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My Darren Experiences...seeing or meeting Darren. :)
Maida Vale Studios, London, 20 April 2002: Radio 2
The beginning is usually where it starts, so I'll go with tradition.
After a long train journey from Manchester all the way down to London, I was tired and frankly, pretty sure nothing fantastical would happen.
As we arrived at Maida Vale Studios, I was met with the sight of around 30 people waiting for Darren. Needless to say I thought there were too many of us for anything to even happen.
I was told that they'd requested to perhaps go inside the studios with Darren. I pretty much immediately dismissed this, I never believed it would happen.
Then soon afterwards, Darren's car drove past fleetingly, going to the other studio door.
We were all pretty disappointed I think, but we waited around for the guy to return, who they'd asked about going in.
When he was coming back I had no idea of what would happen next.
He came up to us and said, "Well, the manager says it's OK...and I say it's OK...and HE says it's OK..."
Whereupon everyone starting squealing, and we waited by the door to be let in.
I couldn't believe it. We were going in? With Darren?
I almost started crying on the spot, I was so overcome...
When we were let inside and were making our way to the studio, I was shaking, my whole body was quivering...
When I walked in, there he was. At the mike, dressed in cords, white T-shirt and blue shirt, with his trademark tennis shoes [the red ones this time] he looked so perfect.
My eyes just fixed on him, I couldn't believe it. I took a place at the balcony and we all watched while he did a sound check...
I was laughing, nearly crying at everything he said, anything he breathed.
He was so funny, I already knew this, but not for real in the flesh had I heard him speak, or even sing live for that matter, even with Savage Garden.
He was the sweetest person ever, he seemed entirely happy with us watching him, maybe even happier as he had an audience. During tracks he talked to us, joked, laughed...he was on full form and he seemed to be enjoying every minute of it.
He kept eye contact with people during the performances. He waved to us, smiled, I nearly fainted.
When he was singing Crush I was singing along and smiling at him - he looked at me and did the "I Want You" video raised eyebrow.
When he sang Insatiable I was speechless. His voice was so pure and soft, like an angel, I couldn't speak, couldn't move, couldn't even sing along properly, I was too taken in. I knelt there on the balcony watching him move, hearing him sing, clutching my crystal cross necklace in my hand, I was blown away.
After the show, he made his way up to the balcony to give EVERYONE a special hug.
When it was my turn, I thought I had gone straight to Heaven.
It was so natural, he was so at ease with putting his strong arms around me, he held me tight and I felt so safe and loved, it was a warm cuddle. I didn't think about what I was going to do, I just wrapped my arms round his neck and hugged him back.
He was so close to me, I could feel his stubble grazing my cheek, rough and sweet...
And my lips were right by the skin of his cheek...something inside me knew I would kiss him. I thought I wouldn't dare...but I did.
My lips pressed against his cheek and felt the designer stubble scratch pleasantly against my flesh...
He said "Thankyou," in my ear and it was so soft, his voice was like honey, I almost melted in his arms.
The hug only lasted a few seconds but I was in Heaven for that short time, and his touch seemed to elongate my few moments spent with him.
When he moved on to the next person, I just stood there, I was struck with having kissed him and my mind was all over the place, I could only think that his chest was against me just then, his heart beating against mine...
When he was going back down the stairs everyone was telling him goodbye...I said, “Bye, Darren...†a couple of times, and touched his arm before he left.
I couldn't believe it, I still can't. It was the most amazing moment...his arms around me, my lips on his cheek...the memory is so vivid and beautiful.
I want to thank the people responsible for letting us in, and to Leonie and of course Darren for being so cool about letting us watch.
It was a real experience...so emotional for me and I'm sure everyone else who went in to see him.
Thankyou Darren for being such an amazing and beautiful person, and for singing like an angel, being so undeniably sweet, and for giving me that hug that I will treasure.
MTV UK Friday 5 July 2002
Camden Town, MTV Studios, London
The second time I met him...was at MTV UK for The Fridge. Fate was on my side that day...God knew what he was doing!!!!
I was meant to meet Gill from Scotland for The Fridge. Unfortunately my train was late. And then her train was late. We got the tube to Camden and then got lost trying to find the MTV studios. When we did find them, the guy said it was too late and they had enough people for the audience. I was heartbroken. But then he pulled some strings and got us in...we thought. As we got into the studio we were told that there were too many and we'd have to step out. I was SO angry but we agreed and stepped out. Eventually being told that we could watch it in the gallery along with the director and everybody, the producers.
I knew it wasn't as good as being in there with him but I bit my lip and tried to enjoy the show, which I pretty much did!!!!
