|
Carina Angeli:
Dear CdeB-fans living all over the world!!!
For those who unfortunately could not be part of the recently
European Summer Tour and in particular of the concert in Gotha at
Schloss Friedenstein (27th July) here is a belated but detailed
report of the show from my point of view (fortunately row four,
quite in the middle in front of the stage!!!):
The parking was very easy. In all streets around the venue it was
allowed to park the car without any payment in case you have had a
ticket for the show. At 7 pm the audience was allowed to enter the
venue. It was the courtyard of the castle Schloss Friedenstein which
was built in the 17th century right in the middle of Gotha (a small
town with about 48000 inhabitants nearly in the middle of the German
federal state Thuringia, quite in the middle of whole of Germany) up
on a small elevation. At the entrance all people had to open their
handbags and to hand over there bottles (whether glass or plastic)
and meals to the security. Some of the people (especially the elder
ones) complained about it which already was mentioned earlier on
this website.
The weather was fine. There were only a few clouds and the sun was
shining a little bit and a full moon was in the sky. So there was no
rain. This is quite important for an open-air concert I think.
Unfortunately later on the evening you needed a jacket to get no
cold.
Around the 3040 seats there were some stalls where you could buy
small meals (e.g. ice-cream) or some drinks. There was also a stall
where you could buy some records of CdeB. Or autographs or some
shirts, gloves (you know: Snow Is Falling - When Winter Comes ;-) )
and all that merchandise stuff.
Some words about the audience: I guess that the show was (nearly)
sold out. The average age was about 35-40 years I suppose. Of course
there were also some real exceptions (a dozen of children and a few
elder people who came with their children or even their
grandchildren).
The relation men/women was nearly half to half. Some women wore red
clothes (or shrill red hair) hoping CdeB will call them "the lady in
red"!! There were many couples - I suppose lots of men have had to
come along with their wife/girl-friend. Next to me there sat a man
who said to me with a smile "So, tonight there will be a rock- concert!".
My answer: "Oh, I feel sorry for you but I suppose your
wife have told you something wrong!". And also during the show he
gave quite a lot of funny statements especially when female persons
went to stage to give CdeB presents (mostly flowers).
To see all those couples around me it was a clear fact for me that
unfortunately there will be not many of those "real" fans of CdeB at
this concert – fans who nearly know all lines and all songs and how
they usually are performed in concert. At that point I hoped that
the great atmosphere of a live-concert would come up anyhow. To me
it seemed that their only cause to come to the concert was "Oh, CdeB
will come in our town (or just near to where I live) – why not go
there, I know some of his songs and they are quite nice love songs
and he seems to be a nice guy?!" Maybe there are also "real" fans
that live in Gotha and surroundings but the majority of the audience
only knew those popular songs, e.g. "Lady in red", "Don't pay the
ferryman", "High on emotions" and "Sailing away".
On the stage there were a big drum, a big keyboard, a small black
piano and some stands for the microphones. At the back of the stage
there was a very big screen, hidden behind a black transparent
curtain. On both sides of the stage there was each a board for many
guitars. On stage there were also some men (only men!!! not even one
woman!!!) at work belonging to the crew. One man polished the piano
(with real passion!!! so that no fingerprints were left any
longer!!!) and all guitars. Another man glued papers with the order
of the songs on the ground for Chris and his guitar player Al and
also for the base player while another one putted some glasses
filled with water and a blue cup filled with a mysterious liquid
(maybe it was just warm tea ;-) ) on different places all over the
stage. And there were also some men on stage that tested the
microphones and the guitars. On the right side (from the view of the
audience) there was a table were some men of the crew have stood
during the show and where all presents given to CdeB were putted on.
It was quiet nice to watch this scene. Some people of the audience
came in front of the stage to take photos of that scene or
themselves in front of the stage. While these things happened on
stage (quite until the concert started!!!) music was played from a
recorder. I don't know who sang – but I know it was not CdeB!!! It
was the voice of a man and later on also of a woman. I guess the
female voice was the one of Kristyna Myles. I have heard three of
her own songs recently on radio (a small concert given for the
German radio station HR 1 in Frankfurt in March this year with CdeB)
and so I would guess it was her voice.
Some minutes past 8 pm the sound of THE STORYMAN THEME was sounded
and synthetic smoke was on the stage.
