No, I am not going to start writing in Swedish, even though sometimes I find myself thinking in Swedish, though probably my thoughts have a lot of misspelled words in them. But this was the name of the concert I went to today. As always, the venue was Eric Ericsonhallen, and yes, it was a classical music concert. It is quite funny how I jump from listening to a rock band or more to listening to an orchestra. Friday’s concert was adrenaline and excitement, today’s concert was peaceful and it reminded me of Christmas or the peace you feel around the Winter holidays. Speaking of Winter, I think it is just around the corner, my nose started to freeze when walking down the street and I felt the sharp sting of the wind today for the first time this season.
But, going back to the concert, a pre-concert treat is when you actually cross the bridge to the island on which the venue is located – Skeppsholmen. I’ve been treated to a lot of beautiful sunsets going there. Today everything was blue. I am sorry I can’t take photos with my eyes, then it would be easier to share what I really saw, not just a blurry replica of reality. The concert had two parts. In the first part I listened to Bränningar, Symfonisk bild, op. 19 by Helena Munktell, and William Waltonäs Celloconcert. After the break it was time for Brahms: Symphony no. 2, op. 73. There is something in this music that makes me feel tranquil for as long as the orchestra is playing though sometimes the intensity of the music stirs the deepest feelings in the audience. It is a different kind of experience, one that I didn’t have the chance to live often. And one that reminds me that the New Year’s Eve concert in Vienna is on my bucket list. Don’t know if I ever get there, but I sure will watch it on TV soon.
OK, I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long: finally I got to see KajHolst live! I missed a lot of their concerts mostly because I’ve been working like crazy for my thesis or I’ve been busy with tennis. It’s hard to split myself between tennis and music, if that were possible I know I would do it. How I ran into this band, well, that is a long story. Just to put it short I should say that I know good music when I hear it. So for someone who wants to have some fun and enjoy some good music, please give them a try. I did write about them before here, but that was based only on what I’ve been listening to on Spotify and watching on YouTube. Seeing them live changes things a bit but it only makes them better. They sound good and I definitely enjoyed listening to them. It is also quite fun to go to a concert where you know almost all the lyrics and you can sing along. As messy as someone said that this concert was, it was an energy boost and proof that some people really enjoy what they are doing.
The concert started with a preview of the next single, or next release, have no idea if it is going to be the next single, actually, and carried on with some songs that I knew and some that I haven’t heard before. I really liked the atmosphere when they played “Toy” . I can’t really decide but I guess this was my favorite moment of the evening. I wish they played longer though. Some of my favorite songs from them are “Matter”, “Road” or “Walls”, not all of them were played tonight. Maybe next time, I sure hope I will be there to see them again.
I will leave you below with their latest video. Enjoy!
This is one of my favorite songs ever, an anthem for my late childhood and early teenage years, a bittersweet memory of a Summer spent in a swing in the countryside, listening to a nearby town local radio station, an early Autumn MTV revelation and maybe an annoying chorus for my family who had to listen to it over and over again. But it’s also a song that has meaning wherever and whenever I listen to it, it never gets old. However I don’t see to the Moon and back as a way of showing somebody how much you care or a path you have to cover to achieve happiness. Sometimes love is immeasurable and joy can be found just by crossing the street. And I would definitely not want to be taken to the Moon and back, I don’t think my heart would bear that, I’m too much of a chicken to even ride a carousel. But staring at the Moon and the stars on a warm Summer night makes me feel infinite though small, just as swinging in the Summer night breeze made me feel like I was flying… to the Moon and beyond from the swing in front of the kitchen. This is just one of those songs.
The music freak in me strikes again! This time: James Bay. I think everybody knows “Hold Back the River”. Even though radios and TV stations were playing it like crazy, this time last year I was ignoring this song until I had the patience to actually listen to it. And I fell in love totally and completely.