Then came the news, that Darren wouldn't be staying for the whole show. The rest of the audience...they had to hang for 30 minutes while Darren had to pick up and leave. Me and Gill were like, "Can WE leave at any time?" we looked around.
There was no one stopping us. So we quickly picked up and left the gallery, walking back down the hall. In a few minutes Darren came out, he went up a flight of stairs. We witnessed Angie a few times, and Troy.
(I started laughing when I saw Troy and I hope he wasn't intimidated LOL!!)
Then Darren had gone round the other way. Gill saw him through the window of one of the other doors so we raced down (Me, Gill and Mags) to see him. He was there with Leonie...we chatted to him some but if I said anything I can't remember what it was.
He explained that he wasn't feeling well...I felt so sorry for him...Mags gently requested a picture.
He clearly wasn't in the mood for photos as he attested he looked and felt like crap (whatever, he looked bloody GORGEOUS!!!!) but he smiled and said that if we really wanted it, he would (Bless him) :)
So we got some pictures done, and he put his arm around me (sigh) then he was about to head out. He was gonna sign my autograph on the way out, he was heading out to the car on the way, and (here's the FAMOUS Revolving Door Story) - we were both rushing. By accident we both stepped into the revolving door (which is meant for one person) at the same time - I tripped over his foot. His back was like against my face lol* and I nearly died...
Then he turned around, laughed and said, "Let's all get in the same one, shall we?" with this beautiful smile. I don't think I managed anything more than a laugh because he was like *there* :O
Then we got out of the pickle that was the revolving door after getting stuck, and there was his car outside. He signed my autograph, very quickly with "Love, Darren," I thanked him, and soon after that he left. I just stood there with Gill and then waved off the car, I didn't register it at all.
I tried phoning my mum but she'd left work, when I finally got through as she'd got home, I was on the streets of Camden by the market, SCREAMING down the phone to her, she was ecstatic too (she loves him).
Then one of the stalls in the market was playing Insatiable and I started SCREAMING again. :)
It also started raining SO hard right after that but we didn't care, we were absolutely SOAKED but totally ecstatic!!!!
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Live Performances
CD:UK
Re:Covered
Party In The Park London
CD:UK and Re:Covered
Manchester Apollo 2002, Too Close For Comfort Tour
Lots of fans got to experience this day :D
For me it was a case getting down there for half-eight in the morning,
and as the shows were filmed in London, that meant I had to leave at
around 4am to catch the train down to Euston. After travelling to the
studios, they made us stand outside for ever and a day, of course. I
went in with Kay, who had got me my CD:UK ticket (thankyou Kay!!) and
it seemed forever until the show got started once we were in the studio.
Basically it's a lot of shuffling around in the studio and being told
where to go and what to do by the camera guys and directors. Darren
performed Strange Relationship once as a soundcheck and everything was
going OK, despite the fact that he wasn't very well that day. He looked
gorgeous in mmmnnn, leather jacket and tight pants. After the first
performance we shuffled around being filmed in the audience and watching
other acts and also pre-recorded acts on footage on the monitors. At
one point, just before Darren was set to perform, I was at the back of the
crowd. I knew he was right behind me watching so I kept turning round
and giggling at him, he smirked. :D
When it came time for him to perform, he was excellent. The crowd (mostly all
Darren fans) went wild and it was sooo noticeable that he was the most popular
act there.
After his performance he did a link with Cat, the presenter, for the
competition and then left, obviously to rest before Re:Covered later that
afternoon.
Re:Covered was excellent. Truly amazing. Darren was an angel. He was on
first, and sang Sexual Healing, Strange Relationship and I Can't Help Fallin'
In Love, with a little interview in between.
Sexual Healing was excellent...very rousing and he sang it beautifully.
Strange Relationship was brilliant as always. But the highlight of the
performance had to be the Elvis cover. It was fantastic the way he used
his falsetto to add a different twist on this classic ballad. I was in tears
and sobbing in the front row, crying on Laura's shoulder (thankyou Laura).
Darren must have noticed, because on the end of the song, he took a look
my way and gave me some sort of look I can't define. It was a smile. Pity?
Gratitude?? I don't know, but he noticed. I was the only one in a heap
on the floor in a puddle of tears. lol*
Party In The Park
On Sunday 7th, it was Party In The Park. It's a huge event in London for
The Prince's Trust, and this year had an audience of over 100, 000 people.
Darren was on top form. He appeared looking gorgeous in shades, dark trousers,
and a half-open button-up shirt showing glorious amounts of chest hair.
Much to the delight of his fans, he performed six songs. Insatiable, being
his trademark solo artist song that the general public knew, was first up.
