WELCOME EVERYONE TO THE 2014 TOUR REVIEW THREAD!! COME ON IN AND JOIN THE FUN!!

Welcome everyone to the 2014 Tour Review Thread. The upcoming year is going to be exciting with so many concerts scheduled already around the globe!!! Feel free to share the details of your concert adventures, photos, videos etc. This is the best time to be a Bolton fan with so many concerts and the MBC Charity Event which will most likely be held later in the year too. Michael has multiple projects in the works so we never know what will happen next!!!! I appreciate the opportunity to start a new thread once again for 2014 to give us all a place to share the best part of being a fan--- experiencing Michael in person doing what he does best-SING!!!!!!

I am looking forward to another fun year of posts and sharing great times by the best Michael Bolton fans in the world on this forum. I will post events to keep the thread moving along as the concerts come up as I have in the past.

Happy Concert Time in 2014 to all of you!!!

Robin in MD USA :)

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Rosario on May 6, 2014 at 3:41am

Hi Tine and thank you for sharing your experience. I believe everyone accepts that Michael wasn't feeling well that night and it is unfortunate. Personally...I would prefer your concert over a complete cancellation. But that is my preference and everyone has a different preference so I understand. I have had a concert cancelled in the past. You have been to other MB concerts so you know what a great performer he is!! Either way...whatever choice Michael had to make...there were going to be disappointed fans. But I do thank you for your honesty and that is how you felt after your disappointing concert. Cheers to your next concert as you are still a MB fan :))) Hoping you have a great one!!

Kathy and LAFD Bob

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Permalink Reply by Ivana on May 6, 2014 at 5:52pm

Hello Michael,
hello other members of the forum,
hello Christine,

it´s difficult to find the right words, as I am not a native English speaker, but I try.

I have been a huge fan of Michael since many years and have already attended many concerts of his in Europe.
And I will definitely do again in the future.

Last week, I attended 2 concerts in Munich on April 28^th 2014 and Stuttgart on April 30^th 2014 and I was a little disappointed too.
This is why I understand Christine very well.

All of us knew, that Michael had not been feeling well and I appreciated, that his concerts in Munich and Stuttgart were not cancelled and I had the opportunity to see him twice a week. I (and a friend of mine Martina) had perfect seats in the 1st row, so that I could follow every Michael´s move and look on his face. I can assure you, he still looks very VERY handsome......

During both concerts one could see, he still had not been feeling well. The audience was "mixed", men and women, age: mostly over 50.
My personal opinion is, that the German audience was a little bit "lukewarm" and I guess, Michael saw/felt it too. As I have the comparison to his former concerts, I have to honestly say, these concerts in Munich and Stuttgart were not his best. There was an big difference between his concerts in London (where the RAH always "boils" - my compliment to the British audience) and these 2 concerts in Germany. The fact is, we did not help him to feel better. We were slightly cold.

Everybody expected Michael in his best condition giving 150% and waited for his old hits. Michael is an experienced musician and still has a powerful voice. But what I totally missed was THE SOUL. Both concerts were - for me - more a well done job instead of joy on stage. Every single performance minute was timed, timed jokes, timed audience laughter, there was no place for a joke or improvisation. Both concerts were planed like a millitary action and exactly the same way warm-hearted.

Even though we were sitting in the 1st row, I and Martina agreed, that Michael had never looked into our faces, he looked into the endless darkness of the concert hall or somehow - how to express it - through the people. As if we were not there, just dressed marionettes. Not even 1 sign of wishing a personal contact with his audience. Kelly - compared to him - was in a very good mood and when she thanked for the applause, she always looked in everybody´s face as if she knew us in person. One could see, she had her joy (and we too).

I was also disappointed about the choice of songs. I admit, It is MY problem, that I cannot identify myself with his newest CD "Ain´t no mountains high enough". Even though I have been listening to the CD repeatedly, I can remember not even one song, I am sorry, I do not like the melodies.I still prefer his old "typical Bolton´s songs" which I can sing along with him. I missed "Soul provider", songs from the CD "Vintage", "Go the distance", "Hope is too late", "You murder my heart", "Missing you now", "Georgia", "The summer night" .....and many more.

