British Summertime- Hyde Park London 21.06.2015
DAY 3
Kylie Minogue/Grace Jones/Nile Rodgers & Chic/Mika and The Years & Years
Its Saturday it's not exactly bursting with sunshine,but I'm here ready for Sunday's show.
Early Sunday morning I get ready to leave my hotel at 7.15am to meet up with one of the #KylieMassive and later the whole gang, I decide to walk to whole length of Bayswater Road (Bad Idea it took me 30 minutes to get to Marble Arch #knackered its the equivelant of 10 highstreets in 1).
My Mate catches up to me at 'Hyde Park Corner' so we stroll around looking for the Early Entry queue,the right gate, on our way we see lots of squirrels, its beautiful they stop to look at us so tame so it's good 10 minutes before I remember I'm not at the zoo.
We hang out around the gates chatting and eating til gates open at 12pm, when security arrive they tell us not to run when we go through (the usual patter "There's plenty of room at the barriers for everyone to see.." yardy ya but when some don't take that advice everyone starts running so you have to stress out about these things its not simple its about stratergy) so I get athletes stress lol.
Lots of my friends are here today and few other gig buddies so it's a good vibe more relaxed than the normal Rock gig,me and my mate got a great spot on the left barriers at front of stage.
First act on is 'Londoner' 'Secana Hudson' a young vibrant girl in red sports top, playing keyboards and drum machine,its basically R&B but chilled dance beats,I particularly liked her 'Madonna' tribute when she sang a mash up of 'Pure Shores' by 'All Saints' into an interpretation called 'Frozen-Shores', I think I was 1 of the loudest cheerers at that point ha.
Next up London's successful band of this year ' Years & Years' a bunch of 3 young guys with singer 'Ollie Alexander' sporting Bleached Blonde hair, they kick things off with 'Desire' it's a bouncy dance beat classic with a great 90's fresh feel to it, the sun is out summer is here at last , perfect atmosphere, 'Years & Years' doing a perfect job onstage with a 'Blu Cantrell' cover and new song 'Gold', 'Ollie' bounces around the 'Oak Stage' dancing and looking like the cat that got the cream.
The energy they give out when performing live is infectious,the crowd enjoying them,everyone is talking to each other its relaxed not like your usual gig, The band ended with No1 single 'King' it was great to watch their enthusiastic set I see big things for them already, Top Notch!!
Next 'Mika' I really have to tell you he annoyed me, I always thought he was a bad pop tribute act of 'Freddie Mercury Vs Matt Bellamy', so everytime he hit a falsetto I just wanted to ring his neck! He wore a Navy Blue suit with Stars and Shapes on it, his 7ft frame flailing about like a daddy long legs refusing to stop flight (did I tell you I hate them too ...yuck) or perhaps it would be more polite to say that he looked like a childrens TV Presenter which appeared to be his act in a nutshell.
He kicks off with 'Grace Kelly' then says "Hello Hyde Park, The sun is shining on us (puts hands together in pray mode)" and then plays on with 'Big Girls You Are Beautiful' (Cringe #Muser in need of rescue here have Mercy lol), he stands atop a piano and plays a new song he has a new album to plug, it was then back to the chart hits 'Take It Easy' another high pitched falsetto I'm itching to yell "Get Off your not 'Musey' enough for that Voice !! I held back.. just the end song was 'Love Today' the most irritating song ever written, its the first time all day I've frowned a lot #Headache, Then he goes off waving I Cheer phew....
Finally my excitement is back on par, onstage whilst the crew are sound checking, on walks the legendary 'Nile Rodgers' to the 'Oak Stage', he's standing in front of us waving, smiling in a White Suit "How you all doin' ? were just getting these amps set we'll be ready soon" we all cheer.
Wow! 'Nile Rodgers' producer of some of finest disco classics of the late 70's and 80's legends, in his reportiore responsible for Madonna's Like A Virgin album, Duran Duran's Notorious, I'm excited as the 2 girls of 'Chic' walk on they play 'Dance Dance Dance' and some great covers of his work 'Sister Sledge' 'We Are Family', 'Diana Ross' 'Upside Down', here's what sealed the deal for me 'Notorious' by 'Duran Duran' and 'Daft Punk's Get Lucky, as 'Nile' walks down the walkway, his shades on he cuts a cool image up on the walkway, the place is jumpin!! I've not danced so freely at gig since 'Prince' last year , he even gets his band to play 'Lets Dance' by 'Bowie' yes he produced that too, there's a real party atmosphere now .
They play my absolute fav 'Le freak' so funky and groovy,my god what a show, just when you think I cant get better than that, all these people come onto the stage dancing with Chic and 'Nile Rodgers' for 'Good Times' then 'Sam Smith' walks on greeting 'Nile' and hugging him before joining everybody dancing and then this older guy wearing a leather jacket and cap doing a crazy dance and it's shock horror only 'The Edge' from U2 I had to pinch myself.
