Inese Dūka

Some dreams DO come true - Part II or Have a nice day

Seems like I have caught a little window between document to be able to tell you about the best 2 hours and 45 minutes of my life.

If you have taken a peak at my wishlist in Amazon.co.uk, then you might have noticed that I am not only (slightly) nuts about films but also about music. I have been that way for as long as I can remember myself. But I already wrote about that… So then after the hardest week we've had here it was time to get some rewards and head to London to see Bon Jovi. I had bought almost all of their cd's (the ones I still didn't have or had on tape), found the set list for the Have a nice day tour and was trying to be properly prepared for singing along. The more I listened the more excited I got (even though I knew they would not play any songs from my 2 favourite albums - These days and (Jon's solo album) Destination anywhere). At times I just felt like jumping up and down screaming. Because for the longest time I couldn't have imagined that I will ever see them live. And it's been a long time - I first remember them from Keep the faith album in 1991... After my preparatory work I was ready more than ever!

In all the excitement about the concert London also seemed very inviting and Arta and I decided to return once again in mid August and stay with Ilona for almost a week. Also the strangest thing happened - I had HUGE problems speaking… English!! It was so odd - I stood in front of the shop assistant and just couldn't figure anything to say. And when I bumped into people I said Pardon instead of Sorry. Almost feels like I already have lived in Brussels for too long. It made me want to find a job in an English speaking country to perform a rescue mission for my English…

I was hoping to get 2 flies with one shot - Bon Jovi in Wembley stadium but instead I got Bon Jovi in National Bowl Milton Keynes. But you'll hear no complaints about that. As long as it's Bon Jovi I don't care where they're playing... ;-))) This of course was the biggest concert I have ever been to - 70 000 spectators. The first lovely surprise was that Nickelback was one of the warm-up bands. Though I must admit I only know This is how you remind me. But they were actually very good. And their frontman sure knows how to handle his crowd. It was great watching some people be sooo happy about seeing Nickelback. There was a guy standing behind me who actually checked to see his goose bumps! (He later turned out to be a huge Bon Jovi fan too and I heard him singing along for the most part of the concert) I just could hope that Bon Jovi would be at least just as good - but I was assured that they will be even better. And there was no doubt about that!! It was the beast concert I've ever seen!! Staring from the band itself and their singing to the sound quality and light show. Perhaps I have been to some shabby concerts but I don't take for granted the possibility to understand the actual words that are sung...

In the beginning I had to try to cry with open eyes not to miss anything. By the end of the concert my cheeks were hurting from the constant smiling. I knew it would feel good but I had no idea just how good. A big part of these feeling came with the memories connected to certain songs. After all it was my brother who introduced me to them. So for most of the concert I wished he was there with me. I am quite sure he would've enjoyed himself. A sigh… It is so hard to put all of these emotions in words. But I think you just might have gotten my point… ;-))

P.S. Besides not getting the tickets for the golden circle there is one more thing that makes me a bit sad. I am not used to being able to take cameras with you to a concert. But obviously many people knew it was allowed as there were plenty of picture taking. Next time I will try to bring my camera too. Though I really don't want it to be confiscated at the entrance in case it is not allowed in after all...

Some dreams DO come true

Last Wednesday somewhere there was a young teenage girl jumping of joy. Or was it me?...

Ever since I remember myself I have been listening to music. Singing along. Trying to write down the lyrics. Noting down the first 3 songs of MTV's European Top 20 (don't ask me why…). By the end of high-school the walls of my room were almost completely covered in posters of singers and bands I liked. (Unfortunately there are no photos to show the beauty...) Since I was around 9 I started watching German TV. Then in the beginning of the 90's the show Bravo TV came out. They showed many features about fans meeting the stars they liked. And I always felt a bit envious because I knew that nothing like that is ever going to happen to me. Because there is just no way that, let's say, Take that or Caught in the Act would ever come to Riga. So I settled for watching others live my dreams. And go to the concerts of the musicians that did come to Riga - East 17, Smokey, Bryan Adams, Depeche Mode…

But then I moved to Brussels - the heart of Europe. And it turns out it's a better location concert-wise than Riga. So last week I saw somebody in concert that I most definitely never thought I would see - Ricky Martin. All I needed to do was to buy my ticket online, later it was mailed to me and then I just took the bus around the corner from our house and half an hour later I already was in the arena. As simple as that. And yes, he was totally worth the 45 euros. Of course, the concert wasn't perfect. I thought the music was a bit too loud for such a small room. And I wish I had seen him closer. (It just hadn't occurred to us that there would be seats for a Ricky Martin concert (not that anybody remained seated), so my plan of sneaking close to the stage barrier could not be carried out…) But besides that it was really great. His music itself is already great - you just can't help but move when you hear it. And then there was Ricky. Boy, does he know how to move… And if all of this isn't enough for a great concert experience there were 2 more added bonuses for me: 1) many of his moves I had watched on the TV for years and it was great to see him actually do them live, and 2) as I am in my "Spanish phase" I was very touched that he was the first Spanish guy to sing "for me" live… I was close to tears, I tell ya… ;-)))

My next plan for realising my dreams is a Bon Jovi concert in London. I have already paid for the concert ticket and have received the train ticket. I hope it will all work out. And then in July it will be time for Bryan Adams, Simply Red and Sting. Can't wait!!!! Perhaps if it is going so well with realising my dreams I should keep on hoping for the lunch with Pete Sampras?... :-D