I was very surprised and sad, that Michael´s background singers sang his songs, which I would have loved to hear sung by him!

This is why I have to agree with Christine, that I also came to listen to HIM and not to (the very talented) Amanda or Kelly.
And I have to agree with Christine too, that I also do not like the duet version of "How am I supposed to live without you", as this is HIS song and I LOVE the acoustic version, just Michael´s voice and Brian Becvar on piano. Don´t you too?

He indeed performed only 13 !! songs, compared against his former concerts in the RAH, Stuttgart 2011 (the most amazing concert I have ever attended), Prague 2008, Italy, Vienna.... where he performed 18 songs and encore. "Steel bars" as encore? "Steel bars" always belonged to his "standard program"!!

After I had watched his former concerts recorded on DVD days after these concerts at home and listened to "How am I supposed to live without you" or "That´s what love is all about", I CRIED WITH HIM ! What an incredible heartbreaking performance, I believed him every single word! I think, every listener just would have liked to kiss him or to give him hug. But not in Stuttgart, not in Munich, I am sorry......the performances were too soulless, too professional. And professionalism is always cold.

It was pretty complicated to catch the right moment to me to give flowers to him during the concert. I always waited till he ended the song, but he suddenly showed his back to the audience or turned to get his guitar or disappeared backstage. I had the feeling, he did not want to stay in contact with his fans/audience. Both times I tried to give him my flowers, I had to politely call his name to the stage darkness. But, on the other hand, he always heard me, turned around, approached me, gave me his smile, shook my hand and said very honestly "thank you very much". I was soooo excited, so that I had to ask my friend Martina to look at him in order to tell me later, whether he really looked at me or not, as it was just a "1-second-action". She said, he did.

I understand Christine´s disappointment about Michael’s attitude towards his fans. I still remember his concert in Copenhagen 2 years ago, when 4 of us have been waiting for him for 2 hours after the concert in the cold Denmark night, he saw this small group of 4 (four !) faithful fans and just drove by in his preheated car without lowering the car window and saying a brave "hello" to us. Sometimes, I do not understand him. On the other hand, I can imagine, how hectic his program is and that he only wishes to be driven to the hotel and be alone. Christine, next time, you should ask him !!! :-). But I always accept his "no", he is not a robot and needs his private life.

Anyway, there were VERY NICE moments too. I and Martina had the pleasure to get to know the amazing saxophonist Jason Peterson DeLaire, who is such a nice man with a big sense for humor and you can physically touch him !!! :-)) He was so "normal", made jokes, was interested in us, asked who we were, what our names were !!!, where do we came from.... He gave us the feeling, we were important for him. He remembered us sitting in the 1st row in Munich 2 days before this picture was taken and was happy to meet us again.

I also spoke shortly with Brian Becvar, he is also such a nice man.

But the night has not ended yet !!
I and my friend Martina had a BIG BIG LUCK to see Michael "alive" by chance.
Even though I often dreamed of this moment and prepared a "speech" for the best-case scenario (as I have so much to tell him), we had just a few seconds to decide what to say or what to do. Martina decides to ask him for an autograph and got it.

In this very special situation, I remembered the lyrics of the song by Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand "Tell him" as this was what I was exactly feeling:

I'm scared
So afraid to show I care
Will he think me weak
If I tremble when I speak
What if
There's another one he's thinking of
Maybe he's in love
I'd feel like a fool
Life can be so cruel
I don't know what to do

But what you must understand
You can't let the chance
To love him pass you by

Tell him
Tell him that the sun and moon
Rise in his eyes
Reach out to him
And whisper
Tender words so soft and sweet
I'll hold him close to feel his heart beat
Love will be the gift you give yourself

Touch him
With the gentleness you feel inside(I feel it)
Your love can't be denied
The truth will set you free
You'll have what's meant to be
All in time you'll see

I love him (then show him)
Of that much I can be sure (hold him close to you)
I don't think I could endure
If I let him walk away
When I have so much to say

So I slowly approached him like in trance, said just 2-3 honest sentences to him without thinking about my grammar mistakes :-)) and we shook hands again. But what I was shocked about, he unexpectedly put also his left hand around my hand, so that my hand was between his both palms and he started to stroke my hand 5-6 times. He said how much happy he felt that I was there and something more, what I did not understand as I was flabbergasted (I hope, this is the right word in English). In that magic moment I understood, how human he was and how much he appreciated a honest human warmth.

