6.9.18 QAL Madrid
Jun 20, 2018 5:53:28 GMT -5
Post by nic42 on Jun 20, 2018 5:53:28 GMT -5
[Introduction]
Here I am, at Schiphol, waiting to board my plane. Starting my recap before I even get to the city where I am going to see Adam and Queen again. Physically I feel awful, but my mind is as happy as it can be.
It is really wonderful to see the first full circle happen, a great sign that this trip is going to be amazing. The very first time I went to see Adam (with Queen) I flew via Reykjavik, a life long dream. And now, after having a beer in the same bar as almost four years ago, I am sitting next to the gate where I boarded my plane to Iceland. I am on my way to Queen and Adam again and the world is going to be allright for a few precious days.
[fast forward two weeks]
Weird isn't it, on the trip where I started my recap the earliest I am also finishing it the latest. I am home again, and working, and the memories of the trip are already fading rapidly. I waited too long to write every little detail down, but I guess I was too busy enjoying myself and then adapting to real life again. But the feeling of my body and soul lifted up by the whole experience, that is what I want to hold on to. So tonight I am going to look through my pictures and write about that.
Three glorious days in Lisbon surrounded the show there, seeing the city on my own while at the same time travelling with the eyes of Queen. Finding the same blossoming trees as Brian posted on his instagram, and looking at the statue of Christ from the other side of the river while he was visiting there. Having a nice and relaxed drink on a quiet square somewhere, keeping my eyes open for possible members of the crew sightseeing before rehearsals. Accidentally and suddenly standing in front of the very monastery that Adam had snapchatted about, in exactly the place that his feet had been in the day before. Keeping my curiosity in check, not going to the venue when rehearsals had started, because I wanted to be surprised the next day. I was in great company, old and new friends, and had the privilege of sharing a room with the amazing adoreadam who is the best company you could ever ask. Telling eachother stories about Adam over a wine sprinkled dinner. Maybe the feeling of just being there, on my own, outside of my normal life, ready for adventure was the most amazing thing of it all.
And then the show itself hadn't even started yet! I got at the queue fashionably late (around 11 am) and discovered there were two queues. Of course my dear local guide knew where the 'secret portuguese queue' was, so I joined that and spent a superb day waiting and anticipating the show. Truck selfies, crew sightings, instagrams of soundcheck, conversations with fellow fans and yes.... also rain and tiredness and debating with myself whether I wanted to drink a bit more so I wouldn't be thirsty or less so I didn't have to go to the toilet during the show.
Queuing is a great but not always comfortable business (in case you were wondering, the picture above was taking from inside my poncho ). But it was a relaxed queue and we got let in as relaxed as can be and we half-ran straight to the spot that we wanted and got it. I could see on the autocue that they were going to open with Tear it Up so I had plenty of time to look forward to that. The arena filled up quickly, people got louder and louder and before I knew it the show started.
Adam walked out in one crazy sexy amazing costume after another. I had really wanted to take pictures (also because it was the first show), but I forgot most of the time. So swept up in the energy and the people of QAL and the people in the audience. It was amazing.
Highlights of the show for me were hearing Adam sing Tear it Up and killing it!! Hearing the start of Lucy and the screams throughout the audience every time somebody got which song it was (it took a while for some :-)). Adoreadam's glee when she discovered that Adam was indeed wearing her medal again. The show must go on.... the punch and emotion of that song live is amazing. Adam wiggling his butt during WWRY, standing in front of the drum kit. The moment in the queue when they were soundchecking something I couldn't identify. Briefly touching Adam's hand during Radio Gaga. Afterwards I was so tired and just plain dazed from what I had just witnessed that I was glad that I was taken to a nearby pub by some lovely Portuguese ladies to have a beer. And for the first time after a show, I slept very very well, dreaming of all the things I had seen and experienced in the days before. The next day my phone had lit up from all the notifications on twitter, the few photos I took just to give people a quick idea of the new looks had been shared far and wide, as had the one with my selfie at the trucks and the front row. Oh, and the stream of course. When I heard that the other streams were not completely stable (I'd asked one of my Dutch friends to message me just in case), I started my own stream and apparently people liked it.
