Mika: An Intimate Evening

One of the first things I did in preparation for our return to the states was to check whether or not Mika was going to be on tour and if he would be passing through DC.  He was in fact on tour....he just wasn't coming to DC.  Sad face.  Then, something wonderful happened in February (possibly me just misreading the tour schedule before) and he WAS coming to DC after all!  Squee!  It was to be a limited engagement taking place at DC's Sixth & I Historic Synagogue.  Only 500 tickets were going to be available for the April 10th concert event that was being billed as "An Intimate Evening."  TJ and I camped out at our computers waiting for the on-sale time, and our efforts were rewarded handsomely.  (One perk of Judaism?  TJ had signed up for the synagogue's mailing list...the only bit of advertising that we ever saw for this show.)

An excruciatingly slow two months later we found ourselves standing in a line 100 people deep an hour before the doors were expected to open.  General Admission was the name of the game, and we didn't want to be stuck in the back row.  Wednesday was I guess what you could call the first real day of spring here in DC after an extended winter filled with ice, slush, snow and overall miserably cold days.  Unfortunately, it felt more like an oppressively hot summer day.  Wanting good seats but worrying about dying of heat stroke before making it past the front door if we camped out all day, we instead opted for a late lunch at the DC Hard Rock Cafe (one of my biggest guilty pleasures) followed by an afternoon basking in the shade of the DC Cherry Blossoms, which had just bloomed.

Arriving an hour ahead turned out to be pretty good timing, as the remaining 400 or so people arrived shortly thereafter.  I was still slightly concerned that we wouldn't get premium seating, but that was for naught.  When the doors opened, we happily plopped ourselves down in the fifth row.  Boredom during the time between sitting and the start of the show is always a concern, but that fear was abated following the discovery of the wine cart.  An easy breezy hour later we were enjoying the opening act, which consisted of two DJ's spinning short 10-15 second snippets of pop music from all periods....though Disney's "Kiss the Girl" got extended play when everyone began whooping and singing along.  Why, yes, it was a room full of gay men and their hags.  Why do you ask?

The opening act ended and I had just enough time to run to the restroom and refill our wine glasses (at the bar, not in the restroom, in case that needed clarification) before completely missing Mika's entrance, which TJ says came from the back of the room.  Sigh.  At least I didn't miss all of the opening song.  It truly was an intimate evening, the type of event that can only be experienced in a room as small as a synagogue's sanctuary.  We were sitting directly under the dome, which is prime real estate for getting the best sound, a fact that anyone who has heard the Voices of Liberty perform at EPCOT can attest to.  It was a pretty dome, to boot!

It was an evening of hits, featuring the best from all three of Mika's studio albums.

Set List
Grace Kelly
Toy Boy
Lollipop
Blue Eyes
Billy Brown
Popular Song
Love You When I'm Drunk
Underwater
Stuck in the Middle
Emily / Elle me dit
Big Girl (You are Beautiful)
Origin of Love
Happy Ending
Lola
Relax, Take it Easy
Stardust
Celebrate
Love Today
Over My Shoulder

I was quite pleased with the set list and can't really think of anything I'd have preferred hearing over what we got.  There were a number of evening highlights, told in both song and story, but the ones that I will never forget are as follows:

"Blue Eyes" is one of my favorite songs, because I am vain and have blue eyes and naturally think it is a song about me.  I was already smiling, but hearing him sing this song live brought a glimmer of a tear to my (blue) eyes that accompanied my smile for the remainder of the show.

Mika stumbled over the chorus to "Emily," a song that is sung in both English and French on the album The Origin of Love.  He shook his head and said "I always f--k that one up.  I want to sing in French when I should be singing in English.  Do you want me to sing in French?!?"  The crowed of course cheered their approval and he happily obliged.  He transitioned back into English for chorus, and when he called out "Dance with me Emily," every tukus in the house left its seat, never to return again.

He later explained to the crowd that he had been wanting to perform "The Origin of Love" in a place just like this since the moment he recorded it.  You'd really just have to listen to the song to understand why he was right, and why it was so special to hear in a house of worship.

