BlahBlahCafe - Jean-Michel Jarre forum

Jote wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 12:43 pm At the very end of the stream there's a bird-eye view of a city and then it quickly zooms out to reveal the globe. I suppose this was supposed to be Bratislava, but it's actually... Frankfurt (am Main).

Maybe it's a hint for a future concert

Finaero wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 9:35 am I think this is the first time since Lyon* when the orchestral instruments have been as audible/present as they were last night.

Dr_Jones wrote: Mon May 13, 2024 10:15 am The orchestra, the deep brass sounds and especially the choir were really really good at RV2.

Choir were loving it.

Hello everybody! This is the first chance I’ve had to post on the forum since the concert, but I have been reading all the comments and what everybody has been saying. The consensus is that it was a massive success and I totally agree!

--

I was at the concert, and it was incredible. I got back to the UK late last night. For those that met me out in Bratislava, you will remember I was with Natasha, my 14 year old daughter and I promised her that Saturday and Sunday was all about Jean-Michel Jarre, the build-up, and the concert itself and that Monday and Tuesday she would be in charge and no more talk of JMJ from me!

We had a great time in Bratislava on Monday, we hired bicycles, spent time in the city and even took a bus and train ride to Austria and Hungary – three countries in one day. Monday evening we went to the top of the UFO Tower for drinks in the cool cocktail bar and moments after we arrived, Brian May walked in with his team!

I was too shy and nervous to go and say hello, but he was sitting right next to us. I overheard his team saying how great everything had gone and at one point a member of the team took a group photo and they all did a “cheers!” with their drinks and Brian said well done to each of them. So he was definitely happy with everything.

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MY TOP 5 HIGHLIGHTS

1. Meeting Dr Jones, Jote, and Wojtek. It was lovely to chat with Dr Jones before and after the concert. And I loved hearing Jote’s and Wojtek’s opinions and experiences while the concert build-up was happening when everything was so exciting. And it was great when we all met on the river boat after the show. I am just annoyed I didn’t take a photo of us all

2. In the build-up, with the background track playing and getting louder all the time, there was a moment when I looked over and saw the mirrored glass on the Aupark Tower sparkling in the last drops of the sunset, the crowds were getting really big by this point along the grassy embankment by the road, and a police car with its blue lights flashing sped along the road. It was a small but epic moment and captured just how significant this show was going to be. It was the sort of scene that could feature in an official video release.

3. Loved the fireworks! Used sparingly and never overwhelming, they only ever added to the experience. The precision of the fireworks during Rendezvous 2 was astonishing, with explosions perfectly timed to the second, emphasising the music. This really was incredible. Fireworks are old technology and complemented the digital tech perfectly.

4. The laser projections on the Aupark Tower. Looking over my right shoulder to see the Equinoxe figure rotating, the Herbalizer dancers, and the JMJ character playing Oxygene 2 was truly amazing, like the days of La Défense. I never thought I would get to see projections on that scale. And the strobe lighting effect on the UFO Tower during The Opening – wow!

5. Adiescar Chase was a brilliant addition to the band. She has great stage presence and I loved watching her dance. Her electric violin on Epica Oxygene was audible and an amazing live touch. And a didgeridoo on Azimuth – who knew that could work so well?!


MY TOP 5 WHAT IF….?

1. I loved the reworked Equinoxe 7, but it deserved some cool graphics. Equinoxe 4 and Herbalizer stole all the robots so maybe some futuristic space, and stars instead of the anonymous geometric shapes?

2. I loved the short speech from JMJ before Rendezvous 4 about aeroplanes, space flight and working with NASA in Houston. Maybe a similar short speech before Industrial Revolution, about technological progress, artificial intelligence and for us all to be optimistic and not afraid? The graphics used during Industrial Revolution were emotionally powerful and beautiful.

3. I still cannot understand why JMJ wore headphones (or were they ear defenders?) for the laser harp. He’s been playing the laser harp in one form or another for over 40 years and NEVER worn headphones before. It looked a bit odd, but even more unusual is he kept them on for the final thank you and goodnight – can anybody explain?

4. No final band line up and take a bow. It would have been great to see JMJ, Adiescar, Claude and Brian May all line up, link arms and take a bow. What a team and they all deserve the applause. I recall a great final line up and take a bow photo from Docklands, with the whole JMJ tribe in a line. The band this time around deserved the same.

5. No keytar. I was hoping there would be a JMJ x Brian May duet, like with Hank Marvin but rehearsals suggested not. That said, I think JMJ was wise to stay behind his keyboards, as a keytar x guitar duet may not have been a good look, and the laser harp x guitar duet was loads better.

Link below to:

- Live Audience Recording (1.57.06)
- Pre-Concert Build-Up (18.49)
- Cover art JPG in square format

https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/hiHs1tOuQ0

Both in WAV format. Link expires on Wed 29 May 2024.

Oh, why thank you!

Kanta wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 6:41 am The most exciting insights are live in the first episode of Starmus Diaries!

Get an exclusive look at the backstage of Starmus, showcasing what happens on the other side of the stage. Join Brian May, Jean-Michel Jarre, Garik Israelian, and more for behind-the-scenes moments, emotions, and the magic that makes Starmus unforgettable.

