So we all trudged off round the back of the castle, but for once not to see some puppies with a nice man in a car, but to witness the big old Legends & Sensations party.
I’d guess there were around 10-15 thousand happy locals there, plus a smattering of grumpy acreds, not to mention the hundreds littering the edges of the castle’s stunning ramparts a couple of hundred feet above. The setting was stunning, and so was the opening act – a stomping Azeri drum act from a bloke who appeared to have eight fingers on each hand, so fast was he whapping them skins.
Then to the ESC flavoured jamboree. That Harry potter bird who won last year tootered about for three songs in an ill-fitting shirt, but when she finally got to the hit and let the punters sing it for her, well that were a fine goose bumpy moment. Then followed a couple of blips from this year’s show. Bosnia kind of left ’em stunned, while Slovenia went mostly unnoticed. Then this year’s boyish host walked on to ear-bursting screams and shrieks from the girly element. This boy am popular in these shire, and the whole danged place was lit up by mobile phone screens filming his every move.
From then and straight onto Ruslana, who gave it plenty o’large with loadsa new choons from her Wild Spirit album – although to be honest they all sounded a bit similar to her last two. A touching moment indeed though when she dedicated a song to that Tose – heck, even she got all acty and emotional.
Next up Dana International, who I thought was throughly fab, but who left most of the punters a touch cold. I guess Svante’s directive 431 on overt whoopsyness didn’t get through to the organisers. The night was then topped off by the Azeris themselves, who one suspects may have put some cash into putting this on, as the whole thing seemed rather catered toward them. Finally they had their hats and shades off, and they manage to look even camper than ever. The angel appears to have tippexed his entire head, while the devil had so much eye make up and blow dried hair that he looked like one of the beefier members of The Sweet. It were all right, mind – although if rumours that other correspondents may fill you in on more are to be believed, this could be their one and only appearance here…
But they were very nice and bussed us off to their party in a police escorted convoy. We were waving like the royals at the serf like gawping locals – heck, we should have chucked some cake out to keep ’em happy!
The Azeri party itself was at the majestic SKC ballroom, a massive columned hall suited perfectly to this kind of larky. The food, when it came, was mostly meat, but there was some rather nice clump of croquette type jobbies and some rice and pear that went down a treat. And then there was cake. Ah cake. Rich, slightly minty bakalava, and a big try spongey dome with smashing crispy orangey bits in the middle. And them drummers got back and did a pretty decent stint too.
Rumours for tonight’s shindigs include a smart looking Ukranian bash, with loads of contestants on, plus the rather marvy Verka herself, and then the Solovenia do, which most importantly promises free booze till dawn! Who cares if she’s a stroppy mare if she can provided us with that kind of fun.
But I’m off to go see Tito’s tomb, and attend at least one football match this arvo, so the reports may be few and far. But I’m the context man here, it would seem, and I’m quite sure the other gents will fill you in on the sounds and pictures business.
Hold hard and have some fun!