Toward the end of "Happy Ending," he stepped away from the microphone and sang unplugged.  It

was met with great applause and I guess the acoustics in the synagogue were better than he had anticipated, for he sang "Lola" and "Stardust" in the same manner.  The silence from the crowd was a testament to the beauty of his voice, and we have confirmed with others that have attended prior shows that he does not do this as a normal part of the act.  I've never attended a concert in which the performer was able to connect with his audience so successfully at this level.    

In a moment that was to become the emotional crux of the concert, he introduced "Relax, Take it Easy" by explaining that it was inspired by the 2005 bombing of the  London train system.  He had been traveling on the tube at the time and his train was evacuated.  He said he wrote the song as a means of coming to terms with the tragedy.  It was horrifying to learn that a song I had thought to merely be a metaphor for a doomed relationship was actually a coping mechanism for a terrorist attack.  I turned to see tears streaming down TJs face, and I knew that we had both made the connection between this and the act of terrorism that had taken the life of his colleague in Afghanistan last Saturday. 

The songs that followed touched on themes such as love, loss and recovery.  If "Relax, Take it Easy" stirred feelings for a fallen peer, the remainder of the show definitely drew a line under our own mortality.

As we left the sanctuary, happier yet strangely more distressed than we had entered into it, TJ commented that this evening had the three ingredients to a perfect concert experience:  There was wine, we had great seats, and we knew all of the songs.  I would argue that there was also a fourth key ingredient:  the ability to create an emotional response.  And Mika did that in spades.

I may as well never see another concert again because, after Wednesday night, they will all be complete and utter disappointments.  

Selena Gomez & the Scene: We Own The Night

Oh, how times have changed. In May of last year we were "forced" to spend a week in Mexico City when security concerns in Mexico prevented us from being able to attend the Guadalajara leg of Ricky Martin's Música + Alma + Sexo tour.

Last night I found myself in the very arena that eight months ago was out of reach, travelrestrictions having now been lifted.

Arena V.F.G. (Named after famed Mexican singer Vicente Fernández Gómez) is an indoor concert and sports venue located on the outskirts of the city, just past the Guadalajara International Airport. Okay, well, indoor is a bit of a misnomer. It really looks more like an outdoor rodeo arena that had a metal frame constructed over the top that was then covered with siding from Sears.

That description alone should make you think that the acoustics aren't the best. It's not bad, though. It's terrible. It won't hinder the concert-going experience for someone familiar with the artist, and who plans to sing along merrily. Those that like to go and experience new music will find themselves sorely disappointed however, as they will be unable to appreciate much of the music or lyrics through the echoes and feedback. Fortunately, I fell into the former category.

Selena Gomez & the Scene arrived...on the scene (ha! wordplay!)...last night to entertain a crowd of 12,000+ teenaged girls and gay men with an impressive set list of twenty of their greatest hits.

Okay, okay, so they've only had seven singles. They're enjoyable singles, though, and all seven were present last night. The rest of the show was filled out with entertaining songs that you'd a least be familiar with if you had given the CD's a once- or twice-over.

Main Set:

"A Year Without Rain" "Hit the Lights" "Round & Round"

"Love You Like a Love Song" "Spotlight" "Bang Bang Bang"

"When the Sun Goes Down" "Intuition" "We Own the Night"

"The House That Built Me" "Falling Down" "Super Bass" (Nicki Minaj Cover)

"Rock God" "Middle of Nowhere" "My Dilemma"

"Off the Chain" "Whiplash"

"Tell Me Something I Don't Know" "Naturally"

Encore:

"Who Says"

TJ did not join me for this evening of tweenaged entertainment. Despite being an avid A-Teens fan, he felt this was a little too adolescent even for him. Fortunately, our friend Yeyo had no such misgivings. We had a great time singing, dancing, and making fun of teenaged girls that scream at anything that sparkles and/or moves on stage.

I don't care that she's 19 years old and people make fun of me for liking teen pop. Selena Gomez is a beautiful young woman with an undeniable vocal talent. She's a Disney kid after all. The mouse doesn't mess around.

