Blah Blah Cafe, the Jean-Michel Jarre forum

[thesynthesist]

As always…. Same boring playlist… I think that Jarre is completely done . Less and less material on stage, and he is not even trying to hide the fact that he is not playing any note (during mf2 solo for example). Sad ending.

The "only" good think was, there was small improvisation bits here and there, especially the one before Coachella Opening was sort of cool i'd say and I'm glad that he's actually doing some stuff with the new Korg PS3300 synth rather than using it like a massive paperweight like GRP A4 back in the electronica tour

Coachella Opening video :

[Dr_Jones]

The only thing live this tour is Ableton.

But as a show it's rather spectaculair.

[Richard-Eastham]

As always…. Same boring playlist… I think that Jarre is completely done . Less and less material on stage, and he is not even trying to hide the fact that he is not playing any note (during mf2 solo for example). Sad ending.

Agree. I recall seeing some clip somewhere of one of his 2025 shows and there was an overhead shot during RV4 and he was doing nothing. Not playing the top line melody, just zero going on. Hands not moving. Surely he could play his simple, strong melodies live .... Oxy 4, RV 4 etc. Nobody would care if he screwed up or played a bum note.

I get that back in the Cities In Concert days - those one night only, no second chance situations - he'd want to play safe. But this is a tour, repeating the show week after week. So why not just get 2-3 support musicians, inc. a live drummer and rehearse? And play properly. We'd all love him the more for making the effort!

While I'm at it...

1. At least one track with a portable synth. That's a classic Jarre look .... him with the keytar at the start of Lyon, Docklands, and La Defense, and a constant feature of the EiC shows created some of the most memorable images of electronic music performance.

2. Likewise, the laser harp. An iconic image. Has he given a reason for no laser harp in these shows? Just don't get why he has dropped his one big signature showmanship moves.

[Richard-Eastham]

As always…. Same boring playlist… I think that Jarre is completely done . Less and less material on stage, and he is not even trying to hide the fact that he is not playing any note (during mf2 solo for example). Sad ending.

The "only" good think was, there was small improvisation bits here and there, especially the one before Coachella Opening was sort of cool i'd say and I'm glad that he's actually doing some stuff with the new Korg PS3300 synth rather than using it like a massive paperweight like GRP A4 back in the electronica tour

Coachella Opening video :

Love the improv and he'd should do 40 mins of this stuff and just throw it out there for download. Forget all the formal admin needed for an official album release, just place some creative, weird ambient stuff on his own website as self published works. What's stopping him?

The video is spectacular and the lights alongside the crowd really work. Be interesting to see if that set up is repeated later in the tour.

The stadium looks half empty though, bit embarrassing

[Jote]

Agree. I recall seeing some clip somewhere of one of his 2025 shows and there was an overhead shot during RV4 and he was doing nothing. Not playing the top line melody, just zero going on. Hands not moving. Surely he could play his simple, strong melodies live .... Oxy 4, RV 4 etc. Nobody would care if he screwed up or played a bum note.

Well I would. He butchers the Oxygene 2 ending and I absolutely hate it. I have no problem with playback, as he clearly is not a great player and his muscles aren't getting any younger, but for crying out loud, just PRETEND you're playing.

2. Likewise, the laser harp. An iconic image. Has he given a reason for no laser harp in these shows? Just don't get why he has dropped his one big signature showmanship moves.

90% of the concert attendees will tell you that this was one the greatest shows they've ever seen so why bother?

The stadium looks half empty though, bit embarrassing

The location is partially to blame. Would've gone, but there was no way for me to get back home after the show and not that much hotels there. Not that Słupsk last year (fun fact - exactly a year ago) was any better in this regard (in fact it was much worse), but I least I could take a bus to Sopot and watch the sunrise on the beach (which, fun fact, is exactly what I did on this very Fri/Sat night - I just didn't attend a JMJ concert beforehand).

[Xyxophas]

Radom, apart from that important historical anniversary, is also a meme-city in Poland and many people make fun of it. I've heard from several people that it's funny someone like Jarre, who used to draw millions to his concerts, has now been reduced to performing in Radom.

I skipped this year's tour too. I mostly liked it, though I share your doubts. Logistics were definitely better than last year. Dolina Charlotty is in the middle of a forest with very poor mobile coverage. There were few parking spaces. Getting onto the main road took some people several hours because everything jammed. I'm glad I didn't drive there. I walked those dozen or so kilometers to Słupsk at night and waited there until 6 AM for the train home. The stadium in Radom, however, has better transport connections.

I'm now waiting for Athens.

[Glco8284]

https://youtu.be/SlE98Yq9k3k?is=XI0EJNUe0z8CHjnE

[thesynthesist]

Radom, apart from that important historical anniversary, is also a meme-city in Poland and many people make fun of it. I've heard from several people that it's funny someone like Jarre, who used to draw millions to his concerts, has now been reduced to performing in Radom.

I skipped this year's tour too. I mostly liked it, though I share your doubts. Logistics were definitely better than last year. Dolina Charlotty is in the middle of a forest with very poor mobile coverage. There were few parking spaces. Getting onto the main road took some people several hours because everything jammed. I'm glad I didn't drive there. I walked those dozen or so kilometers to Słupsk at night and waited there until 6 AM for the train home. The stadium in Radom, however, has better transport connections.

I'm now waiting for Athens.

---

My hope for this year is, the Ibiza and ADE gig since ibiza is quite a special place and ADE seem like it might be a one off thing (i feel like ibiza one might have a different set list but we'll see I guess ) *fingers crossed*

[Xyxophas]

My hope for this year is, the Ibiza and ADE gig since ibiza is quite a special place and ADE seem like it might be a one off thing (i feel like ibiza one might have a different set list but we'll see I guess ) *fingers crossed*

It’s good that you’re keeping hope alive, and I wish us all the best for it to come true. Though deep down I have a feeling that Ibiza and ADE will have the exact same setlist and visuals, just scaled to fit the club sizes. I hope I'm wrong.
I was thinking about going to Ibiza and combining the concert with a holiday but work plans turned out differently.

And let's just hope nobody gets the bright idea to put those damn chairs right in front of the stage in dance clubs.
I read comments saying that security in Radom was chasing people away from the stage and telling them to sit down, even though Jarre was encouraging everyone to come closer. Personally, I like to be quite energetic at concerts, so there's no way I could just sit still the whole time.

[rinogurr]

Full concert:

[Greece2001]

For tonight, the Athens concert of Jean Michel Jarre is SOLD OUT!...

[Glco8284]

It’s not complete the applause and some tracks between the opening and oxygene 2 are missing

Full concert:

[Richard-Eastham]

Zoolookologie missing the sound?

[Dr_Jones]

Everybody in Athens: have fun tonight!

[rinogurr]