As a lifelong
Scorpions fan, I couldn't possibly miss their farewell tour, so together with
my parents (who introduced me to this beautiful band), we were there attached
to the fence! Unfortunately it wasn't the front row fence, but the sound booth
fence that provided me with wonderful support and helped me also watch the
performance instead of just hearing it. It was very uncomfortable and my ass
still hurts, but it was the only way to actually see something, so it was worth
it.
First of all, I have
no idea why these people are retiring. They still rock every bit as much as
they used to do and Klaus sounds crystal clear. His unmistakable metallic voice
hasn't changed one single bit, he didn't lose his voice once throughout the
whole show and everything went like clockwork. Second of all, after going to so
many metal concerts lately where everyone is dressed in black and tries their
best to look as fierce/sexy as possible (depending on the genre), it was very
nice to see such an eclectic and colourful audience. And what was even better
is that the crowd made a marvellous atmosphere, which for me is really important
seeing how the last time I saw Scorpions live, the audience pretty much ruined
it for me (I tried my best to ignore them and enjoy the show, but if not for a
very large and friendly dude who decided to post himself as a barrier between
me and the crazy group next to us, I don't think I would've been able to even
understand what is going on, let alone enjoy it. Who the fuck moshes at a
Scorpions concert? Especially when there are kids next to them? Speaking of
which, who the fuck brings their kids to the front row at a rock concert?).
Anyway, back to this
show. The setlist was pretty much the same as the last time, the moments where
pretty much the same, with classic solos from each of the band members, with
the drummer going on top of his drums and taking of his "long live rock
and roll" T-shirt to reveal his identical "long live rock and
roll" tattoo... but it didn't seem repetitive or recycled at all, because
every concert is an organic experience, one that depends so much on the general
feel of the band and of the audience. For me, it's the atmosphere that makes or
breaks such shows and good bands know how to make good atmosphere no matter
what kind of audience they have in front of them.
It was a very
emotional concert, being the last one from a band that has 45 years of singing
behind it. For me the most emotional moment of it all was when they sung When the smoke it going down. Not only
it's my favourite Scorpions song and a melody that always moves me, but the
lyrics are the epitome of what a band like Scorpions is and lives for. Yeah, I
cried. So did almost everyone else around me. To see a grown man who looks like
he escaped from a military facility and could probably kill us all with just
one look crying because of a song, next to a skinny teenage girl crying because
of the same song is really special. The second best moment was when they sung Wind of change. Wind of change is one of those songs that has been SO played to
death that you roll your eyes whenever you hear it again and forget how
beautiful it really is. Hearing it sung by thousands of voices and knowing it
will be the last time I will ever hear it like that reminded me what a gorgeous
and inspiring song it really is. Usually, at the end of a concert I go all
"I can't wait to do that again", but this was a show that could never
be re-made. The value of it was not in the music or performance (which were
great, don't get me wrong), but in the uniqueness of it all. We said goodbye to
a band that most of us had known our whole lives and it was just as sad as it was
beautiful.
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