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As a baby I sang along What's up from the 4 Non Blondes and Radio Gaga from Queen.
Half the fights I had with my sister growing up, were about her music playing so loud in our shared bathroom, that it would put me in a bad mood already before I was properly awake.
Or after going out with my friends, we would sleepover at my house, but unmistakeably did not get eliminated from my dads rock and roll before noon. Oh the headaches...
My dad has a very big music collection of over 2000 Cd's. The biggest genre present in this collection is rock. It's a passion of his to keep busy with music, to try and get the limited edition Cd, or to find bonus tracks that aren't usually on the album.
For me music isn't of such high importance. I never update my Ipod, I don't buy Cd's nor am I aware of new music albums of my favorites (well, cause most of them are dead...). But I do have an outspoken favorite music genre. And it's not rock.
Now, a while ago, my dad asked me if I wanted to join him to the Scorpions concert, final tour. I enthusiastically nodded yes, before even being able to come up with one song from them. I thought " Yey, concert!". So two weekends ago it was time to rock! By the time of the concert I knew three songs from the Scorpions, Hurricane, Here in my Heart and Wind of Change. My dad took out a Cd, Moment of Glory, and gave me the book lit to read up on the history of the Scorpions a bit.
In 1965 the Scorpions were started in the Germany based Hanover by Rudolf Schenker. The American influence in the German post-war rock youth scene was apparent. Die deutschen rock kinder at that time loved blue jeans, a good guitar and some heavy rock und roll!
In 1972, the rock band was complete with 4 members and launched their first, official album, Lonesome Crow. This first Cd already gave the public a strong idea of what the Scorpions were about; the piercing voice of Klaus Meine, the incredible guitar play that sings and a dazzling melody that is aimed at international success. Score!
The Scorpions grew to be an international success, from Germany, to America and all the way to Japan (Japan loves them!). 18 albums later, they announced a final tour. The guys who once started in their late teens, are now in their 60s, and have rocked enough. Its a once in a lifetime opportunity to go see such rock gods on stage.
I got my studs on, heavy metal rings on each finger, black eye liner, and left my Louis.We arrive in Antwerp where the concert took place. Long hair, leather jackets, combat boots, tattoos and the smell of beer was uniform. I felt my inner girly Claudia screaming from feeling out of place. And my dad? He was happily reliving his youth. His voice was already a bit hoarse from rocking out in the car. I was mentally prepared to experience the high point of embarrassing parents.
I did turn half deaf after having my dad sing along, literally, every song, and did experience the whole rock on finger thing in the air, headbanging and standing ovations. But, I also did experience rock legends on stage. Rock legends that amazed me, that gave me goosebumps and that knew how to entertain. They stand on stage, as if its a hobby, and as if the electric guitar is part of their body.
I returned home, having a new appreciated for hard rock. It was time to broaden my music culture, and so I did. And I am so happy I did!