Second was Strange Relationship, being the second single to be released
the next day. Third was Affirmation, which led to collective squealing
and screaming so you could tell where the die-hard fans were. After Affirmation
he sang a beautiful medley of I Knew I Loved You and Truly Madly Deeply,
followed finally by his last piece...Crush (1980 ME). Darren was the
most amazing performer of the day (*giggles* I'm not just saying that
because I'm his groupie. LMAO) :D
Too Close For Comfort 2002, Manchester Apollo 3rd October
Now I went to two Darren concerts, but bear with me 'cause I have only done one collective review I think...for the 3rd. This should whet your appetites. ;) This is my more "professional" review so it's kinda a bit more posh and not as typical of me because I am in my serious writing stance. I will try and type up hysterical accounts of the soundcheck and bla bla...which resemble the things I initially posted on the BBS when the memories were still fresh in my mind. But for now...;)
As a devoted Darren Hayes fan I waited for this particular concert in
anticipation. Having been a fan of his multi-million-selling band
Savage Garden I looked forward to seeing him perform old favourites
as well as his new solo material. I knew from experience that Darren
was amazing live and I hoped tonight would be no exception.
After having the luck to get to the front row standing in the centre,
the excitement was building.
Soon the support act for the night, a dance act named Specificus, took
the stage, warming up the crowd with a few trance tracks. It was obvious
that their type of music didn't mesh with the Darren Hayes devotees,
so the atmosphere was left rather cold for a little while.
Until, that is, die-hard fans could hear Darren's familiar voice over
the music, mixed in with some of Specificus' tracks. The crowd started
buzzing. Darren's appearance was achingly near.
Shadows could be seen moving around on the stage. Darren's band was setting
up, and the lights from Specificus' set were dimmed.
A few seconds and the figure of Mr. Hayes himself arrived on stage,
centrally placed as a spotlight flickered on to reveal him in leather
jacket and shades, gripping the microphone as the orchestral tones of
album track "Creepin' Up On You," burst into the auditorium.
Darren was greeted with ecstatic screams from old and young fans alike.
His performance of Creepin' was rather impersonal, Darren's eye
contact with fans being limited as he hid behind his glasses.
But it was obviously just a tease, as he followed with raunchy number
"Dirty," and proceeded to walk towards the edge of the stage, involving
the crowd as best he could.
Second single "Strange Relationship," proved extremely popular, as did
his debut "Insatiable," which had the audience stunned with his perfect
falsetto.
His performance of previous Savage Garden hit "To The Moon And Back," a
huge seller when it was released in the UK, was both beautiful and
slightly melancholy as Darren gave this song the respect it deserved.
Following this were short, differing versions of Savage Garden's
Affirmation album tracks "The Lover After Me," which struck a true
chord with many in the audience, and "Chained To You."
Other Savage highlights included the fantastic, upbeat performance of
the Garden's debut single "I Want You," mixed with a slight hint of
Daft Punk, and a high-energy "Affirmation," which got the crowd going.
Darren also added a little-known B-Side called "I'll Bet He Was Cool,"
which only mostly dedicated fans seemed to know of.
His last Savage tracks before the encore were the trademark ballads
"I Knew I Loved You," and "Truly Madly Deeply," which were both great
hits for the band.
Though balancing the atmosphere out with renditions of old songs, Darren
held his own with strong and powerful versions of most of the material
on "Spin," his debut solo album. "Crush (1980 ME)," was suitably remixed with
a breakdown of Madonna's "Holiday," in the middle. "Heart Attack" was a
fiery, angst-filled track which the crowd appeared to love.
"Good Enough," was turned into a beautiful gospel version allowing
excellent harmonies to travel through the music.
"What You Like," was the event that many had been waiting for...the debut
of Darren and his electric guitar. Darren had clearly been practising
and it turned out well as he jammed with bass player Lee during the song.
For the encore, it was Darren's title track for his album, "Spin,"
which summed up the evening nicely.
The energy was left buzzing and crackling through the theatre long after
Darren had left the stage. His performance (and that on the next night)
was perfect. Heart-rending when he sang Savage Garden songs...he gave
them just the right amount of time and he did them amazing justice.
He burst out with his solo material and did a superb job, proving that
he can indeed make it on his own.
Darren's ability to emote through the music, and his beautiful way
of interacting with the fans when he performs live, is only part of
what makes his music so special. This man is a great performer. A true
songwriter. And success is just a fraction of what he deserves.
***
Also keep watching for a CD:UK review of recently when I went back down to London to see Darren perform I Miss You as a pre-record for the show. :)
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