Tuesday, May 4, 2010 at 12:03am
(originally posted on Facebook)
Thanks to Peachy Tupaz for this photo of the actual concert.
In my status it says "I died and went to heaven last night in Araneta. TFF YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!"
And I did. And they are. Tears for Fears' music is full of the passion (this once teenager) felt and still feels despite the changing times (and anatomy).
There was one moment during the concert when I thought to myself. "My God, they are actually right in front of me, singing the songs I would dance and cry to during my tumultuous journey as a pubescent in the 80's." Well maybe not in those words. More of, "MY GOD!!!!! THEY'RE SINGING TO ME LIVE!!!!!"
Roland Orzabal sounded exactly like he does in my ipod and possibly even better. Yes, my friends, better. What a powerful and soulful voice! I noticed he used three different voices in just one song - mind you, not octaves - VOICES. He's not human.
Curt Smith is hotter than ever. Though I never really did like him that much. Roland was always my favorite. But Seeing Curt in that t-shirt with his salt and pepper hair made me melt right there on the Upper A section of the coliseum. And yes, we are on a first name basis. We were playmates, remember? What a duo. Dynamic. The dynamic duo!
Some readers may laugh at what I'm about to say but I am not ashamed to admit that being in that concert is one of the best and happiest moments of my life. I am no groupie but I can now imagine how a real groupie feels. The hair on my arms and cheeks stood on end when they started playing the intro of their second song of the night "Everybody Wants to To Rule the World." Oh my gosh, I thought to myself. This is real. This is HAPPENING. Pinch me.
I knew about the concert since December of '09. I knew I had to watch the band that was responsible for expressing all the inner turmoil of Dolly when she was a teenager. Not only that but also the very hopeful and sanguine me, thanks to "Sowing the Seeds of Love" which is my all-time TFF favorite. (Yes, I was pulling my hair and screaming my lungs out when they played that song. A tear fell.)
As the days were drawing near I wanted to fast forward my life to May 2. So I did what the usual anticipating fan does in times of impatience. I did some research on the net about a week before the concert. I found out that they had launched a new album. Oh no. I knew right then they would play a handful of new songs. The new album's name is "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending." I considered downloading the stuff and listen to them so I can go to the concert "prepared" but decided against it. Only because I was too lazy to do it. And also because I know what happens to erstwhile band mates who reunite. Their evolved creative compulsions don't sync with my own evolved passion for music anymore. But I digress. Back to the concert.
The inevitable happened. They played five (I think) new songs. In all honesty I was pleasantly surprised. I liked three of them: "Call Me Mellow", "Closest Thing To Heaven" which is a quasi Beatles/Blow Monkeys type of song and one more which title escapes me. It's funky, quirky and Modest Mousish. (If anyone knows please let me know because that's the one i like the most.) Now, this is all fine. I mean really, the purpose of most concerts, aside from making extra income, is to promote an album. Unlike most of the audience who would sit when they couldn't recognize a song, I remained standing and dancing the entire time in support of my playmates. After all it is our reunion and I was determined to have fun even if a few songs were alien to me. How often do I get to see blasts from my past and actually HAVE fun?
But - and this is a big BUT - what happened to...
Mothers Talk
Change
Laid So Low
The Way You Are
I Believe
The Working Hour
and my 2nd favorite TFF song Suffer the Children??????? Duuuuuuuh?????
I felt betrayed. It was like a shove in the sandbox all over again (although I never played in a sand box). Thank you for making me weepy in "Woman In Chains". It was painful and sweet and perfect but really? Seven missing songs? I mean guys, come on. Guys. Guys! Roland and Curt, I really hope by some twist of fate you read this note because I heard a rumor that you're coming back and your Philippine contacts better tell you that you CANNOT perform in the Philippines and not sing Mothers Talk. Hello? How old are the organizers of the concert anyway, 24?
Otherwise the concert was brilliant. Simple, no pyro techniques, no dancers with their perfect bodies contorting overhead by a rope, no added visual imagery, no drama. Just pure, unadulterated quality performance. Beautiful music. Beautiful Rolly and Curt. Great Oleta Adams replacement.
I still get chills when I remember how Roland strummed his red guitar in "Pale Shelter" but that doesn't mean I'm over the fact that they didn't give me those seven songs.
You know what? Despite the seven sins, I will forever be grateful to them for taking me out of that void of silence where we cry without a sound and for reminding me that anything is possible.
TFF, if you come back I'll be there to collect.
PS. And please do the Mad World dance next time, Roland. We all imitated that dance in high school but no one could do it like YOU.
