Concertography
Paris 1998
Paris 1998
report by Angela from Poland (thank you) :
PARIS ‘98
It’s September, the 22nd 3 o’clock in the afternoon Pigalle Place (Red
Light Avenue) and „La Cigalle" place. Brian´s concert will start
in 5 hours.
I´m looking in the faces of most impatient fans, so I join
in and we’re standing like that in the sun light of the blue sky
and extremely hot sun for this season of the year.
There is nothing special going on till 5:30, apart from fact there
are more and more people coming as the time goes by, wearing Queen
and Brian t-shirts. Suddently a car appears, carrying the band
members but not Brian.
At 6:00 people get even more impatient.You can feel the atmosphere
of the coming concert. Finally the doors do open. The security guards bring
the barriers in, which part the waiting crowd from the left side
to the right. And so we are waiting for another hour. It is 7:00 when they
finally let us in, but taking our photo cameras and bottles away
at the same time.
The concert begins with a french supporter, whom I did not know. He
sings several songs and gets so much applause just to get offstage again.
And so he went away but there comes someone funnier, more handsome, disguised
as Elvis Presley.
He is doing a very good job but this singer actually turns out
to be Mr. Brian!
8PM; the lights go out and at the same time everybody feels the outburst
of adrenaline as there is Brian onstage striking the pose just like on
the cover of his latest album. He performs „Space" which is follwed by
"Since you´ve been gone", „Business",
„China Belle", „Hammer To Fall" and „Slow Down". There is a break now
as Brian is telling jokes in French, which I do not understand.
They must have been funny as the French had a good laugh.
And finally I hear the rythm of my favourite song „The Show Must Go
On". Brian is scratching his head and wants the audience to help him singing.
There is no much talk about it, because he managed it perfect without any
help. There goes another hit „I Want It All"; Mr.Brian surprises.
It is getting all very sweet as the wonderful sounds of Brian’s guitar
fill our ears and „Last Horizon" begins (I wanted so much to hear the song
live;it was so nice). Then we hear „Headlong".Brian is announcing „Love
Of My Life" now dedicating it to Freddie of course with thanks and so we
sing it together.
There is a moment of break now as the new member of Brian’s band,
the drummer Eric Singer, is showing off. He is really good. His drum sticks
are alright..."Tear It Up", „On My Way Up" and so the show goes on. Brian
says good bye to the audience introducing the members of his band at the
same time and they all leave the stage but just for a moment. The fans
want them back as they shout: oh-oh-oh.
Brian points at the stage and says with a harsh voice: „Alright I will
sing you a song from my new album". And so at the end we hear the song
performed in french with the english refrain „Another World".The french
are on the ninth cloud „No One But You" and „We Will Rock You" finish the
concert definitively which it is history now.
We could buy certain souvenirs after the show, closely connected with
Brian.
In front of the entrance there have been approximately 40 fans waiting
for Brian for 1,5 hours with their cameras ready to shoot, CDs to be signed
by Brian. There were only 5 people who realised that there had been another
entrance and went there to look for him. And guess what? Brian is just
leaving the building surrounded by his bodyguards. But he is not listening
to their advice as he is talking to the fans and giving autographs to everyone
who asks him to. It all looks quite funny as Brian walks really fast, looking
back to the left and then to the right signing everything he is being given.
As he is right in front of the car he is turning back and giving us
his autographs. He asked us :"has everybody everything signed?" We say
yes! He asks us: „did you have a good time?" We say yes again! He asks
us once again at last: „Am I free to go now?" ...well y-e-s Brian...unfortunately
you are free to leave now; and we „allow" him to leave...
Unfortunately those 40 fans are still standing and waiting for Brian
being unaware that he had already left.
It was really a good concert, Brian made a great impression and surprised me with his exceptional concentration especially during his guitar solo playing. He showed us the real art of his abilities and proved once again that he is the best. It was not necessary anyway...
From now on I will always associate Paris with this unforgettable concert
and the nice meeting with Brian. Nice reflections remain...
Thank you for the concert and „Another World" Mr. Brian
P.S. The order of the songs, which have been performed, might have been different.