From: owner-alanis-digest@smoe.org (alanis-digest) To: alanis-digest@smoe.org Subject: alanis-digest V2 #71 Reply-To: alanis@smoe.org Sender: owner-alanis-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-alanis-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk alanis-digest Sunday, July 15 2001 Volume 02 : Number 071 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [AMFL] Remembering: Alanis in Lebanon [Jad Aoun ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Sat, 14 Jul 2001 11:52:04 +0200 (CEST) From: Jad Aoun Subject: [AMFL] Remembering: Alanis in Lebanon I had originally intended to write this on the 5th of July, exactly one year since Alanis performed in Lebanon, but I never got the chance. Although I may be ten days overdue, I felt that it was important to write about, what maybe, the greatest day of my life. As soon as I got home mid-afternoon on July 5, 2000, I immediately turned on the television and there she was. Alanis and the television crew were already at the venue (which was held at the seaside Dbayeh Marina, north of Beirut). She was sitting down next to the presenter and nearby were 5 people who had entered a contest to meet Alanis and ask her questions (I did enter the contest but lost). The questions ranged from "why Lebanon" to "what's next". But there is one person I will never forget. Instead of asking a question, he wanted a request. All he wanted was a kiss from Alanis. My mouth dropped to the ground! Alanis then got up, hugged him, and then kissed him on the cheek. I looked on in awe and jealousy as this occurred in front of my eyes and all I can think of was "lucky bastard!" The show was then soon over and the television station went back to regular scheduled programming. All I could think of was the concert tonight. Well the ticket said the concert would start 9pm sharp! Just a word of advice, Lebanese are rarely on time and at that time, this was "a good advice that [I] just didn’t take". I got there at 8:30 and it was already packed. I had never seen so many people at one location! I decided to remain outside the ticket booth and wait for some friends. My friends started to accumulate and by 9, we had formed a group of at least 20 people (my friends are not fanatic fans of Alanis but they like her songs and love any live performance). So we passed through the entrance and there was a huge crowd surrounding the stage! It was impossible to get through so we decided to stand in the back near the refreshment stands. I know what you are thinking, who in their right mind would want to stand in the back. Well, we stood in the back next to 7 large speakers and I mean LARGE! I wasn't until 10 did Alanis finally appear on stage and the whole crowd went wild. I feel ashamed that I cant remember what was her first song but she alternated from "Jagged Little Pill" and "Supposed..." Standing back near the speakers was probably the best thing ever. Ok our ears rang hours after the concert was over but the bass just jolted your body and it was easier to see Alanis. The most remarkable part of the night and a memory I will never forget was when the band started "Ironic". As quoted from The Washington Post, "At the Morissette concert, the audience recited the words to one song even before she had started: 'Isn't it ironic, don't you think.'" If it wasn't for Alanis' intervention, the crowd would have taken over the song. It was amazing, 8000 people in one voice singing Lebanon's favorite Alanis song of all time. Why? I don't know. Maybe it best describes post-war life and the continuing struggle in the Middle East. Whatever it, Lebanese have found comfort in the song and that night we nearly overcame Alanis not once but twice! At 11:10, Alanis thanked everyone and stepped off. Little did she know that she wasn't off the hook yet. In one loud and demanding voice the crowd chanted, "WE WANT MORE, WE WANT MORE...". As time past, many began to lose hope that she was remerge but I guess she didn’t want to disappoint anyone. She reappeared and continued to perform until 11:30 where she officially ended it and everyone went home. Well that was basically it. I hope she will return to promote her new album and maybe I can get an autograph this time! ------------------------------- Jad Aoun Beirut, Lebanon ____________________________________________________________ To unsubscribe send a message to alanis-request@smoe.org with UNSUBSCRIBE as the body of your message. ------------------------------ End of alanis-digest V2 #71 ***************************