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Lore Müller:
Hi there!
We were sitting right in front of the microphone in the first row, fantastic seats thanks to two very kind friends from the mailing-list. It was a very very warm Sunday evening after some weeks with really mixed weather. The concert took place on a lawn in a park which belongs to an old castle, Schloss Gymnich. The owner is Joey Kelly, a member of the Kelly family (Irish), but more famous for his extreme sport activities. At least I think he is still the owner. They had only set as many chairs as tickets were sold. The fan-shop was right next to the stage on its left.
When the Storyman-theme faded, I expected Chris to come from the left, because the curtain was open there, but he entered the stage from the right side. Although it was hot, he wore a leather jacket over the shirt. I think it was not the usual jacket, perhaps it was new, and he wore it to show it :-)) Just as little children want to wear the new winter jacket even if it is a hot summer day. (Donīt take that too seriously!) He began with the first lines of the Storyman-song, and just as in Mainz, he sang it in the present tense. He continued with In A Country Churchyard and you could hear all the voices of us singing along. Just as expected, he greeted the audience "Guten Abend! Wie gehtīs? Es ist schön, zum erstenmal in Gymnich zu sein." Then he asked if he had pronounced Gimnich right. He tried it a few times, but didnīt hit the right sound of the Y. Ah, actually, his shirt was with light-blue and white stripes, but very fine, so that it looked like totally light-blue (I know there are some people here who want to have a very detailed description, hehehe). Iīm not sure what he has sung next, perhaps Sailing Away. But soon he sang Borderline. This time it was again the highlight of the concert for me. Last time in Mainz I felt disturbed by the not working guitar and the confusion about that. But this time, it was wonderful: 1. reverb in one octave lower as the original and the 2. reverb with the high voice and extremely full power. If I remember correctly, he sang the song last year partly in a totally changed melody, and that was not how I like it most. He really got many presents in Gymnich and when the first rush of ladies and children came to the stage with their presents, I walked to the stage, too, but only placed my piece of paper on the stage. The paper said: Please sing: At The End Of A Perfect Day or Broken Wings. During the first songs I had put the paper in front of my feet, then on my legs, and Chris had spotted it surely. Now, he put the wine and most of the presents on or near the paper and someone from the stuff took the presents away. But Chris gave him to understand, that all the things belong to HIM. The paper remained and some minutes later I saw, he was reading it. But when he started with Carry Me, my hope faded away. So, no Perfect Day, no I See You Everywhere, no The Sweetest Kiss Of All, no Risen Lord and no Iīm Not Scared Anymore. o.k., o.k., I told myself, at least I was lucky to hear the songs in Mainz 3 weeks ago. Well, after he had talked with those who brought presents, especially the children, he said, that he is very pleased to see children coming to his concerts, that he loves it. And when you see his eyes, you realise, he doesnīt say it just like that, no, he really means what he says. And he mentioned Mr. Kelly. I canīt remember what he said, I think, he thanked him for providing such a great concert area. After the first songs, some people came late and looked for their seats in one of the first rows. Chris welcomed them: "Herz(lich) willkommen!" He said s.th. more, but they didnīt seem to notice that he was talking with them. It was a curious situation, for he tried twice or more to make them look at him. In vain. So he continued singing. With the usual introduction (Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, styling his hair all day long and damaging it now with the headset) he explained he had to put the little box into his...., he was looking for the word, and someone shouted "Hosen" which he gratefully repeated. "Hose" is the German word for trousers, but he always uses the plural, which is funny for us Germans. When he started his walk-about during LIR, he left the stage by the steps at the left front. The last step was higher than the others and perhaps he hadnīt expected that, at least it looked like this. Between the stage and our first row there were perhaps 5 metres. And Chris began the walk from the steps right to the front row and looked in each face. We remained sitting, only clapping and smiling and some were taking pics. He looked as if he was wondering why nobody got up, touched him or kissed or hugged him. Just my feeling. When he passed the aisle, the situation changed completely and people enjoyed being near to him very much with dancing, hugging, kissing, taking pics and most of the people got up. But as Chris is not the tallest, I couldnīt spot him anymore.
