harald wrote:my five cent:
.....I don´t go there for a singalong with the audience, I don´t go there to share some atmosphere.
I love to see friends at the meetups, but the concert is the concert is the mass.
One does not take photos during the mass.
I am a concentrated listener.
It distracts me when my neighbour is taking photos or video clips.
I hate it.
I´d be glad if you could restrain your applause to in between the songs.
I don´t need no rhythmic clapping during the songs.
My neighbour drinking bear, singing or clapping or taking photos or eating a hamburger, what difference, it all disturbs.
As said before I can tolerate your enthusiasm during the encores.
Can even accept your chorus with So long, Marianne.
But else, please let me have the concert. Pure.
Thank you.
Harald
Whatever you say, Harald! But you have to accept, that we do not live in the perfect world, not even when a lot of People are in a Concert-Hall, sharing the same interests, love the same Performer.
You know, I wished, that several drunken People would be stayed at home instead to visit a Cohen-Concert and shouting some stupid things... but: can I change it? Do I have a influence, what they will do next? No.
But: I don't want that this People "ruined" a whole Concert, who means a lot to a lot of People and to me, so I try to blank it out.
You named all the Point, what you expect at a concert.
Well, I have some wish too: several times, large Mans sitting before us. Should I blame the whole world because of this? Shoul I let them ruined "our" Concert? No, no
Sometimes you have to adapt. As you, I don't really like the one with the big cameras, filming the Perfromance with a IPad or so...
But on the other side: I do have CDs/DVDs from the Concerts, as many others have.
And they come... yes, exactly: from this people...
So if I like it or not is not the question, because I (neither you or anyone) can't change it, sad but true.
And to be blunt: one of the best Moments (besides many, many others) was in Lissabon, back in 2010: the whole Audience sings "The Partisan".
It was impressive, because this is not a "Easy listening-Song", on the contrary, as you know.
But they clearly understand the meaning of the song; we never will forget the reaction of the crowd to this song in Lissabon. And they were many "younger" People in the Audience; so we really was surprised, that this "Generation" recognized the words. I'm sure it have something to do with their own history. But anyway, it was a unforgettable moment for us, gave us some real goose bumps.... We were really surprised in a positive way..
And the "No No No-"Part of "Closing Time: it's a pure and simple pleasure! As one Person posted before: it was clear to see, that it becomes to a Tradition. And, I'm sorry to say that, Harald, but you know exactly, that the People will do all those things again, that you don't like.
As I said before; I don't like a lot of all these things too.
But that is not relevant, because it is, like it is.
A Friend of mine, who's a "Opera"-Person, told me, that even in the Opera-Houses the People try to took their IPad etc.
So, I'd rather go to a Leonard-Cohen-Concert, knowing, that some of the People will "way out of line" than stay at home and don't go to the Concert.
And really: I would give a lot, to see and hear Leonard Cohen again on a stage, with everyone else, who likes to see him!
I wrote it before: if a Live-DVD-CD will come out: I will take anything, as long, as it is a Leonard-Cohen-UHTC-Live-recording. The best for me would be: all the Songs, that they have performed in 2013 (must be 42 different Songs or so)
But anyway: I hope, that the Songs will be well choosen with some reaction or interaction with the crowd...
Have a look at "Tower of Song" from the 2th of Dez. 2013...
Uwe + Susanne (not the other Susanne... besides, Susanne; I don't say, the Zürich-Konzert wasn't good: the reactions were just different, wasn't they? But as far as I remember, we talked about that)