A review by Elisabetta Franzini / eberfr@tin.it

August 30 2000 was for us a day to wait with trepidation. I had done false papers to get this concert and with the approach of the date, the atmosphere became always more incandescent. A group of eight people: I, my sister Susanna, Eliana, Laura, Yuri, Maya, Erica and Debora. Living in Lombardia and Emilia Romagna (my sister and I), we had to be recovered from the driver that I had engaged with a rented minibus.

The wakes up for the great day was at 5 o'clock. Two alarm clocks on the table, when one has played the other still slept like me. I was oddly calm, perhaps even because I had already got the diarrhoea the morning before. Prepared the purse of the expense with each kind of provisions and two 1 litre and half bottles of water, the backpack contained the fabric (I made it when I was on holidays and there was a black writing WE WANT U IN ITALY), the kerchief BON JOVI, big camera with 1600 ASA films (for astronomic photos!, quite in the sense of the sky!); more cigarettes, chewing gums, wallet, ticket, handkerchiefs. The clothes were as sought-after as I could contrive: blue shirt (with which I've slept when I've come back home because I didn't want to remove me the shirt that had taken the rain fell in the place where they played... OK...), blue and orange overall (whose pants I had shortened two days before, using my manual little stitch machine: practically, it makes a point, I throw the cloth, I put some curse that doesn't spoil, then I try to don't tear the thread and I restart afresh) and blue k-way rolled up in his pocket and hooked to the backpack. In the case of hot sun I had a green hat of the Actros Mercedes, took home some time ago by my husband.
My sister and I, we've met us in the park in front of my home at 6:30, to wait the driver. Sat on the newspaper kiosk's bench, we crossed again things we took with us. At 6:45, we didn't see anybody to the horizon. Ready with the mobile phone to form the driver's number, we have seen him to come: while he drew near us we threw a relief sigh. Ready by, the second scheduled standstill was at the Lodi's tollgate at 7:30/7:45 to recover Erica, Maya (returning from Dublin the day before...) and Debora. Strange but true, we arrived to the tollgate at 7:20. Two girls were leaned against the guard-rail (is it correct?): but mustn't they be three?? Yes, but arriving in advance gets some problems. We have drawn near them and as we imagined, we were in front of Maya and Erica, still half destroyed because the return from the Ireland. And Debora? Reached on the mobile, she answered she'd have been to us in 2 minutes. In fact, not even five minutes later, we have seen a crazy person that ran in the middle of the intersection out the tollgate: "Here she is!" we have exclaimed. I have done the presentations: I that I had organized all and contacted all, I knew the presents only through internet but I never hadn't had the way to know them personally before that gold Wednesday.
Went back to the highway, up to the following standstill we haven't done anything else than hang from the lips of Erica and Maya who told their lucky (MUCH LUCKY!) meetings with Richie & C. in Dublin. What a fortune to meet Hugh on the road, follow him and find out where Bon Jovi lodged!!!﷓Last stop of the tour was Turate: two girls, a boy and a lady were next to a car. They looked at us while we passed to make manoeuvre, but we almost were sure that they were them. When we stopped they have drawn near us and we finally have closed the circle: also Laura, Yuri and Eliana got on the minibus. I have had finally the pleasure to meet Eliana, with which I corresponded to for a long time and to which I have to thank for the concert: if she hasn't sent me a sms on a Friday of July with written that she was going to Chiasso to buy the tickets for the concert, the light bulb would not ever have caught fire in my brain...
We have taken back our way, direct like fused toward north; destination: Zurich. Between us and the concert only stayed that undefined number of kilometres formed by three figures... Erica and Maya have stayed forced to tell their experience of Dublin once more for the ears of the three new passengers. Besides, Laura has handed a tape to the driver who has put it into the radio: it was Acoustic Tales, and I don't even write about whoever the songs were. Since I don't have the possibility to use my mobile to call from the foreign countries, before arriving to the frontier I have sent a sms to my husband (to remain him to call me in the afternoon) and I have called Luca who already had to be in front of the stadium. The weather previsions of TSI, the only Swiss tv I'm able to see at home, it foresaw rain. Luca has answered that it didn't rain, there was cloudy but it seemed it wants to clear up; more, there was very a few people. Reached the frontier we all were ready with the identity paper in the hand because convinced that they checks us, instead it was not: they have stopped us but only to get paid: œ 54000 of toll - my goodness! Restarted again the trip, hours elapsing, on the minibus an impelling need of a bathroom has begun to wind, so Maya has spoken first imploring: "Do we do it - the trip, she meant...- without any stops?" So we stopped at the truck stop managed by Heidi. By shift to the bathroom, my sister wanted to take home the big balance that there was in the zone of the sinks: a red iron balance with the indicator of the weight at height of the waist. It was really particular.
