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| Info | Setlist | ||||||||||
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01. Musicbox Intro 02. Overture 03. All Is Full Of Love 04. Aurora 05. It' s Not Up To You 06. Generous Palmstroke 07. Hidden Place 08. An Echo, A Stain 09. Unison 10. You've Been Flirting Again 11. Isobel 12. Pagan Poetry 13. Venus As A Boy 14. Anchor Song 15. HyperBallad 16. Bachelorette 17. Army Of Me first encore 18. Jóga 19. Human Behaviour second encore 20. Its In Our hands |
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  photos by MCG   scans by Pascal /pictures - 3126 |
| Last sunday was the most powerful time of my life. Bjork was in Lyon. I arrived at the Auditorium an hour early, of couse but i was so exited that even the freezing wind of this magical night didn't disturb me. Once the doors opened people peacefully walked in what soon became our sanctuary. The show started at 8.30 with the surprising Matmos, that i happily discovered that time. The audience was at first very curious and interested by this intrigating music but we soon felt into the charm of their uncommon sounds. After a short pause, during which my exitment reached its peak, the light turned off and she arrived softly on stage followed by Matmos, the Inuit choir and Zeena. We could only see the shadow of her sparkling white swan dress and her long dark hair. The the dream came true.She was so beautiful and so present on this stage that it was easy to be led by her unique voice. So easy to enter her peculiar and charming little world. Time seemed not to exist anymore. The first part was dedicated to Vespertine and the audience was captivated by this little fairy who sang with her whole heart and soul. If i could have fly at this moment i am sure i would have did it. She is just sowonderful and perfecton stage that even a little larsen made it even cutter. Then the second part. The people of Lyon who can appear a bit cold when you first meet just brusted into flamme when our queen of ice walk in dressed with a gorgeous dress made of red glass drops and red ostrich feathers and which would be used as an instrument a bit later. It's when i see such things that i realise that she has met the genius and i truly believe that she is The artist of this century. Everybody stood up and sang along with her, the atmosphere was electric. We were all amused when she was running in cercle on stage and screaming into the mic each time she was passing along it, moved when she started joga and Generous Palmstroke, in total communication with her during Hyperballad ( the audience went "hysterical" when she sang in front of the loudspeaker) and Our hands.She happily came back twice answering to our calling into an incredible ramble. And the magy kept on a little more. She thanked us many times in french and the rest of the time she communicated with us through her little gestures, her little dancing. The audience was extremely attentive to all her movements welcomed by a flow of clapping. Some of us tried to sing a Happy Birthday Bjork as soon as she finished to introduced her compagnons but she couldn't hear it since the audience couldt'n stop applauding and asking for more. Some guys even made a panel but she didn't hsee it either. It's a bit sad because it was a very special night for us and for her and we wanted to show her that we hadn't forgotten about it. Nevermind we tried!! Takk firyr bjork for this extraordinary night.Keep on being yourself: you are just so great.hope to see you around very soon. Gaelle yesterday's night is a night to remember snowy folks. with my fiancée we arrived 2 hours in advance. I was so worried we missed the beginning of the concert after its postponing and its Sunday reschedule that we were like many others : largely in advance. We decided to head for to a nearby bar where we met by chance Keena and the orchestra conductor. After the security and ticket checks we entered the concert hall. One thing was obvious all the people working at the auditorium were uneasy about the coming of such a colourfull, young in mind crowd unfamiliar to classical music etiquette . This was a show in itself. Everything began like everywhere else with Matmos : these guys are the most laughable experimental electronic duet one can encounter. Kraftwerk with a tongue in cheeks or XXI st century's Thomas Dolby - i'm not sure the latest is a compliment ... they introduced us to their teeth gnashing electrical body music then to is-there-a-rat-in-this-crowd-that-can-play-electric-cage and finally a