Suddenly the whole audience was quiet. CdeB waited on the right side
of the stage to come up the stairs that leaded behind the stage. At
the last seconds of that song he came up onto the stage dressed in
black trousers, black shoes (polished!!!), a light blue and white
striped shirt (lengthwise stripes make thinner ;-) ) and also a
black leathern jacket (one of his countless black leathern jackets ;-
) ). He came right to the edge of the stage, said no word but waved
both hands, took a black electric six string guitar and started to
sing THE STORYMAN. Then he slipped into a few lines of THE LADY IN
RED I think.
In the front of the stage there were three or four photographs
(local newspapers??) with their telephoto lenses (I suppose they
were each about 40 centimetres long or even longer). They tried to
take photos of CdeB from all sides and in every position. CdeB was
really patient because he looked into their camera smiling while he
went on singing. Later on he just ignored them. Fortunately later on
these men were sent away by the security men that stood near the
stage because they were always walking in front of the stage and you
could not really enjoy the scene on the stage because you always saw
those photographs catching the best photo ever.
After a nip of water CdeB sung FOREVERMORE. Already after that song
the first two women came to the stage to hand over their presents to
CdeB. Three red roses and a bottle of wine with a small red envelop
fixed on it (you remember: I've got the roses, I've got the wine,
… ;-) ).
CdeB greeted the audience and tried to say some sentences in German:
GOOD NIGHT TO EVERYBODY. ES IST SEHR SCHÖN, ES IST WUNDERBAR THIS
EVENING IN GOTHA ZU SEIN. For that sentence he became a big
applause. IT IS SUCH A BEAUTIFUL SCHLOSS, JUST LIKE MY HOME. The
audience laughed. You see, they didn't know that CdeB had told the
truth. I ALSO HAVE CALLED GOD YESTERDAY AND I HAVE SAID "GOD, I WILL
BE IN GOTHA, TOMORROW PLEASE NO RAIN!". Again there were laughter
and applause. HEUTE NACHT WIR HABEN SONGS VON MEINEM ALBUM „THE
STORYMAN". After the applause he continued YOU CAN ALSO BUY A COPY
WITH ON SOME OLD STUFF. I ALSO DO LOTS OF OLD SONGS. SO I HOPE YOU
ENJOY THIS ABEND, FIRST OF ALL IT IS JUST ME. AND WHEN THE BAND WILL
JOIN US A LOTS OF DANCINGS IN FRONT OF US.
The next song was THE SAME SUN, also performed with the guitar.
After these lines CdeB got flowers again and also a bottle of wine.
The audience laughed because CdeB thanked for these presents and
read out the label on the bottle. FROM BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG, GOOD, A
SPÄTLESE, MHH!
He continued with the next song SAILING AWAY, once again with the
guitar. The crowd should sing the refrain with him but unfortunately
it was not as powerful and loud as on the record "Live in Dortmund".
I like the Dortmund-version very much and what a pity that the
audience in Gotha was so weak and low.
Once more CdeB got some presents. And suddenly he felt hot and
putted out his jacket – in a very amusing and entertaining way. He
also started to open his belt and wanted to put out his trousers but
he stopped anyhow (ohhhhhhhhh ;-) ) - this scenery reminded me of a
girl. Her name is Patricia …
He went to the piano (you know: polished just like his shoes!!!) and
sung the first song to the sound of the keys.
It is a song that is played in every concert I suppose: BORDERLINE.
CdeB was very concentrated while he played the first notes on the
piano. For me it seemed that it is very important for him to come
into the right mood to sing that song! And the line "one of us will
lose" was sung by him in a new way - very emotional and with the
stress on the word "one" so that the meaning was really clear:
either the young man or the left woman will loose. War causes
losers! It gave me the creep! I mean, really hair on the back of my
arms!
