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John Aizlewood's rating
Pink doesn't quite get 02 Arena party started
By
John Aizlewood
5 May 2009
If Alecia “Pink” Moore’s recent announcement that she is bisexual was as surprising as finding snow at the North Pole, more startling was the fact that last night was the third of three O2 shows. For all the racket she makes, the Pennsylvanian has quietly evolved from shouty teenage popper into shouty world superstar.
Scandalously, there were no Jubilee line trains — hats off to the ever-considerate TfL — but even that failed to subdue a boisterous crowd who at one stage showered Pink with fluffy frogs. She appeared to cherish them: her roadies threw them off stage.
It was an uneven evening and not merely because this tattooed ball of energy is the dictionary definition of “in your face”. As the worldwide ambassador of corporate rock rebellion (think a more sweary Avril Lavigne), the 29-year-old has risen by being naturally confessional and confident, qualities which enable her to peer deep into the souls of her predominantly young, predominantly female fanbase. Yet live she’s neither confessional nor confident.
She confesses little between songs, but worse she’s so unconfident of her songs that she littered her set with cover versions. Hence a hopeless Babe I’m Gonna Leave You, the folk song popularised by Led Zeppelin (“Are there any Led Zeppelin fans here?” asked Pink, hopefully. The answer wasn’t “yes”), a terrific assault on Gnarls Barkley’s Crazy and a slowed down version of Divinyls’ onanistic ode I Touch Myself, which Pink sang on a couch, writhing underneath red lighting and dressed in underwear. I’ve seen sexier hernia operations, but it was pop gold compared with her facsimile karaoke version of Queen’s Bohemian Rhapsody, for which she dressed as Freddie Mercury, but alas Freddie Mercury from the wrong era. She may have performed it for a bet.
There were moments when the planets aligned. The beautiful closer Glitter In The Air, the cage-rattling, riff-crazed So What and the soaring chorus of U + Ur Hand showed that Pink is no songwriting slouch, while she and her eight-piece band plus dancers delivered a mostly engrossing spectacle, especially Sober, delivered 80 dizzying feet above the stage as she performed a trapeze act with a dancer.
Meanwhile, Funhouse was a carnival of burlesque and Get The Party Started was choreographed like a Busby Berkeley showstopper, with Pink both its heartbeat and its voice. She doesn’t need silly old Bohemian Rhapsody any more than it needs her.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (10)
My daughter bought me a ticket to see Pink at the 02 on 10 Dec as we both love her music. The concert was excellent, stage set, costumes and acrobatics were well worth the price of the ticket we paid for and had excellent views. Security was tops by the staff even to watching places if went to the loo or drinks etc as we were standing next to central podium. Cost of drinks extortionate though, but arent all arenas, big rip off when they know people will buy them anyway, wot do they buy them in at? Well done Pink for a brill show - would go again but sold out.
- Lesley And Jemma Gibbs, LYDNEY GLOUCESTERSHIRE, 03/01/2010 19:34
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Dear John,
True, I've seen Pink before and knew what to expect but the 5 people with me were blown away by whole perfomance. Her powerful voice, her energy, her stage presence, her ability to work a crowd and her emotion proved that she is a true one off when it comes to putting on a show which offers nothing but value for money.
As for your derogatory comments about Bohemian Rhapsody, like the rest of your report you are once proving to be way off the mark here. Her version was amazing and I think the crowd said it for themselves.
What her sexual perferences have to do with this review I have no idea but I guess it was another way of putting her and her performance down.
- David, UK, 11/12/2009 16:20
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I saw her last night at the 02 and me and this guy must have seen a different show. I thought she was awesome. One of the best concents ive seen and I loved her covers esp I touch myself!
- Lauren White, Croydon, UK, 11/12/2009 11:44
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Yes once again TFL failed to co-ordinate trains with London's (allegedly) highest profile venue. Personally i reckon the entire o2 experience is cack of the utmost order. Shocking sound not worthy of a town hall panto never mind £50+ ticket prices. I think someone with Facebook ought to start a boycott the O2 rally where fans pledge to see bands at different venues in the country until the organisers improve the sound and work with tfl to ensure trains - and wha t about a second line extension that inks to something other than the jubilee line which, more often than not on gig night is not running.
Londons achilles heel - poor show O2 and poor show TFL.
- Rob, BRISTOL, 11/12/2009 10:44
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Hi i loved the concert and i think she i amazing and i would love and go and see it again
- Daniel Ward, BRISTOL, 11/12/2009 10:44
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I went to the 02 on Friday 1st May, and thought she was awesome! Her voice sounded great, the acrobatics were great, and I thought she was hilarious with her little comments between songs.
- Shelley, Sidcup, Kent, 11/12/2009 10:44
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I was there on May 1st and she blew me away with her incredible singing, amazing acrobatics performance and one of a kind attitude. Theres no other female singer as good as her, nor as versatile!
- Sadie, Uk, 11/12/2009 10:44
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I saw Pink at the o2 on 2nd May, and was blown away by everything I thought she was amazing. The stage set was exceptional, as Pink's Funhouse concert lacked nothing. A pure performer both theatherical at times, circus like, and the singing was wicked. Even when she was hurling around high up in the air she was still reaching the notes with control. The lighting was well done, and the aerial show she performed at times was breath taking. The whole show just rocked - you could feel the energy in the areana it was quite a buzz! What a rock chick legend! This lady truly entertained and performed to her fans, and pleased them.
- Sara, Kent, 11/12/2009 10:44
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What artist was this John Aizlewood watching!!! I also saw the show on 2nd and agree with Sara fully. P!nk rocked the O2 arena from where I was sitting, or standing as it was most of the time. Yeah I agree with the comments about the tubes, that was a complete farce, but did nothing to destroy the great time I had and from what I could see around me, many others at the venue had. I lost count of the numbers of songs that she sang, her own or covers, but I think that she did both justice and definitely deserved the applause that she got from the crowd.
I think that she tends to get a hard time from certain areas of the media (naming no names, the Daily Mail(!)) as they are old fashioned and don't like their singers having an opinion. Not everyone is holier than thou as Daniel O'Donnell and thank whoever is up there for that. P!nk puts so much into the songs, which are written by her in the most part and definitely put that much energy into her show. MORE of the same I say. Would definitely be worth seeing her again in December.
- Chris, Bournemouth, 11/12/2009 10:44
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just read pink concert review .I saw Pink at Glasgow and she was awsome dont understand how John didnt like it I would go and see her time and time again
- Barry Little, Annan.Scotland, 11/12/2009 10:44
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