Prince and I have one thing in common. We are both Minnesota natives.

His royalty Prince graced the stage in a bombastically funky, yet eloquent performance in support of his Musicology tour, an audacious effort from a man who makes me proud to be from the Land of 10,000 Lakes. Prince’s new album was given gratis to every ticket holder milling through the rowdy, convivial crowd at Centennial Garden on Tuesday

The question of Prince’s new tour raised some dubious accusations. Would Prince be only playing his new stuff? Would he tone down the extravagant sexuality that he paraded during the reign of his ’80s pop apex? All these rumors, whether they helped promote his tour or not, couldn’t have been any more off target.

Aside from die-hard Prince fans, many consider Prince a relic, a shining jewel, a spastic pop star who was significant during a decade marked with absurdity. And American mainstream culture’s fascination with all things retro has brought all the old fans out of the woodwork and attracted a new generation of fans being soaked by the orgasmic inspiring Purple Rain.

The show wasn’t obscene for anyone except maybe an FCC censor. The stage, draped in purple crushed velvet, was constructed in a cross so everyone could get an equal glimpse of his majesty’s lasciviously inviting love den.

I have to admit Prince packed all the music into a two-hour invocation to the days of yesteryear. From the opening hip swinging funky disco sounds to the sultry shrill seductive love laments of the second half, Prince had something to prove. His band was chosen perfectly. The horn section, especially the sax players was brilliant and drummer Jerry Blackwell’s thunderous precision tore through the deafening whistles and roars of the screaming audience.

Prince could be called a pre Madonna, but he’s a man who knows how to get things done, and entertain in the process.