I've never seen Wizards of Waverly Place, the Disney Channel program that gave her her big break. I hadn't even listened to much of her music before I decided that I wanted to go to this show. But I loved her anyway.

I loved her because when we arrived in Falls Church and began our new lives in the Foreign Service, her single, "Naturally," was a staple in every bar and club. It's such a youthful, innocent, playful tune, and it really stood out from both the snobbery of the club scene and the self-indulgence of most artists on the airwaves.

I loved her more when we arrived in Guadalajara almost a year later and discovered that "Naturally" was a staple in every bar and club here, too. I'm not sure how it happened, but I've had Selena Gomez songs dedicated to me no less than three times in the last year. Ridiculous, but kinda cute.

We'll discover what our onward assignment is soon. We have no idea where we're going, what language we will have to learn, what type of people we will meet.

But everything will be okay. Naturally.

Welcome to the Pan American Games

On our anniversary waaaay back in July I surprised TJ with tickets to the 2011 Pan American Games Opening Ceremonies hosted here in Guadalajara. We finally got to use those tickets on Friday night. Totally worth the wait.

If you're not familiar with the Pan American Games, let's just say that, for the Americas, they're the next best thing to the Olympics. There's a torch relay and everything. And you can't have a torch relay without there being a final destination for the torch in question. And that, of course, means there must be an opening ceremony. For the Guadalajara games, the ceremony was produced by FiveCurrents, the California-based company responsible for the 2002 Winer Olympics Opening Cermony in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Not knowing what to expect in terms of traffic, we decided to head to Estadio Omnilife much earlier than one would normally intend. We had learned earlier in the day that there would be very little parking at the venue, so we opted for the Park-n-Ride option provided by a nearby mall. We arrived shortly after 5pm and quickly found ourselves lost in a sea of people. The organizers knew to expect crowds to arrive early and did a fantastic job providing entertainment (and beer!) to keep everyone occupied before the main event. There was an air show, food (and beer!) vendors, marketing ploys disguised as carnival games, and of course lots of Pan Am merchandise.

At 6:00 we headed into the stadium, grabbed some food (and beer!), and took our seats. We were pleased to find a gift bag waiting for us. Inside was a package of inflatable Aplaudidores (clappers), to be used during the Parade of Nations, and a flashlight. The game mascots headed out and did a little dancing to energize the early arrivals, and by 7:00 we were in rehearsal for the audience participation section of the show. Hence, the flashlights.

The Mascots

• Gavo, the blue agave plant, represents the tequila production that has made this area of Mexico famous. He's my favorite. Probably because he looks so darned goofy. He just screams "I need extra love."
• Huichi, the pink deer, represents the southern region of the state and pays tribute to its Huichol traditions and the female identity. She's my least favorite. Wears too much makeup. I call her Hoochie. And if you think I'm being harsh, please note that she is, in fact, working the pole in that photo.
• Leo the lion (generic name, eh?) represents the strength of the people of Guadalajara. Lion imagery is also incorporated into the city's coat of arms. Leo's okay in my book but will always play second fiddle to ol' Gavo.

Huichi's giving Nomi Malone a run for her money.

The ceremonies began at 8:00 with the legendary Vicente Fernandez singing the Mexican National Anthem. Accompanying him was a mariachi band and an impressive demonstration of the Ballet Folklórico.

USA! USA!

The Parade of Nations followed, beginning with Argentina and presenting the 42 attending delegations in alphabetical order according to the Spanish alphabet. Mexico was of course the exception to the rule. Being the host country, the Mexican delegation entered last and was greeted by a standing ovation and thunderous applause. Just minutes earlier, TJ had been chastised by an

usher for standing up and cheering for the US delegation. In our section it was apparently only okay to stand and root for the home team. And in case you're wondering, yes, when Mexico entered, we stood and cheered with the best of 'em.

Maná burst into song following the parade, and for a brief moment the organizers lost control of the event as half of the Mexican delegation abandoned their seats in an effort to rush the stage. All was calm by the end of the segment and the show continued as scheduled.