After the song there was a silence for some seconds, then CdeB got
once more presents. NA WUNDERBAR AND THANK YOU FOR THE WINE. AND
NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, COME WITH ME ON A JOURNEY TO A BEAUTIFUL
PLACE. I STILL LIKE GOTHA. WHERE IT IS YOU NEVER KNOW. IMAGE - YOU
SPEAK SEHR GUT ENGLISH HERE IN GOTHA I THINK, MY AIM IS IF I SAY MY
DEUTSCH IS NOT SO GOOD, „HERR OBER, NOCH EIN BIER!" AND „HERR OBER,
WO IST DIE DAMENTOILETTE?", I THING YOU NEED TO KNOW IN GERMAN. IT´S
HOT AND FAR AWAY YOU HEAR THE SONG OF A YOUNG MAN SINGING A SONG OF
LOVE AT HIS BIRTHPLACE. AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH AHHHHJAJAJAJAJAAAA
AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH. CdeB shouted like a muezzin on the minaret of a
mosque. The crowd was very irritated (me too!!!) but then laughed
and applauded. DOES IT SOUND LIKE A LOVE SONG? JOIN ME ON A HOT
LEBANESE NIGHT. So everyone knows by now the next song was LEBANESE
NIGHT. The whole song (as I expected) was very powerful above all
the end - "in the Lebanonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn". The applause after
that song was very strong! Once again some flowers for CdeB!
The next song was an elder one: CARRY ME (LIKE A FIRE IN YOUR
HEART). Once again the crowd sang the last few lines and applauded
with the beats while CdeB sung "OHHHHHHHHOHHHHH OHHHHH, …". As a
reward CdeB said at the end of the song YOU SING SEHR GUT HERE IN
GOTHA. I think the audience could have done much better!!!
THE JOURNEY was the next song and without any break CdeB continued
with WHERE PEACEFUL WATERS FLOW. I guess you all know the live
version from CDs or even other concerts. And CdeB sung it also that
way: … WHERE PEACEFUL WATERS FLOW; LALALALALALA, LALALALALALA, SING
WITH ME, LALALALALALA, LALALALALALA, LALALALALALA, LALALALALALA,
TONIGHT HERE IN GOTHA YOU SING LIKE THE ANGELS, OH YES YOU DO, SING
A LITTLE BIT LOUDER, SING A LITTLE BIT STRONGER, ´COSE I KNOW YOU
CAN, … WHERE PEACEFUL WATERS FLOOOOOOOOOW!
And the great and strong beat from the guitar gave the rhythm of the
audiences hand waves. The beginning of the last verse CdeB sung
without any instrument. Fantastic!
At the end of that song a young woman tried to enter the stage (by
using the stairs) to hand over her present to CdeB but a security
man held her back. So she had to hand over the present how all
others did. The audience was amused and said very
loudly "Oooooooooooooooooooooooooh".
After that CdeB told us a secret that I will share with you, too:
AND NOW, MEINE DAMEN UND HERREN, I SHARE A LITTLE SECRET OF THE
STORYMAN. I DIDN´T LIE! I WANTED TO BE LIKE A BRITNEY SPEARS! The
crowd started to laugh. WHY ARE YOU LAUGHING? IT`S NOT MUCH
DIFFENTENT BETWEEN ME AND BRITNEY! He pointed at his chest. SMALL
DIFFENTENTS, VERY SMALL ONES. BUT NOW I HAVE A NEW HERO IN MY LIFE.
SHE COULD ALSO BE A ROLE MODEL TO ALL OF US - PARIS HILTON! The
crowd laughed again. DRINKING AND DRIVING! BUT YOU SEE BRITNEY, WHEN
SHE WAS ON STAGE, SHE HAD SOMETHING FANTASTIC. SHE HAD THIS MICROFON
(a small head set) THAT SHE WORE THAT I LIKE MUCH, ONE LIKE THIS.
AND I HAVE HERE ONE TONIGHT, HERE IN GOTHA. A crew member appeared
on the stage. THIS IS CHRIS. HE IS FROM AUGSBURG. The crowd gave him
a warm applause. I SAID MOST OF THE PEOPLE WORKING ON THIS TOUR ARE
CALLED CHRIS! THAT MAKES THINGS MUCH EASIER. EXCEPT THE JASON WHO IS
SELLING MY NEW ALBUM "THE STORYMAN" OVER THERE. HE IS VERY LONELY.
GIVE HIM A HUG. CdeB putted on the head set. JA, THIS IS VERY
DANGEROUS. DON`T TRY TO DO THIS HOME. VERY BAD FOR THE HAIR. YOU
SPENT ALL DAY DOING THE HAIR, AND THEN, OH MY GOD, OH MY GOD!
Finally CdeB tried to put the transmitter into his trouser pocket.
AND THIS MUST GO IN THE HOSEN, NOT LIKE I SAID BEFOR THIS "IN THE
HODEN", IT`S A HOSEN. While doing this CdeB groaned AHHHH, OHHHHH,
AHHH. BRILLANT! A GOOD BOY. READY? He took a guitar and came
downstairs to walk through the crowd while singing his most
successful song: THE LADY IN RED. A bodyguard stayed some footsteps
behind him inconspicuously. CdeB went about until row 16/17, walked
across the block and went back slowly in direction of the stage.