Coming back to Sweden meant that I could take full time and full speed advantage of my Spotify account, which I did almost instantly. And one of the first artists I stopped to was James Bay. Practically all Spring and all Summer long I’ve been listening to his songs till I learned them by heart. I was very happy when they played “Hold Back the River” at Swedish Open during the changeovers. I also took the time to listen to live and acoustic versions of the songs and ended up wanting to see James Bay live. Unfortunately for me, two weeks of not checking his official website for the tour dates led to me missing his concert in Stockholm last week. It was already sold out when I heard about it. I even dreamt I went to one of his concerts and it was amazing. Well, I am getting a second chance in March, and this time I will not miss it. Tickets go on sale tomorrow at 9 AM and I will make sure I get one. Until then I am going to enjoy his latest video that came out today. Watch it below. (Isn’t it funny that 90% of the audience in the video is made out of girls? Wish I were one of them!)
It was that time of the year again: tennis time. My 3rd year in Stockholm Open left me thinking about the fact that after my home tournament in Bucharest, this is the second one I attended the most. I have to say that this tournament is an experience as a whole and it makes me feel like I were in the middle of it all. As always I am going to start with Marius Copil. Pretty much the only tournaments where I see him play are Bucharest and Stockholm. It is always a pleasure to watch him play. This year he started the tournament quite well, for a set, just to bow in front of Jesse Huta Galung 1-6, 6-3, 6-2. It wasn’t quite clear why, but his game shifted drastically in the middle of the second set. From there it was just a downfall and his strong service didn’t help him anymore. The opponent increased the quality of his game and Marius was out of the tournament from the first match he played.
Jarkko Nieminen
With no Romanians to watch, I focused on Jarkko Nieminen, my favorite Finnish tennis player, or should I say now former tennis player? I doubt I will. For someone that I liked following around for so long, loved watching and enjoyed every moment of his matches, I think I will continue to call him a tennis player because in the end that’s what he is. He was the main character in some of the most amazing matches I’ve seen live, he got a standing ovation in Bucharest even though he was walking out of the central court as a looser in a direct match with Gilles Simon. On top of that he is Finnish and he has a very good taste in music. No wonder that after he played his last match it was a bit heartbreaking to see him sitting on the bench with the towel over his head and sobbing. It was quite an emotional moment, just like the farewell ceremony that the ATP organised for him on Friday evening. And I was there to watch both events. I will be forever grateful and happy for this.
Berdych vs Sock
The evenings brought some beautiful three sets matches, some starting at 18:30, others later. Monday it was Alexander Zverev vs Mikael Ymer at 18:30. The clash of these two young players left the audience pleasantly impressed and a bit sad because, even if the Swede fought bravely, he lost 7-6 (9), 6-7(5), 6-4. Tuesday Jarkko played his last singles match in a three set thriller, falling to Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 7-6(6), 6-4. Wednesday Jack Sock triumphed in an amazing match against Fernando Verdasco. It is matches like this when you actually wish both players could win because they both fight so hard. But Sock was the winner: 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-4. Thursday brought a quiet evening. Friday the three-setter came as the last match: Marcos Baghdatis vs Gilles Muller. The 2009 winner of Stockholm Open prevailed after a long and beautiful match that ended 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3. Unfortunately, the second day he retired during his semifinal, so Tomas Berdych had a clear path to the final for the second consecutive year and for the third time in Stockholm Open.
Doubles prize ceremony
He met Jack Sock there and, after a tight first set, Tomas won Stockholm Open for the third time: 7-6 (1), 6-2. My favorite part of the last day was the doubles final where the singles finalist, Sock, teamed up with Nicholas Monroe to capture the title after a match with Mate Pavic and Michael Venus. This match was truly spectacular, as almost all doubles matches, full of breathtaking shots and thrilling points. And after the last point had been played I realized that another edition of If Stockholm Open was over. Game, set, match, championship: Tomas Berdych, Nicholas Monroe/Jack Sock.
No, I am not going to start writing in Swedish, even though sometimes I find myself thinking in Swedish, though probably my thoughts have a lot of misspelled words in them. But this was the name of the concert I went to today. As always, the venue was Eric Ericsonhallen, and yes, it was a classical music concert. It is quite funny how I jump from listening to a rock band or more to listening to an orchestra. Friday’s concert was adrenaline and excitement, today’s concert was peaceful and it reminded me of Christmas or the peace you feel around the Winter holidays. Speaking of Winter, I think it is just around the corner, my nose started to freeze when walking down the street and I felt the sharp sting of the wind today for the first time this season.
Spinning Words 