Assorted thoughts and observations of a bald boob in broken English.
10.7.09
It's easy as A-B-C, 1-2-3
I would've never thought I'd write entries about Michael Jackson. I appreciate his impact to music as an artist, but I wasn't a fan. If there's anything good coming out of his untimely death, it's that people are using their full creativity to pay tributes to him.
Today on local newspaper's there was a link to Eternal Moonwalk-site. Ingenious! Or then the embedded clip of the homage held in Stockholm, Sweden:
Helsinki is the capital of Finland. Its Swedish name is Helsingfors. Yesterday I discovered there is also an area named Helsingfors all the way in Argentina.
Shots rang out as the singer yawned, band played on until the dawn
Yesterday YouTube proved its powers again as a great archive for anything. You never know what you might find there. Like two silent, amateur shot clips of The Who's first gig in USA in 1967, from one of the Murray The K-shows.
Also the world of sports reminded me once again why it has still a capturing grip on me. Finland won Brazil in volleyball for the first time in World League game that was played in Tampere. Before this all previous 11 meetings had ended in the victory of yellow and green. Even this time it didn't look too promising in the beginning.
Finland had lost Friday in straight three sets and even on Saturday's game they lost the first two. But yet they managed to turn things around against the world's top ranked team. According the TV broadcast and reports the crowd of over 6000 (mind you, this is quite an impressive number for volleyball game in Finland) at the Ice Arena went ecstatic.
Here's a chance to relive the decisive moments of the game:
As I've mentioned before in this blog, volleyball is a sport I've "discovered" quite recent. I didn't pay much attention to it before the recent years. But once I sat down to watch it, it really sucks me in. It's fast paced, there isn't dull moment, players truly work as a team and even a weaker team has a good chance to challenge stronger one without making the game slow and tedious for the spectator.
I have to admit that the recent step forward by the Finnish national team has made it even more interesting. Later on there are the qualifying tournament in Tampere for the World Championships next year in Italy and in September the European Championships in Turkey.
Last time two years ago Finland surprised everyone and ended up on the fourth place. With the recent run of result, you could be even hoping an improvement to that. In any case, plenty of exciting moments to come for a sports nut like me!
Here by the sea and sand, nothing ever goes as planned
Last night my wandering around the websites was stopped abruptly as the electricity went out. It's not very common to happen here. When it does it usually happens during a thunderstorm. Well, not this time.
When I woke up, I got bit worried if my computer had suffered from the power cut. Apparently not, phew!
While getting back to the web, I ran into this very thorough article about Barry Prior, who died in Brighton at the time of the clash between mods and rockers in 1964. The event was the inspiration for Quadrophenia, the greatest album ever recorded in my subjective view.
Anyway, here's a link to the lengthy article that should be a tremendous read to anyone interested in your study hours: Quadrophenia's Lost Mod
Since few clips from sweaty but a great Saturday evening at Kaapelitehdas have emerged I've decided to spread them here, in case some nomad of the Internetland is interested. --
I've landed back on the computer after the Morrissey-gig. It was my first Moz live experience and my expectation weren't let down.
First of all, I'm pulling back all the doubts arised by me in my previous entry of Kaapelitehdas being an accessible venue for wheelchair users. There was ramps, a platform beside the mixing desk for wheelchairs and the security guards directed me into its direction even without asking. A big hand to that direction!
The support act was Doll & The Kicks. They did a good job but I can't say that any of their songs really hit me. The response from the rest of the audience seemed to be the same. A fitting moment was as the singer spoke to crowd:"We want to party in Helsinki. Are there any good places to party?" and it was met by total silence, only to be broken by - presumably drunk - single yell of "Yeeeaahhrrgghh!" To be honest, I couldn't hear that much difference in their songs. The band reminded me of No Doubt - but with more attitude. Still, not my cup of tea, as the Brits put it.
After their set finished, clips of old films and assorted music acts (not that surprisingly some New York Dolls, but I thoght Lighten Up Morrissey by Sparks was a very nice touch of humour) were shown on a huge projection screen.
After 9 pm, the projection screen was dropped and it was showtime! Morrissey openened with "Hei hei hei hei Helsinki" and the band blasted into This Charming Man. The start of the concert was very fast, there wasn't much interaction with the crowd. In fact at some point, Morrissey even asked the crowed if he was moving too fast.
It was interesting to be that the first song to get a noisy response from the crowd was I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris rather than The Smiths'-classics How Soon Is Now? and Ask (of which I love, but I don't care that much for this arrangement their doing).
In his first comments to the audience Morrissey asked "When was the last time when you did let a special one slip it in?". After getting a reply of "Tonight", his response was "Really? Next song quickly!"
Morrissey referred indirectly to Michael Jackson's death as he told that having watched news channels for the past two days prove that the following song is true, prior launching into The World Is Full of Crashing Bores.
He also talked of many of Helsinki's record shops being closed down and Julia got to say few words to mic, so the required elements of the show were there.
The biggest moment for me at the very hot sold-out hall along with almost 3000 spectators, was probably hearing Life Is a Pigsty live. But I'm not sure if it was cause the version was so great or cause it is just a gigantic song for me.
It seemed that it took awhile for the Finnish crowd to get going as usual and the atmosphere started only truly to rise during the recent rockers Irish Blood, English Heart and First of the Gang to Die which was the sole encore number.
With the energy and the mood in the crowd at the end of the last number, few more songs wouldn't have been out of order. The Morrissey's set was only less than 90 minutes, which was little disappointing.
Anyway, it was a very very good, stellar show, but that little something was missing to elevate it to brilliance - if it was the crowd, not too much chatter between the songs or the lenght or the set, I don't know. 8/10.
PS. The clips aren't from the Helsinki gig but from this tour nevertheless. Close enough, eh?
This Charming Man Billy Budd Black Cloud How Soon Is Now? One Day Goodbye Will Be Farewell Ask I'm Throwing My Arms Around Paris How Can Anybody Possibly Know How I Feel? The World Is Full of Crashing Bores Let Me Kiss You You Just Haven't Earned It Yet, Baby When Last I Spoke to Carol Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others Best Friend on the Payroll Life Is a Pigsty Sorry Doesn't Help The Loop Irish Blood, English Heart I'm OK by Myself First of the Gang to Die
(The setlist courtesy of Helsingin Sanomat, I can't rely on my memory)
EDIT: As a very late addition, here's a quality clip (except for the sound) of the Helsinki gig finnishing (pun intended) First of the Gang to Die:
I'm moments away to leaving to see Morrissey in Helsinki. Only problem is that the venue is Kaapelitehdas (an former cable factory of Nokia that has been converted into a cultural center) that I haven't ever visited before and i have no clue how accessible it is to a wheelchair user.
I tried e-mailing them, but received a friendly but not too informative reply that they only rent the space but aren't the organizers. And the organizer doesn't seem to have a phone number for this kind of use and they haven't replied my e-mail.
Oh well, at least there is an entrance for wheelchair users. So even though I hate it, I have to take a leap into the dark and trust on the kindness of the fellow concert-goers.
