So....on to the final recap...
Sheffield 27 February 2015All I can say is, thank goodness
BristolGill and I had seats for Sheffield. I really don't think we could have done another 'standing' session after Liverpool, not even for Adam!
At the hotel, as we left for the concert, we met a woman who had been given tickets for herself and her daughter. Brace yourselves - She had NEVER seen or heard of Adam Lambert! She hadn't seen the NYE thing; she had never heard of Idol; didn't know 'the singer's' name; she hadn't even seen a photograph!! We stared at her like she was a zoo exhibit, i'm sure. We half arranged to meet afterwards but it didn't happen. I would have loved to hear what she thought.
Can you imagine what it must be like to see him for the very first time, 30 feet high on the Q screen, prowling down that ramp in his leathers?! Lol.
Gill and I sat separately, on opposite sides of the arena, in the blocks closest to the stage.
My seat was probably the best I'd had on the UK tour - front row, about half way along the catwalk, with an aisle on the stage side and great neighbours on the other.
i took my seat (after a large glass of wine) feeling the emotion of the last concert which stayed with me throughout. As the curtain flew up, I had a flash of a feeling which must have been very like perfect happiness.....
A great audience, so excited from the very start. And Adam was very much at ease and in control. In Liverpool, as I said, he was very sweet and giggly but I had a tiny feeling that he was trying a little. That wasn't there in Sheffield. He was just as endearing but somehow more sure of himself again. His 'London' accent was so perfect - raised a lot of real laughter...and he looked stunning on the big screens.
My block didn't stand all the time but we were up and down and very clappy - much more so than these blocks in Liverpool.
One of the revelations of the evening for me was Under Pressure. I've seen it so many times and liked it but have never been particularly moved by it. But that night it took off - it seemed to build and build and the audience felt it too, perhaps helped by the obvious connection between Roger and Adam. I haven't seen any videos but it must, surely, come across in them. It was an unexpectedly magical moment.....and Roger hugged Adam afterwards.
My lovely neighbours had seen all the UK shows - when I told them that I had seen some abroad, they seemed surprised that anyone would do that. It had never occurred to them....I remember when I would have been surprised too! Hell, I remember when it seemed normal to see a concert only once!!
However, after BoRap they leant across and said 'see you in Rio'!
And all too soon it was over; nine months of QALs and years of growth for Adam as a performer. The difference between the first concert and the last is very noticeable....and he is almost unrecognisable from the youngster of the Apollo shows of 2012.
I was ready for him to disappear from the Queen stage; it's time for Era3. I watched him go for as long as I possibly could....he was happy and skippy - and successful and respected and liked and loved....with a crown on his head and the world at his feet....bless him.