Outside the truck stop, we have stayed in the park to crunch something when we have seen a nice boy passing on a black Toyota: I have exclaimed "Beautiful!" and Maya has answered "Really!" but I meant the boy, she meant the music he was listening to: It's my life! Exactly two minutes later Eliana reached us by run showing some sheets of a magazine: they were articles about Bon Jovi! "A boy that really looks like Jon has just arrived: he was listening to It's my life!" Practically, she has involved him saying GOOD about the song and he has done everything possible to leave her tear the photos from the newspapers that he got by car! He kept showing her the belongings he had got and where did he go? Obviously to the concert! Wearing a black satin or silk shirt and similar pants, the thick blonde head of hair, he wants expressly resemble to our idol, even if he couldn't do much for his face: nice but he wasn't Jon! However Daniel, this his name if he has told us the truth, he has left together with us even if he has darted away in a while.
Spending close to the very nice lakes, we have finally arrived to our destination and there problems began, because the driver didn't know where the stadium was, neither do we therefore we engaged Laura as translator because she was the only one who knew a little bit German. Stopped at a red semaphore, she has put her head out the car window and called a gentleman with a BITTE but the man has asked before letting her to speak: "Where are they going? Where are these Italians going?" Unbelievable! The first one to which we asked and we had found an Italian! However, the kind man has told us that we owed go on straight for a little bit and then turn to the right: so we have done but we have arrived to the terminal of the buses, if my eyes have seen right (I was on the last seats behind). On the sidewalk at our right, a dog-horse carried to walk his master, so we have asked to the dog, I meant to his master where the stadium was: we completely had wrong! We had to go back and follow the indication of ALT STETTEN. In fact we have found a signboard with that writing and we've followed it, up to the following request of info: this was a gentleman that spoke German or Spanish, therefore it was better lose him that find him. We have continued for Alt Stetten and finally, in the middle of the houses and the buildings, we have seen something of "big" that could resemble to a stadium. We have made a tour around it to see if there was a park but then we have gone to another direction and we have found one neither too far from the gate 1. It was midday and half. In front of that gate there will have stayed fifty people! Read the letters of the sectors on the galleries rear, we have decided to go to see even the other entrance: coasting along the short side of the stadium, Eliana has found a passage where throw the eye and she is almost fainted seeing the stage on the other short side. In front of the other entrance there will have stayed sixty people... really inconceivable! And then we have surprised that there was not an only placard that publicizes the concert: not even near to the stadium! They publicized the show of Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias. At the set stall sideways to the gates the vendor sold Bon Jovi's clothing and that was the only indication to understand of whoever it was the night concert. Other physiological needs to satisfy, we have left the place to go us toward the cafe on the semaphore, seen that the public WC placed along the road had only one good thing: it was blue, my favourite colour. Inside the cafe, I, my sister and Maya have stayed exactly five minutes in front of the barman with nobody who deigns us of a look: I've begun to believe we are transparent! Reached by Eliana and Laura too, we have gone in exploration and found the bath on the left side we've gone into: mythical scene of the phone call. Laura's mobile rang, but she was on the latrine, so Eliana has answered: she has spoken with Franca, Laura's mama, up to this one has gone out and taken the telephone. "But who are you??... PAOLA??? Ely, it's your mama, not mine!!!!!!!" I do notice that mama and daughter haven't recognized themselves. Outside the bath, my sister has stopped me (with Maya she had taken a coffee because the waiter - Schumacher, as my sister said... - had noticed them) and I must have waited her in bath. When we have gone out Schumacher had positioned like a bulldog, hands on the flanks and grim look toward who got out of the bath. "Stop. Bath for customers." he has begun to tell, so my sister has asked what we could make seen that we had already gone there. "No, you OK because taken coffee, but no the others." Then she has repeated him the same thing said before: "We have gone by now, what must we do?" "No, no, you OK because taken coffee." so we have gone out because it was useless to continue. After the discovery to have paid œ 8400 two coffees, we have gone to the entrance # 2 yet. Paused there for few minutes, Daniel has arrived: Debora and I have greeted him but he was perplexed. I almost was saying the name of Eliana when he has remembered and asked me where she was. So they have met again... At that point we had divided however: Maya and Erica were with Nora and Roberta next to the left gate, we others were toward the right gate, discussing the becoming at the moment of the entry in the stadium. The problem was that we wouldn't have expected so few people even at that time, so there was the possibility to have notably better sets instead the stands where we should have been, going in the meadow. However, at the end we have decided that we would be directed to the stands and then we'd have decided what to do by ourselves. Eliana, Yuri, Laura and Debora have left because to arrive to their sector they must enter from the gate 1. I