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20/10/99 - COLOGNE ARENA Review
by Maria Heutz:
Only three months after I had been in Aachen I drove to my
next BA experience. To come to the most important point first, the concert was
great, fantastic, brilliant, gorgeous …I don’t know enough words to
describe it right. I suffered torments of hell and couldn’t feel my feet
after the gig. I never took such strains upon myself to watch my favourite football
player Jürgen Klinsmann. Without an interruption I stood on my feet for seven
hours and twenty minutes. To my surprise I would do it again and again. This concert
was worth it.
I arrived at the Kölnarena against 16. There were not many
fans waiting in front of the several gates. So I decided first to have a walk
around the arena. It’s such an impressive building, a big glass cupola.
We
waited about two hours before they let us in. Then again we had to wait inside
for another hour. They controlled everything nothing was allowed to bring in;
no plastic bottles no juice packets or whatever. As if we would throw these things
on stage. We will listen to Bryan’s music and not injure him. The reason
for this was they will sell their products for a lot of money.
I found my
place in front of Bryan’s microphone with no space to sit down. After an
hour Tal Bachmann came on stage. We had watched him outside too. He didn’t
know where to go inside and had to ask at several doors. He also brought a big
candlestick with him. Later in his show we saw that he only used this for just
one song. It was a real ceremony. First the candlestick was brought on stage,
then five candles and then the one who light them on; a lot of attraction for
simply nothing!
As usual they were not that bad but fans are always impatient
and want to see their star! So we did. When Tal asked: “Are you ready for
Bryan?” the crowd got mad but only for a short while. He did two more songs
until he finished. The rebuilding of the stage should take another twenty-five
minutes. Groaning after 4 ½ hours on my feet without “doping”
(for example Bryan’s music)!
It was about 20.45 Bryan came on stage and
began with How do you feel tonight. Also today I remember his funny comments and
also his criticism. I wish I had a bootleg from this concert. It was my best one.
So when you read this and know who a bootleg of this great gig has please tell
me. The When you’re gone girl was Anja from Leverkusen and she got words
of abuse from Bryan and whistles from the audience because she told that she is
a fan of Bayer Leverkusen (a rivalry football club to the one of Cologne) and
made some jokes about Cologne playing in the second Bundesliga that season. Bryan
seemed to be well informed about Cologne and the things going on there. He expressed
exactly what I felt. Cologne is my favourite football team since I was a little
girl and this has never changed. The “na, na, na, nas” of Cuts like
a knife came very often. We sang these through the whole concerts. So Bryan did
a lot of comments to this. “I earn money for singing here.” “Should
I go home?” “I’m not looking for a new song!” “Would
you like me to end the gig?” “Okay, I’ll go for a drink.”
With
his first duet partner he had some trouble. When he asked Jana: “Where are
you come from?” she only looked into Bryan’s eyes and obviously didn’t
understand what he was talking about. Bryan tried with “Cologne?” Jana
replied in German: “Weißrußland” (in English White Russia).
This time Bryan didn’t understand but he would go on with his show and gave
her the lyrics. Jana started to sing very quiet and Bryan told us: “She sings
so sweet but she doesn’t know the song.” He decided to stop her and
would like to know: “Do you drink beer?” Jana said: “No, Saft (which
means juice in English). Bryan replied: “Do we have Saft?” Then it was
Anjas turn. She was very good (when I refrain from her negative comments about
my beloved football club).
Her English was perfect and she could convince give
the Mel C part. Before they started their duet Bryan told her that she should
sing the refrain, he would sing the song and we (he pointed to the audience) had
to sing “na, na, na, na….”
At the end he couldn’t stop
singing. He came on stage again and gave two encores. He also presented his new
single The best of me. In advance he said sorry for all the mistakes in this song
cos they hadn’t played it that often before.
That was the Cologne gig.
It was over about twenty minutes past eleven. On my way back to my car I couldn’t
feel my feet anymore. But what about hurting feed when you just have had your
best Bryan Adams experience in life? | | |
