It was amazing! Words are just not enough to describe the way I felt! It was just... AAAAAAAAHHH!!!
Have you ever seen pictures or video clips of people in some Christian get-togethers to start shaking and talking gibberish once they've been touched by a priest, and they believe that the holy spirit has entered them? I've always thought it has all been a show, something they acted to appear dyed-in-the-wool Christian in front of others. Now I'm not so sure. I believe I was close to that kind of experience today. I just cannot describe it sufficiently, words just aren't enough to do that.
I arrived in front of the stage half an hour before Sonata Arctica started and got a place in the second row. As it turned out, I wasn't the only one wearing an Sonata Arctica shirt. I think I saw every possible variation available on the web during the time I spent at the festival area. Anyway, as the started with 'In black and white' I was already getting very... positively edgy, in the lack of a better word. I kept singing aloud (although my voice very much drowned in all the others voices mingled with each other. After 'Victoria's secret' (yes, Wanderer, that one) they played, unexpectedly, 'Caleb'; I've grown to connect it with my father due to my own interpretation of the lyrics that I reflect greatly through my childhood. I kept singing the lyrics so loud I thought I would discover to have lost my voice althogether once I would try to speak. During 'Caleb'... okay, it might have been partially due to the smoke effects and the sudden explosions and the smoke following them that made me feel a little dizzy, but I am dead sure it was mainly a genuine physical reaction to the music and the whole event; Sonata Arctica has been a very important companion to me since I discovered the band and there I was, standing not five metres away from them, hearing them play live the songs which all carry some special, personal meaning to me, singing them with Tony right there, knowing he can see me too, see that I know all the lyrics by heart (literally, I should say), move with my eyes closed to the music despite the rain... this could be heaven. I kept having trouble breathing and occasionally I was actually worried I might faint. Once or twice a thought crossed my mind: I thought I would really die right there, feeling atmost happiness, something I've never felt before.
Afterwards one of my fellow English students had a chat with me. He said he had been standing behind me on my right, so that he had had a clear view to me most of the time Sonata Arctica was playing. He said I looked like I was in flames.
I think I was, and hopefully I will be some day again.
- - -
The approximate track list (for the reason described above I may remember the exact order wrong, but let's forgive that)
1. In black and white
2. Paid in full
3. Victoria's secret
4. Caleb
5. FullMoon
6. Tallulah
7. Black sheep
8. It won't fade
9. Don't say a word
10. The cage
Perhaps they will play the full Caleb-trilogy some time.