Sometimes he stopped for dancing with a woman or for shaking hands
or even for stroking a child. He also has stolen a small hut and
putted it on his own head (and gave it back to the owner of
course!!!). Some people used that possibility to take a photo of
CdeB and the wife/child. To see all these things that happened
behind me I had to stand up even on my seat because all other people
also stand up but fortunately only a few people stood on their
chair!!! So I could see everything that happened.
When CdeB came back to the front of the stage I saw that he
is "very" small. I have seen him before only in a concert in Coburg
(north of Bavarian) in the summer of 2003 where he did not left the
stage and also on television where you can not really estimate
people's height. CdeB had sung some words without the accompaniment
of his guitar and finished the song on stage. VIELEN DANK, THANK
YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH was his answer for the huge applause.
Then he gave the head set back to Chris from Augsburg and putted his
hair in order. The introduction for the next song followed soon: NOW
I SING A NEW SONG OF MY ALBUM. He told us about St. Petersburg in
the year 1941 and 1969 and about the next song that plays IN THE
CITY OF LENINGRAD. The song he performed at the piano. Only he and
the sound of the piano. It was very emotional, very sad. The whole
audience was quiet. It was obviously LENINGRAD – a very beautiful
song with an interesting story. And I like the melody very much –
especially the very first part: first of all the sound of a piano
and then some strings are added. Terrific! In my mind I always see a
young ballerina dancing with a grace of a dancer.
At the end CdeB said DANKESCHÖN. VIELEN DANK. MY NEXT SONG LEADS US
TO ENGLAND IN THE YEAR SEVENTYHUNDRET AND FORTYTHREE. THE NEXT SONG
IS VERY STRONG AND IS VERY CLOSES. THE NEXT IS CALLED "THE GRACE OF
A DANCER". So THE GRACE OF A DANCER was also performed at the piano,
the other instruments (again strings which I love soooooo much) were
played by a recorder. And I really enjoyed that powerful end of the
music of the big orchestra before the last line that is "Only love.
She had the grace of a dancer, and the father of her son. " .
Immediately CdeB went ahead with WHERE WE WILL BE GOING and again
without any break he continued the concert with the song ONE WORLD.
This was the very first time when the big screen at the back of the
stage was used. Pictures from all over the world were shown.
Different people (at least also CdeB) at different places (e.g. at
river Ganges) carried a big sign with the words „ONE WORLD" painted
on it. After the song CdeB said DANKESCHÖN. VIELEN DANK. AND NOW,
I´M HAPPY TO INVITE ONTO THE STAGE A YOUNG LADY I HAVE SEEN IN
ENGLAND ON THE STRASSE. He told us about the competition she had won
in England. SHE IS SINGING THIS DUET AND I HOPE YOU ENJOY HER
FANTASTIC VOICE. SO I`M VERY PROUD WHEN SHE SINGS ON MY NEW
ALBUM "THE STORYMAN". GIVE HER JUST A WARM WELCOME APPLAUSE. HERE IS
KRISTYNA MYLES. Applause came rapidly. Kristyna Myles has been
standing already behind the table since a few songs and enjoyed the
concert next to some crew members. Then she came to the middle of
the stage and sat down on one of two chairs that were putted onto
the stage. She got a warm applause maybe also for her dress (golden
high heels (so that she was taller than CdeB!!! – maybe they sat
during the song because of that fact! ;-) ), very short black
trousers and a beautiful black shirt with golden and silver prints
on it) and CdeB made a joke about her dress: he would be also VERY,
VERY SEXY – not only Kristyna!!! THE TRACK OF RAGING STORM. So the
duet RAGING STORM with Kristyna Myles began. I think that the voice
of Kristyna was a little bit different as on the album "The
Storyman" . I really loved that different one! Her voice was a
little bit clearer and you could also hear that Kristyna Myles sang
with real passion and a lot of fun. The big screen was used again -
a blue and a red feather drifting along in a soft wind. During the
song CdeB and Kristyna Myles sometimes looked at each other and
smiled. After the song the applause took longer then before - that
was perfectly right to do so!!!