The next evening I took a night train to Madrid, letting myself be rocked in my travelling bed. I did not sleep much though, images kept flashing through my head. Adam and Queen and the whole experience surrounding it are just too intense to process in a day. I had a great night, in the dark, remembering the show and everything, but emerged the next day in Madrid looking and thinking through a thick fog. It was such a special day, my birthday! Totally strange to spend it on my own in a strange city, on my way to another show. My hotel gave me a great room and a very early check in (because it was my birthday!!) and after a quick rest and a shower I went to the queue. And there I felt so awful that almost just went back to my hotel and gave up on the whole show. Too tired to eat, too tired to sit. Nobody there to talk to (everybody was Spanish, and nobody spoke English well enough to really form an connection). I tried to sleep a bit, but I couldn't. Then Adam started posting pictures from a museum, and that is exactly what I would have done if I wouldn't have gone to the queue, so I knew I could maybe have seen him. I seriously doubted my sanity there to go off on my own, travelling more than my body and mind could handle, just to be miserable in the queue on my birthday. But luckily as usual with Adam and Queen all was right in the end. People arrived who spoke English, they shared their gazpacho with me and I forced myself to eat some sandwiches, and slowly I felt better. When it was almost time for doors open I hadn't even had the opportunity to be nervous and I accidentally found myself at a great spot in the queue, even though I was number 80. None of those last minute nerve wrecking moments when everything seems to go differently than planned. I breezed through security, walked into the venue and had the whole left side of the barrier to choose from. No glamberts in Madrid, or maybe just a few. I chose to be at the front, because I wanted to be close. And in this great spot I was joined by one of my friends from the queue and a superb Spanish Queen fan who both laughed and danced and screamed with me during the whole show. I told someone from the Queen crew that it was my birthday and he ran backstage to get me a cupcake from the kitchen.
And when Adam came out on stage he immediately zoomed in on me and my friends. During Tear it Up I looked into his eyes for what felt like minutes at the time. He played with me and my knees went weak. But my heart soared and stayed high during all of the show. It was beyond amazing to witness The Show Must Go On from so close, it was painfully beautiful to see Adam throw his body and soul into that song. I loved his joy on stage, his goofiness. The moment when he discovered that I was singing the lyrics of Lucy with him and we sang together for a while. The emotion all around me when Brian sang Love Of My Life and later Adam Who Wants To Live Forever. The hand and face movements of the Canadian guy next to me (who didn't know Adam), going 'wooooow' every time he hit a crazy perfect note. The love on stage, Brian smiling, Adam putting his hand on Brian's shoulder. The always professional and amazing musician Spike not far to my left and the happy face of Neil just in front of me. This is what I looked like during that show, and I definitely felt that way too.
And at the end, not one but two members of the crew came to me and gave me their setlist. I will forever treasure those as a reminder of this beautiful day.
After the show I got invited to a little Spanish afterparty and we went with a group to find a terrace on a sidewalk down the road. We had beer (and I didn't have to pay, because - of course - my birthday!) and more beer and it was a joy to listen to them going on and on about Adam and how good he was and how happy they were and that their Queen was still alive. All of this in a mix of mostly Spanish and a bit of English, but this time I didn't have so much trouble understanding them. I really think that one of the women will remember Adam for a long time, she just kept on talking to everyone about Adam, that he was 'muy guapo' until they were all smiling at her and told her 'yes, he is, you can stop telling us now'.
I went to bed, smiling and got up the next day, smiling. And typing this, I am smiling again. I don't think I will stop soon.
(Also.. even though this is way too long already, I have left so many things out. The twitter storm when I posted a picture of the merch, Adam using one of my pictures on his instagram stories, being followed by brianmay.com and adamlambertfans on instagram, streaming again on the second night and the amazing messages I read later on the chat, the superb afternoon in the botanical gardens of Lisbon, so so much. The glow from these shows and the adventures around it will stay with me for a long time.)
