Concert Review: Perth, Australia - March 14, 1997
Mandy Graham:
It was because of my very good friend that I got up to sing at all. She and I tend to go to concerts together I accompany her to her favourite artists and she reciprocates. She has heard me rabbit on about CdeB for as long as we've known each other so she was hellbent on making it happen for me, As soon as he asked for a volunteer she stuck my hand up in the air ! Anyway you asked for the whole experience--
We were lucky enough to be included in a pre show "meet and greet" session held by the sponsors. This involved about 30-40 people champagne and snacks and a chance that Chris would manage to get around to speak with us. After much deliberation I chose to wear a black and gold jacket it was definately the right thing to do because he walked straight to me and said " I love your jacket!" He then asked if I'd been to any of his concerts before. My reply was "every one here" and he then said that if I'd seen his last one he hoped that I wasn't expecting the same thing as Beautiful Dreams was very different -just him for most of the show with a piano or guitar. I said great because thats how I remembered him from when I first discovered him and was he going to do some of the real oldies like Satin Green Shutters?
He joked that he couldn't remember the words to the really old ones, at which my friend piped up "Mandy can". "Good " he said " I might call on you to help me later" Anyway he moved on to chat to some other people, and I didn't think another thing about it. Just carried on consuming champagne! Which is just as well, because when my friend stuck my hand in the air I was so pumped with "Dutch courage" that I just went with the flow! He said " I remember you, What shall we sing?" I chose my favourite "The Tower" and singing with him was just like singing along with the recording, (because when he recorded Spanish Train it was just him and his guitar I guess) When it was over (all too soon) I couldn't believe the applause! He gave me a huge hug and asked if I had his autograph I said "no"so he invited me backstage after the show!
Did we have trouble getting backstage though!? Security guys were getting really stroppy until some dude said "Hang on thats the gold jacket that sang with him, let her through!" (That jacket was definately the best move!') I grabbed my friend and said "She's with me" and in we went! Guess what - more champagne! I did manage another quick word while he signed the back of my ticket"To Mandy with love from Chris de Burgh" but I was so high with emotion and champagne I really can't remember exactly. He moved on and we managed a short word with his wife Diane (who is absolutely stunning by the way) then out into the night and it was all over! It was most certainly a dream come true for me a fantasy moment made real! So there you have it folks- my big moment -its already fading into the realm of fond memories.