P!nk is one of the only pop artists able to lift your soul and break your heart all at the same time.
P!nk recently performed at the Anfield Stadium in Liverpool and put on a show unlike any pop star in the game. With acrobatics and dancing, she captured the audience’s attention who watched disbelieving what was happening in front of them. This most definitely isn’t your average concert, each section was laced with theatrical inspirations, from dancers in animal masks, pink chandeliers and inspiring videos before P!nk’s pop anthems.
She began with the monster hit, ‘Get this party started’ which truly set the tone for the evening as nearly all seated section fans rose from their seats and didn’t sit down again for the entire show. Shockingly, a woman gave birth during this track and fittingly gave her newly born daughter the middle name of Pink. This beginning song was accompanied next by ‘Beautiful Trauma’ – a more recent hit which matches the title of the worldwide tour and previous album – during which she and her dancers swung around on crooked pink lamp posts. It is noting, that for a ‘pop artist’ not a single word was lip-synced in any of the songs, no matter whether she was ten foot off the ground, dancing or flying around the stadium.
The show progressed with hit after hit, of which there are too many to mention, however, the showstopper of the night was ‘Time After Time’ by Cyndi Lauper which she performed in her own unique way, stripped down alongside guitarist Justin Derrico. Another cover performed was the power ballad, ‘River’ by Bishop Briggs which truly showed the vocal power P!nk possesses and seemingly at ease.
Perhaps the most emotive part of the night was the smash, political hit, ‘What About Us’. A short video played before the track, which talked about global warming, religious intolerance and the LGBTQ+ community. In part of the video, P!nk exclaimed, ‘It boggles my mind that we’re spending time, energy and money trying to ban love’ when referring to same sex marriage at which point, eyes filled with tears and voices screamed in support. The performance that followed was one full of pain but also of hope for the future as she sang, ‘Sticks and stones may break these bones but then, I’ll be ready’ – playing the heartstrings of thousands.
The night consisted of either heartfelt lyrics, pure joy or both at the same time, with everyone feeling that joy particularly at the end of the show. ‘Raise your glass’ had the stadium shaking as everyone sang and danced while Pink also took minutes introducing her dancers which she had previously done with her band towards the beginning of the show. You could see the clear reverence and respect she has for her crew as at any chance she got, she praised them and that praise was fully deserved. The execution of every aspect of the show and production was outstanding throughout.
To finish an extraordinary performance, P!nk sang arguably her biggest hit, ‘So What’ in which she attached herself to a harness and flew around the stadium over the crowd and into the stands with trademark perfect vocal execution.
Overall, it was the most intoxicating mix of acrobat, dancer and an exceptional singer/songwriter that many in the audience will have experienced. P!nk is the inspiration that all pop stars should look up to. Her concerts are incomparable with anyone else’s right now and if there is one concert tour to see in a lifetime, it would be this one.
Photo Credit: Hooked On Spice – www.instagram.com/hookedonspice
