Grammy winner, double platinum artist, powerhouse and pop royalty are all descriptors of the generational talent that is P!NK. Her career started when she was 16 and part of the R&B group, Choice, and it has not slowed down since. Now age 44, P!NK is on her eighth concert tour, “Summer Carnival,” with two openers, a cast of talented dancers, three backup singers and a phenomenal band behind her.
The night started with the alternative pop band, GROUPLOVE, known for their songs “Colours” and “Itchin’ on a Photograph.” The song that received the biggest crowd reaction was their 2011 single “Tongue Tied.” The group had high energy, an eccentric sound and flowed well as a band. GROUPLOVE performed like a main act, brimming with confidence and enthusiasm throughout their short time on stage.
The second opener was nine-time Grammy winner, Brandi Carlile. The singer-songwriter has dabbled in Americana, folk rock, alternative country and more. Carlile is a talent that you can only fully understand live. She performed her classic songs like “The Story,” “Broken Horses” and even covered Queen’s “We Are the Champions” to close out her set. Carlile displayed more than just her vocal prowess; she also had guitar and piano solos throughout her set. At one point, her and twins Phil and Tim Hanseroth, sang in a three-part harmony during “The Eye.” Her infectious joy and dancing made me forget that P!NK was performing next. Carlile was very appreciative of the amount of people who showed up early for the show.
“This feels like a hometown show,” Carlile said. “Of all the shows, I have never seen this many people here this early.”
Moments later, fireworks boomed from behind the screens, and P!NK emerged from the top of the stage structure, ready to display her acrobatic talents. In bungee jumping equipment, she dove down from the top of the structure to the floor and bounced back up again, while singing “Get the Party Started.” When P!NK landed, she walked down the long platform closer to the crowd, complimenting specific audience members’ outfits and waving to everyone. P!NK, from her first jump from that sign, was already sensational, giving off the same energy we’ve all seen in viral clips on YouTube or TikTok. Beyond the set pieces and dancers, P!NK had her own fashion flare with a bejeweled leotard paired with jackets that changed with each song. Her dancers were able to tell the stories of songs and dance during interludes. The choreography was perfect from beginning to end, with “What About Us” becoming my favorite number due to the storytelling by the expressive dancers.
After “What About Us,” there was a dance sequence to an audio of a heartbeat, after which P!NK emerged in a light pink outfit. She strutted to the front of the long stage platform and performed a graceful aerial stunt on silk ropes with one of her dancers as she sang “Turbulence.” P!NK then played a game she does every concert, “Name That Tune.” This show’s song was “Glitter In The Air,” which P!NK guessed correctly and was rewarded with Twizzlers.
“We play a game where if I guess the song then I get candy and the reason why that’s a big deal is because this is the only place I can get candy where a child can’t take it from me,” P!NK said. “They find you everywhere, bathroom, shower, in the closet.”
She tossed the remaining package of Twizzlers to a fan and sat at the piano to play the next song. She covered Bob Dylan’s “Make You Feel My Love,” a song that she said she wished she wrote. With P!NK’s contralto voice, the song was performed in a deeper version than what some audiences may be used to with the Adele rendition from 2008.
Following the Dylan cover, P!NK introduced The Lumineers, who joined her on stage for the live debut of “Long Way to Go.”
A few minutes later, P!NK invited Brandi Carlile back on stage. The two proceeded to perform an exquisite duet of “Nothing Compares 2 U,” as a tribute to Sinéad O’Connor. Both artists had their moments to shine in the song, with P!NK’s powerful belts and Carlisle’s smooth high notes coming together for a beautiful rendition of a classic song.
Another noteworthy duet came later in the night when P!NK sang with her 12-year-old daughter Willow Hart. P!NK explained how one night she was recording “Cover Me In Sunshine” when her daughter walked in unexpectedly. Willow interrupted her mom’s first take of the song, but she liked the song and wanted to sing it. The next recording had Willow Hart and P!NK singing together. Since then, Willow has joined her mom multiple times on tour singing “Cover Me In Sunshine.” She came out in a blue dress, singing like she was in her room on a normal Friday night and not in front of thousands of people.
On the topic of family, P!NK touched upon a more emotional aspect of her life with her father’s death. She told the story of how she visited his gravesite not too long ago.
“It’s beautiful, he’s in a veteran cemetery. I asked him before he died what he wanted to come back as,” P!NK said. “And he said, well honey, you know I’m a pilot, so maybe a bird of flight. Or a cannibal chipmunk.”
This funny story about P!NK’s father was a lead into the song she dedicated to him, “When I Get There.” During the song, people around me sat down, taking in the emotional aspects of the lyrics. Audience members were crying and hugging their significant others for the song’s duration, creating an emotionally charged and beautiful moment.
To end the night, P!NK introduced her band, backup singers and dancers. They all joined together for the final dance number, “Never Gonna Not Dance Again.” Finally, “So What,” was the last song of the night and arguably the biggest song of P!NK’s career. She strapped into her harness one last time and traveled all around Geodis Park, waving and singing to people from all levels. By the end of the concert, everyone in attendance got to see P!NK close up, making it feel like there were no cheap seats or front rows, just a bunch of P!NK fans coming together to listen to music.
There was never a moment throughout that entire night that I thought something was missing. Every ounce of P!NK’s performance had either emotional or comical layers. Her vocals proved why she is considered pop royalty and her acrobatic stage presence proved why she is an exceptional performer. P!NK has been on the music scene since the early 2000s, but there are no signs she is slowing down; P!NK continues to soar through concerts and through her career.