tribute to Richard Branson with sound-from-the-balloon. IIINNCREEEEDDDDIIIIIIIIIIIBLLLLLLLLLEEEEEEE ! can't you hear me laughing still. I loved them. then pause. then ... I won't give you a list as I am such a crap at titles. In 95 or 96 I was among the happy few to see our Queen of Snow flakes in Lyon at le transbordeur. I still can breath the atmosphere our Lady's fancy dress in white satin springled with pink green yellow flowers. Though on that night she had lost her voice. but after 3 years waiting had she sang in signs it would have been perfect. Sunday night was just the opposite. THE VOICE. She is the voice of this century. So bright so cristalline so powerful so emotional. She is the rage you : should have seen the fright in the eyes of the orchestra when she stamped on the stage edge about to jump in the public or fiercely shouting at the sono wall. She is a genius don't listen to her work just look in her eyes. We have met a genius. She is the rythm who else on earth can have the idea of using her own dress as a music instrument. And we reach the touchy point of our Queen 's wardrobe. Alexander McQueen's red ostrich feather and murano did its effect but pardon me that swan. that poor little creature so tightly fitted it was about to explose at any moment. I prefer to see in it a tribute to some lyonnaises specialities : rosette or most likely andouillette a la ficelle. please forget this dress pleeeeeeeease. And the public : I can tell that everybody felt so privileged to be there that we entered the concert as one enters the public library : cautious not to disturb ones neighbours. and it suited the first part of the concert dedicated to vespertine and more personal, intimate songs. but the pressure was growing and the pleasure to be there overflowed our shyness. One after the other we stood up and sang along and we reach this beautiful moment : the perfect moment. Thank you Bjork for coming to visist us thank you for being who you are thank you for allowing us for a moment to look into your intimate garden. and thank you for play dead. PS : can anybody give me the exact date Bjork came in 95 or 96? even gigography hasn't got a clue... Alexandre M so yesterday our heroine sang in the beaujolais city, not really the sunny south side of France, but not so far. In the beautiful Auditorium, built in the late 70ies. nice inside, not outside. and this was a perfect quality sound, a lot better than the parisian gigs ! i really enjoyed the matmos gig this time, cause everything was listenable, every sound very clear. they began at 8:30 sharp, how polite. audience enjoyed a lot this first part, and was very attentive, all along the evening: they surely came for the music, not for showing up ! ppl from Lyon are pretty "cold", but they did appreciate a lot i guess (i know). no special song, no fancy talk. no "happy birthday bjork" from the audience (well, too early probably) a different intro for "Our Hands", (may be the same as last paris gig, 2 weeks ago, hard to remember, need a paris recording in order to check about it). i don't remember the whole songlist: 1. frosti 2. Overture: very moving, so nice, to see AND hear the orchestra so clearly. really really moving, though i didn't cry, not far ;-) 3. AIFOL, beautiful, and this one is not in my favorites. 4. Aurora it's not up to you: she didn't want to give the second "anyway" to the microphone, she just trew the word, passing by the mic. that's so bjorkish, she doesn't care about this kind of thing, she changes the performance from time to mood, anyway... then can't remember exactly: Gottham Lullaby : audience stayed silent until the end: bravo ! another vesp song never played in paris (sun in my mouth? i'm not sure) Unison, to end the first set ---- YBFA to begin the last set Isobel, Pagan Poetry Anchor Song : faster and faster ! 2 minutes, very funny to see Zeena playing so fast. almost no pause between the singing parts. VAAB, Bachelorette, Hyperballad Army of Me: bjork running all around, just like a little kid no Unravel, no PMB, this time... first encore: joga (vocal+strings= BEAUTIFUL) human behavior second encore: our hands, without the usual now useless "not released yet" introduction ;-) the whole impression: too bad i was at the last row of the highest balcony, and highest price as well !! can't understand that. too far, but acceptable, especially because of this BEAUTIFUL sound quality ! soooo good ! we could hear, even in the back, some surround effects: biodo talked about it for the grand rex 2nd gig. any other opinions from ppl in the