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Michaela:
Hi all,
itīs just one hour ago that Chris waved goodbye and left the stage. And while most
of you are on the motorway or in a hotel, Iīm already at home, at my computer and try
to assort my thoughts. And as they will circle around in my head the next hours anyway,
Iīd better write them down immediatley.
When the concert in the Eberbach monestary was anounced, I couldnīt believe my eyes.
Iīve already heard that Chris had given concerts in a church or monestary and I had
wished that I could attend one one day. But I was in doubt that this wish would become
true soon, the occasions are rare and Iīm not able to travel very long distances and
stay away from home for several days. And then, by surprise, a concert in the basilica
of a monestary was announced. And this monestary was not anywhere!! It was less than a
40 minute drive away from my home!!!! Unfortunaly it was right on a day when I had
"famillial duties". But after some hours "classical dilemma between the head and the
heart" I orderd my ticket. Many many thanks for unterstanding and patience to my
husband! (Although he often grumps and suffers, at the end heīd always let me go ..)
I arrived at the monestary in the afternoon to do a little "sightseeing" and to check
if I will have a chance to hear a bit of the soundcheck. The basilica was still open
for visitors and in the basilica I met Dany and Doris from Berlin and Angelika from
Dortmund with her husband. They also hoped to hear the soundcheck, which was already
going on, without Chris of course. They told me, that at very few concerts it was
possible to stay for the soundcheck when Chris already had arrived. Seems to depend
on the organizer. And I thought, however, chatting with some other fans in here is
better than walking through the rain, so I stayed. But I didnīt expect at all that we
might stay in the basilica when Chris is doing his soundcheck. Although it would be
another dream of me, to listen to a soundcheck together with only few people. We
waited for about 90 minutes. For the whole time two men where speaking some "uuuhs"
and "aaahs" in the microphone while others adjusted the buttons of the soundmixer for
millimeters. I really appreciate their work. To be honest, I wasnīt able to hear any
differences between the sound of the "uuuhs" at the beginning and the "uuuhs" 90
minutes later...
They also checked the technical possibilites to produce an echo. Chris always works
with artificial echoes at his concerts. I was a bit in doubt if this wouldnīt decrease
the fantastic acoustic that such a church has naturally. I thought that I never would
find out which echoes came from the mixer and which from the walls of the basilica.
And then the unexpected happend: Chris arrived while we were still in, nobody has sent
us away. With him was his wife and some other well dressed people, but they left soon.
When Chris saw us he smiled over to us. And then he started to sing "Here Is Your
Paradise". His assistant told us to take no photos. And so we were sure that we were
tolerated. Now my hopes raised that I might get an autograph or talk some words to
Chris after the soundcheck.
Next Chris sung a part of "Itīs Me (And Iīm Ready To Go)". Oooooooooh, high position
of my wishlist!! I love that song, Iīve never heard it live before, I had already
thought that it would fit perfect to the scenery: "The Autumn Leaves were falling on
those old cathedral walls, there were candles in the darkness, singing in the choir..."
(in deed there were candles in the windows and at the walls). I couldnīt believe that!
"Das sind ja gleich drei Wünsche auf einmal" (three wishes at the same time, itīs a
famous advertising slogan in Germany for kinder egg). The basilica, a soundcheck with
few people and a never-heard-live-before-song from my wishlist!!!!
But then somebody told us to leave the basilica. No further soundcheck, no autograph,
no chance to meet Chris. And somewhere between enthusisastic hapiness (three wishes..)
and disappointment I went to my car and had a little snack. Later I met some fans Iīve
seen before somewhere at other concerts. So far I couldnīt remember most names, but
good luck Lore was again present to help my memories.
At the entrance of the venue we got the promised glass of "Rheingau Riesling". There
were lot of people around who admitted that they donīt like wine. But funnily, once it
was for free, they all drunk it....
