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And Moscow girls made him sing and shout. "Finally we got to do that one here", said Sir Paul McCartney after he sang "Back in the USSR" during his Saturday concert in Red Square, Moscow.
The show was amazing, my feelings can't be put to words, for it was the greatest show I have ever seen in my life (and I saw a few good shows). Sir Paul was fantastic performing for 3 hours non-stop, speaking Russian all the time and joking with the audience. He was given a hearty welcome and I am sure he will remember the Moscow concert because it was special both for Russia and the Beatle. I can't write a report covering the event, I'll just enumerate the moments I enjoyed the most... That's all I can do. At least, that's all I can do now...
- The first song was "Hello, Goodbye", everyone was on their feet when McCartney entered the stage. He looked great wearing a red jacket, a red T-shirt and jeans. I remember thinking, "Wow, that's the first man I see who looks absolutely stunning wearing a red jacket!!"
- There were some tall men sitting in front of me and I had quite a bad view because of them, but then a kind guy named Sergey who sat next to me gave me his bag, I sat on it and from that moment I could see everything perfectly well.
- For the first half an hour the audience was quite calm. No, everyone was excited of course and happy, we clapped and cheered and chanted. But people were on their seats and I was so nervous I would be yelled at when I finally stood up unable to sit any longer. Luckily, I was wrong!!! After 30 minutes of the concert, people began to respond the right way!!!
- When Paul started singing "Back in the USSR", everyone jumped up and the pure heaven began. It was indescribable. And he DID mark out that certain line with his voice. "And MOSCOW GIRLS make me sing and shout!" Woo-hoo!!!!
- The audience sang "Hey Jude" in unison. Paul said, "We will sing a song now, which I think, you'll want to sing along with. Do so if you want to!" and then he added in Russian, "Poite s nami!" then a small pause and then a playful, "Poite-poite!!" We were just awwwwwwwwwww. The man is unique!!!
- In the end of "Hey Jude" the music stopped and Paul conducted the audience, "A teper' tolko muzhchiny! (And now just men!) A teper' tolko devchonki! (And now just girls!) A teper' vse vmeste! (And now altogether!)" When it was girls' turn, I started to sing, "Na na na na, hey Jude" and to my horror I realized that none of women who were around sang with me, not even Ellen!!! I didn't shut up however. In spite of the fact that my singing was awful! Hehehe!!
- I liked it that he spoke so much Russian - a couple of phrases in the beginning of every song! And all the members of his band spoke Russian too. A drummer - "Moskva, vy gotovy zazhigat'?????????????" ("Moscow, are you ready to have fun??"). A guitar player - "Ya znayu pyat' slov po-russki. I ya ikh uzhe skazal!" ("I know 5 words in Russian. And I've just said them."). They were so funny and Paul was the funniest. There was a translator on a huge screen and he said, "I want to make sure this translator is working and I am going to say something stupid now and you'll tell me if it's working... The red dog flew on a yellow balloon... Is it working?" We screamed, "YESS!" and Paul looked in the sky and said, "Oh look!! A yellow balloon!" Someone set it free and it flew in the sky. It was so cute!
- He dedicated songs to his friend John, his friend George, Linda, his lovely wife Heather... When he said, "And this song is for those of you who celebrate birthday today", I was only able to hug Ellen and scream, "Happy birthday, dear!!!! This is your song!!!" It was really her birthday and I am surprised she didn't faint!!!
- During one of the songs (I don't remember which one) people in the front rows stood up suddently and cheered loudly greeting someone. Apparently, it was our dear President who was quite LATE for the concert! When the song was over, Paul sneered, "What do we have here? Some new arrivals in the audience?" Hahaha, that was sooo right - because everyone is equal before McCartney. He is the god.
- My lighter died a heroic death during "Let It Be". I mean, most lighters spend their lives lighting cigarettes, how cool is that? Mine was used just once - I lit it in the beginning of "Let It Be" and by the end of the song the lighter was dead.
- During one of the ballads, Ellen, Sergey and I held hands and waved together. And one of Paul's camera men filmed the three of us!! It was exciting! Paul will look at us and think, "Oh, those crazy fans of mine!" :))))))))))))))
- After "Hey Jude" Paul pretended the show was over, the band left the stage and all the lights went down. But the crowd kept singing, "Na na na na na na, na na na na, hey Jude!" till they all returned. And then we started chanting, "Yesterday! Yesterday! Yesterday!" And he sang it! And Red Square sang along, more than 20 000 people. It was amazing!
- After "Yesterday" Paul said, "We have a special request tonight... We will do this song for all of you". And he sang "Back in the USSR" again!!!!! The crowd was going insane!!! Me included!!!
- The sad moment of the show... "We've had a great time tonight. You are a lovely audience... But we have to go now... And what's more important - YOU have to go, too!" And then there was this conversation: the crowd, "NO!!!" - Paul, "Oh yeah!"; the crowd, "NO!!!" - Paul, "Oh yeah!" for five or so times. It was sad and funny at the same time....
- I climbled on my chair and jumped on it during the final two songs, I could not hold back all the emotions and excitement...
- And in the end the love you take is equal to the love you make....
When the concert was over, Ellen, I and Sergey bought a bottle of champagne and celebrated Ellen's birthday and the Paul McCartney day on a bridge not far from Red Square singing the Beatles songs and drinking champagne. We sang for more that 2 hours, drank 3 bottles and had a wonderful time together. I am so grateful I shared such a magical day with these lovely people. Especially Ellen.
The only music I can listen to now is "The Beatles". I also decided to buy all McCartney's albums because just the sound of his voice brings me to Heaven...
Thank you Paul for coming to Russia. Like one of the banners at the concert said, we were waiting for you for 40 years...
Here is the set-list of the Moscow concert. It differs a bit from the usual one, but not much...:
1. Hello Goodbye
2. Jet
3. All My Loving
4. Getting Better
5. Let Me Roll It
6. Lonely Road
7. Your Loving Flame
8. Blackbird
9. Every Night
10. We Can Work It Out
11. You Never Give Me Your Money / Carry That Weight
12. The Fool On The Hill
13. Here Today
14. Something
15. Eleanor Rigby
16. Here, There And Everywhere
17. I've just seen a face
18. Calico Skies
19. Two of Us
20. Michelle
21. Band On The Run
22. Back In The USSR
23. Maybe I'm Amazed
24. Let 'Em In
25. My Love
26. She's Leaving Home
27. Can't Buy Me Love
28. Birthday
29. Live And Let Die
30. Let It Be
31. Hey Jude
32. The Long And Winding Road
33. Lady Madonna
34. I Saw Her Standing There
35. Yesterday
36. Back In The USSR
37. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Reprise) / The End
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