stalls/1st balcony ? because of this smaller city, going to a bj gig there is stressless, peaceful, enjoyable. and once more, nice to meet the friends from the bjorkish web... Orange sponsor company bj posters give away at the end, again. Nadja could probably cover the entire house now ! Pretty good concert - a little too short (1 or 2 songs would have been welcomed) Matmos started @ 8.35 pm and played an usual 40min long set... This time they seemed very very angry about the birdcage... the cage must have been very bad :-D i'm still wondering how it's not broken yet... ;-) some people were laughing but not as loud as a girl @ the grand rex concert... and some people went out to the bar... before the starts we got a little music box intro (not the usual one) when all people were sitting and the light still on.... Then Björk started @ 9.35 pm classic Music Box Intro and Overture, during overture i know someone who almost cried (no name to keep her/him anonymous :-P ) but anyway there were reasons to: very good acoustic (lot of speakers everywhere i would say maybe 30 speakers on the wall and even the roof....) but above all a realy great interpretation by the orchestra... I must say i prefer the way it was in the Theatre des champs elysees: with overture as the beginning of the 2nd part. Then AIFOL and Aurora.... huuum someone missing.... "unravel" so... who's gonna replace it??....wait and you'll see that's what i told me ;-) The audience was perfect this night, very noisy but very aware about the songs. I could have die during Generous Palmstroke, nobody applaused when the song seems to end but finally go on.... very intense!!! So Hidden Place right...and then..... An echo a stain!!!!!! wahouuu a newbie.... the live version they played was more brutal than the album one. The first part ended with Unison where she sang "i thrive best hermit style with MY beard and MY pipe" find it funny :-) i thought coccoon was missing and waited for another new song but nothing came... end @ 10.15 pm Break I have an advice if you're going to the auditorium in Lyon don't be late to go back to your seat before the 2nd part because you won't see it if you come less than 3 min before it stats... they warn you "you won't be allowed to enter" pretty tough.... that's why there was an empty place next to me for the end of the concert.... 2nd Part starts @ 10.35 YBFA nothing to mention classic icelandic version Isobel following as usual... There are Matmos sounds fitting well in Björk's songs but the birdcage (not the cligging the other one with the metal strings) doesn't in Isobel... When Venus As A Boy started people just started to yell. The Anchor Song was sublime and then Hyperballad... always a great moment in the concert... with people who can't stay seated, clapping and dancing... Bachelorette was very appreciated (the song is great but i have to say that this song got lots of play here in France). And after that we got an "army of me" getting more and more metal.... or maybe that's only an impression.... but this live version is really metal :-) that's great!!! Little break first encore with Joga and Human Behaviour she didn't stop walking during HB and yelled more than once in the end... she seemed to enjoy it like the audience of course. Then i'm stll asking me if the sound was not amplified by speakers because i never heard so much noise from an audience... i was really impressed (maybe it's the acoustic of the auditorium...) and happy too Little break she didn't say it but it was obviously the last song ... our hands.... the start with the choir is really perfect.... really enjoying and Björk was jumping all around and of course all the people were clapping with their hands it can't be an other way... end @ 11.40 pm Orange "a french telecom company" was still distributing free poster of Hidden Place.... Björk could add 20 min to the show with some classics like hunter and violently happy and outsiders like enjoy and cvalda but hey i'm nt complaining the show was perfect.... and the audience too.... and we got "an echo a stain" so only for that it was worth to be there.... bjonker Like everyone else who writes to this website I love Bjork and of course have all the discs (well, almost). Like everyone else at the concert in Lyon last night seeing and hearing ms G live excited me, and I had a great time…. But at the level of the musical experience, for me, the concert was lacking. I am talking about the actual quality of sound. Bjork’s sound which she has developed (especially) on the last two albums is a wonderful layering