'04 Summer Tour, Parque da Bela Vista, May 28th 2004
entrance ticket

    A vida é bonita em Lisboa

I arrived at the Lisbon airport at 10:45 on the day of the concert so I took immediately a taxi to the ticket offices at the Rock in Rio festival (the taxidriver charged me 9€ for this 1 km ride, a clear rip-off). Tickets were still widely available. In fact ticket sales went pretty slowly until the very last day. Apparently the price of 53€ was rather high for the average (= non-hardcore Paul fan) Portugese. After buying my ticket and checking in the hotel I walked to the entrance of the park. Lots of policemen & security guys were waiting near the entrance with no less than six metal detectors. However, nobody seemed to bother about the personell entrance so I walked by unnoticed. Once inside the park there were many workers from various companies and countries so nobody asked me anything even though I didn't have the large badge everyone else seemed to have. I tried to make myself as invisible as possible but at 14:20, when the soundcheck began, I couldn't resist going to the field in front of the stage.

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    The Belavista Park was a beautiful place for a concert as the surrounding hills make it into a natural arena.

    Soundcheck

Paul began the soundcheck with an ad-lib song "Lisboa" at his Kurzweil keyboard. He deliberately pronounced Lisboa in the Portugese way which sounds like Liszzsjjjboa. After the song Paul joked "Liszzsjjjboa, Liszzsjjjboa, I ssjjounded like Sssjjean Connery in Ddzzjjamezz Bond. I remember Coming up, Matchbox, My Love and Midnight Special. After a few songs Paul stopped the soundcheck and started discussing the stage setting. He asked why the two small side stages had been demolished. Without waiting any answers, explicitly requested that the 2 side stages would be rebuilt (which happened also later that afternoon, during the concert they were used by cameramen and Brian). Still during the discussion a airplane flew over. The airport is only 1 kilometer away an the take off strip is apparently *right* over the Bela Vista park. The band had now come to the front of the stage to do the accoustic set, but as Paul was still continuing his discussion, Abe started singing "Kumbaya My Lord". After a few seconds Paul came to the microphone again and shouted "Stop, Stop, 'nuf of those Christmas songs: it's SUMMER !". The soundcheck ended at 15:05. During the soundcheck a security guy from Paul's crew came towards me and asked if I spoke English and if I had a camera in my bag. I answered yes to both questions but he just said to stop taking pictures. After the soundcheck I waiting under some trees until the doors opened at 16:10. Of course it was very easy to be on the first row between Paul and Brian.

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    Brian Riddle from Paul's security team and his collegue discussing...

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    The soundcheck was attended by a dozen people who won a contest after sending an SMS to a mobile telephone operator.

My First Soundcheck: YEAH YEAH YEAH
    "I've just seen a face" during soundcheck

    Problemas com os dire

While waiting for the concert to begin the music was different from all the other '04 summer shows: a tape with portugese music as well as a special (quite popular) song made for the Rock in Rio festival. I liked it all very much as it contributed to a special atmosphere. I was pleased to meet Paulo Tapadas (greatest Portugese fan) again.

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    The height of the stage was uneven so the view was much better on the right side...


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    I liked the video screens as much as last tour


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    Paul's words were translated by to translators and shown on the video wall


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    Nice, live black & White footage from Paul on the video wall during All My Loving


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    This picture must be taken during "I've Got a Feeling"


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    Paul waving with the Portugese flag before the second encore


Paul looked at Heather during this song specially when he sang 'never dance with another'
    Paul during "I saw her standing there"


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    Rusty, Paul and Brian during Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band

    Aftermath

After the concert Paul went back to his hotel and went the following day (May 29th) pretty early in the morning to the Lisbon airport. According to the chief of the Private Lounge I spoke at the airport, Paul wasn't very nice (she didn't specify why, just said he was somewhat demanding). I flew to Madrid, a 55 minute trip.

This concert of the ''04 Summer Tour' was well worth all the effort and I hope to see you all on one of the coming events,

tijl.vanbrabant@chello.be
P.S. Please e-mail me whenever you like!

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