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Meanwhile, his royal majesty, who turns 53 in June, dazzled that audience with a career-spanning set that never seemed to end.
The stage was shaped like Prince's trademark glyph, and it was there that he seemed to hold royal court -- whipping the audience into a fevered frenzy with classics such as 'Controversy,' '1999,' 'When Doves Cry,' 'Purple Rain,' 'Kiss' and 'Sign of the Times.' While the days of yore are long gone -- when he used to do countless splits throughout his concerts -- Prince proved to be an ultimate showman, even taking on ferocious power ballads such as 'The Beautiful Ones,' 'Nothing Compares 2 U' (with background singer Shelby J) and 'Adore.' He teased and titillated with shortened versions of rare faves like 'If I was Your Girlfriend,'Pop Life,' 'Raspberry Beret' and Sheila E's 'Love Bizarre.'
Prince Takes New York, February 7, 2011
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: (Exclusive Coverage) Misty Copeland and Prince perform during his "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden on February 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Prince Takes New York, February 7, 2011
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: (Exclusive Coverage) Prince performs during his "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden on February 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Prince Takes New York, February 7, 2011
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: (Exclusive Coverage) Prince performs during his "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden on February 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Prince Takes New York, February 7, 2011
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: (Exclusive Coverage) Prince performs during his "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden on February 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Prince Takes New York, February 7, 2011
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: (Exclusive Coverage) Cee Lo Green opens for Prince during his "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden on February 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Prince Takes New York, February 7, 2011
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: (Exclusive Coverage) Chris Rock on stage during Prince's "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden on February 7, 2011 in New York City. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage for NPG Records 2011)
Prince Takes New York, February 7, 2011
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 07: (Exclusive Coverage) Reverend Al Sharpton watches Prince perform during his "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden on February 7, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage)
Prince Takes New York, February 7, 2011
(EXCLUSIVE, Premium Rates Apply) (Exclusive Coverage) Kris Humphries and Kim Kardashian watch Prince perform during his "Welcome 2 America" tour at Madison Square Garden on February 7, 2011 in New York City. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage for NPG Records 2011)