Marco & Lars & all our friends on the Arnhem DVD

Me, myself and I on the DVD

You might not remember it but somehow, I found the Wembley DVD in the FNAC store in Paris after the tour in 2000 earlier than the rest of the world and could take video stills of all my friends who attended the two shows and made their appearances on my TV screen. Well, in 2009, another special event took place: I phoned that often and so intensely with EMI in various countries so that they simply had to send me the promo DVD. This gave Ben, Sjef and me the opportunity to take pictures of everybody and mail them around the world to show all our friends how fantastic everybody had been filmed and immortalized on this recording. Here are photos of me and my friends who happened to be next to me on the left or right side.

Just a short but well selected mini-shot during the first beats of "Typical male" with a very artistic cut.

During "What You Get Is What You See" you can indeed get what you see. Never before was I recorded with my, ahem, girlfriend. This is at least what all other DVD spectators will think when they watch  our special performance during this very Boy-Girl-Song. We are that much in love that we do not pay attention neither to the camera nor to Tina herself. Of course, we were observing the camera man intensely from the corners of our eyes because not even a real couple would be able to dance, shout and look happy for the whole length of the song. But still, we were bouncing, singing and moving our heads from left to right (see my own special artistic performance) and from top to bottom (see Ewa´s hairy stunt show) while singing our hearts out. So, folks, here is the final proof: there is more hetero attitude in myself than thought.

This are the two famous appearances in which everybody is either screaming, has his or her eyes shut due to  inner bewilderment or can only be partly seen. Luckily, I have a good dentist, brush my teeth nearly on an hourly basis and don´t feel any inhibitions showing both my teeth and all the rest of my inner organs. The camera nearly creeps into my mouth and tries to figure out if either some remains of breakfast, lunch or dinner can be found or some teeth are missing. But everything is well cleaned and prepared for the show so that even brighter light cannot do any harm.

Another version of me screaming and clapping follows only seconds later.

Well, well, well, Ewa is chatting with Achim while I am following the show with excitement and amusement. I was a little bit shocked by the behaviour of my friends and - as you can imagine - the friendship has ended by loooong. Would you like to sit in class trying to get the wisdom of the world while other children are having fun during a conversation about - let´s say - onions soup with garlic and cottage cheese? See, this DVD proves it in a shocking way... But, to be honest, look at me how happy I was during that show. You can see fascination and awe in a combination with high spirits in my face.

The good  old 70s with their disco movements from left to right and back again as well as raised hands forming cathedrals before you put them down as if you would like to dive into the ocean...yes, these are three small scenes during "What´s Love" during and after the sing-along-part. When you watch this, you have to say "Oh, there are they again - my god, again - and even again!" because our shaking, rattling and rolling is mixed very nicely in the rhythm of the song.

As I decided to wear my 2000-outfit like Cindy was wearing her red bandana and still looked like 20 years younger, I even brought my banner with me. You can only see parts of it in the darkness of the arena so its only appearance is during "Nutbush City Limits". But this appearance - or should I say - this series of appearances gives you a good insight in my blood pressure because I hold it up for the whole length of the sing-along-part on the cherrypicker and even managed to turn it twice so that Tina can always see it. Practical as I am, the huge "We can´t live without you"-banner can be used either for this long sentence or only for the word TINA in capital letters. You only have to fold it in origami-style until the letters appear (yes, yes, and if you fold it counter-clockwise, a secret message which will be revealed during the next tour, can be read). In the first picture you can read others letters but you have to turn the picture for 180 degrees in order to really read them. Well, while I was holding my banner, Tina flew, danced and shouted over me, and now you can find me in the grey circles.

Other friends on the DVD

Of course, this Arnhem-DVD-production-thing is not only an evening-long movie about my concert-behaviour and a warning to you all, not to be too close if you like to sit around playing with your jewellery and sipping your champagne, but a movie about us all (yes, and the Queen herself, of course). Therefore, you can see many other friends from various nations in the stadium and on the TV screen. Here follows a nice diorama with some photos of friends. A little personal advise: if you would like to see their tons of pictures, just send them an email and you will have your inbox filled with gigabytes of data from the top evening of 2009.