So, this is my Michael Bolton story 2014.

I am flying to London to attend his concert in the RAH together with my brother in 2 weeks and am looking forward to attending his concert again.

Looking forward to meeting some of you on the "Bolton road" again, many greeting to all of you,

Ivana from Munich

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Permalink Reply by Petra on May 6, 2014 at 6:38pm

Hello Ivana. Thanks for your astonishing report!

But, why was the German audience "lukewarm" or "cold"? I have no comparison, it was my first concert. But, nevertheless, we were inspired everybody after every song and have shouted and whistled! What have the fans made then with other concerts different?

Ha, ha, now I must laugh because I remember that our chair row from the ground had torn!!

I can also confirm that Michael has looked at you when you have given him the flower! He has even smiled!

I am glad very much for you that you see Michael alive! And I wish you that Michael is the "old person" in RAH again, as well as you know him!!!

Petra (Germany)

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Permalink Reply by sylvie boisvert on May 7, 2014 at 1:11am

Hallo Ivana,thanks for sharing your review. All I can say is that I'm sorry you were disappointed, but I'm very glad to hear you've realized Michael is only human and that you shared such a lovely moment with him. Take care sweetie and God bless. Big hugs, sincerely, Sylvie QC Canada :D

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Permalink Reply by Robin on May 7, 2014 at 1:19am

Thanks so much for your review Ivana. I am happy you got to see Michael after the show even for a brief moment. It's a special one and I know you won't forget it. I'm sorry you were disappointed about some things with the concert but it sounds like you had a great night overall!

Enjoy your next one in London!!!

Thanks for sharing!!

Robin in MD:)

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Permalink Reply by Sally Turner on May 7, 2014 at 1:43am

Hi Ivana,

Thank you for your story. I'm sorry you had both a disappointing and ending in a BIG LUCK!! I had gone to a show with my best friend and we noticed that Michael looks out into the audience during his shows. She was afraid that she was being avoided. But at the end of the show, he looked down at her winked. That changed the game as far as she was concerned. Like you, I don't like "How am I supposed to live without you" sung as a duet. I even told Doug James that I didn't care for Michael singing it that way. But what could he do? He just helped write the song that changed both his and Michaels life. I am hoping for a better report when you are done with the RAH concert.

Sally

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Tulsa on May 7, 2014 at 1:51am

Thank you Ivana for sharing your emotions throughout your concert experience and you touched me deeply with the end of your review. I am glad you had that moment to know how much MB cared that you were there that and maybe that was the most important thing for you to experience this time. Each concert experience can be different....what a lovely ending to your evening....Thank you for sharing :). Hugs,

Kathy :)

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Permalink Reply by sylvia doughty on May 5, 2014 at 11:25pm

Thanks to everyone for all your inclusions of reviews, article and photos ....thanks a lot !!! :)

I have arrived in Cardiff for tomorrow night's show and have written a little "diary entry" again for today if you want to pop in and read my nonsense !! LOL

Sylvia. Your wee Scottish friend.

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Permalink Reply by Silvy on May 6, 2014 at 12:02am

thanks girl for your news & reviews :-)

now waiting for Sylvia 's reviews!

love

Silvy from Switzerland

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Permalink Reply by Astrid Kretschmann on May 6, 2014 at 12:16am

I'll pop in tomorrow, WSF, because I can hardly keep my eyes open. Glad that you arrived safely. Hope everyone is still safe when you leave LOL. Good night, Astrid.