Here I am, at Schiphol, waiting to board my plane. Starting my recap before I even get to the city where I am going to see Adam and Queen again. Physically I feel awful, but my mind is as happy as it can be.
It is really wonderful to see the first full circle happen, a great sign that this trip is going to be amazing. The very first time I went to see Adam (with Queen) I flew via Reykjavik, a life long dream. And now, after having a beer in the same bar as almost four years ago, I am sitting next to the gate where I boarded my plane to Iceland. I am on my way to Queen and Adam again and the world is going to be allright for a few precious days.
[fast forward two weeks]
Weird isn't it, on the trip where I started my recap the earliest I am also finishing it the latest. I am home again, and working, and the memories of the trip are already fading rapidly. I waited too long to write every little detail down, but I guess I was too busy enjoying myself and then adapting to real life again. But the feeling of my body and soul lifted up by the whole experience, that is what I want to hold on to. So tonight I am going to look through my pictures and write about that.
Three glorious days in Lisbon surrounded the show there, seeing the city on my own while at the same time travelling with the eyes of Queen. Finding the same blossoming trees as Brian posted on his instagram, and looking at the statue of Christ from the other side of the river while he was visiting there. Having a nice and relaxed drink on a quiet square somewhere, keeping my eyes open for possible members of the crew sightseeing before rehearsals. Accidentally and suddenly standing in front of the very monastery that Adam had snapchatted about, in exactly the place that his feet had been in the day before. Keeping my curiosity in check, not going to the venue when rehearsals had started, because I wanted to be surprised the next day. I was in great company, old and new friends, and had the privilege of sharing a room with the amazing adoreadam who is the best company you could ever ask. Telling eachother stories about Adam over a wine sprinkled dinner. Maybe the feeling of just being there, on my own, outside of my normal life, ready for adventure was the most amazing thing of it all.
And then the show itself hadn't even started yet! I got at the queue fashionably late (around 11 am) and discovered there were two queues. Of course my dear local guide knew where the 'secret portuguese queue' was, so I joined that and spent a superb day waiting and anticipating the show. Truck selfies, crew sightings, instagrams of soundcheck, conversations with fellow fans and yes.... also rain and tiredness and debating with myself whether I wanted to drink a bit more so I wouldn't be thirsty or less so I didn't have to go to the toilet during the show.
Queuing is a great but not always comfortable business (in case you were wondering, the picture above was taking from inside my poncho ). But it was a relaxed queue and we got let in as relaxed as can be and we half-ran straight to the spot that we wanted and got it. I could see on the autocue that they were going to open with Tear it Up so I had plenty of time to look forward to that. The arena filled up quickly, people got louder and louder and before I knew it the show started.
Adam walked out in one crazy sexy amazing costume after another. I had really wanted to take pictures (also because it was the first show), but I forgot most of the time. So swept up in the energy and the people of QAL and the people in the audience. It was amazing.
Highlights of the show for me were hearing Adam sing Tear it Up and killing it!! Hearing the start of Lucy and the screams throughout the audience every time somebody got which song it was (it took a while for some :-)). Adoreadam's glee when she discovered that Adam was indeed wearing her medal again. The show must go on.... the punch and emotion of that song live is amazing. Adam wiggling his butt during WWRY, standing in front of the drum kit. The moment in the queue when they were soundchecking something I couldn't identify. Briefly touching Adam's hand during Radio Gaga. Afterwards I was so tired and just plain dazed from what I had just witnessed that I was glad that I was taken to a nearby pub by some lovely Portuguese ladies to have a beer. And for the first time after a show, I slept very very well, dreaming of all the things I had seen and experienced in the days before. The next day my phone had lit up from all the notifications on twitter, the few photos I took just to give people a quick idea of the new looks had been shared far and wide, as had the one with my selfie at the trucks and the front row. Oh, and the stream of course. When I heard that the other streams were not completely stable (I'd asked one of my Dutch friends to message me just in case), I started my own stream and apparently people liked it.