After an hour the solo-part was over and from behind you could hear Chris with the beginning of Where We Will Be Going. After these first words the song actually started with sudden and loud and hard drums, just as last year the band started the song. I like that very much. Suddenly I saw Monika coming to the stage with a bunch of flowers and Chris took it, first hesitating, perhaps because the band was already playing the intro to the next song. (And with these flowers in his hands, he waved Good-Bye when he finally left the stage.) I think the third song was Raging Storm, and after Kristyna had finished the first line of her part, she got much applause. Her voice is really great. And I would love to hear one of her own songs live or another song together with CdeB. She wore a very short skirt. I agree with others, that I like more her outfit with a dress, more ladylike during that song. Later, when she joined the band, she wore another skirt and top and a silver tie and a hat. During Raging Storm Chris decided spontaneously to change the lyrics :-) And later during Spirit, once again, he chose other words, so when you could see the moving clouds on the video and expected the summer storm, there was no storm. I admire him generally as you all might guess, but when he has to find suitable words from one second to the other, and then stays absolutely calm, no change in the expression on his face, then I (first cross my fingers and get excited, but then) admire him even more.
As I had a good view of the stage, which was nicely low, I could see the whole screen for the video, not so in Mainz, where I could only see the upper half. And in Gymnich I realized that some videos had changed compared to last year. So, during One World, you could see CdeB himself at the end of the video, holding up a sign with the words ONE WORLD. When The Leader started, Chris was standing on the right side of the stage, it was already nearly dark, and no light fell upon him. His voice was great. But something was different, with me or with him, because for the first time (have seen it 4 times before, last year and this year) I have not felt this tension in myself, which I expected especially during the 3. part. It was great, it was emotional, but compared to Mainz, Chris seemed to be not completely IN that third part. Or I am spoiled meanwhile because I have got used to this too much :-(
He left the stage calmly on the right side, whereas in Mainz he crossed the whole stage, looking frustated and helpless and a bit furious. Just my feeling. The band went on playing and I need that time after this special song to come back to the concert itself. Being in my thoughts I suddenly realized that all around me people were running to the front. And as I had only to do 3 steps, I was there immediately, too. Chris came back and started with The Words I Love You and then the usual songs for the dancing part. I must admit, although these are great songs, I would love to have the one or other replaced during the next tour. The mood on stage and in front of the stage and everywhere was great. Chris invited the children to come up the stairs and sit at the side of the stage. He said, he knew how it is when you are small and canīt see properly as he himself is not THAT tall :-) I have not noticed, that the children got ear-plugs, but that is really good, for they were sitting right in front of the boxes. Well, the sound during the whole concert was wonderful, not too loud, not too much bass, really a very very good band sound and mixing and I could hear Chris clearly even during the loudest parts. I didnīt need my earplugs :-) The mood during the concert reminded me very much of the concert in Bonn 2005, which was also extremely rocky compared to the other concerts of the tour I had seen then. Ah well, I forgot to mention that during the band part they performed again hat rocky version of Missing You, which is really great. I like it much more that the soft solo version. The whole concert in Gymnich was a round thing, if you know what I mean. And although I had been looking forward to his (firstly) announced solo-tour, Iīm happy now that it was partly with band. But on the other hand the solo part could have been 5 songs longer or even hours longer, for I like it, when Chris interacts with the audience. And he was very talkative in Gymnich. Itīs a pity I always forget what he has said. Or it comes back to my mind, when I have finished my review :-(
At the end of the concert, when Chris made some fun with the band-members, a camera filmed him and you could see Chris on the video-screen. I think, it would be great for people who sit far away, to show Chris on the screen more often, especially during songs, where the expression on his face is more important than with other songs. But not only Chris was to be seen on the screen, later the camera filmed the audience, too.
After two encores, planned ones, Chris left the stage with this bunch of flowers. You can laugh at me or think Iīm mad, but I had the feeling, he looked at me, somehow as if he wanted to say, that unfortunately he wasnīt able to sing Perfect Day. However - we had to leave. We all would have loved the party-songs, Iīm sure. But we had to say good-bye to each other. One of us had to get her camera back, which was not easy and took nearly half an hour, thatīs why we forgot to look if Kristyna was at the fan-shop. Then our car, filled with 5 people, couldnīt find the right way home at once, so we had a longer journey than expected.
It was a short night. Now, I have to wait a long time until CdeB tours again in Germany, for I wonīt go to UK in November.
I could tell you a lot about what happened before the concert, for I met many many listmembers and other people. But that will be another review, later perhaps.
Lore - from Germany near Bonn/Cologne
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