Queen - II

In that setting once the tempo has been set, to drop it is risky.
And yet, the manner in which May turned an arena setting into an intimate one, was magical. I always have VIP tickets and I never stand by the ramp. Because I was alone at this show, I took a spot within touching distance of head ramp. A smart move.
Once May had the crowd in the palm of hand and hanging on to the lilt of his voice, he brought on Paul Taylor, who sat next to him with just the bass drum and hi-hat.

Queen - I

So there I was, among 5,000 fans, as Paul Rodgers warmed us up belting out Fat Bottomed Girls and Tie Your Mother Down. Just as the crowd was getting over the euphoria of hearing these songs played live, and beginning to cotton on to Paul’s lack of intensity and suitability, the stage went dark.
Brian May then came onto the edge of the ramp, sat on a stool and sang an acoustic love song. To appreciate the risk of this (and the confidence of May), you have to keep in mind a huge crowd, a massive stage, et al.

Cool geniuses

Queen was fronted at the show in Dubai by Paul Rodgers, lead singer of 70s rock band Bad Company. Rodgers looked uncomfortable and at times, forced, handling anthems like Another One bites the Dust and I Want It All. It was only when Brian May and Paul Taylor took the vocals that the real Queen shone through – one that even the vocal maverick Freddie would have been proud of. The thing about legends, and May and Taylor make the grade in my book, is they wear their genius lightly on their sleeves. And these two oldies exemplify that.

Are you ready to rock?

I skipped The Wailers, since there was no Bob Marley, last week. This week though, I could not resist Queen, even though The Queen was missing. Between now and December 15, I will also see Arrested Development, Maroon 5, Kylie Minogue, Alicia Keys and George Michael. So unless Obama really messes up, or my kids do something life-changing, music will dominate this space.
What is Queen without The Queen? Aapro Freddie was such a presence on and off stage that it is easy to forget what Brian May and Roger Taylor were about. So I went to find out.

Back on track

I have stoically stayed away from Facebook (and Orkut), as everyone, from uncles to nieces have fallen prey to its online social networking charm. Like an addict who falls off the wagon though, over the last few days I found myself (re)activating my Facebook account and before I knew it, I was clicking away. A foul-mouthed angel shook me out of my stupor and I am now back on track.
I don’t do online networking. If you want to connect with me, call me, or at the very most, drop me an email. I do people. In the flesh.

What if?

What if?, can be a potent weapon of self-introspection and, as I have discovered in my fight against insomnia, the creative man’s way of ‘counting sheep’.
I have cut back my hour of going to sleep from 5 am to 2 am now. Not drinking is a key, but the ‘what if’ question might well steal the thunder from my noble giving up of bacchanalia. I simply imagine a scenario – What if I won $5 million dollars - is my favourite. And then, close my eyes to construct an entire life. I am usually asleep in an hour.

White Cliffs of Dover

The White Cliffs of Dover, hung over me like an ogre,
But only in my dreams, thankfully,
Had I traveled to see:

A scraggly face of rock
Peeking out of wisps of clouds,
Invitingly grim, thrillingly grey;
As far below its gaze the sea thrashed against its bulk

With each sure step, I assiduously climbed,
Crack over rock, rock soaked in brine;
The White Cliffs of Dover I steadily stalked
Until at last, I was atop,
At the breach of the peak,
World far below, sky at my feet,
And then…
I jumped…
But thankfully, only in my dreams.