Sunday, January 28, 2007
posted at [10:08 PM]
Sunday, January 14, 2007
Yesterday, was the day Eric Clapton came down to perform at the Indoor Stadium. He is a legend, so I figured it was better to catch him "Live" before he says his goodbye to this world for good. Not that I want him to say goodbye anytime soon.
Well.. the concert started late. It was supposed to start at 8pm, but it started at 830pm and when he came on, I heard there were no special effects or what not. Just darkness and some cheering and he's at his guitar and on stage with his band.
He played a lot of his older songs. All of them with great solos which were fantastic and his guitar cries to you so much you could feel that painful feeling in your heart. The crowd was quite disappointing though. Made up of mostly caucasians, I was expecting them to be rowdier and more spontaneous. They only stood up towards the last 15 minutes of the concert, after Clapton played "Wonderful Tonight". So I was at my cheapo seats upstairs, and not a lot of people were rocking to his oh-my-god solos and songs. So what the heck, me and some other old foggies still shake a lot in our seats and had not such a bad time.
Later on I went down to the middle and stood behind. It was a lower view so I could so called see him more clearly. Quite a number of people stood there too. Because we could move our whole body to his guitar tunes at last! We were free and we were having such a smashing time. He played a crazy version of "Layla". Which was so rock I almost couldnt recognise it! But of cos when you hear the lyrics which goes "Layla, got me on my knees layla", you know what is hitting you. Haha.
He didnt play "Tears in Heaven" though. I could almost sense the disappointment in the air for that. But I think I remember reading somewhere that he will not play that song "live" again. As you know that song means a lot to him. And playing it so many times may just make the song meaningless. And Im sure he doesn't want that to happen to his very initimate and personal song.
Clapton looks old on screen at the stadium. Grey hair. Untucked collared shirt and dark blue jeans with brown shoes. He was a picture of ease and someone who looked as if he knew what he was doing. But has the essence of performing gone cold on him? Maybe its the crowd's fault. Or maybe he has too much experience. He doesn't seem to be... crazy. Maybe its the exact syndrome that Kurt Cobain was talking about in his suicide note. About how when he goes on stage and hears the "manic roar of the crowd", it doesn't get to him after a while. And he hates to pretend to his fans that hearing the "manic roar" makes him feel high and excited anymore. But at the very least, Clapton was lost in music heaven when he touched his guitar. When the camera zoomed in onto his face, he was in another world. He face showed emotions as if he was playing out his feelings and emotions in him into his guitar and sharing its pain and joy with us all. It was fantastic that feeling. At some point, I wanted to clutch my heart.
I read in today's Sunday's Time and let's not talk about the lousy reporting done by that reporter. It was said that Clapton refused to do any interviews at all in his stay at Singapore. It's a about pissing because he thinks we're not worthy of his time? Being such a small country and all? And because we're so far from USA? Or is it because at his age, he can't be bothered anymore? Whatever it is, it is disappointing. Just like his concert. Musically, it was great. But the atmosphere he created was cold. He didnt talk much to the crowd. And there was no connection. That is why in this entry I have chosen to use the word "Clapton" instead of "Eric". Because he wanted to be distant, and he got it. We got your vibes Mr Clapton. It was both wonderful and cold tonight.
Also, sitting at the top, I could get an aerial view of the whole place. So it was like big stage, big audience surrounding him. Then you get to realise that he's just a man. Shaped just like anyone of us. He's so small compared to the vastness surrounding him. And you wonder what the fuss is all about until you hear the music. Haha.
Music, is far bigger than anyone of us. It radiated with an explosive force from Eric Clapton and that, is indeed a unforgetable sight to behold. Especially its the first time I've seen a person who breathes Rock in his body through and through. It was magnificent.
Thank you for the somewhat memorable first rock experience Eric Clapton. I'm glad it was you.
Come back again in 3 days when you will see more exclamation marks from me. ;)
posted at [1:27 PM]