MADISON Square Garden was tickled Pink Monday with one of the best rock shows of the year.
At the NYC stop on her “Funhouse” tour Alecia Beth Moore — otherwise known as Pink — staged a show that was as visually stunning as a Las Vegas Cirque du Soleil extravaganza. Musically, it rivaled the best rock acts in the business.
It should be said up front that this singer actually sings in concert. No recorded tracks, no lip-synching, no pretending about her skills.
Forget about her string of fan-friendly radio hits such as “I Don’t Believe You” and her trademark tune “Get the Party Started” played during the end-of-show set.
Sure, they were excellent, but Pink stepped out of the comfort zone of her own work and laid down a version of Led Zeppelin’s “Babe I’m Gonna Leave You” that was as powerful as anything Zep vocalist Robert Plant has sung. Then, as if she just flipped an inner switch, Pink led her band into a full-length version of the operatic Queen classic “Bohemian Rhapsody” that was as bombastic and flamboyant as the Freddie Mercury original.
At 30, Pink is physically buff. She’s thin, but muscular, and very feminine in a pixie kind of way. Her conditioning made her stage antics — such as a trapeze routine — seem easy.
Pink was risqué in her attire and her stage persona; she was daring not only in her selection of the Divinyl’s hit “I Touch Myself,” but also in staging the bawdy ballad on a couch that sported built-in hands.
During this show, costumes ranged from off-the-shoulder gowns to heart shaped pasties and lace tights that left nothing to the imagination.
She is sexual and totally confident, a demeanor that was reflected in every aspect of the music whether she was doing a power ballad or a flat out rocker. If the set had any misstep it was her inclusion of her political tune “Dear Mr. President” that sings like an open letter to President G.W. Bush whose image was projected on the video screens.
When he was the leader of the free world the song had punch, but now that the USA is in Obama orbit, the song sounds dated.
Other than that stumble this was a top concert, entertaining to watch and a pleasure to hear.
dan.aquilante@nypost.com