My very first concert that I ever saw was Celine Dion’s Falling Into You World Tour at the Montréal Forum. I will never forget the feeling that I got witnessing the power of music in a crowded arena full of screaming fans. In recent years, I have had the chance to see some memorable shows that include: Christina Aguilera’s Back to Basics World Tour (also saw her perform in South Africa), Madonna’s Confessions World Tour, Britney Spears’ Circus World Tour (always be a favorite of mine), Elton John, Stephane Moccio, Florence K, and U2. Events that I will soon never forget and served as a way to take in first hand, my passion: entertainment marketing.
When Prince announced a few weeks ago that he would be coming to Montréal to perform two concerts at Metropolis as part of the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal, I knew that I couldn’t miss out. Tickets sold out quickly but HSP was able to secure two seats to an epic evening starring Prince on Friday, June 24, 2011.
Debra Brown, renowned for her work with Cirque du Soleil and international artists (Shakira, Madonna, and Celine Dion to name a few) was my date. Having the chance to see an iconic singer with Debra Brown, an icon in the world of dance, acrobatics, and movement, is an unbeatable formula for a fun night out on the town. Debra’s comments and inside scoop into the world of show creation is something that I value so much. I can’t get enough.
Even before Prince took the stage, I knew the night would be unforgettable. Given Prince’s previous track record, Debra and I didn’t rush for the 11:30 pm start time because we figured he would be on later. We were wrong! Prince started at 11:30 pm as stated on our tickets. The 7-time Grammy winner did not disappoint. More than two hours into the concert, I couldn’t believe that he was still playing. Two hours turned into three hours and after almost four hours of music, the concert came to an end. His six or so encores included all his hits.
I must make a special mention about Prince’s band. One word: WOW! His eight-piece band included five awesome women and legendary saxophonist Maceo Parker. There was no shortage of talent on stage! I could have listened to Parker alone all night!
Also spotted at the concert was Director & Choreographer extraordinaire Jamie King. I’m a huge fan of all his work!
What a way to kick off the Festival International de Jazz de Montréal! Our city comes alive with world-class festivals during the summer and Prince is one example of how awesome and creative Montréal is! Can’t wait for the Just For Laughs Festival, which kicks off on July 11, 2011.