of different strands all interweaving around her voice. The sweet attack of Zeena’s harp, the rich harmonies of the orchestration, the real life samples of crunching snow, the small clicks and processed electronica which deliver the rhythm, the ethereal choir… and of course the several different registers of the voice itself, representing different depths of internal consciousness. These were all there at the concert and from time to time you could hear them, but most of the time you couldn’t! As simple as that, the sounds were there but were not being projected in the right way. This I find sad. I know the tour has been an enormous undertaking and so much care and work has gone into delivering the music as it should be, but ultimately on the evidence of this concert it has not succeeded. I have tried to analyse why this is and I think the main problem was the overall volume. Although not very loud by pop music standards, it seemed too loud to hear the sounds clearly. The orchestra was amplified for a start, in a room that is specifically designed for the rich acoustic sounds of orchestral music. Orchestras heard through speakers and pa systems just don’t sound as good. It makes them louder but not so good. Of course the other elements had to be amplified, but not so much. If you get to a certain level of sound, all you can hear is the top layer. It is exciting but not rich. Even the voice itself, which was the top layer most of the time, was not able to communicate its full depth. To support my point, the songs that worked best were the ones that didn’t use all the layers. Not just the quiet ones like “Strong In His Hands” with Zeena’s harp, but also some loud ones like “Army of Me” where the orchestra and choir dropped out. Why sad? Because I am convinced simply turning it down and prioritising the interweaving of strands could have avoided it. I am not a sound engineer, but I have been to lots of concerts with complex sounds and to me the starting point should be to ensure that the strands are equally present. Perhaps the result would be less effective for getting the fans excited quickly, but surely that is not what Bjork is about. The concert is meant to be music not just a reference to memories of records, videos and personal fantasies about a great artist. I was excited by the idea of this tour because of the talk of smaller acoustic venues, but at this concert what I had assumed (perhaps wrongly?) to be the fundamental concept of the tour was lost. What does anyone else think? Is it a concept that works on record but can’t work live? Is the concept beyond the boundaries of pop? Or what? Jason Cloth Hello mwc ;-) Hye all you Björkians'. The show was just fantastic on Sunday Evening!!! what fantastic emotions can go throught your body and soul, even when you see Björk for the second time (i can remember the Grd Rex, Paris). the magical was the same. i just send you the tracklist of the show 'cause i have to go now... MATMOS (as i remember, same set as Paris...) - a very experimental song with acupuncture points' pin. - ...? - a beautiful mix of electro-acoustic guitar and beats all done alive - the rat cage song. - a beautiful piece made with balloons they plaied with as bongo. BJÖRK'S SHOW ! part One (Björk was dressed with her white snaw dress. Her was attached. bare feet) 01 - Frosti 02 - Overture 03 - All Is Full Of Love (video edit) 04 - Aurora 05 - It' s Not Up To You 06 - Generous Palmstroke 07 - Hidden Place 08 - An Echo, A Stain 09 - Unison End of Part One lights turn on, 20 mn intermission Part Two (Björk appeared with her Red robe made with big feathers on the bottom, and on the top there were some metal pieces with made noise when she danced. Her hair was unattached. bare feet) 10 - You've Been Flirting Again (islendic) 11 - Isobel 12 - Pagan Poetry 13 - Venus As A Boy 14 - Anchor Song 15 - HyperBallad 16 - Bachelorette 17 - Army Of Me End Of Part Two We were all standing up and ovationned for her to come back... Encore #1 18 - Joga 19 - Human Behaviour Björk said "I would like to introduce...." (all the musicians), as she said with her lovely Icelandic voice... Encore #2 20 - Our Hands ... But before i leave, I 'd like to thanks all musicians, the inuit choir so good, so beautiful, Matmos for their emotional and perfect sense, Zeena Parkins, Simon Lee and his Orchestra. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you Bjork for this so great concert in Lyon. We love you with much deep respect ;-))) Pascal /old reviews - 3110 |
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