and my sister have sat waiting. From the big gate, whoever entered, dogs and hogs, but they had a pass to the neck... Little bit time after 14 the gates were opened: I couldn't have hide the camera, so I have tried to put it on the bottom of my backpack that I had on my shoulder and what I have put ahead when my turn has come was the purse of the expense with provisions. The man that tearing me the ticket requisited me 1 bottle of water (and the other was on the minibus...) because he has told that the big bottles didn't go well. My goodness! Anyway, it has gone well because they didn't look inside my backpack. The other guys ran, I and my sister has gone searching our sector. If we also have run immediately... we have found our places, but before sit we have watched in the meadow: the delimited area in front of the stage was still empty! "But will they let us go there?" she has asked. "We try, they can only say NO." We have gone down in the meadow and approaching to the entrance of the zone I have shown my ticket: I wanted to ask to the security men if we could enter with those types of tickets, but those haven't let me speak and immediately showed to pass. GREAT! It didn't seem true! We were to about ten-twelve meters from the stage! I imagine that it's not that great finish, but thinking that we had to be on the stands distant an hundred meters... However, we have located Maya & C. who were more ahead of us, but near to them there was not set. In the meanwhile, we have sighted Eliana & C. who had sat in the R sector: I've shaken my arms as more as I could and they have descended. When we have met, Debora has gone away from us to go in front of Richie, while we were to the right as regards Jon. Meanwhile we have known Chiara and Luca of Reggio Emilia. Rain has begun to fall slightly, then it has thickened a little bit so everybody has worn the raincoat. I have lent Chiara my hat because she didn't have some. Unfortunately, sometimes one or two sly guys arrived and went beyond toward the stage, even if they must remain standing. Little bit time after 16, suddenly the boys have gotten up standing without a valid reason, but so they have stayed and so we have done. Slowly, to avoid 2 giants in front of us, I and my sister have moved in the Jon's direction and have lost Chiara, my hat and Eliana. Just in the moment Top Loader, the first group, has started to play I have gone out to go to the bath: leaving out the crowd in the lines where we were, only one meter behind the reserved area was not still flood! And the stadium about desert. The security men have put the blue bangle on my wrist allowing to reenter, of which I was fierce! The rain is been slightly intensified while Top Loader performed. Finished their show, we have attended around forty minutes and the other supporters have gone on the stage, a local group called Love bugs. Nice the singer, exactly the opposite of the bass that they had probably found from the cars demolition: he really was out of place in the middle of the others who were civic boys, not make up on and wearing simply. Silver powder on the eyes up to the temples, fingernails black-coloured, growth-shirt and false skin pants where Maya has seen some holes, therefore she has deduced that they were paper pants. Quite a nice seen! Music wasn't bad, but finally at about 18:30 they have finished and the men of the staff have restarted to get off tools. Behind a black awning at the center of the stage, a gilded battery has blunt magically: it had got so many elements that could compete against a pots firm...: Tico's battery! Other black awnings have stayed removed in front of the cafes: the one at the right side brought the insignia Bada Bing and the one left Dean Martini. On the stage a lot of people circulated, but we have had confirmation that had to begin shortly when we have seen the men of the lights that scrambled up toward the high part of the stage where take position to handle the reflectors. They couldn't leave them hung there for more than an hour, obviously! At least that was our hope... Unfortunately the thirst began to become pressing, but my sister had finished the two little bottles that she had got, so we've eaten an apple. But the heat has reappeared little after... On the stage the people had disappeared, everything was ready and only the GUYS were missing. My heart has started to get excited... When we have heard the first shouts, probably deriving from the first row, we have begun to look at around feverishly but they were nowhere, when my sister has pointed out the maxiscreens: they were arriving, giving the 5 to all those they met, but we didn't know how long they are from the stage. My eyes have been filled of tears when finally David, Tico, Hugh and Richie have appeared. I couldn't believe... After thirteen years I saw them alive, not through the tv or a newspaper... Anyway Jon wasn't there. They have begun to play Livin on a prayer and just on time to sing Jon has arrived, as handsome as the sun! My heart is been paralyzed. I didn't believe he is able to sing it all, above all after the change of tonality, instead hear a disk and hear him alive is exactly the same thing: Jon is indeed the best! The choir that he let us made was sensational: I mean, surely it's the same that he makes to do in all the concerts, however take part in it personally has stayed absolutely upsetting. Finished their strong point, they didn't give us the time to acclaim them a little bit that they have begun You give love a bad name immediately. Another roar. My shouts echoed in the stadium and the boys around me have covered their ears: one of these guys had put on the corks that the attendants had given us on the gate! My sister often turned back to tell me STOP, but I, fearless gold uvula, I did by myself: the girl at my left, fixed me upset hearing each my shout...