When we all had taken seats I noticed that Lore went to the stage and put a piece of
paper on it. For sure it was a request. I had no doubt that a title of a song would be
at the paper. In the internetforum we had already discussed our wishlists for that
special concert. I was very curious which song Lore had requested. But most of the
wishes she had mentioned were my wishes too and so I trusted in her, that she had
chosen a "right one". But the words that were actually on that paper were really far
far beyond my wildest guess!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chris started the concert on time with "The Road To Freedom". Then he welcomed us and
picked up Loreīs paper. He read silently and said "Itīs a request" and something I
didnīt understand and he shrug his shoulders and put the paper on the piano (looked
like he wouldnīt fulfill it). Next was "Same Sun" and I was pretty sure, that this was
not Loreīs request, because he does this song usually. Then followed "Itīs Me", I was
spellbound. But he left out some words. After he had finsished the song he got up from
the piano, told us that he had left out something by mistake, went back to the piano
and sung the missing lines!!
Next was "Natasha Dance". "Natasha brings me kisses in the moonlight", then he stopped.
Looked in respect at the walls of the church, was in doubt to continue (for joke I
guess?) but finally went on with "she kneels above me, silk upon my skin, I reach for
her, and I can feel her heartbeat, beneath her breast so heavy in my hand"
After a song on the piano he noticed that somebody (who looks "official") tried to
take pictures, but he couldnīt, because Chris sat behind a huge wrapping of a present.
So Chris tried to push the wrapping down, then placed the present somewhere else,
looked again at the photographer, wasnīt contended, stood up, took his guitar (which
was also between the camera and the piano) and placed it also somewhere else. Then he
went back to the piano and tried to make a suitable face. Seems that "posing for
photos" developes to a steady gag at his concerts...
When somebody gave him a present with a letter he did his usual joke, he read "you are
even sexier than Brad Pitt" . After people finished laughing he "stripped" of his
leather jacket, like always in a unique manner, and "with a lick of his lips" he
pointed out "I am!" . And then he started to open the buttons of his shirt. Chris!!
Donīt you remember, we are in a church! (Although the basilica isnīt used as a church
since a very long time..) Good luck, the joke ended as usual at this point (or should
I better say "bad luck"?).
Then he picked up again Loreīs paper. And he read "Chris, would you please sing a song
without the microphone" and he said "I think the next song would fit for doing that".
He went to the front edge of the stage, without a guitar, without a microphone and he
sung "Songbird" a-capella and "really" unplugged!!!!!!!! In front of about thousand
people. His voice was absolutely clear (donīt know if also in the back rows..) and
there WERE echoes from the walls, the "natural" ones! This was absolutely stunning!!
It was dream number four which became fullfilled this evening unexpectetly. I admit,
a dream Iīve never dreamed. It was Loreīs dream, it was Loreīs idea. Gosh, Lore, YOU
were the hero of this evening!!
"I heard a voice so pure and easy, a songbird singing for me, I had no choice, only to
listen.." The song is his tribute to Eva Cassidy. But this time it was Chris, his
voice sounded so pure and easy!! We all had no choice, only to listen. Indeed, the
audience was completely silent when he did this song and he got a huge amount of
applause for it.
Some favourites of mine followed (with microphone of course), In A Country Churchyard,
Spaceman, Sailor, Transmission Ends, Here is your paradise, Where Peacful Waters Flow
with medley and Perfect Day. Really a perfect day.
Chris mentioned that a bridal couple of that day was also in the concert and that he
knews them because the man is working for benefit for children.
He did his Lady in Red walkaround after he had "acted like Britney" (very extended
this time). While singing he took seat at the lap of his wife for a while (who really
was dressed in red!), he also climbed on some chairs the row behind me.
Some up-tempo songs followed, he mentioned that he did "The Words I Love You" with a
band from Iran and that he is convinced that some day a concert in Iran will take
place. After ferryman he said goodbye for the first time and 1.40 h after the
beginning of the concert he played "The Snows Of New York". No "High On Emotion" this
time. Would the concert really become that short? Good luck not, some of his
"partytime" coversongs followed ("Iīm sure in the middle ages where also parties in
here..") and finally the audience dared to dance in front of the stage. Within a
medley he sung "Itīs Now Or Never", played in an up-tempo party-like way. I havenīt
heard this from him before. But I admit that I prefer to have a party with his own
songs.
After Hey Jude he shook hands from the edge of the stage, but no hugs and kisses this
time (although the only way to leave was right through the audience). He also didnīt
give kisses when he got presents and flowers and only few during the walkaround. I
wonder if this was in respect of the church or in respect of the presence of his
wife...
This concert was really something special, a very special mood in the old basilica,
light- and soundeffects appeared different from an open air show and additional this
day had a lot of surprises for me!
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