VÄXJÖ - August 2007

We had said goodbye to each other at Milano Malpensa Airport one year ago and that’s where met up again on Friday 10th Aug. to start this new exciting adventure. We were all coming from different places: Erminia by plane from Cagliari, Sonia by train from Novi Ligure and Laura had the easiest way from the city.

So with happy hearts and a smile on our faces we embarked on our journey. Destination: Växjö. First, we flied to Zurich where we had our connecting flight to Copenhagen and once landed in the Danish capital we continued our trip by train. We finally reached Växjö at 10 pm and after checking in to our hotel we went out to enjoy the Växjö movida. The Karl Oskar week-end had attracted many people in the town which was really crowded and the streets full of people having fun, making noise, enjoying the party and we definitely felt part of it. We also checked around Stortorget where Andreas’ concert would take place the following night.

On Saturday 11th Aug. at 11 am we were already in Stortorget where some “Allsång” was going on on stage. We had actually not much to do there – it was more than 9 hours left to the concert – but suddenly we got the idea to leave a bouquet of flowers to Andreas at his hotel just to let him know that we had safely reached Växjö and to wish him good luck for the show. This was quite easy to arrange in Carl Linné’s hometown.

After lunch we went back to our hotel where we had some rest. We later got ready for the concert, feeling thrilled about the events to come. We hadn’t seen Andreas for one year so we were really happy to see him live again.

At 4 pm we were back in Stortorget where we met other Andreas hardcore fans who had already found their place in front of the stage. We had a little talk, some of them were curious and asked things about Andreas, like how long we had known him or what his ‘old’ career in Europe was like… One of them was so sweet to even ask to take a picture at us. Got a bit surprised but were very pleased to pose for her. We were also invited to join the fan present which has been prepared to Andreas: a big picture where all the fans left a message to celebrate the night and the closing of the summer tour. So we also left our footprint on it!

While waiting for the concert to start we all got the chance to experience some real, genuine, stunning hard-rock thanks to the Elohim band who played at around at 6 pm.

It was almost a mystic experience where all the fans, involved and united as if in a collective ritual, followed the music by rhythmically moving their heads forwards and backwards while simultaneously rotating their heads. Not easy at all to repeat!

This must be one of the funniest things we had ever seen and couldn’t help recording it (Watch). Anyway, thumbs up for Elohim and their fans!

Stortorget was now getting more and more crowded: the biggest, the funniest!

Finally at 8.30 pm Andreas music broke the air and the concert began with “Go for the soul” on stage and an explosion of joy in the audience.

The setlist was as follows (not in correct order)

Go for the soul

Do what you want

Glorious

The games we play

Shine

The girl I love

A little bit of love

Show me love

Sing for me

Brand new thing

Superficial

The end of the world

The concert was great (even though we’d expected it a bit longer - we never get enough…eheh…) and Andreas at his best with his powerful and beautiful voice and strong charisma on stage. During the show he also got off the stage a few times to sing in the audience who replied with enthusiasm. The public was involved and kept following the music by clapping hands and singing along.

The band was at the top, all the musicians gave a brilliant performance and seemed to have great fun on stage. We also had a very special drummer on stage: Andreas himself! who for a while changed the roles with Mr. Drums, Peter.

Many compliments to the wwd band. A special mention and hug to Monica, more beautiful than ever.

While introducing ‘Brand New Thing’ Andreas greeted and thanked the people who ‘have travelled from Italy, Germany and other countries for the show… which, of course, made us… deadly happy.

The concert ended with “End of the World” and the energy that the song spread all over Stortorget and Växjö.

After the show, Andreas has his “Meet&Greet” time with the fans. While meeting and congratulating him, he was so kind to invite us to join him at his hotel for a chat before he had dinner with the band.

We then easily entered the Elite Stads Hotell where Andreas and the band were staying and we immediately saw Camilla from Warner who brought Andreas for us.

In the hall of the hotel we had a very nice and friendly talk in the most relaxed atmosphere. Andreas, who kept thanking us for our constant support, told us about his job, about his ‘new’ career in Sweden and his nice feelings towards it, about the Swedish diaries thing and the overall projects for the future…

We also had a “present time” when we gave him the things we had brought to him and his little daughter. He’s just too sweet when he opens presents… Then it was “picture time” to remember the fun meeting.

Besides his sweet words, the most beautiful thing for us was to find Andreas in such a good shape, with his usual warm heart and the serenity in his – wonderful – eyes.

Then Andreas had to leave as his well deserved dinner was waiting for him.

So last hugs and kisses and more kisses… and good-byes.

A BIG BIG thank you for everything, Andreas. [we see you’re reading this… eheh…]

On Sunday midday we went back to Copenhagen where we dived in the crowd of tourists, strolling around the Strøget and Nyhavn.

On Monday morning Sonia had to leave to Italy while Erminia and Laura spent most of the day at the Tivoli park. Amazing! The next morning we also flied back to Milan. But travelling and flying was not over yet. In the afternoon we both left to an island: Erminia home to Sardinia and Laura flied down to Sicily and the seaside for holidays.

It was once again a very nice experience - short but packed with emotions and that special moments we all live for.

And we really hope there will be soon other times to combine travelling, music and love. Could you imagine of something better than this?

Erminia, Laura, Sonia