Royce took the stage promptly at 9 p.m. with a countdown timer (counting down the moments he arrived), and his entrance was explosive. Dressed in white, he kicked off his set with “Cuchi cuchi,” coupled with white laser lights. “New York City, what’s up?” he asked, and the response was enormous.
He immediately broke into “Te Robare,” with his music video playing in the background on the giant televised screen, thus displaying his sultry voice, as the fans were dancing along in the aisles. Royce took his fans on a trip down memory lane to 1961, with his own, stellar rendition of “Stand by Me,” which he sang in English and Spanish, which was refreshing.
“Soy el Mismo” had a bridge backdrop in the screen, and the vocal was quite romantic. “Buenas noches,” he reiterated three times for his New York audience. “What’s going on?” he asked, and the female fans were screaming their “I love yous” to them. “I love you too baby girl,” he would tell them in return. He went on to give a shout-out to the different borough of New York including the Bronx, Harlem, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Long Island and Queens, where it was evident that his fan-base was highly eclectic from all over New York.
It was followed by “Su Hombre Soy Yo,” and the popular mid-tempo hit “Rechazame,” where he was throwing roses to the ladies in the crowd.
“Yo te ame” was more upbeat, and he had the fans waving their hands up in the air, in the equally fun “Las Sosas Pequeñas,” which was a beautiful performance. “I’m sweating like a dog already,” he admitted, and that statement resonated well with the girls.
After “Corazon Sin Cara,” a fan threw a teddy bear on stage for him, which he enjoyed, and he sang a duet “X,” with his talented background vocalist. During “Ganas Locas,” he flashed his abs, showcasing his chiseled body, and he was hopping around on stage during “Mi Ultima Carta,” where his stamina and adrenaline level ought to be commended. “I feel like crowd-surfing right now,” he said.
The opening lyrics for “Culpa al Corazon” displayed on the televised screen, allowing the audience to sing along, and the highlight portion of his show was the acoustic segment (where he strapped an acoustic guitar around him). At that moment, Royce allowed his rich, mellifluous vocals to do all the talking on such ballads as “You Are Fire,” the sultry “Addicted” and “Lucky One,” where he encouraged everybody to take their iPhones out to help him light up The Theater at Madison Square Garden, which lit up into a stunning sight. Towards the end, he incorporated a medley of a verse from Michael Jackson’s “Human Nature.”
After “Extraordinary,” he praised New York City. “Isn’t this the greatest city in the world or what?” and the answer was a resounding yes.
“Y’all feeling sexy?” he asked, and immediately broke into “Sabes que te quiero,” which featured his velvet voice. He even invited two female audience members up on stage with him, where both of them were left breathless and in awe of his talent
After yet another outfit change, he serenaded fans to “Deja vu,” his duet with Shakira, prior to closing with “Ven Conmigo” and “Darte un Beso,” where everybody was left wanting for more. It is safe to say that Prince Royce is highly recommended seeing whenever he comes to town. He is a multifaceted artist that doesn’t disappoint.
The Verdict
Overall, Prince Royce gave it his all at The Theater at Madison Square Garden, and it showed. He allowed the music to speak for itself and he had the audience with him every step of the way. His passion for his music and craft was evident, and his entire band shined as a whole as they brought Latin pop music and bachata to “The Big Apple.” Not only was Royce a talented vocalist (with a voice as smooth as silk), but an exceptional all-around entertainer, whose energy level and stage presence were infectious. The production of his show was top-notch as well. It is only a matter of time before he stars headlining the arena at Madison Square Garden, and rightfully so. Prince Royce’s live show in New York garnered five out of five stars.
To learn more about Prince Royce and his touring schedule, check out his official homepage.
Read More: Digital Journal chatted with Prince Royce about his latest studio album, Five.
