Meeting Nightwish

It’s been a year since I last saw Nightwish live, and even though I’m still in “mourning” due to them parting ways with Anette, it’s probably time to take a stroll down memory lane and relive my happy days with the band. As I mentioned in a previous post, I went to see the Finish metal band in Worcester, Massachusetts, on September 2012. I had VIP tickets and I got to meet the whole band and get autographs. I also got a spot in the front row, from where I experienced one of the happiest moments of my life. This post won’t focus on the concert itself, but on my interactions with the band members. When I first saw them in 2008 I got to talk to Tuomas Holopainen (keyboards) after the show when he came out of the tour bus to have a cigarette. He signed autographs and hung out with me and a few other fans there. I remember that I barely spoke English back then, and that plus being star struck didn’t help me carry an interesting conversation, but I was happy regardless. That day I didn’t get to meet the other members, and I did see Anette Olzon (vocals) walk behind me as I was busy taking a picture with Tuomas, but she entered the bus and didn’t come out. Five years later, I wanted to meet the other band members, especially Anette, so I paid a little extra for those VIP tickets. When I got to the Palladium, where the concert took place, I saw Tuomas and Marco Hietala (bass and vocals) hanging out at the venue’s back door, but Tuomas went inside as soon as I reached them. Luckily, Marco stayed outside, and I got to take a picture with him. He was super nice, and I told him I’d see him inside at the meet-and-greet and he said “see you soon!” Once inside, the whole band walked past the fans that were in line waiting to meet them, to add on to our excitement. At the meet-and-greet, the band sat behind a long table as the fans lined up to talk to them. When it got to my turn, I had a flag for them to sign, and they all did. Marco said he remembered me from a few minutes ago, and I told Tuomas that I met him 5 years before that and thanked him for being back. Emppu Vuorinen (guitars) was busy with other fans taking pictures with him, but he greeted me politely and signed my flag. Jukka Nevalainen (drums) wanted to know what country the flag was from and unfolded it after signing, and once he saw it was from Brazil he told me he was excited to go back there. And then of course there was Anette… she was so nice to everyone, always smiling and trying to attend to everyone’s demands for pictures and autographs and with me it was no different. She was having trouble saying the name of the town (Worcester) and I told her not to worry because I myself couldn’t pronounce it, and she laughed as she signed my flag. Then I said “you are so beautiful”, and she smiled and thanked me. I wish I had time to explain to her that unlike any other famous person I’ve met so far, her beauty up close is even more striking than in professional photographs and videos, she is such a gorgeous woman! I asked her if I could take a picture with her, and she agreed. I was smiling like a fool, so happy to be in the presence of all these amazing musicians and getting to interact with them. During the concert Tuomas waved back to me, Emppu threw his guitar pick at me when I gestured him asking for it, Marco recognized me again and pointed at me and smiled, and Anette smiled and waved after I blew her a kiss. After the concert I got to be around Marco again, as he greeted fans (I stepped aside and let other fans have their moment and was happy to just observe) and their guest musician Troy Donockley shook my hand and gave the fans an update on the band’s upcoming movie. So that is my experience with the members of Nightwish. That memory has now become a bittersweet one, but I look back at it with a smile on my face, and I feel blessed and lucky to get to enjoy the Imaginaerum World Tour at its best and enjoy Anette’s angel-like voice one more time. I don’t know what the future of the band will look like, but all I can say is that I’m happy to have witnessed them at what I consider their finest formation.

Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton reunite in "You Can't Make Old Friends"

In 1983 Kenny Rogers invited Dolly Parton to record “Islands in the Streams” with him, a now legendary song that became a huge hit and is considered one of the most successful duets of all time. Now, 30 years later, Kenny once again invited Dolly to record a new duet, “You Can't Make Old Friends”, for his upcoming album of the same name. I just saw the promo video a few minutes ago, and I’m still trying to find words to express what I’m feeling. Watching Kenny and Dolly together is always amazing, they have such a strong chemistry between them it almost jumps out of the screen, and to see these two living legends working together once again pretty much takes my breath away… The song is simple, yet touching, it talks about a friendship that has lasted a lifetime, about the memories they have shared and how new friends, although welcome, could never take the place of an old one when they are gone. In the video Kenny is singing alone in an empty theater  and Dolly sings her part in front of a mirror, with some occasional old footage of the couple. At some point Dolly stands up, looking gorgeous as always, and walks in the theater to meet Kenny, where they finish the song in a visually stunning scene. It touched me, really, because their friendship is not just a front, it is a life-long partnership that began professionally and progressed into a personal relationship that to this day give gossip magazines something to talk about. I admire Kenny’s voice, and I love everything about Dolly, and although they are both amazingly talented in their solo careers, together they make the most charismatic partnership in show business since Sonny and Cher. Those who know me can testify that I’m a sucker for old stars, which is true. I admire people who love what they do, despite money and fame, and legends such as Dolly and Kenny are high on my list of favorites. This collaboration is a landmark for country music and I’m super thrilled with this new video. I just hope Kenny and Dolly don't wait 30 years to make another duet, though. 