Then came the aerialists, followed by a video montage of the torch relay. Mexican President Felipe Calderón said a few words prior to the raising of the Pan American flag, and before we knew it, it was our turn to perform. Following the cues of our section leaders, we put on a light spectacle unlike any I've seen before. Really, it's best to let the pictures and video do the talking.

Columbian singer and hottie Juanes (bottom, right...No, really. He's there. I promise.) took the stage as the light spectacle took on a life of its own, continuing beyond the choreographed segment.

As the festivities came to a close, the torch arrived, igniting a series of pyrotechnics above the open-air stadium.

Who thought that one tiny torch...

...could cause all of that?

Alejandro Fernandez, son of Vicente, closed the ceremony with El Mismo Sol, the official song of the 2011 Pan American Games. The fireworks grand finale lit up the sky as images of Pan Am athletes were transposed upon the ceiling.

Alejandro, Alejandro...

All in all, this has to be the most incredible thing I have ever seen in person. As for TJ, his Facebook status Saturday morning said the following:

"Night of the Panamerican Games Opening Ceremony...

The best night of my life. It was a childhood dream come true."

Yeah, I rock.

TJ and I have both been fans of the Olympics for as long as we can remember. TJ loves telling stories of how he would fake illness during his younger years so that he could stay home from school to watch the winter games. He even managed to attend an event or two for both the 1996 Summer and 2002 Winter Olympic Games

And me? My parents, long ago in what honestly feels like another lifetime, once promised to send me to Australia for the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. I am sorry to say that it never happened.

But all is forgiven. My parents, famous for promising trips to Walt Disney World that never happened, thus inspiring my eventual move to Orlando, where I met TJ, who wanted to start a life in the Foreign Service, resulting in my move to Mexico, where I am at the very heart of the Pan American Games...well, I guess they got me to the games after all.

California Dreams

Uh-oh. I've done it again. I've somehow managed to forget to want to blog. Bear with me as I correct this gross negligence and play catch up.

*Ahem.*

On September 1st we made yet another outing to Auditorio Telmex, this time to partake in some California Dreams with Katy Perry.

And let me just say right now that this...THIS...was The. Best. Concert. EVER.

In a move that was completely out of character since moving to Mexico, I did not bring my camera to the concert. This was partly due to the fact that I've been designated as the unofficial (i.e. not paid for my talents) photographer at work, and at any given time I find that the camera is at home and the charger is at work, or vice versa. Another contributor is that our new housekeeper likes to move things around. I'm talking finding-camera-chargers-under-the-bathroom-sink-behind-the-toilet-paper, EPIC moving things around.

So, on this night of nights with Katy Perry, I was forced to depend on the kindness of strangers. And who is stranger than my friends? Ha! Accompanying us on the trip to Candyland were our friends Genaro and Antonio. Both brought cameras. Both were very, very late in posting their photos on Facebook. Lame, guys. Very lame. Okay. They posted their photos two weeks ago. Half of the lame (and blame) belongs to me.

As I am wont to do, I pre-gamed the concert. You can infer from that all you want about my parking lot activities, and I'll neither confirm nor deny your accusations. But what I mean to say is that I Wikipedia'd the set list for the show in advance so that I could create the most awesomest Katy Perry playlist on my iPod.

Wiki didn't let me down, and what they showed is what we got:

California Dreams Setlist:

Teenage Dream

Hummingbird Heartbeat

Waking Up in Vegas

Ur So Gay

Peacock

I Kissed a Girl

Circle the Drain

E.T.

Who Am I Living For

Pearl

Not Like the Movies

The One That Got Away

Thinking of You

Hot n Cold

Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F)

Firework

Encore

California Girls

The show begins with a video segment in which a bored Katy is working at a butcher shop. She is fired for her lack of energy, and on her way home stumbles upon a bakery where she falls in love with the Baker's Boy. She returns home that evening, falling into a deep sleep where she dreams about needing to follow the Candyland road in search of her missing pet, runaway Kitty Purry.

Along the way, additional video segments and on-stage interludes helped to create a vibrant picture of what life within this innocent, playful, sexually charged (yes, you can be all three at once) Candyland is like.

