Get down, go ahead, get down!
Thursday the 20th of November was a much anticipated date for me in Paris. On the advice of Coach Ermilio, as I arrived in Paris I was on the look-out for a world tour concert. While taking the bus around the city dropping students off at their respective host families places, we passed Bercy Stadium and I saw an advertisement for a Kanye West show.
Now Kanye West and I have a bit of a history when it comes to live music. He’s always been my favorite rap artist; while he certainly lives the high life and his ego cannot be matched, he has the ability to poke fun at himself and put (some) things into perspective. In the end, if nothing else, his music is fun. Anyways, my senior year at SJ I bought tickets for my brother and I to the Rolling Stones concert at Gillette. It was the autumn and the crew team wasn’t practicing that day. As a co-captain, however, I had some business to do at the boathouse, so I headed down and to check things out. I was recruited by Mr. Deedy to fill a Novice boat and go out out the water for a 1/2 hour spin so kids who didn’t usually get to row would have the opportunity to do so. I acquiesced.
The half hour turned into an hour and a quarter. By the time I was leaving the boathouse to pick up Matt at BC I knew the Pike would be crowded. I was right. I scooped up Matt and head south to Gillete. We got there and heard Kanye blasting through the speakers as we pulled into the lot. Racing to the seats, I only hoped to catch a song or two, yet as the stage came into view I heard “Gonna touch the sky! Thank you!” and Kanye exited the stage.
So when I saw Kanye was going to be in Paris, I was determined to not miss him this time! I organized a group of 18 or so Stanford students who wanted tickets, ordered them online, and went.
The Roots opened the show. I was fortunate enough to see them from the front row last year at the concert during Big Game Week, but they were even better playing to a packed stadium! I felt bad, however, because the French-speaking crowd did not appreciate them as much as they should have. They are truly remarkable musicians! And what performers! A highly enjoyable concert.
Kanye waited a little bit before taking the stage and the crowd grew restless. I had made my way with some friends down to the floor area and was maybe 20 rows from the stage. A great view (especially for one so tall as me!)! When the lights dimmed and Kanye finally took the stage, the crowd roared its approval.
I can’t really called what Kanye produced to be a concert; I would prefer to call it a show. Songs were not merely sung, but rather performed and all related back to a central story line which is as follows: Kanye, on the prowl throughout the universe in search of musical creativity, becomes stranded on strange planet when his ship break down. He tries to repair the ship and get back home. He eventually does so with the star power of the brightest star in the universe- himself! Most characterized his show as melodramatic and egotistical, and while I initially agreed, certain elements were presented that seemed tongue-in-cheek to me. To be sure, Kanye thinks EXTREMELY highly of himself, but I tried to not let that get in the way.
In sum, I had great seats at a great show which I attended with some great people. I headed home afterwards to pack my bags for my voyage the next morning to (my next blog topic) Barcelona!