Watch the "You Can't Make Old Friends" Video:

"I remember where I was on 9/11"

That’s one thing everyone will always remember. I don’t talk much about 9/11 because after I moved to the US everyone else had all these crazy stories, which make sense because they experienced that traumatic day in a much greater scale than I, who at the time lived in Brazil. But I want to take a moment to write and reflect about my experience on that day. I remember waking up to see all TV channels focused on what was happening in New York City, and sleepy 10-year old me couldn't really grasp the seriousness of the situation just yet. My mother, however, was distraught, frantically trying to call my father who was working in Boston. You see, when you’re from another country you don’t really care to learn a foreign country’s geography, and the United States for us was just one big thing, none of us realized that New York and Boston were far apart. Anyway, seeing my mother’s desperation I finally understood that something really bad was happening, and I turned my attention to the TV. Yep, it was bad, and scary, and unbelievable. I always saw the US as a huge and powerful giant, so seeing it attacked and so vulnerable made me truly confused and afraid. Then I started to worry about my dad, but he contacted us to assure he was alright and to explain that he was actually far from New York, and that gave my family some comfort. I kept watching the news throughout the day, and for the next few weeks that is all we talked about in school. Teachers kept telling us about the importance of peace, while the news kept talking about war and terrorism. It was a dark time, even for a little kid in South America. However, my experience with 9/11 is overshadowed by what I hear from my friends who were in the US at the time and who are the same age as me. I couldn't even try to comprehend what went through their young minds, seeing their country in full desperation, and watching so much death and destruction so close to them. Today is a day of remembrance and prayer, and that is why I wanted to write a post about it. No one will, nor should, ever forget September 11, 2001 and the lives that were lost that day. It’s been 12 years, and we all remember that day as vividly as if it were yesterday. I hope everyone takes a moment to remember the victims and say a prayer to the families who lost loved ones that tragic day, and God bless America.

Meeting Roxette

I never believed that the Swedish pop duo Roxette would ever come back, or that they would make a new album, or go out on a new tour. I didn't believe it when Marie joined Per onstage for a surprise performance in 2010, or when they released the album Charm School, or when they announced the American leg of their world tour, and much less when I saw that they were coming to Boston on September 4, a year ago. I only allowed myself to believe that one of my biggest dreams was coming true a few weeks prior to the concert, when it was announced that the American fans would have the chance to win meet-and-greets with Roxette. I had to move fast, and I participated in a bunch of different contests available, and I won the banner contest for the Boston concert.

On the day of the show, I headed to the House of Blues with my best friend, and I was a nerve wreck. I met up with the winners of the other contests, and like me they couldn't believe what was happening. We were led to the side of the building and upstairs, where we waited for about half an hour in front of a door, behind which our idols prepared to receive us. After the wait was over, we were ushered into a small room, where we stood in silence and excitement. Then Marie Fredriksson walked in. Her presence seemed to bring light into that dim little room, and she proceeded to greet the fans, always smiling and making small talk. When it was my turn, we greeted each other, and she signed my flag which I had brought for that purpose, and then I asked her if I could give her a hug. She responded by hugging me tighter than I expected. I was taken by surprise and couldn't believe it, and she didn't let go for a while. After the hug she kept holding my shoulders and smiling at me, thanking me for coming, and she even grabbed my silver necklace and said she loved it. I was star struck, seeing that face I knew so well, the owner of the voice I heard nonstop throughout my teenage years. It was surreal. By that time Per Gessle had walked in and was greeting the fans in front of me. He got to me, signed my flag, and I got a handshake and a quick hug. He wasn't as affectionate as Marie, but he was very polite and nice to everyone, and I was happy to meet this musical genius. After every fan had a chance to individually interact with both Marie and Per, we were allowed to take one group picture. I tried to be as close to Marie and Per as I could, and I walked over to her. I stood next to her, in front of Per, who was holding her shoulder. Marie held on to a fan’s hand, and she looked at me, grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to her for the picture (which is seen above, but I cropped out the other fans, sorry). After the shot, she kept holding me and the other fan, thanking us and smiling, only letting go when we were told to leave the room. We were led downstairs, where my friend had saved me a spot in the front row, and there I told her about my amazing experience meeting Roxette, and waited for the show to start.

The concert was amazing, of course, especially seen from the front row, and that night was definitely one of the highlights of my life. I was the happiest person in the world, having met my idols, getting their autographs, a picture next to them, and seen them perform live. It has been a year this week, and thinking about that night still brings a smile to my face. I don’t think Per and Marie could ever understand how happy they made me that night, and how much their little actions meant to me, and I can only thank them for that unforgettable moment.