A quiet simple Sunday passed whilst waiting for the rescheduled P!NK Beautiful Trauma tour stop, which had originally been scheduled for May.

I entered the Scotia Bank Arena to a sea of people patiently waiting for the start and passing the time by doing the wave. I headed to my floor level seat, totally stoked about where I was going to be sitting. I snapped a few pics for my perfunctory social media humble brag. While doing so, it occurred to me that while I was standing and everyone else was sitting, once things got started all these people were going to stand up. This didn’t bode well for 5’2 me. I wasn’t wrong. The lights went down and my view changed dramatically from unobstructed view of the stage to the broad back of the chap in front of me. I resigned and accepted the inevitably that this was it and the good woman better be as good live as she is in her recordings.

Alecia Beth Moore, known professionally as Pink (stylized as P!nk) performed a sold out show in Toronto. In picture: PINK – photo Angelo Marchini

Well, my worry was all for naught. In a dazzling black sequined bodysuit, she entered swinging UPSIDE DOWN from a spiral pink chandelier.  I was so in awe and so stunned that at first the music didn’t even register. How’s she doing that? How can she be upside down and still be singing?!

P!NK is known for her multiple back to back hits, her authenticity and advocacy for women and girls alike as well as that it is of utmost importance to remain true to oneself. Not only does she advocate for this but she lives it loud.

Alecia Beth Moore, known professionally as Pink (stylized as P!nk) performed a sold out show in Toronto. In picture: PINK – photo Angelo Marchini

Hyperbolic cartoons lit up the jumbotron behind the elaborate stage, each a bizarre visual masterpiece.  The backup dancers (truthfully, I don’t even want to call them backup anything as they were truly an act on their own) wore ornamental costumes; a birds head, candelabra hands, bodies writhing, twisting and jumping telling their own story.

At one point, the fearless P!NK stood on one of these dancers, surfing through high up in the air held merely by some ropes.  What wizardry was this?!  Of course each song was better than the next.  Her larger than life presence and vocals like none other, all belting out her message.  She emanates authenticity and gratitude. Guest singers came and went.  Each time she hugged them with a genuine embrace, not one of those weird half hugs you give people you tolerate.

Alecia Beth Moore, known professionally as Pink (stylized as P!nk) performed a sold out show in Toronto. In picture: PINK – photo Angelo Marchini

So while yes, her music was indeed amazing, it was how her personality truly shone through.  That type of authenticity you cannot fake.  She made the audience feel like she was there for them each as individuals rather than a sold out crowd.  I turned my attention to the crowd at one point and every single person had a smile mingled with a bit of awe on their face.  I was right there with them. About 99% of the concert I was essentially just one giant goosebump.

Life lesson takaway from Sunday?
Live life in colour and live it LOUD.

More photos from Angelo Marchini