Entertainment

Oakland Welcomes Prince And His Piano

Published

10 years ago

March 5, 2016

Oakland, CA – If we have to credit the heroics of Stephen Curry to have one of the greatest artist of all time add another show to his schedule. Than thank you! Prince held two back-to-back shows last weekend at the Paramount Theatre. While many raved about his performance, Prince raved about Golden State Warriors reigning MVP.

He was so moved by the rising star, that he made a bold appearance at the Warriors game Thursday night when they hosted the Oklahoma City Thunder. Prince donned a navy blue pant suit, a perfect afro and a blinded out cane while walking to his seats behind his lovely girlfriend.

Prince’s Piano & a Microphone tour captured the Bay Area by storm, literally. While the rain feel down in Oakland on Friday afternoon, the buzz about Prince at Oracle Arena was still talk of the town. A rare appearance by the genius left Curry in “awe” after Friday’s 121-106 win over the Thunder. Golden State lit the tunnel purple just for his arrival.

“It was pretty special,” Curry said. “It shows what we’re kind of doing here at home that he wanted to watch us play.”

But last night was his time on the court and he did not disappoint. Prince rode a blinged out bike through the tunnel and graciously walked on stage to a purple piano surrounded by four lit candles in each corner of the stage. Ten jumbotron screens above displayed various images from a kaleidoscope and then the music began.

“WOW” kicked the set off, followed by “Baltimore” a song dedicated to the loss off black lives. Prince’s new song off his new album “HitnRun Phase Two” is a tribute to the death of Freddie Gray and the resulting protests and violence. The lyrics call for peace and suggest gun confiscation as the means to that end.

The sellout crowd repeatedly gave a standing ovation after his big hits like “Little Red Corvette,” “I Would Die 4 U,” “How Come You Don’t Call Me Anymore” and “KISS”. It was one of the most entertaining, revealing, intimate and personal performances the artist has ever done. Without a band, guitar and back up singers, Prince let his hands do the talking.

Songs from his vast 39-album catalog captivated an audience who watched in amazement as he delivered an astounding show. Authentic, acoustic and daring are three words to describe the night. Three encores included thirteen more hits which included “Beautiful Ones” where Prince embodied the same emotions just as he captured in the movie “Purple Rain.

Encore two was solely dedicated to “Free Yourself” where he managed to slip in a shout out to Curry. The last set began with “Thieves in the Temple” followed by “I Wanna Be Your Lover,” “Do Me, Baby,” and the final song was the classic “Adore,” from Prince’s Sign Of The Times album.” His performance offered a little Liberace, jazz and classical medley’s covering all of his original songs. Definitely a must see show.