We Are United!

There is something crazy going on in Hamburg. Something like this.

(1)

Last week I was in Hamburg for a business meeting. We were a group of ten people from different locations of my company. Since we were working quite concentrated and for long hours, one of my colleagues, a Hamburger, suggested a joint Tuesday evening to all of us. His exact words were "If you want to spend an interesting but somewhat different evening I am your man. I won't tell you in advance what it is going to be, but I promise if you say no you will miss out on something quite special'.

A  word and a blow, and I was in. We met at the front door at the agreed time, and Thomas took us to central Hamburg. In the train he gave away another information, we were on the way to something cultural I learnt. Well, that was good, right? But I still did not know what exactly was planned for us. We stopped at a church and Thomas said, 'This is the Evangelic Church of Hamburg, we won't go in there.' Ah, good to know! I am not religious, but I am an open-minded woman. I love churches. Faith, if done in the right way, can be world-changing. We then came to the next building and Thomas said, 'This is the Free Evangelistic Church of Hamburg- we will go in there. I'm taking you to choir practising!' Oh, dear! What? Were we supposed to listen to chants? However, I bravely followed and we walked inside. The building was already filled with a lot of people, and more and more of them trooped in. I was amazed. I noticed people of all shapes and sizes, from young to old and from different backgrounds, as I could see. How great was that? Seeing that, I got more and more curious. The atmosphere I sensed was so touching to me that I became most willing to listen to any song they might perform. We found our seats, and I still absorbed everything in the hall. There were three huge screens, a lot technical equipment and lights; a live band and a choir began to line up near the stage. 

(2) This was before it began

As if this wasn't enough of first impressions, Thomas announced we were going to sing as well. The audience, Thomas explained, will serve as an additional background choir. Halleluja! By now, I estimated, there were about fivehundred people in the room. Finally, the light dimmed and the room got completely quiet. The music set in, and to my surprise, the band performed 'We Will Rock You' by Queen. With that they got me! What on earth was going on here?

When the last tones of the song were fading out the audience was already enthralled to bits. Nearly everyone in the world knows that song, the lyrics and the melody. Music is a language, and all of us are fluent speakers! Without being invited to the people were standing, singing and dancing. Is not that wonderful? The initiator of the event, Niels is his name I learnt then, welcomed us and explained what songs we had on the agaenda tonight. Please have a look, and you will understand my exitement. Sunrise Avenue, R. Kelly, David Guetta I can do! How unusual for a church event!

(3) After the event I stayed for a while to process what just had happened

It went like this. Niels, with the support of the band you can see in the first video, introduced us to the lyrics and melodies. The lyrics were displayed on the screens, higlighted in green or red, depending on high or low- pitched sounds.  We rehearsed the song three times, after this it was time to perform. 'Up, up, up everyone!' Niels commanded and a grandiose singing and dancing began once more. It's been  so much fun!

We did very well I think and, waiting for the next song, I perceived and enjoyed the excitement and anticipation of the people in the hall. I could feel all of it myself. A vocal artist entered the stage and,  with an incredible voice,  he catapulted me into a whirlwind of emotions.  For a few days and some personal but beautiful reasons I had been very vulnerable, and the song throw me on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. Everything came together when the song wore on, and I stood there, barely knowing how to control myself. Please listen.

(4)

Singing with this guy, Latonius as we know now, was my favourite moment. I loved it so much, I was fighting back my tears. Maybe it was not so much for the lyrics or the melody, or the song itself. It was because I suddenly knew that everything the future was holding for me would turn out alright.  It gave me certainty, confidence, and a great portion of positivity. This was so true in my case and I clearly saw my way: love, hope, beauty, understanding, giving,  respect, effort, and again love. Those things are the key elements in my life and I will share. I will share with everything I have.

Annotation: During the event it was not allowed to take photos or to record.

References:
(1) Hamburg singt, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WILvbFxKh8
(2),(3) Images my own             
(4) Latonius, Home
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V4onC-7Fz3I