Pink in London - BST Hyde Park review: Setlist and aerial stunts as star backed by Gwen Stefani and Sam Ryder

On the evidence of the crowds of fans arriving early for a first full day of music at BST Hyde Park, two nights headlined by Pink may not be enough.

Some of the other headliners over the next few weeks may have the weight of rock heritage on their side - Bruce Springsteen, Guns N’ Roses, Billy Joel - but a bill topped by Pink and Gwen Stefani packs a formidable punch.

Kind weather was perhaps more important than ever, when four massive cranes have been brought in to propel Pink into the sky for an acrobatic aerial display. A thunderstorm doesn’t bear thinking about.

Pink at BST Hyde Park

You can’t come away from this show without loving Pink. She dangles herself from high wires above Hyde Park, she has hits to spare (and the audience knows every word), she’s charming and she’s (very) funny.

She appears with a wire-work drop from the gantry - and into Get The Party Started, with some added Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams. It’s an entrance as good as you’ll get.

“What is it - 15 years since I was in Hyde Park? You’re all so beautiful and I want to tackle you.”

From rock to the clubs, we get rock anthem Just Like a Pill and Just Like Fire morphs into Pat Benatar’s Heartbreaker, while What About Us gets a dance makeover.

“Can we look at this sunset together? I always wanted to see a sunset with this many people. I never thought I’d be this sober.”

Then there’s a marriage proposal in the crowd (obviously).

“I won’t ruin it with my sarcasm. I have a song you can make out to though.”

For some Dylan fans, To Make You Feel My Love is a blip. In my opinion it’s a pure classic, deserving of the infinite covers. Pink alone at the piano is worth it alone.

There’s an acoustic section with a lovely Please Don’t Leave Me and a Cover Me In Sunshine with a nonchalant daughter Willow Sage Heart.

“Did you bring me slippers?”

Yes, an audience member did bring her slippers (with googly eyes). At this stage, Pink has already accepted a Pink denim jacket from someone else.

The set is brilliantly paced, with the outstanding Irrelevant coming at the right time and 80s/90s moment with Sade’s No Ordinary Love and Runaway, which has an 80s teen movie vibe.

Dancers spring off trampolines in Trustfall, but it is the wire work which will live long in the memory. There is gentle, mid-set choreography, but in the finale Pink launches over the crowd at astonishing speed. There’s glitter being fired near the stage and pyrotechnics on the way, but no one is looking because Pink is FLYING.

Pink setlist for BST Hyde Park, Saturday June 24

Get the Party Started

Raise Your Glass

Who Knew

Just Like a Pill

Try

What About Us (Dance remix)

Turbulence

Make You Feel My Love (Bob Dylan cover)

Just Give Me a Reason

F**kin’ Perfect

Just Like Fire

Please Don’t Leave Me

Cover Me in Sunshine

Kids in Love

When I Get There

I Am Here

Irrelevant

No Ordinary Love (Sade cover)

Runaway

Trustfall

Blow Me (One Last Kiss)

Never Gonna Not Dance Again

Last Call

So What

Gwen Stefani setlist at BST Hyde Park

Before the main event was a star whom I always think of as the former No Doubt singer. In truth she has long since carved out her own place in the pop pantheon. Songs like the Sweet Escape and Rich Girl are bangers and Hollaback Girl is undeniable. And we got an appearance from Eve.

There is also the No Doubt back catalogue to pick from too, and why wouldn’t you when it includes Just a Girl and Sunday Morning, as well the Talk Talk cover It’s My Life.

This is the setlist, as recorded by setlist.fm.

The Sweet Escape

Sunday Morning (No Doubt song)

Hey Baby (No Doubt song)

It's My Life (Talk Talk cover)

Underneath It All (No Doubt song)

Hella Good (No Doubt song)

Harajuku Girls (instrumental)

Rich Girl (with Eve)

Let Me Blow Ya Mind (Eve cover) (with Eve)

True Babe (Live debut)

Don't Speak (No Doubt song)

Wind It Up

What You Waiting For?

Spiderwebs (No Doubt song)

Just a Girl (No Doubt song)

Hollaback Girl

Sam Ryder, BST Hyde Park

It’s a day of charismatic singers though, and the former Eurovision entrant has charisma to spare, and talent, with vocal and guitar gymnastics in a breathless set. And he has Space Man.

Gayle, BST Hyde Park

The charisma was evident further down the bill too though. Gayle took the main stage in the middle of the afternoon, and relished the runway stage projecting into the crowd. It’s pop punk but it feels authentic with it. Listen to abcdefu and tell me you’re not charmed. Brilliant.

Mae Stephens, BST Hyde Park

A highlight on the Rainbow Stage was Mae Stephens, whose hit If We Ever Broke Up first broke on TikTok. On this evidence that is far from the end of it.