Kristyna Myles left the stage and CdeB started the next song without
any hint. On the screen you could see how a camera went over rails
very fast and far away a whistle blew. So it was very clear that the
next song could only be the very old and fantastic song THE SPANISH
TRAIN. Unfortunately the majority of the audience didn't recognize
it because they didn't know that song at all. CdeB sang the first
lines without that well-known break he often needs live when the
crowd recognizes the song after singing "There's a Spanish train"
and he tries to continue with "that runs between…". What a pity!!! I
really have missed it! But it is not the fault of CdeB – it's the
crowd's one!!!! It didn't scream and applaud after the first five
words!!! During the song you could see some cards that mentioned in
the song (jokers, aces) at the big screen and also the hands of two
persons. Further on a chess game. That song was taking in by the
audience very well! They felt very entertained! Me too!!! The
applause was accordingly large. At that point I thought that this
song could be the highlight of this concert – but soon I was shown
the opposite! Be patient, I will tell you when the time is right!!!
The next song was SPIRIT. The introducing by CdeB: AND NOW IF YOU
HAVE A LOOK. YOU ARE ALSO LOOKING AT THE STARS THAT ARE OUT AT THE
NIGHTSKY. And he told us something about the stars we could really
see at the night sky and started the song. The line "Do not cry for
me" was very powerful and the choir you know right from the album
came from a recorder – fortunately because without that choir the
song would only be half as wonderful as possible!!! The screen was
used once again. You saw beautiful pictures from the Serengeti -
lions, giraffes, big trees and a big dessert in the sunset. At the
end once again a big applause for the performance.
And now my personally highlight of the concert came! Right after the
applause (nearly half a minute long!!) a new song was started. First
you could hear a roaring wind. And then a synthesizer playing five
notes of a kind of pipe. Then these five notes were repeated. I
already recognized the song and was totally thrilled because I
thought you never can play that song (and the other two songs
belonging to it) in a live concert! But as I said before I was shown
the opposite!!! Maybe some of you already know which song was begun!
It was THE LEADER!!! CdeB went to the right side of the stage so
that everyone could see the big screen and during the whole song
(and also the next two ones) he stood at this point and the beam on
him on purpose was not very powerful. On the screen you saw pictures
and small movies that added very well to the atmosphere and the
lines of the song. First of all you saw people gathered at a circle
of stones – maybe it was at Stonehenge! And you could see an old man
with a big beard and a cape. They danced and seemed to wait for
something.
Then CdeB slipped into the next song - THE VISION. You saw pictures
that made you really very sad. All in black and white. All those
were pictures of war: a battlefield (the final sound of battle had
disappeared!), soldiers walking through a heap of death people lying
in the trench, you saw aeroplanes used in war and also bombs and a
nuclear attack and the effect of it. It was the very first time in
the concert when pictures were shown that were not taken because of
this concert (e.g. the pictures of the Serengeti and the rails).
They all were authentic and used on television in news programme!
Unfortunately!!!
And then also WHAT ABOUT ME was performed. CdeB really screamed into
his microphone "WHAT ABOUT MEEEEEEEEE AND YOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUU, …"
so that it gave me really the creeps!!! I could hardly breathe
because CdeB was so concentrated and you could see his rage and
anger that I never saw before on his face!!! Between the several
lines he was very thoughtful, looked at the screen too or lowered
his head. At the end he claimed "WELL, WHAT ABOUT USSSSSS?!" That
line reminds me again and again of Michael Jackson's "Earth song"
which also ends with that line!
After those three songs CdeB and his band (some words about the band
at the end of that report) got real much applause and people
screamed because they enjoyed that song. I don't know how many
percent of the audience knew those songs but everyone really enjoyed
it!!! Me too!!! Even if the theme is so sad but I love those songs
and would really miss them if he never would sing them again and now
I know that you can also perform such songs in a live concert and
that CdeB has got these three songs still in mind although he
recorded the songs many years ago!!!
My only criticism on that song is about the light show on stage! At
the end of the song "The vision" there are the lines "Fire – I saw
fire – and I saw paradise – fire - I saw fire"!!! Why were the
flashing lights on stage so weak and not really in beat time??? And
also when CdeB screamed the words that were repeated, e.g. sky,
battlefield and victory!? At least to the word "fire"!?? The person
who was responsible for the light could have done much better and
could have taken advantage of the flashing lights!!! But I also have
to say that the other time in the concert the light show was
brilliant!!!!
