P!NK’S ANFIELD ASCENT: A NIGHT OF NON-STOP HITS AND HEARTFELT EMOTION
LIVE REVIEW | P!NK | ANFIELD STADIUM, LIVERPOOL 24/06/24 by Lucy Holden
On Monday night, Anfield transformed into a sea of sparkles, colourful hair, cowboy hats,
and mums, creating an electric atmosphere before P!nk’s concert. The excitement was
palpable, especially after catching most of The Script‘s set and being impressed by Danny
O’Donoghue’s vocal range and his clear admiration for the headliner. I knew we were in for an unforgettable night
There was only a brief gap between The Script’s performance and P!nk’s entrance, but the
wait was well worth it. Her mesmerising arrival began with a countdown from a robotic
version of herself, before she burst onto the stage, decked out in her iconic heeled boots,
and surrounded by fireworks. She kicked things off with ‘Get This Party Started,’ and the old-
school noughties bangers did not stop for a hot minute.
Right from the start, she delivered a flawless quartet of songs, transitioning seamlessly from
her grand entrance to ‘Raise Your Glass,’ ‘Who Knew,’ and ‘Just Like a Pill.’ At 44, P!nk has
not aged a day, still delivering the high-energy performances for which she is known.
Although the theatrics were spectacular, with dancers doing backflips off trampolines,
singers on bicycles, and a massive neon backdrop with artificial neon dog statues, the first
few songs felt a bit rushed. It seemed like she was trying to keep up with the music rather
than the band allowing her to sing at her usual pace. This was unusual, given that she has
had the same band and backing singers for what feels like forever, and they are now close
friends. I chalked it up to nerves—playing to a capacity crowd of over 60,000 can make
anyone anxious.
Nevertheless, as we got into the dance version of ‘What About Us,’ the nerves settled, and
everything ran smoothly. After a string of hits and a dynamic dance routine to ‘Heartbeat,’ P!
nk took time to chat with fans in the front row. She collected some sunglasses and even
drew a sketch for a fan whose sign read, “I have 19 tattoos, please draw my 20th.” It is rare
to see an artist of P!nk’s stature engage with fans so intimately, as if they were old friends.
It has been 24 years since her debut album and five years since her last performance in
Liverpool. The excitement in the air was tangible as fans eagerly expected her return, having
missed her presence on the Liverpool stage. The crowd, out in full force, reflected just how
much she was missed and how eagerly her return was awaited.
The audience was then introduced to Jason Chapman, the pianist, for a playful segment
where he played snippets of songs for P!nk to guess and sing along. It was a nostalgic and
charming moment highlighted by her saying, “If I guess the song correctly, I get candy.”
A particularly endearing moment occurred when her youngest child, Jameson, joined her on
stage wearing ear defenders. P!nk laughed and said, “Now, there’s a 7-year-old gremlin
behind me who I can’t trust my security to keep off stage.” Offering him Skittles, Jameson
murmured something only P!nk could translate: “They’re not good for me he said, oh no I’ve
done too good of a job.”
We were then treated to a cover of Bob Dylan’s ‘Make You Feel My Love,’ but a fly singing in
her face cut it short, adding a humorous touch to the emotional song. This led perfectly into
‘F**kin’ Perfect,’ a US Billboard number one hit in 2010, which everyone in the audience
knew and sang along to, creating a beautiful chorus moment.
The show continued with flames during ‘Just Like Fire’ and an ever so melancholy, acoustic
rendition of the heartbreaking ‘Please Don’t Leave Me.’ Shortly afterwards, Willow, P!nk’s
eldest child, joined her on stage for ‘Cover Me in Sunshine,’ a song they had collaborated
on, adding a sweet family moment to the performance.
P!nk, who was born Alecia, then interacted with her fans again, signing numerous items and
donning a frog hat and flamingo sunglasses handed up from the crowd. “Do I look amazing?
I feel amazing,” she joked, drawing laughter and cheers. She then transitioned into a more
emotional segment of her setlist. A particularly poignant moment came with ‘When I Get
There,’ a song she wrote about the passing of her father, Jim Moore. She shared the deeply
personal story of visiting his gravesite, and how the solemn moment was lightened by the
unexpected humour of seeing a headstone labelled ‘Freddy Krueger’ nearby.
The finale was a high-energy medley of hits, including ‘Try,’ ‘TRUSTFALL,’ and ‘Blow Me
(One Last Kiss).’ Each band member got a moment to shine, displaying their talents before
the incredible last song, ‘So What.’ This song, arguably P!nk’s most famous, peaked in the
top five worldwide in 2008. If she had not already wowed the crowd, the aerial stunt of flying
around a packed-out Anfield on a small wire was just mind-blowing. There was not a face in
the stadium without a jaw on the floor. Ending the show on such a high, P!nk flew over to the
back rows and upper tiers, getting up close to fans who were further away.
Overall, despite some initial nerves and the high ticket prices, P!nk’s performance at Anfield
was nothing short of extraordinary. Her boundless energy, vocal prowess, and genuine
connection with her devoted fanbase created an unforgettable night. From her breathtaking
aerial stunts to her heartfelt interactions with the audience, she proved why she is still a
powerhouse in the music industry after 24 years. Her ability to seamlessly blend high-octane
performances with moving, personal moments highlighted her versatility as an artist. P!nk
not only entertained but profoundly moved everyone in the stadium, leaving no doubt that
she is one of the greatest live performers of our time.
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