The next evening I took a night train to Madrid, letting myself be rocked in my travelling bed. I did not sleep much though, images kept flashing through my head. Adam and Queen and the whole experience surrounding it are just too intense to process in a day. I had a great night, in the dark, remembering the show and everything, but emerged the next day in Madrid looking and thinking through a thick fog. It was such a special day, my birthday! Totally strange to spend it on my own in a strange city, on my way to another show. My hotel gave me a great room and a very early check in (because it was my birthday!!) and after a quick rest and a shower I went to the queue. And there I felt so awful that almost just went back to my hotel and gave up on the whole show. Too tired to eat, too tired to sit. Nobody there to talk to (everybody was Spanish, and nobody spoke English well enough to really form an connection). I tried to sleep a bit, but I couldn't. Then Adam started posting pictures from a museum, and that is exactly what I would have done if I wouldn't have gone to the queue, so I knew I could maybe have seen him. I seriously doubted my sanity there to go off on my own, travelling more than my body and mind could handle, just to be miserable in the queue on my birthday. But luckily as usual with Adam and Queen all was right in the end. People arrived who spoke English, they shared their gazpacho with me and I forced myself to eat some sandwiches, and slowly I felt better. When it was almost time for doors open I hadn't even had the opportunity to be nervous and I accidentally found myself at a great spot in the queue, even though I was number 80. None of those last minute nerve wrecking moments when everything seems to go differently than planned. I breezed through security, walked into the venue and had the whole left side of the barrier to choose from. No glamberts in Madrid, or maybe just a few. I chose to be at the front, because I wanted to be close. And in this great spot I was joined by one of my friends from the queue and a superb Spanish Queen fan who both laughed and danced and screamed with me during the whole show. I told someone from the Queen crew that it was my birthday and he ran backstage to get me a cupcake from the kitchen.
And when Adam came out on stage he immediately zoomed in on me and my friends. During Tear it Up I looked into his eyes for what felt like minutes at the time. He played with me and my knees went weak. But my heart soared and stayed high during all of the show. It was beyond amazing to witness The Show Must Go On from so close, it was painfully beautiful to see Adam throw his body and soul into that song. I loved his joy on stage, his goofiness. The moment when he discovered that I was singing the lyrics of Lucy with him and we sang together for a while. The emotion all around me when Brian sang Love Of My Life and later Adam Who Wants To Live Forever. The hand and face movements of the Canadian guy next to me (who didn't know Adam), going 'wooooow' every time he hit a crazy perfect note. The love on stage, Brian smiling, Adam putting his hand on Brian's shoulder. The always professional and amazing musician Spike not far to my left and the happy face of Neil just in front of me. This is what I looked like during that show, and I definitely felt that way too.
And at the end, not one but two members of the crew came to me and gave me their setlist. I will forever treasure those as a reminder of this beautiful day.
After the show I got invited to a little Spanish afterparty and we went with a group to find a terrace on a sidewalk down the road. We had beer (and I didn't have to pay, because - of course - my birthday!) and more beer and it was a joy to listen to them going on and on about Adam and how good he was and how happy they were and that their Queen was still alive. All of this in a mix of mostly Spanish and a bit of English, but this time I didn't have so much trouble understanding them. I really think that one of the women will remember Adam for a long time, she just kept on talking to everyone about Adam, that he was 'muy guapo' until they were all smiling at her and told her 'yes, he is, you can stop telling us now'.
I went to bed, smiling and got up the next day, smiling. And typing this, I am smiling again. I don't think I will stop soon.
(Also.. even though this is way too long already, I have left so many things out. The twitter storm when I posted a picture of the merch, Adam using one of my pictures on his instagram stories, being followed by brianmay.com and adamlambertfans on instagram, streaming again on the second night and the amazing messages I read later on the chat, the superb afternoon in the botanical gardens of Lisbon, so so much. The glow from these shows and the adventures around it will stay with me for a long time.)