When the tour was announced (or confirmed…) I knew I would have to try and go to as many concerts as my holidays and wallet would allow. I always regretted not going to more concerts in 2000 and not being able to go to any “Den ständiga resan tour” concerts. I had always wanted to see Marie live in theatres and in front of small audiences, so I knew this was THE moment to make up for it.
I didn’t know what to expect though. So many questions went through my head the months before the tour premiere in Helsingborg. What songs will she play? How will it be with Chris and Pelle who also play with Roxette? And the new guys Jokke and Surjo? The few days before the premiere I was so excited I couldn’t really concentrate on anything else, and I know that many went through the same. It was M A R I E live solo! After all the years, after all what happened… and suddenly the first concert started. The lights went down, Marie walks on the stage, Chris on guitar… I remember I was blown away by the stripped down start of the concert and in fact of the tour with Så stilla så långsamt. And suddenly, without really realising it, the lights go out again – this time to say goodbye to the sound of Tro in Umeå.
Two months have passed by extremely fast, just as all the months waiting for the tour went by very slow, slower than ever. And suddenly we are giving our last roses to Marie and saying thank you to Marie and the band. Thank you for two months full of not only amazing music but also two months full of emotions, feelings, happiness, tears, smiles, laughs, memories, kilometers driven / travelled, new friendships, old friendships getting stronger, love, affection, support, planes, airports, train stations, visiting new places……. Many fans added concerts on the run here and there. Just because it felt great, just because we wanted to feel those 1,5 hours again. And no concert was like the other. All concerts were as special. And… 4 out of 5 of RXB Team met at the same place for the first time! Of course, we had to capture that forever in Jönköping.
For me, many things won’t be the same after this tour. Many things have got a different meaning or became special during these months. Bishops Arms, where we would meet the band after the show and give and get feedback and lots of smiles. Roses or hearts that we gave Marie at the end of quite some concerts. Elite hotels where we slept or could make our dreams come true and say hi to Marie. Somersby cider that we drunk after the shows to celebrate another night full of emotions and deep looks and laughs. And I could go on and on, probably you have your special things too. And, of course, who won’t feel the urge to stand up and clap when hearing the first drum beats of Kom vila hos mig? Or Efter stormen?
After the last concert in Umeå we were able to say bye to Marie and the band. We were all very touched by Marie and the band thanking us for being there and our support. And now it’s our turn. Many fans from all over the world travelled to Sweden to see Marie live the past months and cheered the first rows (and sometimes not really first rows, but we stood up and partied proudly!). Here are “thank you” messages from some of us.
PS: we are looking forward to the live CD (and would love to repeat this one day!!)