Hello
dear fans and friends,
after a trip
to ATHENS for the SANDRA's concert on the 23rd of July
2008 I made a report. I wish you lot of fun while reading...
All began with a rumour... On Thursday afternoon, on the
29th of May, 2008 there had been an unannounced, Sandra's
open air concert, in Büsum. Then, there was another one,
adverted by the Booking Agency,
informing:
SANDRA
- LIVE IN ATHENS - 17. JULY 2008
WOW, for the first time in her career, there was a
concert announced
in Greece. Only few
performances was filmed in Athens, in 1987.
Is that date really true?! Or just a confusion?!
After enquiries in the management statements were received,
such as: "... it is
not yet firmly.", "... it is so far only a
question.", ". there are no signed contracts
..."
A few days later, the information from the Booking Agency
was cancelled...
A few
days later, another date was arranged. There was an
information that Sandra will be concerting on the 23rd of
July 2008, in Athens, at the "TECHNOPOLIS"
and the tickets will cost 35 Euros. This information
was also confirmed by the Booking Agency. This date was
also seen on the homepage of Sandra's dancer - Toni. It
seems, that now everything was done and confirmed and the
concert will be in Greece. For me, that was the moment to
start thinking about organising a trip to Athens for the
concert...
I began planning my trip. I was looking for possible
flights and looked for hotels near the concert's location.
Weeks went by and different feelings came to me. At that
time it was not only about making that trip, but to make
sure I've got a few days off from work.
After an unforgettable trip with Alina and Ricardos, in
December last year, I've been in such a good mood and
I've been hoping they would do it again. However,
Ricardos said that this trip would not be possible for
him.
The closer the date of concert was coming, the more sure
I was of being there. I was telling myself: "I
will be definitely there - ATHENS, I'M COMING !!!".
It doesn't matter if somebody is coming with me or not.
Concerts in different country to your home are something
very special and totally different to that ones in
Germany. Trips like this can be a great combination of
relaxing, meeting a new culture and seeing our beloved
SANDRA.
At the beginning of July there ware the first official
informations on Greek pages regarding the concert's date
and promotional posters.
Two weeks before the concert I had neither a flight, nor
a hotel booked and what's more important - I had NO
ticket. Basically it would be very easy to get a ticket
online in a printable version. However, that was not for
me - I was interested to get an ORIGINAL ticket and that
was only to get by an order, by a courier.
My trip started very early in the morning, on the 23rd of
July 2008 from the Cologne/Bonn airport. Near lunch time
I arrived, after an adventurous taxi ride. My hotel was
at the Omonia Square. As I arrived to the reception to
check in, I heard a known voice behind me "Buhuu,
it's me". As I turned around I saw smiling Alina in
front of me. After a warm welcome and a short talk I
finished my check in and then we went for a moment to the
hotel room, to relax a bit.
After a short update about our visit to Athens , about
our experiences, we went back to the reception and asked
about the shortest way to the "TECHNOPOLIS".
Well, it was very easy to come to that place. Only one
station from "Omonia Station" to "Monastiraki"
and then - by another subway - to "Keramikos". Very
relaxed we went up the steps and we saw our destination
place - "EXIT
TECHNOPOLIS - GAZI".
After making a few photos we used the next escalator -
high up into increasing heat (33 degrees) and saw
directly countless promotional posters about the SANDRA's
concert. It was an indescribable and a great feeling to
see so many posters all over the walls around the area of "Gazi". It's
great to see, how much promotion for Sandra is in other
countries...
Only a few minutes to walk away from the
subway station, there was the area of the "Technopolis".
This time everything was opened and possible to
get in. We were walking on the grounds of the old factory
and looking at the location - for the evening event. At
the rear entrance (closed on that evening) there were
technicians - preparing the stage for the concert. Nobody
bothered us and it was no problem to look around and
check the location. On the premises were many buildings,
where we didn't know, what would be inside. In some
buildings it seemed as if there were bars inside - but
also closed for that evening.
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Stage preparation
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Before
we drove back to our hotel we had used our time to drink
something in the heat of the afternoon, in a bar called
"HIVER". It was great to see
all the walls with many Sandra's posters on.
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Sandra's posters on the walls
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At 6 o'clock we were ready for the evening
and started going back to the area of "Gazi".
Back at the main entrance, we were now facing Security
and barriers. We were one of the first persons waiting to
come in. Sandra had about 1 hour to have her sound check.