In the meantime, singing and moving, our thirst had arrived even to let us hope "May God let it finish quickly!" when my sister has remembered "BUT HAVEN'T YOU ANY FRUT JUICE INSIDE YOUR BAG??!?" They weren't juices, but tea, anyway they have gone down like it was champagne... We Had thirst yet, but the hope the show finished immediately it already seemed an absurdity.
I kept taking photos while a boy filmed the event: it seems that from the first row he had come behind because threatened of death through cut of throat by a security man... My films turned and when the moment to insert the third has arrived, I have quarrelled five minutes with the camera because the film didn't go into it, so the boy to my right who had sniffed something brown up to two seconds before has looked at me and indicated to give him the camera: he thought to be able, but he has owed to give me back my Yashica with a mortified smile. The film didn't want to insert, therefore end of the photos.
One wild night has been introduced by Jon from the request of somebody dancing with him: he has taken a girl from the right cafe and has made her climb on the table, then they have begun to dance and before beginning to sing he has embraced her and has given her a kiss on her lips! I have become green because the envy... Other good dose of envy at the moment Jon has still gone in the right cafe and he has sunk among the sat girls' arms: only one had got the courage to grab his cheek and smack it. Intelligent woman. My sister says that Jon has danced also with another blonde girl and that he also has kissed her, but I am not able to remember it. From the right cafe, when Jon has drawn near, no female wriggle: spineless women.
It's my life has stayed an uniform choir and perhaps the only song that all the stadium has sung: I was not able to hear Jon's voice. When he has sung Lay your hands on me two gigantic plastic grey arms have been blow up to the sides of the stage and it seemed they support it in the high part: with their moves caused by the air circulating inside they seemed alive! Jon, like custom during that song, has gone down from the stage and at least two friends of mine have been able to touch his hands. They have sung Runaway in acoustic version, but I prefer it normal (Debora and Erica: "No come on!, it's almost stupendous!!"!). For Someday I'll be Saturday night there has been an uniform jumping and fingers up to the sky to underline "HE-HE-HE-HEY MAN..." while for Keep the faith, last song of the concert, Jon made us lift only one opened hand in the moment to tell "FAITH- you know..." Extraordinary! Anyway, I have realized the boys around me didn't know all the songs: just the most famous, but for the rest they danced with their mouths closed (or opened only to sing the refrain). It must be that's why Jon has begun to make long steps (like Pippo Baudo), shaking the head and always repeating something that we couldn't understand. Then, he has stopped and complained telling us that he didn't come to Zurich for 5 years and he wanted to know if we had accustomed to the boy-band because they instead are a man-band. Since then, all the audiences have been wild. When he has gone out the first time on the stage he wore black skin pants, tight shirt that seemed blue with phosphorescent yellow and orange rear under a black skin jacket that he hasn't ever untied; the second time he has come back dressed in the same way but with a blue scarf on forehead, I think to avoid the sweat strains on his face (Erica: "Holy water!!"!): those pants owed be quite wide because at the end of each song, when the lights went off I saw him in the faint light in front of the battery that he threw them on (waddling toward the audiences: what a malicious!)! However it was an attack to my life his 90ø position that put his bottom in beautiful sight... Even Debora at the end has confided me: "When he has positioned like that I have thought to you: who knows Betty in this moment!!..." Third time that he has changed, he wore same pants and shirt then blue jeans jacket, blue with white stars handkerchief on his neck and blue cowboy hat. He was superlative! Of course he had dressed like that to sing Wanted dead or alive and Richie has given strong hand going out on the stage with "Richie hat" on his head: he has made me to loosen in that time. I have dreamt that hat for thirteen years...
Richie has appeared the first time on the stage with a pair of rather tightly grey glimmering python pants (oh, I succeeded!), a clinging dark grey shirt and a red wine-coloured similar glazed skin jacket; sunglasses to the eyes. The second time he has reappeared with a dark red velvet jacket and a fisherman hat: nothing else changed. When he has re-entered to sing Wanted... he had worn the mythical hat and changed jacket, perhaps black. This "radiography" of Richie has been performed by the doctor Debora, who would also have done a respiration mouth to mouth, if she has been able to... Hugh was completely black dressed with shade round glasses while Dave was filled from the head to the feet. Tico, for that little that I have seen him, wore dark pants and waistcoat with nothing under it.
