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Ammar Ouwaida:
Hello ALL;
On the 17th, I was so enthusiastic to meet with other fans with CdeB.
Marie-Claude Bélanger arranged the meeting at a pizzeria near theater
St-Denis and the meeting with CdeB in coordination with Astrid and
whoever else is concerned. For me, she was Santa of the day. I thanked
her and thank her now again from the bottom of my heart, for all she
has done, and the impeccable arrangement she has made for us all…
chapeau bas!
Although I have met with CdeB before in Lebanon, I was so enthusiastic
about seeing him for the first time in Montreal.
I had to stay longer at work. You all know it when a silly client comes
at the last moment! That was exactly my case! I arrived at the fan
gathering 20 minutes late, and had to come to the restaurant with my
working clothes, and my work luggage (lol). It was good I took my camera
with me, but I could not put on my ¨read my name t-shirt¨. I wanted to
come home, change my clothes…and go for the fan gathering and the
concert.
It was nice meeting Marie-Claude Bélanger, Francine Leclerc, Andrea
Lucas (Germany), Stewart and Chris (London), Steve Henchey and his wife
Sylvie, Stéphanie, Hélène Dufresne and Michel, Alain Dufresne, Laccas
and Pierre Roch. I hope I remembered everyone I met, and I hope I wrote
their names all correctly.
We had a very nice time getting to know one another before the meeting
with CdeB. We all had great times I believe. I regret not having
arranged my seat close to the others, I was few rows after. We learn
from our mistakes. The concert was great anyhow!
We met with Chris, and he was so welcoming. As usual also, he was so
¨chaleureux¨ in his welcome as I knew him in Lebanon (OK, just found
the English word, simply ¨warm¨). We chatted a while, took some photos,
asked small questions, made some comments (the funniest were comments
concerning the new version of ¨Patricia the Stripper¨ and we remembered
together the lyrics of ¨Le Coeur d’une femme¨ for the concert’s medley
(lol). Dearest Francine was more than kind to take a picture of me with
CdeB, and I was really thankful. So generous as usual, CdeB signed as
many autographs as possible.
I was so delighted to finally meet him and see him again on stage after
5 years in Lebanon (summer 2000). I also saw him also performing live
at star academy in Lebanon 2004 (and he performed ¨the road to freedom¨
for the first time in Lebanon and ¨Lebanese night¨ with Elissa who came
specially to perform with CdeB).
Around 10 minutes past 8, the concert started with ¨when winter comes¨
playing. Lights were turned off at the very beginning of the intro, and
all we can see is white foggy smoke emerging on the stadium. Finally,
he appears on the stage and lights are back again, stronger than before.
CdeB greeted Montreal and all his fans and I can tell you that his
French was greater than expected and his accent too! It added an
¨ambiance Quebecoise¨ (Quebecer mood) when he used Quebec’s accent,
besides the choice of words. It was a nice initiative. He made all his
intros in French, explaining the occasion that made him write the songs.
He is a excellent animator as well, and this solo tour assures he can
easily make ¨one man shows¨…he has his usual thrilling way of telling
things, no wonder his storytelling songs are biggest hits, and his fan’s
favorites.
He made funny comments about ¨Patricia the Stripper¨ relating it to
normal life (lol).
Next came ¨the words I love you¨, ¨the same sun¨, ¨Oh my brave hearts¨
(a song I really miss hearing LIVE), ¨lonely sky¨ and ¨shine on¨.
Again, a caricatured illustration of marriage and couples…followed with
an interpretation of ¨those were the days¨! Then came ¨five past dreams¨,
and ¨here for you¨.
¨Natasha Dance¨, ¨ Lebanese Night¨ and ¨Rainy Night in Paris¨ drove
everyone crazy, specially after CdeB’s explanation of each one’s
context and occasion with small comments. Then, he explained all about
¨Songbird¨ and ¨Eva Cassidy¨. We members of fans’ list know every single
detail, and that was definitely for those who did not know about it. It
was anyway quite touching the way he put it in words, and into a great
song!
