04 Nov. 2011 Taiwan concert review –Ian November 8, 2011
After more than 1000 days waiting, Paul finally came back to Taiwan! That was really great news to me, I could hear this heartwarming voice in live concert again!
I got this news from Paul in May while he visited South Korea. I was so excited! After that day, I searched all the major tickets website in Taiwan. And been very disappointed after every searching, could not find any information about Paul’s concert in Taiwan. I wondered that if it was only a private concert.
Till October, Paul sent me a message via Twitter the exact concert day and told me it was a free concert! So excited about that news, but still not know how to get the tickets. Next day, I saw the concert advertisement on news paper. There was a way to get the free ticket! But it’s on Friday night, I had to work on that day and would be no chance to bring my family there, because my children had to go to school and the monthly examination was so close and my daughter had a contest in next day. It seemed there were many obstructions in front of me for the concert. In the beginning of this year, my wife said to me that I had been working so hard, and she had saved some money from our daily expense. She encouraged me to go to Paul’s Japan concert. But at that time, I just could not leave my family behind and went to Japan for my own enjoyment. So I gave up that chance.
This time Paul was here in Taiwan, was I going to lose the chance again?? The office work was down a little, that would be no problem to apply one day off. But being a father, how could I be absent in my daughter concert? My dear wife told me that just go ahead, she would take care of children. After searching for any transportation possibility, I finally found from train schedule that I could take train from Miaoli in 5:00 am, then I could drive my daughter to contest on time. So glad that every problem was solved!! Andy did a great help on ticket for me. He did get nice seat area tickets.
Finally everything was settled down. Everyday was a beautiful day, because I knew that there would be a wonderful concert waiting for me. As time went by, the excitement built up higher and higher. Could not sleep well at night. Blood pressure was higher than ever… Could I survive till concert ended?? I wondered….
The day finally came, my wife drove me to train station and wished me a wonderful concert. After taking 3.5 hours train, finally I arrived at Miaoli. Andy was so kind to pick me up at hotel to the Stadium. While arriving at the stadium, I saw Jack were busy there for checking everything. I came to him and said hello to him. I was surprised that he called my name!! Did the big heavy box three years ago make him such unforgettable impression? Lol Poor Jack had to carry the big birthday gift I gave to Paul to hotel… He was such a nice person, he told me that Paul wouldn’t be here till 3 o’clock in the afternoon. So Andy and I went for an easy lunch then back to stadium immediately.
The weather was pretty warm, it was warmer than I expected. I wore a long T-shirt. I was almost boiled…
I and Andy hang around the back stage and the audience places, tried to find the best seat in advance. I thought that we wore the concert badge, so no one came to expelled us. Lol And they might think that the white haired little old man could not do any harm there. lol
Christ and the conductor were busy with orchestra for rehearsal. They did it again and again. While in the short break, I came to Christ and said hi to him. He was quite younger than on stage! Also nice to have short talk with him.
We were waiting on the big empty stadium, then Andy’s phone rang, another PP fan in Taiwan was coming. It had been such a long time not to see B.G. after we welcomed Paul in airport there years ago. Glad to meet old friend again!
Weather was getting warmer and warmer, nowhere to hide from the big sun. Time seemed to go very slowly just like snail. Finally, Andy saw a car parked at the other entrance and he saw that Elizabeth got off the car. We ran to that entrance immediately. YES! Mr. Paul Potts and Elizabeth Marvelly had shown up!!
Couldn’t wait to said hello to Paul, he looked a little nervous and upset. I thought he worried about the rehearsal. I could feel that, so I gave him the presents I brought all the way from PingTung and I also prepared some treats for Elizabeth. And I asked him to take a photo with him to end this meeting, I thought Andy and B.G. were too excited, they could not hold camera steady. After many shoots, only one was successful. lol So after 2 minutes short meeting, we let Paul to prepare his rehearsal. He is very serious about every his performance. While we walked by his tent (just 1 minutes after), could hear he began to warm up his warm voice! He is such a diligent man, he really cares about his career and wants to give his audience the best! I do believe that he will continue his success!
Before rehearsal began, I met Elizabeth again and asked her to autograph on her album. She was so kind to do that for me, she is a very sweet lady.
While the rehearsal going, we tried to sit in different seats for the best view and audio. lol There were so many seats waiting us to select. lol
Paul’s wonderful voice attracted some people that worked in office near by, he was under flash light immediately. He sang forbidden colours, Prayer with Elizabeth and jasmine flower. We were all reveled in Paul’s voice, almost forgot how warm it was. At this moment the worker of the host department found something wrong, he want to us and warmed us that we could not take photo and strongly asked us to leave right away. Our fake ID could not protect us this time anymore lol, we had been expelled. They watched us to leave the stadium. But at least we had met Paul and enjoyed some of his wonderful songs.
