{"id":2188,"date":"2012-08-01T12:05:20","date_gmt":"2012-08-01T10:05:20","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/?p=2188"},"modified":"2018-02-19T17:50:44","modified_gmt":"2018-02-19T15:50:44","slug":"i-dont-wanna-go-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/?p=2188","title":{"rendered":"I don’t wanna go home"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bruce Springsteen an the E Street Band – Olympic Stadium, Helsinki; July 31st, 2012<\/strong><\/p>\n

What do you write when words fail you? How do you describe the indescribable? And how can you even make anyone believe that after one of the best shows you have ever seen you got another one just as good a few days later? I am still in a state of wonder and awe, shaking my head in disbelief every time I think about it. Any expectations, any wild dreams I could have had about this show were not only met but surpassed. I really don\u2019t know how he does it, but Bruce never ceases to amaze me and this show left me with my mouth hanging open.<\/p>\n

Long before the Helsinki date arrived, I had been dreaming about this show. For many of the diehards the tour stopped in Gothenburg, so I had a lot of illusions regarding the line. The concerts I usually go to in Finland, hardly ever have anyone lining up long before showstart and if so, they are foreigners. Thus, I was hoping if I got to the stadium the night before the show I\u2019d have a shot at front row. Little did I know. When I got there at 8 in the evening, there were almost 400 people in line. I had decided to not take a number if it was higher than 100 so I left. Returned about 12 hours later after a good night\u2019s sleep and was number 407 \u2013 still a lot lower than in Gothenburg.<\/p>\n

The line was very well organized, the weather was great, I met a few Bruce friends, had enough time for food and spent about an hour with my friend S. who came to keep me company. \ud83d\ude42 They let us into the stadium around 3 p.m. I stayed on the right side and took up a spot in second row behind some nice English, Finnish, American and German people. We chatted and waited and enjoyed the sunshine. Everyone jumped up at 5:30 \u2013 way too early. Yet, the people in front of me were amazingly nice and made room for me in front row. I could not believe my luck. Thank you again!<\/p>\n

I don\u2019t know when exactly it happened, at 6:15 maybe, but suddenly the crowd in the center started screaming, I looked and could not believe my eyes: Bruce was walking on stage, guitar in hand. Said he came to say hi. He proceeded to talk about the people who follow him from gig to gig, saying \u201cthey are almost like stalkers, it\u2019s a bit scary\u201d, then pointed out those he knew and asked people questions and commented like \u201cHey, where is your red headed companion?\u201d\u00a0 or \u201cI love the hat. Does it have a Bruce button on there?\u201d He thanked them all and even though he does not know me, because I usually do not make it to front row, I do count myself among this group.<\/p>\n

He played \u2018I\u2019ll work for your Love\u2019 for us, then picked out a request sign, saying \u201cOK, we\u2019ll try that.\u201d When I read it I thought I\u2019d died and gone to heaven. It was \u2018Leap of Faith\u2019 \u2013 never in a million years I thought I\u2019d hear that one live. It took him a bit to figure it out, but it was just wonderful. This song has a special meaning for me and even though I am no longer with the one who I shared this with as \u201cour song\u201d it was still one I wanted to hear.
\n\u2018No surrender\u2019 followed and I started to wonder how long he was going to play. Not that I am complaining, but I never expected that. Bruce took more requests, playing \u2018For you\u2019 and \u2018Blinded by the Light\u2019 for us. He started \u2018Blinded by the light\u2019 by singing that he wrote it on a bus at a time he lived about a beauty parlor and that he used a rhyming dictionary to do it. All very funny. \ud83d\ude42 When the set was done, he came to the front row to shake people\u2019s hands and picked up more signs on the way. He talked to a few of those he knows, kissed some of the women and took the time to walk by everyone. He shook my hand too and I thanked him for \u201call these gigs and all those years\u201d \u2013 I\u2019m not sure he heard me, but that\u2019s not the important part. Once he left stage I just stood there dazed and smiling. This was already better than anything I had ever seen him do before and it wasn\u2019t even the \u201creal\u201d concert yet.<\/p>\n