¨Saint Peter’s gate¨ was a great performance as well.
A small sketch illustrating his dream about being like Britney Spears,
Madonna and others… and Irish jokes followed. It was so funny and shows
the endless creativity of CdeB as a unique artist by no means.
During this medley, CdeB used a wireless microphone, so as to mingle
between the fans in St-Denis Theater, singing and –AGAIN – greeting
everyone. Everyone went crazy about this, that they did not want him
back on stage…people were ALL singing and clapping. It was quite a
festive mood he was creating. The medley was a great one: My lover is,
Fire on the water, Night on the river, Living on the island, Save me,
Crying and laughing, I want it (and I want it now), Missing you, Le
Coeur d’une femme (CdeB has well re-memorized the lyrics he co-rehearsed
with the fans during the meeting (lol), ending with Tender hands.
He drove us back to the chilly cold weather awaiting us outside with
¨snow is falling¨, and we ALL saw later how emotional he was when
performing ¨Borderline¨. ¨Say goodbye to it all¨, ¨up here in heaven¨,
¨the tower¨ and ¨a spaceman came traveling¨ were also so emotional and
touching in performance.
¨ship to shore¨ was full with enthusiasm and people were all singing
along with CdeB. Then came the famous ¨lady in red¨.
¨Spanish train¨ was also quite an emotional interpretation that drove
everyone crazy. At the very beginning of the song, a woman offered him
a canvas (I reckon it is a painting)…and so CdeB simply quit singing
(promising the train will be back soon later), thanked and kissed the
lady, then went on singing.
¨the revolution¨ and ¨where peaceful waters flow¨ were also exceptional
interpretations. ¨don’t pay the ferryman¨ was so so so great, adding to
the festive mood, directly followed by ¨high on emotion¨ and ¨Patricia
the stripper¨. He cooled us down a bit with ¨snows of New York¨, so as
to drive us crazy and hyperactive again with ¨hard days night¨, ¨o’bla
di, o’ bla da¨, ¨pretty woman¨, and the show ended with ¨Hey Jude¨ -
all so unique performances.
After 3 hours of continuous show, no one really wanted to leave the
theater. As usual, he was so generous in all his performances. CdeB saw
that people in Montreal were crazy about him. The show would definitely
have been different hadn’t the fans interacted in a unique way as well,
we can feel a strong bond, a great dedication.
CdeB has always surprises and new things to offer on stage, so we can
never predict how it would be like…he always has things to add which
keeps fans thrilled.
The show is thus always beyond our expectations, however high our
expectations are!
Song sequence again:
1- When winter comes
2- Road to freedom
3- The words I love you
4- The same sun
5- Oh my brave hearts
6- Lonely sky
7- Shine on
8- Those were the days
9- Five past dreams
10- Here for you
11- Natasha dance
12- Lebanese Night
13- A rainy night in Paris
14- Songbird
15- St-Peter’s gate
16- Medley: My lover is
Fire on the water
Night on the river
Living on the island
Save me
Crying and laughing
I want it (and I want it now)
Missing you
A woman’s heart (French version)
Tender Hands
17- Snow is falling
18- Borderline
19- Say goodbye to it all
20- Up here in heaven
21- The tower
22- A spaceman came traveling
23- Sailing away
24- Ship to shore - sailor
25- The lady in Red
26- Spanish Train
27- The revolution
28- Where peaceful waters flow (with a touch of: ¨missing you¨ and ¨say
goodbye to it all¨)
29- Don’t pay the ferryman
30- High on emotion
31- Patricia the stripper
32- The snows of New York
33- Hard days night
34- O’bla di, o’bla da
35- Pretty woman
36- Hey Jude
Ammar Ouwaida
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File last modified on July 29th, 2006