While we went out of stadium, Jacky with his girl friend just arrived. Nice to meet him again, so pity that he could not meet Paul before rehearsal. All of us move to the entrance, we wanted to be the first in row. Many volunteer workers there wondered why we waited there so early, it was still 1 hours for letting audience in. And they were curious about our ID, they asked us why ours were beautiful then theirs lol. Adam and Judy also arrived at the train station, Since I was not hungry and would not give out the first position of the row lol, so I stayed. They went to pick up Adam & Judy, and had easy dinner.
While waiting there, I gave those volunteer works the left 2011 calendar cover. I made 200 sets of book marks, but 300 copies of cover. They asked me what was that for, I told them they could make a triangular column to place on desk top as pen case or just as a decoration to see Paul everyday. Lol Also gave out some buttons that I made for Mailo concert. They did love it. Hope that they would become Paul’s fans.
Adam and the gang arrived just while they began to let audience in. So fortunately we were the first, I ran first to occupy the good seats. But later, we decided to move to the seats that were better to take video. Lol
There were still 2 hours left, there were not many people there, cause it was Friday night, most Taiwanese still had to work on day time. Maioli county was not so easy to access. A little worried about that there were not so many people in this concert.
We chatted together, it was so much fun to chat with PPWWF members. Suddenly, I looked back….WOW the stadium was full of people!!! Everybody was so excited for the concert!
After boring introduction of the host, the music played on and the show officially started!! The overture brought me back to three years ago, and still thrilled to know that my Paul Potts concert began!! Could not believe that I could survive to have the second concert. lol
Granada is a symbol of Paul’s concert, love this song. Paul sang it as he usually did, so powerful!! So pity we were in the row 9, had no chance to get the flower he threw! Weather was too warm and humid to Paul, after he finished each song, he had to take towel to wipe sweat and drank water.
Paul said hello to everyone in Mandarin and also in Hakka that is the major dialogue in Maioli county. All audience was crazy about Paul! Paul began to sing songs from his new album. While the music of II Mio Cuore Va played on, I could hear wows from audiences. “My heart will go on” was played on every radio here every day on radio stations while the movie was on. They all know this melody so well. Obviously the attendants loved Paul’s rendition!!
Maria was absolutely a stunning song that Paul performed that night. Many elder people there could sing along with the melody. I remember I watched this film via VHS video tape while I was in senior high school. Paul’s voice soaring through the whole stadium, he did bring all the audience to the scene of west side story! Paul really had incredible power, he had to overcome the jet lag and severe weather condition! I thought he never sang under 28C, 85%RH weather in November! Could feel that sweat was popping out, but he still did his best for the show!!
Before Paul sang Se from Cinema Paradiso, he introduced one of his favorite composers. The lady sat in front of me was so eager to understand what Paul said, she continued to ask me what he talked. I was not so good in English, only could translate some key parts to her. She was going to mad that she could not understand Paul’s talking.. I believe that she will be another great fan of Paul in Taiwan! Cinema Paradiso was very popular here and the sound track of this film was also on the top of chart, Paul’s warm voice brought me back to the film again. In my eyes, everything was like the old yellow brown photo. I closed my eyes, let Paul’s warm voice took me back to those innocent good old days…
After these wonderful songs, Paul introduced Elizabeth to stage. Elizabeth is a new name to Taiwan audience, we do not have her album released here. But her sweet smile and crystal like voice had conquered the hearts of Taiwanese! After her two songs, she welcomed Paul to stage for duet with Paul—‘’The Prayer”.
Even I’ve heard Paul sang this song for many time. But this was the first time I heard in live concert! Two beautiful voices Intertwined into a glorious channel up to heaven! So glad that I was there to hear the voice of angels.
Caruso was also a highlight! Compared with 3 years ago, Paul did make a big progress! He could control his voice much easier. ‘La Strada’ is the first time I heard in live concert. So emotional performance, even I did not see the movie ( I’m too young for this movie, (lol) ) but could feel the story that Paul told us in song. Next song was full of oriental mysterious color that is also one of my favorite songs in this album. I only heard the instrument version of ‘Forbidden Colours’ before, never thought this melody could be so perfect with Paul’s voice. Before interval, Paul sang Julz’s favorite song in this album. I do really like this song cause could hear Paul acting in this song. Could see the lonely hero standing along on stage. The half concert was ended with this song.
Before concert began, Adam twitted on Twitter asked Paul if we could meet him after concert just for 5 minutes. We all knew that Paul always twitters in the interval. While in interval, we could not wait to see if Paul answered. Paul did responded Adam’s twitter. He said this was not like the normal concert, he could not control what it would go, so told us to ask. The executing company was the same company that hold Paul’s Taiwan concert 3 years ago, so I went out immediately to see if I could meet the lady and ask her to give us a chance to meet Paul after concert. That was almost an impossible mission, over 20,000 people was there. I went to the entrance to ask the worker if I could connect to person who took charge of this. The worker was so kind to phone her for me, but pity she did not answer the phone. And suddenly, I saw another lady of that company. I tried to pass the crowded people. But before I catching up with her, she entered the lady’s rest room. I had to stand outside to wait her. Very strange scene that a man stood outside the lady’s rest room among many women. Lol Finally she came out, she recognized me and promised me to ask, if ok, she would give me a phone call. So excited that I back to seat just the 2nd half show began..