Video:

For some reason the video was removed and replaced by this one (I think because there was an editing error):

Richard-Eastham wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 6:15 pm Link below to:

- Live Audience Recording (1.57.06)
- Pre-Concert Build-Up (18.49)
- Cover art JPG in square format

https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/hiHs1tOuQ0

Both in WAV format. Link expires on Wed 29 May 2024.

Oh, fantastic! Thanks!

Does anybody have a (good) audio (or video) recording of Oxygene 8 from the Saturdaynight rehearsals? It was sadly enought not played during the concert although it is mention in the trackinglist in the credits...

This was really one of the best show in the last 20+ years. This format could be very well used as festivals headliner! I´m curious what format he will use in the 1,5 hour at La Rochelle...

It was nice making new friends and talk to you all!

Richard-Eastham wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 3:12 pm
I was at the concert, and it was incredible. I got back to the UK late last night. For those that met me out in Bratislava, you will remember I was with Natasha, my 14 year old daughter and I promised her that Saturday and Sunday was all about Jean-Michel Jarre, the build-up, and the concert itself and that Monday and Tuesday she would be in charge and no more talk of JMJ from me!

We had a great time in Bratislava on Monday, we hired bicycles, spent time in the city and even took a bus and train ride to Austria and Hungary – three countries in one day. Monday evening we went to the top of the UFO Tower for drinks in the cool cocktail bar and moments after we arrived, Brian May walked in with his team!

I was too shy and nervous to go and say hello, but he was sitting right next to us. I overheard his team saying how great everything had gone and at one point a member of the team took a group photo and they all did a “cheers!” with their drinks and Brian said well done to each of them. So he was definitely happy with everything.

So wonderful. Memories for a life time. Inspiration for a life time.

Richard-Eastham wrote: Wed May 15, 2024 6:15 pm Link below to:

- Live Audience Recording (1.57.06)
- Pre-Concert Build-Up (18.49)
- Cover art JPG in square format

https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/hiHs1tOuQ0

Both in WAV format. Link expires on Wed 29 May 2024.

Oh man. Listening to the WFC like track with the vibe of the people I can only imagine PLD was similar.

As I feared the Drums especially Kick is way too loud nearly drowns the music. That's another reason JMJ should move away from EDM beatz.

https://www.loudersound.com/news/brian- ... re-starmus

"This is not easy for an old soldier like me": Watch Brian May perform with Jean-Michel Jarre in Bratislava for 30,000 fans

By Fraser Lewry ( Classic Rock ) published 14 May 2024


May's performance came at this year's Starmus, the science and arts festival co-founded by the Queen guitarist
(Image credit: Tomas Benedikovic/AFP via Getty Images)

Brian May is used to playing big shows huge shows with Queen, but a weekend performance for 30,000 fans in Bratislava, Slovakia, had the guitarist publicly voicing doubts about what he was doing.

May's moment of uncertainty came as he prepared to guest at a show to open this year's Starmus Festival – an annual gathering of scientists, musicians and artists co-founded by May – with French keyboard legend Jean Michel-Jarre.

"I've put a lot of passion and work into preparing this little adventure," May posted on Instagram on the eve of the show, "but this is not easy for an old soldier like me. In fact it's probably one of the most challenging things I've taken on for a long time.

"I felt very dissatisfied with what I came up with at last night's dress rehearsal - so doing a lot of rethinking today while we all wait for showtime to come around. Why do I spend all these precious days away from home? Pursuing... what? And self-doubt rears its scary head to the point where I wonder who the hell I think I am.

"These are the kind of thoughts which beset performers, probably especially at my time of life. This is the inner reality. But I'm also conscious I'm incredibly lucky to have an opportunity like this – to work in a completely unfamiliar environment with an extraordinarily talented man with his highly skilled team. Among it all I'm very grateful."

In the end, the concert was a success. The Bridge From The Future event – which saw the city close off the Most SNP bridge over the River Danube to accommodate the staging – saw Jarre joined by May for Rendez-vous 2, the Largo section of Dvorak's New World Symphony, and May's Last Horizon and Brighton Rock showpieces. May also returned for the encore, Bratislava Time.

The two-hour concert can be watched below, with May joining the action at the 55'20" second mark.

"I’m lost for words this morning," May posted the day after the show. "It looks like we kinda hit it OK! Thanks to all last night who came and rocked! Thanks also to all you folks out there around the world who contributed to the buzz."

Brian May's next performance at this year's Starmus event will come tomorrow night (May 15) when he plays with US punk legends The Offspring at Starmus's Sonic Universe concert. This historic collaboration takes place at the Tipos Arena in Bratislava, following the Stephen Hawking Medal Ceremony.

A video I made from the rehearsals

A real multimedia event:

High Quality Concert Artwork?

Does anybody have a decent digital image file of the concert artwork they could share? The best I have is from the Vivien website, but it's still only 608px by 700px and 177kb. I'm looking for a file with enough resolution to make a decent print copy. Portrait or landscape format, preferably in Slovakian not English.

https://www.vivien.sk/event/starmus.html