Highlights of the show include:

• A character named "Slot," who's name sounded remarkably like "Slut," helping to introduceWaking Up in Vegas
• Mimes giving Katy a "special" brownie that hindered her good judgement, leading the way to Ur so Gay and Peacock
• Upon realizing that the brownie has turned her into a Catwoman, Katy mouthed "What-the-F---?", which segued into...
• The most incredible laser/light show ever during E.T.
• Katy riding a cotton candy cloud to the cheap seats, where she performed Thinking of You
• A dozen or so costume changes occurring on-stage during Hot n Cold, by way of sheets, boxes, and glitter storms

Katy is of course reunited with her pal Kitty Purry just in time for the grand finale. And what of the Baker's Boy? Why, he greets her with fresh baked goods just as she awakens from her candy land dreams, of course!

With its numerous wardrobe changes, tongue-in-cheek humor, lighting effects, lack of a political agenda, and (uncommon among other shows that try for the same) cohesive storyline, this is one show that I won't soon forget.

Nothing more to say other than that I hope this sees renewed life as a DVD/Blu-Ray release once the tour concludes.

Mexico City, Day 1: Música + Alma + Sexo

Well, I might as well come to terms with the fact that Ricky Martin and I have not eloped, though this is probably evident, as I surely would not have the time nor inclination to blog about the concert if things had turned out as planned.

Despite this epic disappointment, our first day in Mexico City was amazing. Our flight departed and arrived on time. The shuttle from the Toluca airport to the one in Mexico City (strategically planned for best flight times and prices) left and arrived on time and ended up being a free service. We were able to pre-pay for taxi service to our hotel, ensuring that the driver wouldn't "take the long way..." and THEN he drove off very quickly, saving me the tip money. Our hotel let us check in early, enabling us to be well-rested before the bon-bon shaking commenced, and they even arranged for a taxi to pick us up an hour beforehand. This went from a complicated process to an easy ride, though none of this would have been possible without our ever-helpful friend, Vicente, who works for a local airline and has accompanied us on this adventure.

I have adored Ricky Martin since his English debut in 1999. I even have one preciously awkward memory that occurred during the summer session following my freshman year at Texas A&M, in which my friend Jarrett and I stood before his roommate's CD collection, perused the Ricky Martin CDs, and definitively stated "He's gay." We were talking about the roommate, not the singer, but that ended up being true anyway. Neither of us know what happened to this particular roommate, but my friend and I would ultimately come out to each other the following spring. Yeah, because the fact that we both listened to this same CD that aroused a deflecting bout of judgement towards another person shouldn't have tipped us off...

Ricky Martin wouldn't admit his own sexual orientation for another ten years. It delighted boys and traumatized girls the world over. Along with Lance Bass and Neil Patrick Harris, Martin has played an important role in providing strong role models for gay youth in the last few years. Well, maybe not Lance Bass. In the midst of an outbreak of teenage suicides prompted by the torments of public school bullies in late 2010, Bass admitted that he used to be a bit of a turd.

Tonight's concert took place in Palacio de los Deportes, which, as it turns out, is a remnant of the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games, when it hosted the basketball portion of the world famous sporting event. In its new life as a concert venue, it has hosted the likes of KISS, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Pearl Jam. And, of course, Ricky Martin. On May 12th, Kylie Minogue brought her Aphrodite Tour to the venue.

Música + Alma + Sexo is a tour de force of more than 20 of Martin's greatest hits...

Set List

"Será Será"

"Dime Me Que Me Quieres"

"It's Alright"

"Que Día Es Hoy"

"Vuelve"

"Livin' la Vida Loca"

"She Bangs"

"Shake Your Bon-Bon"

"Loaded"

"Basta Ya"

"María"

"Tu Recuerdo"

"El Amor de Mi Vida"/"Fuego Contra Fuego"/"Te Extraño, Te Olvido, Te Amo"

"Frío"

"I Am"/"I Don't Care"

"Más"

"Lola, Lola"

"La Bomba"

"Pégate"

"The Cup of Life"

Encore

"Lo Mejor de Mi Vida Eres Tú"

...and despite the fact that the majority of the show was in Spanish, my enjoyment was undeterred. I've been listening to these songs nonstop for weeks. The melodies and music are captivating, regardless of language comprehension.