Most of the audience knew ‘Un Giorno Per Noi’, Paul’s voice like an magic that turn the stadium into the castle, just like the day of story happened. Such a romantic tragedy… The next was my favorite suite from Paul, the ‘Student Prince Medley’! Obviously, the audience loved this arrangement! Paul brought the crowd up to the sky, everyone was so crazy about this suite! Yes, he did blow all the people there up to cloud 9!!
Paul never sang in warm November, after he finished ‘Student prince ’, he showed us an exhausted express. So cute that made all laughing. That must be an unforgettable experience for him!
‘What a wonderful world’ delivered a peaceful and beautiful mood, some sang along with Paul. I liked this concert, not so serious but everyone enjoyed it so much! And audience had a great interaction with Paul via his music!
Elizabeth was back to stage again, her sweet voice won the hearts of Taiwanese. Especially her ‘Tarakihi’, this song almost drove the audience crazy. She was just like the locust preparing to attack the corps! Her expression and gestures matched the song so well. Audience would not let her leave the stage! They all loved her.
It was just like a few minutes after concert beginning, now was the last part of Paul’s singing.. ‘Parla Piu Piano’ was such a familiar melody to the elder audience, as usual, Paul handled it very well. ‘Love Story’ is always on my favorite list, Paul sang out all his feeling and his heart out, so touching. And the song I would not like to hear finally came… while Paul announced the last song ’Time to say good bye’ meant this fabulous was coming to the end. I could not believe that the wonderful hours was going to over. How I wished that time could stop there, and we could be immersed in this warm voice again and again. Paul’s voice obviously could smooth your heart and give you a peaceful land.
Crowd would not let Paul go, they shouted and whistled again and again. Tried to keep him stay on stage. So pity that we had no chance to place super glue on stage before concert beginning. Lol
Paul showed up again, and he brought the Mandarin song–‘Jasmine Flower’! While Paul spoke out the song name in Chinese, the audience was crazy! They could not believe that Paul could sing a Chinese song! People sang with Paul. Paul really did a great job, never heard this song was sang in such a beautiful way! He did boil up all the passion of audience!
And the final encore song was the trade mark of Paul—‘Nessun Dorma’, even I heard this song thousands times. Was still deeply moved by Paul’s singing. Every time could hear how many hard work that Paul had done in this song. Audience shouted encore again and again, they did not want this concert end!! After one encore song from Elizabeth, this concert did come to the end.
The Taiwan gang still waited in the stadium, I kept on watching my cell phone waiting the phone ring… But it did not ring. All of us moved to the entrance that Paul arrived. We still kept a hope that could meet Paul there. The stadium was empty, only a few workers there doing packing. Saw Jack was so busy to pick up the connection line. Almost stood there for half hour, taking pictures and joking. And suddenly, saw a familiar figure appeared. Yes, that’s our Paul! I waved to him, but he did not see us. Jack brought him to another exit to leave. It’s too far that we could not catch up with him. So pity that could not meet him after concert. And we all knew that there was a tight schedule waiting for him. After singing in such a warm weather, he deserved a full rest! I bought ‘One Chance’ poster from ebay and brought it to this concert to see if Paul could autograph on it. It was rush while meeting him before rehearsal, I thought I might have chance to let him do it after concert. Even that I could not get Paul’s autographing on ‘One Chance’ poster, but that was fine to me. That meant there is still a hope that I could meet Paul in person! Yes! It would come true someday, just like today!!
What a wonderful night! Thanks to Taiwan gang for gathering together to attend this great concert. And many thanks to Andy for getting the nice area tickets for us, he did not sleep after he went home. He was busy for editing the concert film and gave me a morning call on 4:00 am. Lol He was afraid that I missed the train. Many thanks to Adam and Judy for holding an after concert party, it was such a great time that we had fun together. Many thanks to Jacky to travel such a long trip for attending this concert. And thanks to B.G. for accompanying Andy and me to wait for Paul’s appearance before rehearsal.
Have to give special thanks to my wife and children, with their support and understanding made this trip possible.
Thank you Paul for coming to Taiwan, hope that we could meet each other in the near future!!
Set list
1. Overture
2. Granada
3. Il Mio Cuore Va
4. Maria
5. Se-Cinema Paradiso
Music of the Night (dropped out)
6. Don’t Dream It’s Over（Elizabeth Marvelly solo）
7. Whakaaria Mai（Elizabeth Marvelly solo）
8. The Prayer（Duet with Elizabeth Marvelly）
9.Caruso
10. La Strada
11. Forbidden Colours
12. Il Gladiatore
Interval
1. Un Giorno Per Noi
2. Student Prince Medley
3. What a Wonderful World
4. Home(Elizabeth Marvelly solo)
5.Tarakihi（Elizabeth Marvelly solo）
6. Parla Piu Piano
7. Love Story
8. Time To Say Goodbye
Encore
Jasmine Flower
Nessun Dorma
The end~~
