Memories of my first MJ-concert! by Silvia

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February 23, 2010

Memories of my first MJ-concert! by Silvia

Memories of Michael

I was 21 years old when Michael came up with his new music-video, BAD“ in 1987. I remember it was a special broadcast and I still remember the Lady who announced it. Her name was Babette Einstmann. I liked the music and video’s of Michael but was no fan at all. I was a fan of Simon & Garfunkel. The first single of Michael’s new album was “I just can’t stop loving you". I loved the song right from the start and so I was looking forward to see his new video. After watching it I fell in love with him!

Then it was said that Michael is going to do a world-tour and would come to Hamburg on July, 1st 1988. I was beside myself with joy! Hamburg is not far away from my hometown. On my favorite radio-station they announced a telephone number you could call for a ticket. So I dialled the number and it was steadily occupied (of course!) But finally I was connected. Yeah! I had so sent a cheque and then I would receive my tickets. I still remember the address: Hamburg, Schanzenstr. Unfortunately the post-office workers were on strike in Germany and time hurried on! I was anxious about getting my tickets too late and I called the ticket-hotline to ask if they already mailed my tickets. They had; but my mailbox remained empty! But finally I received my tickets right on time and I rejoiced!

The concert took place on a Friday so I had to ask for holiday because my brother and I would like to depart around midday. If my boss hadn't’t granted holiday I would have gone anyway I swear! Hahaha!

My brother and I drove about four hours in his Honda CRX to Hamburg. It was a very hot day! When we arrived the parking lots were overcrowded already so we parked miles away from the stadium. We needed about one hour to get to the stadium and many, many people where with us on their way to Michael, too! It looked like emigration of nations! All together we were on fire to see Michael! We all were so excited! I’ve never been before on a concert; never before experienced such an excitement just being on the way to the stadium! It was electrifying!

While waiting for the appearance of the opening band someone dressed like Michael came onto our tribune and made some dance-moves like Michael. Someone yelled: “Hello Michael!” and the Michael-imitator looked v e r y proud! But then he lost his sun-glasses while he spun around and it landed in the dirt! Someone yelled: “Michael, you’ve lost your sun-glasses! Hahaha!!” He grabbed his glasses and went away! We laughed so hard!

The opening group was Kim Wilde. She played about an hour. She did a good job. And then Michael took the stage! A dream came true! I thought: “He is there! He is really there! He does really exist! A man of flesh and blood – no imagination!” It was magic! We were all taken by enchantment – we all became “one”! Even the radio host who talked about the concert the other day realized it! He said: The greatest thing were the fans! There was an unbelievable spirit inside the stadium! It seemed like there was a big party going on and Michael was there, too! Incredible!”

I remember just before Michael took the stage we were showered with rain, thunder and lightning. It rained like cats and dogs! Some young people sold umbrellas and I purchased one. It was mint-green and white with an advertisement of a cigarette brand. It cost 10.00 DM. Anyway, after the rain stopped it was still very hot and sticky. I felt very sorry for Michael, I really did. He danced and sang as if it was for his dear life from 9.00 pm to 12.00 pm. In between he took a break for only about 20 minutes or half an hour.

He sang his love songs like “I just can’t stop loving you”, “Human Nature” and “She’s out of my life”. But before the mood became too sad he jumped up with a great Motown Medley and when he sang “I want to rock with you” we all sang along and danced our booty off! It was brilliant! We couldn't take our eyes off the stage or off the screens! “Thriller” was so great! It took 10 minutes. During the show I realized when Michael sang “live” he beaten the studio version! How talented he was!

It was so nice to look at when he danced with a girl from the audience! The final song was “Man in the mirror” and Michael disappointed me because he left the stage without introducing his musicians! What bothered me too was that he did not thank his fans for remaining in the stadium during the thunder-storm. But after knowing Michael longer and better I knew he didn't’t like to talk that much.

I loved the way he played with the audience. He asked: “How you are doing?” And we went something like: “Huhuu!” He (louder): “How you’re doing?” We: “huhuu!” He went: “Aouww!” And we: “Aouww!” MJ: “Heheee!” ”Hehee!!” and than he threw his hat into the audience! He was great! The biggest entertainer of all times! This concert will be kept forever in my mind!

When the concert had ended about 50.000 people left the stadium all at once and because it became dark already my brother and I lost our way. All at once we were at the area where the trucks for the equipment were parked. They were really huge! The wheels were bigger than me! I’ve never seen such big trucks in my life! Wow! But being there where the trucks were meant we were close to the backstage-area and I wished I could see or meet Michael somewhere! It felt like he was within my grasp! But I did not see him. I guess at this moment I was physically closer to him than ever!

The magic of this concert lasted for 1 year. Back then I counted the time in weeks, in months and on July, 1st 1989 I thought: “Today, one year ago…” I could never image that exact 21 years later I would count again “one week”, “two weeks”, “one month”, “a quarter”, on Dec. 25th a half year, 8 months! It is so sad! But we had him! An Indian proverb said: Better you possessed something and lost it than never possessed it.

Here is a web site with some videos of the “BAD”-Tour!

http://www.jackson.ch/html/videos2.html

God bless you!

Silvia

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Thank you so much Silvia for sharing this amazing moment in your life with us!