After the huge applause CdeB tried to do something which I really
admire! He tried to start the party with dancing in front of the
stage quite after those songs!!! AND NOW COME TO ME TO THE STAGE,
FOR DANCING AND HAVING A PARTY. CdeB started with THE WORDS "I LOVE
YOU" while many people (me too!!!) went to the stage. Soon the
square between stage and row one was filled. People danced, waved
there hands in beat time. Some people also sung the lines they knew – or just the refrain.
Without a break CdeB had begun with BAL MASQUE. That song was very
powerful in the live version! CeB and also the crowd lifted up one
or two fingers when we sung "One touch..." and "two hearts…". I
liked it.
And you could see the glint in CdeBs eyes showing that he enjoys
that part of the concert as much as his fans do! You also could see
the small boy inside of him!!! He joked with his band members. Only
one example: during a guitar solo he stuck his guitar between the
legs of one of his guitar players while he continued his own guitar
play!
After the song he invited small people to sit near the stage: THANK
YOU. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. WHEN I TOURED AROUND – THANKY YOU VERY
MUCH - I SAW SOME CHILDREN, LITTLE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CAN NOT SEE.
I KNOW ´COSE I´M LITTLE, AND I CAN´T SEE REALLY NOW RIGHT. JUST IF
THERE ARE ANY KINDER, ANY CHILDREN THEY CAN COME UP AND SIT
SOMEWHERE OVER HERE. He got applause for that invitation and soon a
few children sat at the edge of the stage. FROM "THE STORYMAN" THIS
IS MY FATHER´S EYES. Suddenly also Kristyna Myles was on stage
again – changed her clothes. She wore once again high heels, black
tights, a very short jeans (she has really the figure to wear such
clothes!!!), a black and pink coloured corsage with holders for
stockings, a tie made of synthetic diamonds and big ear-rings which
are very popular at the moment in Germany. And she wore also a black
hut. Again she looked very sexy! She danced the whole time on stage
and played the tambourine. There was a big party one stage going on
and all people (whether on stage or just in front of it) really
enjoyed it!!!
The next song was MY FATHER´S EYES. Without any break CdeB continued
with the song LIVING IN THE WORLD.
The crowd clapped their hands in beat time and the song seemed to be
ended but CdeB started up once again (you already know it from the
live albums, e.g. "Live in Dortmund") and the guitar player Al had
one more guitar solo that he did well!
And once again without any comment the song SAY GOOD BYE TO IT ALL
was started. For me it is a mystery how high CdeB can actual sing.
It was higher than the "high C" (sorry, I don't know the right
translation of the German "hohes C"!!)! And there was time for
another solo for the guitar player Al.
After that song all people on stage left the stage and the crowd
started to scream "Zugabe" (encore) until CdeB and his band came
back onto the stage. They performed DON`T PAY THE FERRYMAN and on
the screen you could see dancing bones on the water.
After that song CdeB took all his presents and left the stage
together with his band again. The crowd clapped their hands and
screamed as loud as they could so that CdeB had to come on stage
once again. He asked I`M HIGH ON EMOTION, ARE YOU ALSO? Of course,
we were!!! So he started with HIGH ON EMOTION. And he had a great
fun to perform this song! We are moving from a spark to a flame. A
crew member took a camera and filmed us in front of the stage and
this movie was shown on the big screen at the same time. About the
end of the song CdeB has taken off his guitar and stole a drum stick
and conducted us as if we were a big orchestra. At the end he throw
the sticks behind himself and came to the edge of the stage to shake
many hands (my hand also!!! with his left hand - which comes right
>from the heart ;-) ). Then he ran to one of his two guitar players
and plucked the strings, then he ran to the keyboards and pressed
some keys head over, then on the run (as fast as possible!!!) to the
other guitar player he tickled Kristyna Myles on her ribs and the
guitar player was shaken by him and CdeB plucked also the strings of
that guitar. Suddenly CdeB held once again a drum stick in his hand
and tried to play the drums. After the song was finished the four
band members (a guitar player, a base player, a drummer and a man
who played on the keyboards) came in front of the stage and made a
line with Kristyna Myles and CdeB. They bowed again and again and
finally they all with exception of CdeB left the stage. He pointed
at his watch (which did not really exist!!) and waved his arms to
say goodbye. Then he gave us a clear sign that he is already tired
and wants to go to bed for sleeping. But for the very last time he
took his black guitar and played the last song with his band in
Gotha. And I suppose you know which one! But before I tell you if