At 10 to 8 the band was on stage. No intro music this time, they just walked out. \u201cThis is the last stop in Europe, let\u2019s do it right!\u201d Bruce yelled and launched into \u2018Rocking all over the world\u2019 \u2013 it was a great start to an unbelievable show. He continued with \u2018Night\u2019 one song I had not heard on this tour yet. \u2018Out in the Street\u2019 got the party started. That night he did not often leave center stage, but this was one of the times he came out to the sides.<\/p>\n

Things only got better after that with a mixed up setlist and many requests. With every one he selected I found myself smiling more and more, exchanging looks of surprise and disbelief with the people around me. He may not have played that many tour premieres, but the perfect set for me with many songs I had been longing to hear again. \u2018Loose ends\u2019 was the first one of those songs, played for someone who had not heard it in 22 shows. It must have been about the same for me, last time I heard it was in Manchester 2003 if I recall correctly. I was already happy as can be when Bruce pointed to yet another sign and asked Steve if he though they could do it, juts to treat is to \u2018Prove it all Night\u2019 (\u201978 intro). The song as such is amazing, but to hear it like it was done back then? Heaven!<\/p>\n

During the block of \u2018We take care of our own\u2019, \u2018Wrecking Ball\u2019 and \u2018Death to my hometown\u2019 I found time to catch my breath and wonder briefly what else the night might bring. Then I just continued jumping and enjoying what I was getting. Front row, great weather and awesome music \u2013 what more could I have asked for? \u2018My city of ruins\u2019 brought the nightly rollcall and thought of absent friends. It still gets me every time to see everyone in the pit bowing in tribute to Clarence and Danny<\/p>\n

\u2018Does this bus stop on 82nd<\/sup> Street\u2019 was one more song I didn\u2019t expect, very much fun with great solos from Eddie, Charlie, Jake and Everett. \u2018Be true\u2019 that followed made me even happier, it has always had a special place in my heart. Already becoming difficult to find words for all the highlights that night. I could not stop smiling and even though Bruce rarely came to our side it was perfect to have an unobstructed view of the stage. I only looked at the screen when he went far to the outer platforms and even then I tried to watch the band from time to time.<\/p>\n

I loved the run of \u2018Jack of all Trades\u2019, \u2018Downbound Train\u2019 and \u2018Because the Night\u2019, briefly rolled my eyes at \u2018Lonesome Day\u2019 (again?), laughed at myself and enjoyed. \u2018Darlington County\u2019 kept the show rolling. Bruce picked up a sign with a blinking star that read \u2018Light of Day\u2019, marveled at the sign, wondered if anyone even knew the song, announced it had not been played on the tour before and jumped right into it. It may not be one of my favorites, but it sure was fun. While the second night in Gothenburg had been all about being emotional, this one was just pure joy. It was a party alright, but a party for the fans, not the casual concert-goer. Bruce pulled out so many rare songs, that it might not have been so great for those who only know the hits. For us, however, who have seen many shows, this was a special treat. The pit was clapping, jumping and dancing for much of the show. I also think Bruce still included enough crowd pleasers in the set.<\/p>\n

\u2018Shackled and drawn\u2019 was still great, \u2018Waiting on a sunny day’ still the unavoidable \u201cpull a random child on stage\u201d- thing. As much as I personally dislike this and believe most of these small kids don\u2019t belong at a concert, much less in the pit, some of them seem to have fun there and the crowd reaction is always so positive, that I just take this as a chance to get my bearings and think about the show up to that point.<\/p>\n

With the beautiful \u2018Back in your arms\u2019 Bruce made up for anything that I might have wanted to criticize (as if there was much). At first I thought it was going to be \u2018Secret Garden\u2019, because the camera had showed that sign, but this choice was even better. Can\u2019t say much about the performance though, because unfortunately the boxes on our side of the stage gave off this really unpleasant hum that kept coming and going for a few more songs before it disappeared. \ud83d\ude41 \u2018The Rising\u2019, \u2018Badlands\u2019 and \u2018Land of Hope and Dreams\u2019 brought the set to a close. The band barely left the stage before they continued with \u2018We are alive\u2019. This is one of the songs I didn\u2019t pay so much attention to on the album, but I love hearing live. Great use of the choir here, they did a marvelous job.<\/p>\n

