Prince and 3rd Eye Girl arrived on stage to a noisy and excited Birmingham crowd as they kicked off their grand UK tour.
The 45 minute delay to the show was insignificant as they had waited 19 years for his return. The generation who had first heard his music in the 80s were wearing purple, whether it was a paisley shirt, a floral tie, 6 inch high heels or glitter on their faces, they were here to pay homage to their hero.
Dressed in a hippy tunic top with white flares and his trademark afro, “Hello Birming…ham” were his opening lines in his distinct Upper Midwest American accent. The enthusiastic crowd screamed, cheered and set their bodies free to the non- stop funky music, with lots of strut funk guitar twangs from his new sound, as well as the classic 80’s and 90’s tracks. The crowd was buzzing.
There were two memorable new tracks, Funknroll and Guitar, and they did exactly what they said on the tin. Lots of funk and lots of stretched, screaming, swirling riffs.
There’s nothing better than to feed the frenzy of the crowd, this was obliged with the classics of his back catalogue , Lets Go Crazy, Raspberry Beret, You Got The Look, 1999, Little Red Corvette, Kiss, Something In The Water and When Doves Cry all eminating a vibe of danceable, rhythmic disco soul into the arena and making fans jump out of their seats, hurling their arms to the tempo. This party was hot.
Prince draws you in, the singing, the astounding piano playing and the guitar slashing is a master class in wooing an audience. The trio of Donna Grantis, Ida Nelson, and drummer Hannah Ford – who form 3rd Eye Girl – have attitude, talent and are phenomenal and add to create the whole memorable experience that was displayed through Prince’s incredible 34-song set.
This may have been a long wait but definitely one of the best parties in the last 19 years, well worth the long wait! His youthful energy and unique charistmatic stage presence suggest he may still have it in him to pay “Birmingh…ham” another visit sometime very soon.
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Vimal Korpal
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