I almost cried with joy what a ride that was but I'm coming down as I'm not sure what to expect with the next act enter One ... 'Grace Jones', shes always been a bit of a strange cookie very Avant-Garde and a diva, she started her career as model actress in James Bond Movies with a musical career in the 80's with equally visual bizarre stage image to match her personality so I'm unaware what to expect and it's not at all what I expected !!!
She arrives onstage in a Gold Mask and Long Black Gown , she takes off the gown and with Body paint up her legs, and a beige tunic (at least she's wearing something thank goodness), she wraps her legs in a criss cross motion over and under the metal bar constructed bent into a shape ,she continues with this bizarre ritual singing 'Nightclubbing' with her deep terrifying tones and staring eyes she wanders off stage speaking to us in an even deeper voice "Yeah Man ,how many you been to Jamaica?? GRRR Yeah Man!!!.
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She appears with out a shirt body paint her chest painted in White tribal marks leaving not a lot to the imagination and what looks like a tutu on her head and flowing netted skirt banging a small tambourine, the crowd many quite young look on puzzled, she also had a guy with body paint climbing a greasy pole whilst whipping at him with a tribal like whip the theme here is 'Tribal' but a bit wacky of course, she waves her whip at the crowd as she comes down the walkway.
She then continues talking to us Growling my god she's loud ,as she changes offstage it appears that the staff want her to cover up as she wears a Jacket with sparkly Green bowler hat, another change later she wears a tall white head-dress and as she goes to walk on jacket-less ...staff throw on a Green fur jacket she tries to pull it off, but they insist she plays 'Pull Up To The Bumper' and rolls off ungracefully off the walkway to jump on security's shoulders (I had to watch this on the screen it was all going on behind us what a palaver) anything to meet her public at the back rows ,and its Bonkers Time!!
Another change later the highlight for me was 'Slave To The Rhythm' on the main stage she brings on a hula hoop "I Been doing this since I was a little girl" she laughs and keeps the hula hoop going through the whole song very impressive perhaps how she keeps so fit power to her shes in her 60's !! Puzzled by it all we cheer she put a interesting show shall we say.
Kylie Time !!!
It's still light at 8.30pm, the famous KMO lips are on stage, Kylie's backing singers arrive in Huge White Bows on their chests, dressed in Black , she emerges from the side of the lips in a Royal Gown and Crown dressed like a Queen erm er I mean.. Princess,theres only 1 Queen etc...,
It's 'Better The Devil You Know" the crowd go wild, bouncing and screaming "We Love You Kylie!!" the gown comes off a new stage outfit underneath a little frilly Black dress and sandals with Roses at the toes ,she has the letters of her name on stage in Glass shapes that dancer move around so she goes all cheerleader on us "Gimme a K, (K) Gimme a Y (Y) Gimme a L (L) Gimme a I (I) Gimme a E (E) what does it Spell (Everyone "Kylie !!!") she smiles back at us and walks over to the steps "Hyde Park.. London ,You all look so Wow!! she sashays down the walkway wiggling as she goes she plays the hit song to the full, packed with screaming fans she goes into 'In My Arms' and surprisingly my fav Fever song not heard live in ages ' Its In Your Eyes'.
Change of scene now 3 central Disco Balls glimmer atop the stage as 'Kylie' re-appears in Glittery Red dress and Red Beaded thigh high boots with a cute black tie,her hair is blonder than usual, then she plays a whole section on the walkway from the KMO Tour with dancers as toy shapes its the same setlist so I don't need to tell you about this bit much in the medley 'Step Back In Time/Spinning Around/Your Disco Needs You/On a Night Like This, and then 'slow' with the amazing flipback male dancer on the tour.
It was back to the main stage for a superb live version of 'Bette Davis Eyes' and back again to pop dance 'Kylie ' for 'Cant Get You Out Of My Head' followed by an audience singalong of 'Neighbours Theme' there was no doubt who everyone came to see, she then did a 'Grace' by going round the shoulders of a security bloke she greets her crowd sadly for me its the back again getting all the special treatment, she sings an accapella of 'I Should Be So Lucky', then a bit of 'Locomotion' before another costume change.
Into a lovely Satin Gold Catsuit for 'Get Outta My Way' and 'Love At First Sight' her dancers dressed a bit like flamboyant suited wrestlers or a tribute to 'Pussy Riot' it looked great onstage she played a superb version of 'Celebration' and 'All The Lovers' .
Encore time.... Another change of outfit Bodysuit White shirt and Black jacket, Black thigh high boots, she wanders over to the side of the 'Oak Stage' in front of me and sings 'Into The Blue', crowd are loving the show and it's all over... time for 'Goodnight' the KMO reunion a success as I say good night to everyone.
I leave bound for my hotel getting ride home on Bike Tandem Carriage from outside the gates with music blasting from the speakers playing ...'Bitch I'm Madonna' and with onlookers looking baffled and me doing all the actions in back carriage... I head off through Notting Hill, Goodnight London.
*Galleries will be up soon and Kylie Gallery up separately also
LMi x
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