The encores continued in much the usual way: \u2018Born in the USA\u2019 and \u2018Born to run\u2019 to sing along, \u2018Detroit Medley\u2019 for the fans and \u2018Glory Days\u2019 for the casual crowd. For \u2018Dancing in the Dark\u2019 one woman got to dance with Jake and two danced with Bruce. Happy faces everywhere. \u2018Tenth avenue freeze-out\u2019 started and I though this might be it, hoping Bruce would give us just one more song after. The tribute to Clarence is still beautiful and makes for a great show closer, but it would have been somewhat anti-climatic as the last song on a night like this.<\/p>\n

I could not have been more wrong, thinking he might leave us with this. How could I even have doubted that this concert was special? Bruce pointed and asked the crew to hand him a few signs, then commented on them, reading one that had a list of all the concert the sign bearer visited on the tour. To the next sign he said \u201cWe don\u2019t know it, but we can sing it\u201d and started \u2018I don\u2019t wanna go home\u2019. I could not have thought about anything more fitting, because none of us wanted to go at that point. Bruce and Steve sure had fun sharing the mic and the verses on this one. I would not call it beautiful, but it was a great rendition nonetheless. Just perfect! \u201cOh Steve, I\u2019m not going yet man. I still got a message for these people\u201d Bruce exclaimed in the end.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan we take this Higher and Higher?\u201d was the next sign Bruce pointed at. Yes! What a great choice. And it wasn\u2019t over just yet, \u2018Twist and Shout\u2019 followed as the show closer. Towards the end Bruce remarked \u201csomeone just told me we are two minutes away from 4 hours!\u201d and started another reprise. He picked up a sign reading \u201cOver 4 hours now\u201d and proudly held it to the cameras. Another reprise and they finally left the stage at about 2 minutes before midnight after the longest show in their history. What a day! What a night! Once again Bruce has proven that he is one of the best live performers out there!<\/p>\n

I was so happy, even though they just didn\u2019t make it to my birthday. As my phone started showing arriving \u201chappy birthday\u201d messages, I leaned back against the railing, smiled and decided to temporarily be in a timezone where midnight had already passed. I could not have imagined a better way to celebrate the end of my 40th<\/sup> year on this planet. Thank you Bruce, thank you E Street Band, thank you to the nice people who gave me a spot in front row, thank you Finland. None of us did want to go home after this, so we shared one last drink at a bar. Thus, my last thanks in this report goes out to my friends and tour family. It was great meeting you (again). See you next tour!<\/p>\n

7 concerts down, none to go. Last stop: home<\/p>\n

Setlist<\/p>\n

Preshow (solo acoustic)<\/em>
\nI’ll Work for Your Love
\nLeap of Faith
\nNo Surrender
\nFor You
\nBlinded by the Light<\/p>\n

Show:<\/p>\n

ROCKING ALL OVER THE WORLD
\nNight
\nOut In The Street
\nLoose Ends
\nProve It All Night
\nWe Take Care Of Our Own
\nWrecking Ball
\nDeath To My Hometown
\nMy City Of Ruins
\nDoes This Bus Stop at 82nd Street
\nBe True
\nJack of All Trades
\nDownbound Train
\nBecause The Night
\nLonesome Day
\nDarlington County
\nLight of Day
\nShackled And Drawn
\nWaitin’ On A Sunny Day
\nBACK IN YOUR ARMS
\nThe Rising
\nBadlands
\nLand Of Hope And Dreams<\/p>\n

Encore
\n<\/em>We Are Alive
\nBorn In The USA
\nBorn To Run
\nDetroit Medley
\nGlory Days
\nDancing In The Dark
\nTenth Avenue Freeze-Out
\nI DON’T WANNA GO HOME
\nHIGHER AND HIGHER
\nTwist And Shout<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Bruce Springsteen an the E Street Band – Olympic Stadium, Helsinki; July 31st, 2012 What do you write when words fail you? How do you describe the indescribable? And how can you even make anyone believe that after one of … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[10,13,15,19,14],"class_list":["post-2188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-concert","tag-bruce-springsteen","tag-fan","tag-finland","tag-friends","tag-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2188"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8818,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2188\/revisions\/8818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/passioncolorseverything.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}