JARRE UK

AKROPOLIS CONCERT REPORT

Wednesday 20th June 2001 - The Main (Broadcast) Concert

This was to be the final night for Jean Michel to perform in Athens. The fans were all geared up and ready to go. Patrick Rondat was ready, as was the rest of Jean Michel's band. Early in the evening, before the concert, fans had banded together to form an alliance of atmosphere for the final, broadcasted concert. One slight letdown though that had been rumoured was the removal of Ethnicolor due to time constraints with the broadcast that was to appear on Greek TV.

9:15pm - all the TV crews were there from various different TV stations. All the VIPs were there, as were the fans, ready and waiting in their seats. Everyone was ready, except for some of the VIPs who had still yet to find their ways to their seats. Then all of a sudden (probably due to the time constraints of the live broadcast) the lights dimmed (except for the crowd) and out blasted the first few bars of Oxygene 4 - 15 minutes ahead of schedule. By this time, there were still a lot of VIPs who had not found their seats yet, and who didn't find them until the next track.

The version of Oxygene 4 was no different to any previous versions of that week, but the crowd enjoyed it. After the song, Jean Michel addressed the crowd in both Greek and French - stating that he was going to mix Greek, French and English. Also mentioned was the fact that the concert was being broadcast live.

Next up came Oxygene 2, with the usual (but sounding a lot better) intro of around 1:30. The bassline this time though was a lot better than previous nights, although the track was essentially the same as the Oxygene Tour version.

Time for Equinoxe 4, with a very nice intro of around 30 seconds (sounding slightly better than previous nights). The crowd at this point were ecstatic (well, at least the usual group of fans huddled together in the upper tiers, getting told off by various VIPs for being too loud!). Drums by Laurent Faucheux were sounding a lot better this evening on this track. Unexpectedly though, near to the end of the track, the audience were treated to an improvised outro courtesy of Jean Michel on his keyboard - which was mixed in well with the overall sound of the track.

Magnetic Fields 2 - again, we were treated to the usual version we all know, but with quite a few bubbles being blown out from the stage towards the audience. Jean Michel gave his usual speech after the track about how he would like to see the Elgin Marbles returned back to Athens from the British Museum.

At this point, most of the fans were beginning to wonder what had happened to Patrick Rondat, especially since he had appeared the previous night on almost every track. Je Me Souviens was next up, with a better bassline, but no improvised organ played by Jean Michel this time - which is a shame as the organ added to the overall sound of the track. This version though, due to the fact Patrick wasn't around, didn't have that particular edge it had during the previous night on the 19th. This time around though, Jean Michel mentioned that Laurie Anderson was not available to perform the track live.

Up came the laser harp frame and on-stage walked Patrick Rondat - time for Chronologie 3. The laser harp sound this time had the volume levels correct, and boomed out of the speakers and bounced all around the audience who were within the Herodion. With the mix of the Soprano, and Patrick's excellent guitar playing, this was to be the best version that had been played over all three nights.

Oxygene 8 was to be the best version that had been played over all three nights, especially with Patrick Rondat adding a lot to the song, giving it more of an edge. Jean Michel whipped the crowd up into a clapping frenzy, while Laurent Faucheux beat out dance rhythm drum beats to the song. Probably THE best version of the track you will hear.

All of the fans were screaming by this point and you could tell they were all enjoying themselves (I for one should know, I was part of the those group of fans). Treated to the usual Theremin intro, but with some excellent guitar playing by Patrick Rondat, Magnetic Fields 1 threw itself from the speakers. More excellent guitar playing by Patrick was to ensue, as was more Theremin playing on behalf of Jean Michel.

The crowd at this point knew we were not going to be treated to Ethnicolor, and so began to plot a few shout-outs. Band introduction time, with Patrick Rondat's applause being the loudest... and a certain Marco Blom who was sat within the group of fans introducing Jean Michel Jarre to the rest of the audience (just in case you didn't know who the person playing on stage was) - which was responded with "Who?" coming from another fan - obviously not knowing which artist he had come to see... :O)

Vivaldi was next to follow, with Patrick's usual ecstatic guitar playing, musically not being any different to any previous versions. Time for a break with the interval.

10:30pm and yet again, the audience were cut amidst their interval break as Gloria began earlier than schedule, with only about 15 minutes break being allocated. So while Gloria was playing, everyone had to rush back to their seats quite quickly.

Next came Oxygene 13, dedicated to Melina Mercouri. Creating a somber mood over the audience, some of the fans decided to get their lighters out, with only about 3 or 4 people managing that feat, and so proceeded to create a slow wave of hands from side to side, with no much reaction from anyone else in the audience unfortunately.

At this point, some of the fans were a little dismayed by the fact Ethnicolor was dropped, and so decided to let Jean Michel know about this, with ensuing bursts of "ETHNICOLOR!" "WE WANT ETHNICOLOR!" being shouted out - with Jean Michel acknowledging the pleas for Ethnicolor with a smile.

Time for Souvenir of China. Again, using the orchestra to the full, and an improvised solo by Jean Michel on one of his keyboards.

Equinoxe 7 was next in line, with the fans having to get the rest of the audience going with a large lump sum of clapping in time with the music. Patrick Rondat yet again was still yet to return back on-stage though.

Out bursted Chronologie 6, with a lot of fans hands now starting to ache due to the amount of clapping that had taken place during the night. The bassline on this track sounded a lot more cleaner and funkier than previous versions, and the choir joining in as per usual. Laurent bashed out a few more drum rhythms, whilst Jean Michel jammed on his accordion. At this point we all knew the fans were starting to love the proceedings with an ensuing "WE LOVE YOU JEAN MICHEL!" coming from somewhere within the audience...

Rendez-vous 2 was next up as per usual. Full orchestra and choir with the modulated laser harp sound mixing from the old sound to the new sound used during the 12 Dreams version was to be used. Nothing really new happened during this version.

Next up, Oxygene 12. Unfortunately, the bassline that had blasted through the speakers the previous night was somehow sadly missing. One thing to note during this version though was the backdrops, as since Ethnicolor was not to be played, the backdrop images (the faces) from that track were recycled for this track instead, and in doing so fitted quite well.

The fans were really starting to miss Ethnicolor by this point, and so decided that they should make their grievance known to the public by giving an introduction to the next song - "ETHNICOLOR!" "NO ETHNICOLOR!" "REVOLUTION!!!"

Out burst Revolution, with the fans joining in - musically though not any different to any previous versions from the other concerts during the previous nights.

Time for Akropolis, with this version being the most emotional version of all three nights. With the full orchestra and choir, and the foam/fake snow pouring onto everyone made this a really special night. Also to ensue was a standing ovation for Jean Michel. Let's just hope this track gets officially released.

Final song of the night - Rendezvous 4. Although no-one was allowed onto the floor to jam along with Jarre, everyone still got into the spirit of things. Patrick Rondat blasted out his intro to the track, and made sure everyone was having a good time - and everyone was.
This was probably the best version out of all that was played over all three nights.

Well, concert over, proceedings finished and everyone can now relax. Audience were happy, the fans were fulfilled, as was Jean Michel Jarre. Let's all look forward to the next concerts in the not too distant future.

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