prince 2011

I thought I was a Prince fan. Turns out I was not really one. Yet.

With only a one month notice of his royal visit to Halifax, Nova Scotia, the scramble for tickets came even before we could absorb the fact that he would be in town. Luckily for me, my little sister, always looking up to me in our youth, took it upon herself to get us good seats. She was 11 when the Purple Rain fell upon us. I was 16, listened to Prince, ergo, she listened to Prince. So sisterly road trip it is!
Tradgedy struck as we walked from the hotel to the Metro Centre. The heel from my left boot broke. Determined to get there early, there was no going back for a change of shoes. Happily hobbling along, we arrived before most and took our seats an hour before the concert was to begin. The sacrificial shoe walk was well worth it. We were treated to our very own intimate concert (last minute practice) with His Purple Highness.
Concert time. As soon as the first notes filled the air, the crowd was on its feet. I, in my socks, and the other thousands in their respective shoes, danced and sang to the songs whose lyrics stayed with us for almost 30 years.

I am not an avid or frequent concert-goer, but I am quite certain this is and will be the best one I will ever attend. It felt as though he was there to sing and dance with us, rather than for us, and with his humour and easy smile he created a beautiful, happy, carefree, musically-blessed atmosphere that will last far beyond the last encore.

I was in reality expecting a much darker, mysterious, private singer. To the audience’s delight, we were shown a fun-loving, confident, talented entertainer. In those 2 hours, I became a true fan of a true Prince.

Trudging back to the hotel through Halifax streets in soggy stockinged feet, I was still in awe of the experience, on a natural high of music, and loving every minute.

prince 2011

Wednesday night in Halifax it rained purple in the form of confetti in the Metro Centre. Halifax got to see a great show and performance of more than 2 hours with Prince. The fans surely got what they came for with the classics, etc. The stage was interesting as well considering you don’t get to see a lot of stages in Halifax with the Prince symbol in the center of the venue. The VIP section surrounding the stage was in cabaret style which was very nice for the fans sitting in those seats to witness Prince closer.

The song selections for November 30th in Halifax, NS
Controversy
Get Down Tonight
Housequake
Let’s Go Crazy – Delirious
1999
A Million Days
Let’s Go – Take Me With U
Raspberry Beret
Cream
Don’t Stop Till You Get Enough
Cool
Make You Feel My Love
Purple Rain
When Doves Cry – Sign o’ the Times – The Most Beautiful
Girl in the World – Pop Life – Darling Nikki – Forever In My Life – Hot Thing
Nothing Compares 2 U
Get Wild
Disco Heat
Baby I’m a Star