you are right or not I will tell you what CdeB told us before the
very last song was started: THANK YOU, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. I HOPE
YOU ENJOYED THE WHOLE CONCERT TONIGHT AS MUCH AS I DID. HERE IN
GOTHA YOU ARE FANTASTIC. THANK YOU. The crowd screamed. AND IT IS
SUCH A BEAUTIFUL PLACE I THINK. AND IF YOU TURN AROUND HERE YOU CAN
SEE WHAT I HAVE SEEN: THAT THERE A FULL MOON IS. AND THIS IS VERY,
VERY FANTASTIC. He started to play some chords at his guitar, said
the very last sentence for this concert – a very emotional moment
for me. SONG TO SAY GOOD NIGHT HERE, TRAVEL SAFELY HOME. I can see
you now by the light of the dawn ... obviously THE SNOWS OF NEW YORK
was started. It is a very sad song but it also offers hope. It gives
you the certainty that there is one person left who cares for you. …
and when there was just one set of prints in the sand, that was when
you carried me … The live version was more powerful and not
performed "slowly" and "softly" as on a studio album. It was a very
good ending although I missed some of the Beatles songs…
It was a strange feeling inside of me because I knew that this would
be the very last song and the next concert where I will buy a ticket
is not planed already. But CdeB gave a very last present to some
people – to those people that stood very close to the stairs that
leaded from the stage to the square in front of the stage! While the
band played the last chords ahead, CdeB came up from the stage for
the every last time to shake some hands and so I had the opportunity
to stand very near to him – I can tell you he is as tall as I am!!!
After that he and his band disappeared for ever behind the stage!!!
By my clock it was about 20 minutes past 10 pm.
Suddenly there was such an emptiness and a silence except the people
who stood in front of the stage and talked about what they shall do
next (let's go in town and have some drinks, let's drive home, …).
Very soon the men from the beginning came back onto the stage and
break down all equipment. Some men didn't understand German but
there was one man who did and he was very politely! He gave me the
paper of the song list that glued near the microphone stand of the
guitar player Al!!! The paper for CdeB got another woman that I met
at the exit by accident. In front of the stage a young woman stood
next to me and asked a men on stage for a special souvenir of that
evening! She wanted to have the blue cup I mentioned at the
beginning (probably filled with a mysterious liquid! ;-) ). But she
didn't get it! And I don't know if she even got an alternative!
Soon the courtyard of Schloss Friedenstein got more and more empty.
Carried by the sound of "dadadadada, dadadadada, dadadadada,
dadadadada, when you're feeling lost in the snows of New York, lift
your heart and think of me, lift your heart and think of me" I left
the venue with the majority and went to my car to travel home!!! And
when you´re feeling lost in the snows of New York, lift your heart
and think of me, dadadadada, dadadadada, dadadadada, dadadadada, and
when you´re feeling lost in the snows of New York, lift your heart
and think of meeeeeeeeeeee, lift your heeeart and thiiiiiiiiink of
meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!
Out of town there was a small traffic jam but mainly it was because
of the traffic lights around the venue. On the road home my CD
player had to play songs of the Storyman I was around for nearly two
and half hours. After about 90 minutes I arrived home – safely - and
fell into my bed dog-tired.
In retrospect (exactly five weeks are gone by) I can give you also a
small review which is now not led by the emotions that I had right
after the concert.
Still I think that it was a fantastic concert and it was worth to
buy a ticket for that concert and to drive to Gotha! Also it was
worth to buy a more expensive ticket to sit close by the stage so
that I could see the facial expressions of CdeB and the band
members.
First of all I want to tell you some positive comments about the
concert:
- Because of the unstable weather this summer here in Germany it was
very good that there was no break after the half concert! I don't
really like breaks in concert because it is hard not only for the
artist but also for the audience at the beginning of the second half
to let come up the atmosphere as strong as it was before the break.
Moreover without a break you can lay in bed a little bit earlier ;-
) !
- The other thing I have to mention as a very good idea is the use
of a screen on stage to show pictures and movies that add to the
atmosphere and the statements that are within the songs. Some songs
don't need movies to strengthen the theme but especially for a song
like "The leader" or even for "Spanish train" it is very good to
have such a screen! And I have to mention that the choice of the
pictures and movies was well done!!!
