The last time Pink was at Adelaide Oval the musical landscape was very different.
She was playing at the defunct Rumba Festival alongside her pop peers, including Shaggy, Sophie Monk, Selwyn and Bachelor Girl. Meanwhile, an unknown 12-year-old named Taylor Swift was singing the national anthem at an NBA game.
A hell of a lot can change in two decades.
Those Rumba “peers” she played alongside may have faded into obscurity, while Swift became bigger than The Beatles.
But Alecia Beth Moore – or Pink, as she is better known – has never faulted as an FM radio stalwart and one of pop music’s most impressive performers.
Her larger-than-life Summer Carnival Tour show was no exception. Close to 60,000 fans packed the Adelaide Oval in what will surely be one of the largest musical events Adelaide will see this year.
The pop star continues to reach new heights. Photo: John Montesi / Adelaide Oval
With fireworks, acrobatics, ballet, fire, confetti and more acrobatics, her two-hour pop show was a masterclass in stadium performances and also a lesson in humility.
Pink has always made a name for herself as the everywoman. She is relatable, humble, funny, and one of the most grounded pop stars you’re likely to meet.
She doesn’t take this whole pop thing too seriously – but last night one of her finest acrobatic tricks was balancing the endearing humility of a doting mother who seems almost surprised to see 60,000 fans screaming back her words and being a pop icon at the top of her game.
Coming out to the apt anthem “Get the Party Started”, the 44-year-old flew down from the top of the near 15-metre stage and landed with a metaphorical bang.
Throwing in a few verses of The Eurythmics’ “Sweet Dreams” for good measure, the party started and kept going with the large crowd dancing along to hits “Raise your Glass”, “Just Like a Pill”, “Try” and the upbeat remix version of “What About Us”.
The concert is divided into four acts, each preceded with costume changes and giant visuals, and instead of keeping her foot to the floor, Pink slowed things down for much of act two and three. “F**kin’ Perfect” and a scorching cover of Pat Benatar’s “Heartbreaker” were the exceptions as the heat began to take a toll on the large audience and the singer.
As the temperature dropped some three or four degrees to bring some respite, act three saw the singer setting up stools and performing acoustic numbers to the fans, including a touching “Colour me in Sunshine” alongside her daughter Willow before a rousing singalong of 4 Non Blondes’ now-classic 1993 chart topper “What’s Up?”. It was a reminder of the anthemic blueprint for Pink’s career, which she started when writing with its creator, Linda Perry.
Get InReview in your inbox – free each Saturday. Local arts and culture – covered.
Thanks for signing up to the InReview newsletter.
While acts two and three were a change of pace, you couldn’t help but feel the huge momentum was slightly lost on a crowd that wanted to dance and scream along – after all, it was a carnival.
The circus tricks, and the rest of the band, made a return for the final act for a big finish including “Blow Me (One Last Kiss)”, “Runaway” and her calling card “So What”, where the pop star flew across Adelaide Oval suspended 15 metres above the crowd. In what for a moment looked like an Adelaide Oval RoofClimb experience gone awry, she tumbled through the air in spectacular fashion – not missing a beat of her epic encore.
In a stadium show that simply will not be topped this year, Pink gave Adelaide fans a masterclass in showmanship, sheer athleticism and champagne pop.
Pink performed in Adelaide for one night only. Further tour dates are available on the Summer Carnival website.
Support local arts journalism
Your support will help us continue the important work of InReview in publishing free professional journalism that celebrates, interrogates and amplifies arts and culture in South Australia.
Donate Here