At the end of one of the first songs, Jon has told us that we would have become famous that night because the flying men were recording the whole concert to make a DVD. When he has sung I got the girl (the song devoted to his daughter) I have hoped Stephanie Rose appeared suddenly from somewhere, but nothing: however during the final strophe he's been almost stopped even jammed in front of the microphone and singing those magic words he looked at the sky... Just older has been very handsome, with that magic understood between Jon and Richie: "shoulder to shoulder" and they have put shoulder against shoulder and also "that secrets that we'll take to the grave" and a accomplice look has flashed between them. During I'll be there for you, one of the latest songs, I cried so much that the girl of my side wanted to give me a handkerchief! The show was going to the end; fortunately the rain had stopped to a certain moment, therefore we also were better. As usual, they have pretended to finish the show just twice while the third was the true one. Tico has launched away two pairs of drumsticks, but all four in the zone just under the stage, so no chance for us, little backer. When at the end they have greeted us for the last time coming all 5 on the edge of the stage, I had so much tears in the eyes that I don't have even seen the magnificent gesture that Jon has done at the Festivalbar, but that my sister has told he also has done there: right closed fist beat on his breast and subsequently forefinger aimed at the audiences. Will he really have all us in his heart?... The artificial fires have amazed us exploding behind the stage so that they almost have the rhythm of a song. Coloured or white, they have made us stay with the nose up for few minutes: a magnificent choreography to conclude an unforgettable night.
People began to flow out slowly toward the exits: it was around 22:30. I was weeping bitterly when we have reunited to Eliana, Laura and Yuri. I looked at the floor to hide the tears, when I have heard my sister exclaiming: "Here is another crying!" I have lifted my eyes and I have met those red of Eliana: she has come to embrace me and the cataracts of the sky have opened. As soon as she has torn herself away from me she has hiccuped an only phrase that contained the general thought: "I want to see them again!" Sure, because I thought that the 13 years of waiting were the reason of my desire to see them absolutely, instead at that time they just have gone away, I didn't need anything else but see them again!
We were half-way between the stage and the exit when anybody has howled my name behind: Maya and Erica. "We're going to the bath. See you there!" I have answered and we have reunited in front of the bathroom. Only Debora was missing with which we agreed to find us on the opposite side of Schumacher's cafe. A security man has told Maya that we must dislodge, so after the waiting inside the bath we weakly have directed to the gates: it was not tiredness, it was depression. Going to buy a Coke at the sides stands, under a curtain It's my life spread. It almost seemed they made fun of us...
Exit on the road, we have found the street saturated of dirt and boys. I had not ever seen so much garbage! Recovered Debora in the established place where we also have found the driver, we have stopped one moment with Nora and Roberta. We would have been there still two hours speaking about what we have seen, but the road to come back was so much, so we have greeted the others when it was 23 o'clock and we have gone to the minibus. After eating something, we were ready to leave: unfortunately the city was paralyzed and before succeed to move from the parks at least fifteen minutes have passed. For a short stretch we have remained all awake, trying to write the setlist, then my sister has said "goodnight", Eliana and Yuri before they have supported their heads to each other and snored greatly, Laura had thrown the seat down... Only Debora, Erica, Maya and me were awake. We have talked in a low voice still a little bit, then the tiredness has also attacked me: I have slightly lowered the back and closed the eyes, but I have not ever slept really. Also Debora has taken a nap and even Maya has not resisted at the call of Morfeo, even if for a little (she wanted to check that the driver doesn't fall asleep). The only hard in the situation, the iron lady, has been Erica who has not beaten an eyelid in the four long hours of the return.
Fortunately, we have stopped at the truck stop to do pee again (we seemed like a group of incontinent people) and the air absolutely icy of the Swiss night has awaken all of us, I mean almost all, because for my sister there was not hope: she has descended to go to the bathroom and she also has eaten one of my sandwiches, but then she has put again horizontal and I must have called her when we have been at Turate where Eliana, Laura and Yuri have gone down. We have left them jumping in the middle of the desert road, waiting Laura's daddy. To arrive to Lodi has been even too fast, so Erica, Maya and Debora have descended and only my sister, I and the driver stayed on the minibus. At 4 o'clock we have descended in the park where we were that morning and ours unforgettable adventure has had end. Till the next...

Elisabetta Franzini
eberfr@tin.it />

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