know what a Prince fan looked like, but it was just a sea of differences.
We crammed in at about 8pm, the lights dimmed and we went wild.
False start, it was the warm up act. A DJ mixed some less then impressive non-Prince tracks (who plays Michael Jackson at a Prince concert, do they wanna get bashed?), and the crowd withdrew and settled down. After a very un-impressed half hour he rapt up.
The lights came back on, and we were anxious; where was the little short sucker anyway? Answer; not far away.
We had a half hour wait until he came on. People rushed the snacks stands, with threats like; if I miss the opening someone is going to die. A enormouse roar was heard from inside the stadium, the lines at the snack stand cleared as people ran back in.
Another false start, I managed to get my snacks in and get to my seat to witness the reason for the roar - the ever present Mexican Wave was making it's rounds.
Sitting down, I obsereved on two screans on either side of the stadium the following message prominately displayed; 'Under no circumstances are recording or photo equiptment to be used'.
Shuffeling my camera in between me and my sister, I had and evil grin on my face. 11 years I have waited for this, and be dammed if I was going to miss out on taking a pic.
Then the lights dimmed, one member of the NPG moved out on stage and started playing. Not that you could hear her, the screams just drowned out whatever music she was trying to play. But she just kept on playing, as more members of the NPG shuffeled to their positions.
Still the crowd roard with delight, as we knew he wasn't on stage yet - they were too tall. What seemed like an enternity, but was really closer to a minute, a tiny figure, dressed in a white pin-striped suit, struted his way onto the stage. Ever so slowly he made his way to the microphone, and the crowd had gone absolutely crazy.
The security and police at the stage seemed worried, we outnumbered them 100 to one.
Then he stepped up to the mike; would we be able to hear him? All I could hear was my sister screaming her lungs out, I had my camera up and ready for the opening pick. But the mike was adequate to the task.
With his characteristic deep and soulfull voice we heard;
'Ladies and Gentlemen, we are gathered here today to get through this thing called life!'
For those in the know, this song is called 'Lets Go Crazy'. Too late Prince, we were already there!
He ripped into it, the opening song of the night, and the first song from Purple Rain. We were on our feet, and did not sit down.
The entire 'old' playlist was on display, Lets Go Crazy, Doves Cry, Baby I'm a Star, The Beautiful Ones, Take Me With You. And then two songs out of the blue, that no one expected; Controversy and Sign 'O Times. We were at fever pitch. Never in my life did I actually think that I would hear these classics again.
For half of the songs, he let us sing, and we did with glee and joy.
Then after an hour and 35 mins, it was over. He left us with a warm felt goodbye and ran off stage.
NOT SO FAST SHORTY was the cry from the crowd. 11 years we have waited and you sure as hell aren't getting away from this that easily. So we screamed, we chanted, and we clapped and slowly the NPG came back on stage.
Again we screamed, for again they were all too tall to be Prince, and with one hand characteristicly shoved in his pocket he struted back on stage a second time.
Calming us down, he picked up his purple symbol guitar (the first time for the night), and he said; 'Contrary to what you hear, I never get tired of playing this song. I was talking to a mother and her daughter before the show at the sound check, and the mother told me that she grew up listening to my music, and now her daughter is listening to me. I dedicate this song to you, you know who you are.'
PURPLE RAIN!
He stretched a 8 min song to a little over 16. The crowd was in seventh heaven. And for the second time this night, he left the stage.
No amount of cheering or clapping would bring him back this time, as the lights were up and people started to walk out.
My thoughts on the concert? Well truth be told, even if he played for 11 hours (1 hour for every year he was away), I could never have been saited. The sheer volume of hits this man has, the sheer number of songs that I wanted him to play, well there isn't enough hours in the day.
However, I got to see purple rain live. Something that I thought I never would have, and I should be thankful.
He is the best performer/artist I have ever seen live. He works the crowd, and makes you apart of the show (ask those he had seated on the stage, who got to dance behind him). When he picked up the guitar, he reigned over all he surveyed.
My hat off to you Prince, don't make it another 11 years before you come back.
Pics to follow, as they are developed.
