ROSELAND - NOVEMBER 19, 1997

Well, where to begin? I have to say, I am a beginner at this; so bear with me for a few moments while I gather my thoughts! I will also admit that I'm not the best writer in the world; but anyway, I'm going to start from the beginning and tell it all until the very end!



Okay, it all started back in OCTOBER. Now, I have to be honest, I do not spend my time listening to the radio or watching VH-1 to get information about certain things! I only listen to the radio when I'm in the car, and I only watch VH-1 when I know DURAN'S going to be on! Well, this turned out to be my lucky day! I was driving to SHOP-RITE (yes, I shop there) and the station that I normally listen to had stupid crap on, so I started flipping through stations (the ones I programmed). Suddenly, I turn to Z-100 (and, by then, I had already gotten into the parking lot and was about to turn the motor off), and I hear an announcement that DURAN DURAN were going to be playing in NEW YORK CITY on NOVEMBER 19th! I found the nearest piece of paper I could find (I would of written the date on my hand if I had to), and wrote down the date.


So, after shopping at SHOP-RITE (they actually played "ORDINARY WORLD" on their store radio. I don't know if that was coincidental or not, but I wasn't complaining), I went quickly home and called ticket master. I called on a FRIDAY, and it turned out that it was the first day of the ticket sale (they went on sale at 10:00am that morning. It was around 6:00pm that night when I called)! I got two tickets for my friend and I, called her that night, and said "guess what? DURAN are playing at ROSELAND in NEW YORK, and guess who got tickets?" She of course screamed and asked me where I heard it. I told her that I heard it on the radio station she listens to! (I don't even listen to Z-100! I'm glad I did that night though!)


So, that's how it all began. She still thanks me to this day for telling her about the show. I had to tell how I found out about the tickets because it was just too funny.


Now, for the show. How was it that WEDNESDAY evening? Man, let me tell you, NEW YORK is the place to be to see a show! OH MAN, THE SHOW ROCKED! IT KICKED ASS! The place was standing room only (which I had no idea, since I never been there). It was hot and one person collapsed because of the heat (I mean, we were packed like sardines [spelling?] and then you had these stupid people wanting to meet their friends who are, like, all the way out in the boon docks. Squashing us more, because they were too stupid to come in at the same time with them, or they wanted a drink or something. I was surprised that I was able to move). Another person collapsed after "AL'S NOT WELL" very long set (well, it was an hour; but no one wanted to see them. I mean, I never even heard of these people myself. All kept saying "WE WANT DURAN DURAN"!) and one more person fainted during "SAVE A PRAYER". We ended up being in the eighth row; but after awhile (making sure we had great views of SIMON and NICK [we planned all of this in advance. She likes NICK and I like SIMON.]), we ended up in the sixth row (which was fine by me, because I wouldn't of wanted to be in the back where you wouldn't of been able to see a damn thing).



Well, despite all of that (and the fact that there was this stupid guy smoking in front of me, hence blowing smoke in my face. I had to wave my tour program to get the smoke away from me), DURAN DURAN were in good form. They were 15 minutes late coming on (what else is new?) and the opening number was "MEDAZZALAND" (I heard someone say "I don't know this song, but it has a nice beat". I wanted to tell her, "you don't know the song? Where have you been for the past month and a half?"). Anyway, when NICK came out, everyone went crazy. He sounded good for someone who was recovering from an illness (in fact, at the time, I didn't even know there was anything wrong with him), and he looked great. There's debate between my friend and I about what color suit he was wearing (she says it was black). I honestly don't remember, because once SIMON came on, I was on him the whole time. I do know that NICK was wearing a black tie and a white shirt, though! I couldn't figure out what was up with that newspaper, however. It was hard to hear him as well, but the song was wonderful as usual. WARREN was wearing all black like he normally does. While this song is playing, I heard someone say "but SIMON isn't there." She was anxiously waiting for him as I was!

Okay, time for the next song, which was "BIG BANG GENERATION" (and the moment I was waiting for). Yes, you guessed it, SIMON comes out and the audience goes crazy again (can you blame them? Look at the man!). He had on these tight beige pants and a black sparkle shirt. If you glanced away from him for a second (and who would want to?), you'd miss something; so I was on him the whole time! (I loved the guitar, though, on this song, I think it sounded great.) Anyway, SIMON sounded beautiful, and he was full of energy that night. He was like "check this out", "HUNGRY LIKE THE WOLF" starts, and everyone goes nuts again. I am telling you, this was a happening crowd (and I'm not saying that because I was born in the city)! We all knew the words to every song they did (even "SECRET OKTOBER", which I was surprised about). We were all jumping and dancing (some of us screaming [not me, I'm not a screamer. I'm a dancer and a singer!]) having a great time. The next song was "WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" Oh my God, great single material. LOVED IT!!!!

The rest of the show went like this "ELECTRIC BARBARELLA", "A VIEW TO A KILL", "OUT OF MY MIND", "MICHAEL (YOU'VE GOT A LOT TO ANSWER FOR" [this turned out to be the last time they played this song], "SAVE A PRAYER" (GREAT SYNTHESIZER SOUNDS!), "BE MY ICON", "ANYONE OUT THERE", "BURIED IN THE SAND", "COME UNDONE", "FRIENDS OF MINE", "CARELESS MEMORIES", and the encore songs being "SECRET OKTOBER", "ORDINARY WORLD", and "RIO".

I have to say, I was very concerned at how SIMON was going to sing "ORDINARY WORLD", but when he decided to sing down an octave, a big sigh of relief came over me. I'm glad he didn't try for the high notes near the end because the last time it was done (during the PAVOROTTI concert in '95) he was definitely straining a tad bit [I know this, because I was able to feel it], so I was very glad he sung it the way he did at ROSELAND! It was so beautiful and so moving. (And yes, three months later I still have the song in my head!) I have to be honest. To me, it is not a concert without doing this song.

Overall, the whole show (not including the opening act because they sucked) was FANTASTIC!!!! OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!! (Okay, people, they didn't play "THE REFLEX", "NOTORIOUS", "PLANET EARTH", or "TOO MUCH INFORMATION" this time, but don't you think it's good to not be so predictable?) Now, despite what some stupid morons said (I won't name names, but you know who you are), the sound was fine to me. Obviously those people who said the sound sucked were all the way in the back. I was able to hear everything great okay? And, I loved it when SIMON licked his fingers during "COME UNDONE"! So to all those people who didn't, fuck you!

Anyway, this was one show I will never forget and I'm sure whoever else was there, won't forget it either. It was great!! This was concert number two for me, and it was fantastic! Can't wait for them to return; and believe you me, I'll be ready!

TO MY HOMEPAGE