According to the timetable, it was about 9:30 pm. It was
announced that Sandra should start her 60 minutes concert
at 10:30 pm. After a quick look around the corner (with
direct view on the stage), to see whether we'll not miss
anything near the stage, we went back to the main
entrance and put ourselves directly in front of the
Security. By the place, near the entrance some
conversations between Greek fans started. Shortly
afterwards, Matt came to us, with a friend of his, and
together we saved the main entrance to came in as first.
Few minutes after 8:00 pm the doors are opened and we
went to our places in front of the stage, in the middle.
We were in front of where the microphone was already
placed. At the beginning everything seemed quite clear.
It was very hot. By the evening, the place had been
filling more and more. A Greek DJ warmed up the
atmosphere and played many hits, from the 80s. From time
to time he played also Sandra's hits, such as "Johnny
Wanna Live". As it was getting dark he
played also videos to the songs - there was a big screen
behind him. He played songs of : Modern Talking, Sabrina
and also the German group - Münchner Freiheit and the
duet of Sandra & DJ Bobo -"Secrets
Of Love".
After 10:00 pm the DJ left the stage
and the local amateur band called "VHS"
came on the stage and played cover versions of songs such
as "Self Control", "Fame", "Rock
Me Amadeus" or "Billy Jean". As their 40 minutes on the
stage passed by, we got music in the background and
people preparing the stage for Sandra's performance.
11:00
pm... The stage is dark... The big moment was coming...
With bated breath we were looking from one to the other
side of the stage and asked ourselves "From where
they will enter the stage?!". It's 11:06 pm and we
heard the first notes of "The Second Day".
It was a super atmosphere on the grounds of the
Technopolis with the high, illuminated towers in the
background of the evening twilight. With the first sounds
of "Maria Magdalena"
Toni stormed the stage. Wearing in a white jacket, white
hat, blue jeans, dark t-shirt and sport shoes. He was
followed by Dominic in similar outfit. Few moments later
Sandra came, welcomed with a big applause. She was
wearing an elegant, black, long dress and - very unususal
in height - shoes. Many people around us were singing
loudly the song. Many photographers placed directly in
front of us and, from time to time, disturbed our great
view on the stage. As the sound stopped, Sandra visibly
enjoyed the rising applause. She opened her concert with
the words "Hello
and welcome. Good evening Greece... I'm very very proud
to be here...". Then she was telling about days that she
was in Athens previously and gave many interviews that
time. Sandra was in an incredibly good mood. The joy and
enthusiasm of performance in Athens were indeed of her
face. ".I
wanna see your lips... and I wanna hear you...". These words and their radiation were
immediately captured by the audience by her side.
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Sandra sings "Maria Magdalena"
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It
goes on with "Johnny Wanna Live".
In the area between the stage and the barrier, a countless number of
photographers stumbles to get the best place to make the
best photos. Unfortunately it was not easy for us to make
good photos from the first row - the lights on the stage
were definitely too bright. Sandra, many times, was
walking from the middle to the left side of the stage and
to the right side also to see all her fans. She was
waving and sending kisses to the audience.
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"Johnny Wanna Live"
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As
the sound stopped, she started talking again. She was in
a very great "talking-mood" and there was a
loud scream from the audience "SANDRA... WE
LOVE YOU." she
answered fast "I
LOVE YOU TOO."
and with typical hand movements she was sending kisses to
the direction of the fans. Yiannis, a Greek fan - whom he
had a conversation with us before the concert, painted a
picture of Sandra and for Sandra. He held it at that
moment in the air. Sandra saw this from the stage and
came directly to the stage edge to get it transferred to
her. Full of excitement, she held the picture up and read
the personal dedication on the back: "My beloved
Sandra. Thank you for being a timeless inspiration.
Forever yours... Yiannis".
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Sandra got a painted pictue from
Yiannis
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Then
she began telling us a story about a little girl, for
whom she wrote a story like a fairytale, as "CINDARELLA"
who lost her shoe. To make a video to it, she was in
Venice. It was winter and it was very cold over there.
These were the intro words to "Little
Girl".
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Sandra and "Little Girl"
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After
this song Sandra noted "There is too much
light..." and kept her hand in front of her
face. Unfortunately, without any effect to the
technicians, what
could have been confirmed by the audience. When "Stop For A Minute"
started, the audience entered into the spirit of the song.
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"Stop For A Minute"
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Than she was singing the ballad "Change
Your Mind".
Sandra said we all knew the songs she played till that
moment. Then she said we would hear something what we may
not know about. A song from her last album "The
Art Of Love". The audience showed her
that she was wrong and she responded then: "...oh
you know? Oh, then I should do some more songs".
