On the next day (19.11.97) we went for a stroll through the town, also on the search for some placards. We found many on hoardings, some pasted over again. I wanted a place for a foto with a placard and a good view to the town. So it came we acrossed the Karlsbridge. And even on the other side of Prague we found placards. Here I had the chance for my foto, at the Malostranske námesti. There were really a lot of placards, even at the street lamps. I was again at the Hala Lucerna short after half past 7 p.m., and already many people waited there. There was much crowd while we entered the hall. I never experienced something like that at an Alphaville concert. A Starcase leaded downstairs so I supposed the next will lead upstairs, also since everybody in front of me went upstairs. But this staircase leaded to the rank. Finally I stood in the 2nd row and all around me were fans from Usti,Pardubice, Olomouc and Senov. At 20:05 the concert started with "Soul messiah", followed from "A victory of love", "Guardian Angel", "Control", "Monkey in the moon", "New Horizons", "Sounds like a melody", "Flame", "Wishful thinking", "Dance with me", "Forever Young". 6 phtographers took their fotos in the first half an hour. I was looking forward to many reports in the newspapers. But I was disappointed... Marian wore a red Adidas-jacket (underneath something in black) and black Jeans. He had his hair cut quite short again and he put it to the back with some gel. In my opinion he looked better as he poured some water over his head later this night. (By the way once something completely new ) The atmosphere was colossal. The audience trampled and shrieked very loud. Althought to say the truth I already experienced better concert by Alphaville. The reason weren't the titles or the band, I had the feeling it was too loud. But while the wonderful song "Flame" and also while some other songs I forgot it. Alphaville in Prague, and this hall with the 2 ranks was event enough. At 21:05 Uhr Alphaville left the stage the first time.In their first encoure they played "Jerusalem", "Jet Set" and "Big in Japan". And there was a second encoure, but they played only "If the audience is listening" more. Therefore the concert came to end already at 21:25, even if everybody called aloud for one more encore. The lights went on again and I looked around for someone I know. This way I met Monika and we had a smalltalk. She gave me the actual brandnew autopraph by Alphaville.

 There was one more hour left till the beginning of the concert. I am entering a great hall of Lucerna and passing a big notice "SOLD OUT". There are already a lot of people all around so that's why I am happy in the end to find a quite good place just next to the post of soundmasters. Finally I am standing and I start to feel the atmosphere of the concert. There are three young girls standing next to me, smiling all the time, behind me a skinhead boy in a black jacket and high leather boots and a little bit alongside there is a friendly-looking couple holding each other's hand, to whom the old age has begun to paint grey colours of live into their hair. A gigantic Negro is sitting in the box and it looks like the whole world has its date here today. I am looking forward searching for something interesting, something strange at the scene. But I can't see anything besides a large percussion set surrounded by two stand-ups with keyboard instruments. Everything is dressed in black and so the only thing that can be really seen from the distance are three signs, which are perhaps known by every 80's and 90's pop-rock fan: a Greek alpha, big "V" and three horizontal stripes suggesting a letter "E". The simplicity, the surprising purenest was hinting at the fact that this time it is going to be a pure musical experience. That is why I was more and more curious and I counted down every minute. Suddenly the overcrowded hall got into a complete darkness and only the indicators on the mixing desk signalised that it isn't just any unexpected breakout. A few seconds later everyone got to the point: the concert has just begun. The man next to gave a command: "Intro" and in that moment a great barrier of loudspeakers made ring at the showplace. A deep and mysterious sound of synthesisers accompanied by some industrial voices has perfectly rouse the impatience, which has been imminent all around anyway. First figures started to appear with first rays of lights and with first melodious sounds. How ever, everyone felt that something more must happen. And so Marian's distant voice was already heard singing some well-known melody like from the distance. In the only moment the light from perhaps all reflectors spread all around in front of some thousands of impatiens, in the only moment a cocktail mixed up from those most pleasant colours of music started to bubble from all sides and in the only moment, like to some command, everyone started to move in this irresistible rhythm of "Soul Messiah". Immediately, the never-ending cool spirit so typical for Alphaville began to prevail. The dancing mass of people was applauding enthusiastically. The presentation of "A Victory of Love" followed. It was a very pleasant memory of old good times. Anyway, who wouldn't be glad to return to the classics. And the classic in a new unworn coat - that's what Alphaville made exactly Alphaville. The response didn't let wait for itself for long. "Nightguard" and "Control" kept the very high set tempo of the concert anyway, but nevertheless it was felt that these new songs weren't so close for the fans as just those older hits. The song "Monkey On The Moon" brought a bit of calmness, but a total break came already on after a few measures of "New Horizons". This strange ballad made the people to come to a standstill for a while, stop dancing and began to realise absolute other dimensions. I have never seen so many lover embraces for my whole life. Alphaville returned with another great remix back to the Earth, this time "Sounds Like A Melody" over coated to a reggae style. In vain I am thinking over the fact how is it possible that those three (two?) German magicians are so successful in turning everything into a melody. But this time the swinging hall is already somewhere else again. "Flame" starts to set on fire. Marian, his friends and perhaps everybody, who was standing there at that time, got suddenly on one boat. Hundreds of small flames burnt out over our heads. A sea of flames and a sea of little singers who decided to care for this symbolic flame of love and began to accompany Marian with their glottals more and more vividly. And when "Wishful Thinking" was flying through the hall, it was clear that the concert was gradating. That dancing melody was successful not only in local charts, but now it met with deserved ovation as well. Critics may claim something else, it may be a novelty, but that is the come back to old good Alphaville. An expressive dancing rhythm, an affecting melody, a well thought-out and balanced structure of the whole song and finally a unique and up to the very last detail worked-out arrange. Only few people recognised that the delicious piano improvisation is the beginning of what most of them was waiting for the whole time. But it was clear in a minute that this was just the "Forever Young" and that the concert culminates. Such a spontaneous applause took place like never before. It was strong, but short. The reason was that everyone wanted to sing. Everyone wanted to add his own bit, everyone wanted to show that he also "wants to be forever young", that he knows and worships this anthem of all amorous couples as well. And again. Alphaville presented it in a set-up which definitely doesn't lay in the shadow of its brother. Marian and Bernie proved that their ideas are so bearing that they don't need the latest technique at all, as it could have seemed at the first sight. The whole band left in a never-ending screaming, whistling and applause somewhere to the backstage and for a few minutes let the fans in fear that the concert is already over. Only when the pertinacious fans stamped their feet, that was what made the protagonists come back to the stage. First encore started and the greatest surprise of the evening with it. Such a fantastically made remix took everyone's breath. I don't know whose idea was to give a completely new spirit to this song, but it was an idea of a real genius. A slower tempo, up-to-date sounds and a quite different groove influenced "Jerusalem" like a pleasant caressing. Who hasn't heard that one can't imagine it. It is just indescribable. Fun, laughter and joy was also seen by last two songs. "Jet Set" and especially the never-ending long version of "Big in Japan" with an interesting guitar solo made the whole hall applaud and it looked like coming true for what Alphaville had been calling since the very beginning: everyone pull at the same end of the rope! And let's praise Alphaville for being successful in making this world alive for at least 90 minutes, let's praise them for not giving up their dreams and inspiring the others in that way, let's praise them for "If the Audience was Listening" as well - a tender good-bye at the end. This song in the "without-tension" style placed as the second encore has just confirmed the fact that the music with the label "Alphaville" doesn't have just any superficial ambitions, but that it is above all an appeal, a notice, a message... "the message understood"... and thanks for it. Tom "The Sailor" Ostrava, Czech Republic

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