Prince’s secret show at Pacha Ibiza Dubai: 7 things you need to know

Prince and 3RDEYEGIRL at a charity gig at Pacha Ibiza Dubai for Autism Rocks. Courtesy Done Events

About 400 people crammed into the Madinat Jumeirah club Pacha Ibiza Dubai on Wednesday night (February 4) to watch an epic, not-so-secret, highly enjoyable two-hour fundraising show by Prince for Autism Rocks. Here’s a rundown of what he wore, sang, said – and who he likes to have on stage with him.

1 Prince really does not like having his picture taken

As mesmerising as Prince was, it was hard not to be distracted by the enormous bodyguard who stood backstage right for the entire set, shining a flashlight into the eyes of anyone he spotted raising their smartphone. At one point I even saw him do the “I’m watching you” gesture with his index and middle fingers. “Put your phone down,” was one of the few things Prince said to the crowd during the show. (Among the other things he said: “Dubai!” and “Do you like funky music?”)

2 He wore a silver suit

More specifically, a silver tunic over silver leggings, made from a stretchy, shiny material like the one often sold at American Apparel. He accessorised with a silver mala bead necklace. For the encore he put on a vest that looked as though it had been made from a leftover disco ball. His afro formed a perfect, fuzzy sphere, while his upper lip mustache sprinkling was as adolescent as ever.

3 Nothing Compares to U is a Prince song

He wrote it in the 1980s for his funk side project, The Family. On a less spectacular evening, the Irish girl in front of me bellowing: "He's singing Sinead O'Connor!" might have dampened my mood with her ignorance of this fact, but her exuberance just added to the experience. It's sort of a strange twist to Prince being here, when O'Connor performed last week in Dubai at Irish Villlage, she did not sing the song, despite her audience desperately wanting her to. Also, the pair met after O'Connor's version came out in 1990 and, according to O'Connor, they did not get along.

4 He has an all-girl band

Prince actually picked up 3RDEYEGIRL – featuring Canadian guitarist Donna Nielsen, American drummer Hannah Welton and Danish bassist Ida Kristine Neilsen – a few years ago. But everyone noticed them during Prince's epic eight-minute set on a recent episode of the US programme Saturday Night Live. Prince loves playing with the ladies, of course, with past protégés including The Revolution's Wendy and Lisa, Appolonia and Sheena Easton.

5 Prince doesn’t say thank you

When I think of all the musicians I’ve watched over the years giving effusive and repeated thanks to their fans, I had to smile when Prince just looked at all of us screaming our appreciation at the end of his two-hour show and said: “You’re welcome”. Twice.

6 The bodyguard was a highlight of the show

Not only did he provide light comic relief, but he saved most everyone in the crowd from enjoying their evening through the distracted prism of social media bragging. Most of us put our phones down and actually watched because of that guy and our fear of his penetrating flashlight. I wasn’t the only one feeling the love: a small squeal went through the crowd when he got on the elevator for parts unknown; the fellow beside me even joked to his wife: “The guy with the flashlight has left the building”.

7 Prince does a charity gig right

He’s notorious for loving live performances and putting on lengthy, surprising shows. Unlike most musicians, who would saunter in to a charity gig, lay down five songs in a cool half-hour, if the audience is lucky, before calling it a philanthropic day, Prince played for more than two hours in Dubai. And there is just no way Autism Rocks is making any money if they had to pay Prince what he’s worth – Dh400 for a ticket was a bargain, in my opinion – making a case for thinking he played this show, and another in London earlier in the week, for free plus expenses.