Album "Close To Seven"
came with one of my favorite songs, called "Mirrored
In Your Eyes". In her performance she
was dancing - with her dancer Toni - very closely.
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Sandra is dancing with
Toni
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"In The Heat Of The Night"
moved the audience again. People clapped their hands and
were singing loudly, while Sandra was moving on the stage.
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Sandra in "In the heat of the
night"
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After singing seven songs Sandra said:
".now it's enough..."
she placed her feet on the box in front of us and
undid her shoes."Now we wanna dance.. ok? Put
these shoes off!" The audience was
laughing in that moment... It was a very funny moment.
At the start of "What Is It About Me" the
show goes on with Sandra having no shoes on.
Before Sandra sang the "Hiroshima" - sitting
on a chair with her feet on the box in front of
her, she had said a few words about the song.
"...and now put all your
hands up" called Sandra to her fans at
the beginning of one of her greatest hits "Everlasting
Love". The audience moved
again, clapping their hands and singing loudly with her.
The mood was overwhelming and Sandra even seemed to have
been surprised how many fans she still has in Greece. She
smiled and moved from one side to the other side of the
stage and there was again a friendly hug with Toni.
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"...put all your hands up!!!"
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Now it was time to say "Goodbye..." Sandra
was leaving the stage with her two boys.
It seems, as if in Greece it's not known that people
should scream loudly when they want to hear more songs.
The two boys came back shortly afterwards and made the
audience to make some noise to bring Sandra back to the
stage.
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Sandra again on the stage
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Sandra came back to the stage with a bottle
of water in her hand and the show goes on with "Midnight
Man". Her whole face was smiling very
much and full of power they were moving together on the
stage and they obviously had a fun.
As the song stopped, the audience was screaming very
loudly : "SANDRA... SANDRA... SANDRA...!!!"
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"Midnight Man"
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The last song for this evening was for the
second time "Maria Magdalena".
With the words: "Thank you very much! See
you next time in Athens..." Sandra said
goodbye to the fans. It was noticeable how overwhelmed
she was by the audience. Then, together with her boys she
left the stage after the 60 minutes concert. Then the
stage darkened again...
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"Maria Magdalena" for
goodbye
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Happy due to the concert and the amazing
atmosphere of Athens, we were talking excitedly about the
concert and were waiting until the place reasonable
emptied. Holding cold drinks we stood near the barricade.
Well, it was surely unlikely that we will see Sandra and
Olaf again, but we wanted to stay near the barricade to
keep our eyes on it.
20 minutes later the unexpected happened. Many Greek fans
pushed to the isolation and we heard loud voices from
there. Sandra came back together with Olaf to the waiting
fans at the barrier. Patiently she gave autographs to
each of them. Some with a personal dedication. For 5 or
10 minutes Sandra was writing the autographs and showed
again, how happy and in what a great mood she was that
moment.
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Sandra with Olaf after the
concert
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Together, with Matt and Yiannis, we were
celebrating, in a club with cool beats near this place,
till the morning light.
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The party with Greek fans
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Now, here it comes for me to say
special thanks to all those people with whom we had so
much unforgettable moments in Athens. It was a very nice
time with many great impressions and many international
conversations. It's always a big pleasure to meet fans
from all over the world. To mention all individually,
would take too long. I'm sure that every person will know
who I mean... Right?!
And here are a few
more impressions of the two following days from Alina and
me:
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Me and Alina are visiting Athens
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After the great visit to the "AKROPOLIS" and
hours of run we met in the "Temple of Zeus"
- with Chris from Corfu - and walked through the nearby
National Park. Then Alina and I visited the Olympic
terrain where the 2004 Olympic took place. At night we
were together with Paris and his wife in a very nice
place in the mountains, where we had a stunning view of
"Athens by night". Thank you
also very much for the great time we spent together. We
enjoyed that very much and it was also a pleasure to meet.
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Athens by night
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Alina's birthday we spent very relaxed, on
a nearby island called Aigena. We spent
this day having a leisure walk at the beach and enjoying
wine with a tasty meal in a pub, with a view at the sea and the Samos iseland.
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Alina's birthday
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At the end of this report I would like
to say a BIG THANKS to Alina for great days we spent
together and for the great memories we now have from our
Athens trip.
SANDRA: WE LOVE YOU TILL THE
END OF TIME... FOREVER!!!
* * *
Special thanks to
Frank for the beautiful photos.
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