
If Björk is a religion I’m
totally converting. Yes, she’s my goddess, my soul connection to another realm,
a vibe that spirited me with her words and tunes all wrapped in simple
pocket-spender-albums. Her performance in Tennis Indoor Jakarta on February 12th
2008 was more than just amazing. A moment where I was praying for all of my
lifetime, a one impossible wish come true!
I already bought the ticket the
day Javamusikindo (bless those guys
for such a great job) put ‘em for sale. It was divided into two major seats:
Festival that cost IDR 600K and Tribune IDR 500K, trouble-free isn’t? Well,
there’s one thing I wanna say to some people (that include you Ms. Sintya
Anjani :>) that said Björk will NEVER come to a town like Jakarta: Eat my short! haha!
Anyhoo, here’s the detail of the
concert. I was arrived on a slightly rainy afternoon at Tennis Indoor parking
lot with a cab exactly 5.32pm and there was a short line of Björk-mania. They
said the gate will be open at 7pm and the concert will merely begin at 8.
People with such enthusiasm start to fill the line until the committee open the
gate at 6.30pm and the rain already stopped that moment (His grace is such a
blessing isn’t it?). So after we’re being told that only one more checking
point of weapons, drugs, or any type of camera that is prohibited into the
arena we are good to go.
It was a bit disappointment when
we were being told to put away all our camera coz that the #1 rules from her.
Well, as far as I read the news Björk is a bit vicious to some reporters since
her attack in Thailand airport. So I put away my borrowed pocket camera, I
thought my memory and satisfaction is more precious than some megapixels in a
tinny metal box. The door was open on 6.45pm and we all rushed in like cows
into them barn yards.
The indoor stadium was small
compare to the Olympic arena when Björk had to sing O
ceania on the last game
season. But all the rush way before the opening gate was paid off because I’m
standing on the very front row of the stage so she could see me screaming like
nuts when she ought to sing later. People still keep filling the Festival and
Tribune seating and one girl came with her swan dress (let’s see her freezing
on this cold arena).
I stood there with amaze that in
one hour I will see Björk performing live with my very own pair of eyes. The
stage already filled with keyboards, DJ equipment complete with Mac on each
side and microphones for background singers. It has nothing on the background,
just big black cloth as I thought Björk wasn’t it simple for every concert she
held. We still kept on waiting while I’m watching Happy Tree Friends on my iPod
until some crew put on some flags with fire image on it, and suddenly from the
background a long tail of colorful flags was raised up with each different
image on it such as fish, frog, bird and crocodile.
If you can imagine the stage
décor was like a kingdom of many bright colors, she want it connect with the
last colorful album, Volta. After all, this tour is called The <Volta> Tour. Then all of a sudden the stage lights were
turned off and there was a group of brass choir marching up into the stage with
painted forehead and colorful costume and the sound of trumpet like it was time
of the kings and castle! There she is our star, Björk
Gudmundsdottir, age of 42 (but God she looked much younger than that!) with
her costume of glittery pink with rumba accent on each side and a colorful
fluffy little shoulder bag. She starts with her 1st track on Volta
album: Earth Intruders. This song idea was made right after Indonesia was hit
with Tsunami couple of year ago. She flew into Banda Aceh to give her support
to the local villagers on 2006 that was the closest she could get from my
hometo
wn, Jakarta. The crowd that filled up the indoor stadium just went crazy
with dancing and screaming!! She energetically dance throughout her performance
with the brilliant rhythm made by her band of electro performers.
I thought she will sing mostly
songs in Volta album, but amazingly she performs all the songs from her
previous album too!! I was screaming on the top of my voice so she could hear
me out with my hands on the air. All of my favorite song was there: Unravel, Pleasure
Is All Mine, Jòga, Hyperballad (freshly remixed!), Pagan Poetry, Army Of Me,
The Anchor Song (also the Icelandic version!), Hunter, Bachelorette, All Is
Full Of Love, Oceania, Desired Constellation, Wanderlust, Innocence, Hidden
Place, Pluto, Declare Independence.
She also sang Cover Me with
Pennsylvania kinda ryhme in the middle of her set list (the song is already creepy though). She
was making funny faces and gestures like
vampire during that particular song, haha…fresh! Humble and friendly, she
introduce the band to the audience and say that sorry she cannot speak Bahasa,
only Icelandic (d’uh!). Then she wrapped up with Pluto as predicted to keep the
spirit up as the crowd jumping like crazy. I didn’t feel tired at all with all
the screaming and calling out her name as she looked at me at distance only 10
feet away!
Björk and all the band was
leaving the stage with thank you and the lights were all out. I didn’t take the
crap that she would leave us with no encore while the crowd screaming “more,
more, more!!”. So there she was, back to the stage with the entire band and
saying one last song for clo
sing: Declare Independence. This is one song that
can make your spirit of freedom burst out of your quiet soul, with crazy tunes
and catchy lyrics the crowd dance and singing like we never dance and sang
before! With the confetti blasting we were singing: “Declare independence! Don’t let them do that to you!!!”
That was the most precious
life-time-experience after I had my first orgasm. I just take this memory for
the rest of my life, even though with no picture of her, her voice will
automatically playing on when I’m feeling sad (Unravel), angry (Declare
Independence), happy (It’s So Quiet), alone (Cocoon), frightened (Innocence),
peace (Possibly Maybe), horny (Pluto). God bless this Icelandic woman, amen.
The Set List:
01. Intro - Brennið Þið Vitar
02. Earth Intruders
03. Hunter
04. Unravel
05. All Is Full Of Love
06. Jóga
07. Pagan Poetry
08. The Pleasure Is All Mine
09. Hidden Place
10. Desired Constellation
11. Army Of Me
12. Innocence
13. Bachelorette
14. Cover Me
15. Wanderlust
16. Hyperballad
17. Pluto
encore
18. Anchor Song
19. Declare Independence

I go through all this
Before you wake up
So I can feel happier
To be safe up here with you
Björk - Hyperballad
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