And I'm sure all of the half-naked men didn't hurt the situation.

Sure, coming all the way to Mexico City to see Ricky Martin was a little bit crazy. But from what I've seen of the city so far, this is going to be a great vacation, whatever the impetus. And it's not like there isn't a precedent: We planned a 2006 summer vacation to New York City around a Madonna concert at Madison Square Garden.

And...while we're speaking of Madonna and New York...I've just learned that Ricky Martin is set to star in an "Evita" revival on Broadway sometime in 2012...

Aphrodite

Okay...so there was one last thing standing between me and Ricky Martin...

Tonight we made a joyous return to Auditorio Telmex to catch Kylie Minogue as she nears the conclusion of the North American leg of her Aphrodite tour. Only five dates left! Will you catch one?

Kyle makes her Guadalajara debut

Kylie Minogue should be Madonna. She really, really should be. Both are blonde (sometimes). Both are very popular within the gay community. Both are popular internationally. Both sewed the seeds of stardom in the 80s (Kylie with "Loco-Motion," Madonna with "Everybody"...and let's face it, who remembers "Everybody"?). Both are well into the latter half of their lives/careers (though Kylie is ten years Madonna's junior). Both put on one hell of a show. And yet, somehow, Kylie never quite wove her way into the tapestry of the American mainstream. Though her new album certainly comes close.

In a recent blog post, I discussed how a couple of events this month have mirrored events from my past and have therefore caused me to think about other aspects of my life. Kylie's Aphrodite tour is no exception. Though I have never seen her in concert before, hearing the vocal talents of Ms. Minogue always causes me to flash back to two key moments in my life.

1: During my time in the Walt Disney World College Program, as I was just coming to terms with who I am and who I wanted to be, my friend Jason introduced me to a lot of new music. Amidst the piles of CDs I would listen to during that six month period was Kylie's Fever. It became a favorite, and still is. That album reminds me of a time in my life when everything was new, nothing was certain, and the ignorance of youth was malleable.

2: When we travel to Paris to visit our friends Yann and Charles (TJ, coincidentally, met Yann prior to our relationship while said Parisian was in the midst of his own Walt Disney World College Program experience), we inevitably end up watching a Kylie Minogue concert video. The French LOVE Kylie. On our first visit, we literally could not escape the constant playing of "I Should Be So Lucky," no matter where in the city we went, and despite the fact that by this point the song was, well, really old. It's ok. I love that song. It reminds me of how lucky I am to have someone like TJ who can put up with all of my caca. It reminds me of how lucky we are to have such great friends abroad that we are able to visit, and who are able to visit us in return (Um, guys? When are you coming to Mexico?!?!?).

Unfortunately, that particular song wasn't lucky enough to make it onto the set list tonight. Here's what DID make the cut:

Set List

"Aphrodite"

"The One"

"Wow"

"Illusion"

"I Believe in You"

"Cupid Boy"

"Spinning Around"

"Get Outta My Way"

"What Do I Have to Do?"

'Everything is Beautiful"

"Slow"

"Confide In Me"

"Can't Get You Outta My Head"

"In My Arms"

"Looking For An Angel"

"There Must Be An Angel (Playing With My Heart)"

"Love At First Sight"

"Can't Beat the Feeling"/"If You Don't Love Me"

"Better the Devil You Know"

"In Your Eyes"

"Better Than Today"

"Put Your Hands Up (If You Feel Love)"

Encore

"On a Night Like This"

"All The Lovers"

Can We Just Take a Moment to Discuss Copyright Infringement?

Thanks to tonight's show, I have a third Kylie memory. Wherever the Foreign Service takes us, Kylie's music will always remind me of our friend Genaro. As I have said before, Genaro's a great guy that has gone out of his way to show us the sights, whether it be a restaurant, museum, or musical production. And tonight was no exception. He snagged these tickets for us months ago.

He's dying to take us to the Ballet Folklórico. That will likely be the subject of a future blog.

But first, how would you like to hear about our adventures in Mexico City with Ricky Martin?