[vernonsullivan]

800 Peter Pans at her window


Fan review by Vernon Sullivan for SOTR
Jun 21, 2002, De Meervaart, Amsterdam, Holland


One concert that I definitively enjoyed was Nelly Furtado's in Amsterdam on June 21.

The venue, Meervaart, is very comfortable, well conceived with the architecture suited for the eclecticism of the crowd and the artists.

5 pm: The first fans file into the venue and await the arrival of their favourite singer. I learned later, that she was already there, long before.

6 pm: the 'bulk' of the fans arrive discretely.

7 pm: the doors open, about forty fans enter the venue and head straight for the stage to take the best spot. For the next hour, the venue fills with a mixed and colourful public. Bob Marley plays on the music system. What a programme…

8:10 pm: Who's the opening act? DJ Lil'Jaz himself! He heats up the ambiance with his records along with excellent scratching. He clevery plays Michael. Jackson and Imeni' Allou (who made a lot of noise in Europe about ten years ago).

40 minutes later: it's back to waiting with various annoying musical instrument adjustments, but which are so indispensable. Attention, it's serious here; we aren't here see to a concert by De La Soul…

9 pm (exactly): the first notes of Baby Girl play and Nelly Furtado appears. She delivers the set list, now classic, of the Burn in the Spotlight Tour. No disappointment since everything is known ahead of time, and both the vocal and musical quality was right on. During the now universal 'I'm Like a Bird', the public sings the whole song like a vibrant choir.

There were also the famous soap bubbles that looked like little ghosts in the sky and when they burst, looked like rain. Nelly Furtado steadily danced and jumped around - on more than one occasion almost got hit in the eye by her sweat-shirt's stings (I spent half the show worrying about them…)

I have just a little criticism, the quality of the lights were unfavourable to Nelly's face. Most probably all the photographers right in front of the stage had something to do with it.

Moreover, the never-ceasing dancer (permanent promoter of Gulf and Puma), creates an atmosphere of hip hop and adding a certain charm to the show.

10:30 pm: after having emptied three bottle of Spa (one of which on the audience), signing numerous autographs, shaking many hands, receiving flowers, welcoming all the stuffed animals thrown onto the stage with open arms, Nelly Furtado finished the show with one single encore. Then the lights turn on quickly thereafter and the stage equipment started to be de-assembled. The 800 people attending the show slowly make their way out.

A detour to the souvenir stands to find out that the prices are democratic (we are in the Netherlands!)

Cherry on the cake: around 11:30 pm, Nelly Furtado comes out to meet her fans (approximately 60 fans), she takes time to speak to each and every one of them, she lets them take pictures with her, she signs autograph after autograph, and even gives giant hugs to some of them!!!!

Definitely, this girl is not like any other.