- Always it is such a great gift to the audience that CdeB tries to
say some words or even whole sentences in German again and again! I
think it is also a kind of respect that CdeB shows. He really cares
if the audience can understand him. In case of talking English he
also demonstrates with his hands what he is saying so that nearly
everyone can understand him well. For me it is not difficult to
understand English (although my English is not really perfect) but
for the elder people especially for those who have grown up in the
new federal states of Germany (former GDR) it was very important
because mostly they have learned Russian at school and not English
like nowadays!!
- And I also thank God that a person have told him the right
pronunciation of "Gotha". Before the concert I really felt pity on
CdeB because I realized that maybe the name of the town will make
problems to him. I hoped that he will get to know in time that the
two letters "T" and "H" are no "th" like in "brother" and that he
must pronounce those two letters in this case as if there would only
be a "T"! But I can tell you he did his job very well!!! And also
the person who taught him did well.
- It was quiet a pity that Kristyna Myles sang only the duet with
CdeB. But I welcomed very much that she came up on stage again for
dancing and playing the tambourine! So she was not sitting behind
the stage lonely and could have a lot of fun on stage, too.
- I really enjoyed seeing that CdeB looked for the audience's
nearness. Twice he came up from the stage, walked through the crowd
and shook soooooooo many hands this evening. And he accepted every
single present and said a personal comment! And he looked into your
face while he shook your hand so that it seemed to be very personal
although of so many shakings!
- I have to say that CdeB did a lot of his old songs. And he found a
very good mixture of old and new songs. I missed "The mirror of the
soul" very much but we could listen to the trilogy I mentioned ahead
and the "Spanish train" instead!!! Unforgettable!!! So the choice
was well done!!!
But I have also some negative comments:
- At the beginning of the concert CdeB told us that first of all he
will sing alone and later on the band will come onto stage to
perform with him. I can't tell you that there was a real cut between
both parts! Suddenly the guitar player Al came on stage to perform
the song "Borderline" with him. Later on the three other guys also
come on stage gradually. But some songs in the second part CdeB
performed nearly alone. So I think he had not to mention the
division of the concert. But the list on the paper with the song
order for Al begins with the song "Where we will be going", so I
think this song was the official beginning of the second part of the
concert!
- And I also must complain to CdeB that he didn't introduce his band
member to the audience! The name of Al Vosper I read by now here on
this website in context with a link to his own page! The names of
the other ones I do know not yet! Unfortunately I don't know where
they are from and what they do when they are not on tour with CdeB.
Do they have their own projects or do they tour with other artists?
I don't know… But I can tell you about their job on stage! They all
did very well! The solo parts of the guitar and base players were
terrific! I really loved to see them playing. And the drummer was
good as well! And the keyboarders play at "THE LEADER" I will never
forget.
- On another website I found the song list of the concert in
Halle/Saale (the very first concert of that tour!!!). I had to read
that there the song "Mirror of the soul" was played! Grrrrrrr!!! Why
was this fantastic song not played also in Gotha??? And what
about "Perfect day"??? I can't understand who was so foolish to
shorten the concert by throwing those songs out of the play list!!!
Very sad!!! :-(
- Some words about the audience: I think it was a real pity that the
audience was so subdued. Seldom they sung with CdeB with full power
or waved their hands in beat time, jumped up and down and so on. I
can't really estimate the character of the people in Gotha – either
they were just really stiff or they just didn't know the lyrics of
the songs. But this fact was not CdeB´s fault. He handled it really
well. He tried to encourage the crowd and gave signs how the
audience should clap the hands and so on. But I have also to say
that the party at the end of the concert in front of the stage was
really fantastic. There all people jumped up and down, waved their
hands and sung the majority of the lines!!!
- The last thing I want to comment is the duration of the concert.
In the concert on HR1 (I mentioned already) CdeB said that this
concert in Frankfurt is a very short one and the audience shall come
to the next tour to hear more songs and I can remember very well
that he said "usually at least three hours"!!! So I was a little bit
sad when CdeB left the stage at about 20 minutes past 10 pm. I
thought the concert will go on about until 11 pm. The weather was
fine so what was the reason???
So, I hope you could feel a little bit of the atmosphere and the
mood that were in that concert in Gotha. I also hope these lines
give you a compensation of not being on this tour. The next will
come soon. Already in November CdeB is back on stage in the UK.
Many greetings from the North of Hessen from
Carina.
Where ever you live - take care and carpe diem!!!
|