Under Tension
While not quite a weekend, it was time off for my wife and last year I had bought tickets to the Kylie Minogue concert in Helsinki. My wife isn't a fan, nor am I, but I like a few songs and she has been in my Australian media orbit since I was a kid. This was my second gig of hers - the first was her last visit to Finland back in 2011.
My wife booked the hotel and when we turned up, the receptionist was bothering around with something with the booking, as if someone was wrong. We haven't had a lot of hotel luck over the years, with the worst experience being getting robbed in Amsterdam of my wife's entire suitcase, from the hotel security room. There have often been issues. This time though, our pretty basic room wasn't ready on time (perhaps it had been trashed the night before) and I think for the first time ever,
We got upgraded to a suite.
It was nice to have the upgrade, but there is no way I would have paid the asking price for it per night, because I just don't see the point. We were awake in the room a total of about two hours (including having a bath), so all the amenities in the world are useless. Perhaps if staying for several night it would be fine, or if money didn't matter that much.
Dinner and a show
As my wife was working the day (and while we were travelling on the train), we had a pretty quick turn around from getting the room, to dinner and then off to the concert. The Italian restaurant attached to the hotel was fine for a risotto and a glass of wine, and then we took an Uber (my first since Hivefest in Poland 2018) to the venue. A bit cheaper than a taxi, and easier to book.
Did you know that Kylie Minogue has a wine range?
I am guessing it only sells at her gigs, but it wasn't too bad for a rosé prosecco. Not my favourite drink at the best of times, but was fitting for the evening.
And speaking of fitting for the evening.
As it was pouring down with rain, my wife had an umbrella and a jacket and a this and a that and another thing... And forgot to bring a cloth tote bag to carry them in. The hotel happened to be selling one a "Tom of Finland" bag, being just after Pride week. I said to my wife that she will fit right in at the Kylie concert, and she didn't really react.
It wasn't until we got to the concert venue which sat 8000 in an ice hockey arena, that she asked "so... is Kylie a... Yes. Yes she is a gay icon. Lots of tight shorts and Kylie t-shirts, and that was on the men. When we went in about half hour after doors opened, my wife was pretty shocked that it was pretty empty, with only about 5% of the seats filled. Even when the warmup act (some DJ) was playing, it was only about 10% filled. But as Kylie came on, it was completely filled.
It was also her first concert back after cancelling her last four shows due to illness and she obviously wasn't still at 100% as she had to rely on her backup singers a little more for the full range, but overall, it was a decent gig, a bit of fun, and the crowd were more active than the average Finnish crowd.
More flamboyant, you could say.
She only sang a few from her new album, which is good for these kinds of concerts from artists with careers that range for forty-odd years, as fans date back. She sang things from each period, including her very eighties first song, The Loco-Motion. The stage was pretty simple, with the band and backup singers not moving too much, and a small flock of backup dancers doing their thing. It was a far simpler show than the last one I saw. Which suits me. Too much at a gig and it becomes like a Marvel movie, all show, no story.
And then it was another Uber back to the hotel, and into the massive bathtub for a soak. I love baths, but they are very uncommon in Finnish homes, so it is only at some hotels where I get to enjoy one. I find them more relaxing than a sauna, as does my wife, but she won't completely admit it - but is begrudgingly saying that they are sometimes more relaxing.
And every time she has a bath, she wonders if we can put one in our home.
And after a slow breakfast where we didn't have to worry about organising allergy acceptable foods for Smallsteps, it is back on the train and headed toward home again. We were gone less than 24 hours, but it was a nice little break away, and I think it will be a decent start for my wife to release some tension and begin her summer holidays with.
Taraz
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Sometimes these hotels give the worst experience, sometimes they charge so high and the service is just stupid, you just think before visiting any other hotel again, these kinds of issues are really common for me even when going somewhere local. I think sometimes it's often better to visit your family and friends who are at that place, it's way more easy and comfortable to stay with them and have a good time enjoying your trip...
Besides these hotel issue, I do think you might have enjoyed the concert and had a good time!
I would normally agree, but it also depends on the culture, and of course the type of friends. Though in this case, we wanted time together, just the two of us :)
Dear @tarazkp !
Kylie Minogue would be close to 60 years old now!
She was just emerging as a star when I was a kid.
She was the blonde Western beauty that East Asian men envisioned.
Her songs were upbeat and cheerful dance music.
When I saw your wife again, I thought she looked like Kylie Minogue!😄
East Asian men think Northern European women are big and fat!😲😄
So, I wonder how your wife stays so slim!😃
She looks just like the blonde Nordic beauty I imagine her to be!
I thought all Asian men liked fat white women.
😆
Ah what fun. Did you know my name is Kylie? Yep. Too Aussie. Weirdly yesterday at the beach I met a guy called Jason. I won't forget his name in a hurry. Consequently I had Locomotion in my head all arvo. A terrible story that pales next to a fun 24 hours for you both.
No I did not! So I will call you Charlene from now on!
I'm surprised Kylie Minogue is still giving concerts. She was a very popular person 15-20 years ago. She's 57, I thought she was older.
The concert area looks very nice, full of people. Minogue looks energetic despite her age.
The hotel prices were sometimes ridiculously expensive. You're right to think it's too much to pay for 2 hours.
She started as an actress in an Australian show that helped start many of the Australian international careers. These days, age isn't the same as it was a few decades ago. Not only are there the surgeries, but people tend to look after themselves better, with exercise and decent food.
It looks like it was a pretty great show considering everything. Hotels are just out of control these days. I just finished watching a show on Netflix called The Residence and Kylie was in that for a few of the episodes. She played herself and it was pretty fun.
I don't know the show, but I wonder if she still remembers her acting skills - it has been a while. She started as an actress and was even in a few movies and plenty of bit parts here and there and voices.
She seemed to do fairly well though she was playing herself, so that likely made it a bit easier for her.
I actually really liked that show. It was very clever.
Yeah, my wife and I enjoyed it too.
"Can't get you out of my head" is the only song of hers I know, but I remember her being a popular artist. It's nice to hear that she still performs and has a lot of fans willing to see her. I have heard that nostalgia tours and performances are still a big way for them to earn when they're past their prime.
Congrats on getting an upgrade. I have yet to experience it in hotels nor flights.
You probably would know a few if you heard them :)
I think so. A lot of the younger performers can't pull together a full concert well with their song list. The old performers have depth.
We have been downgraded before! :D
I probably will. She was pretty big back then.
Yeah, but I think it's because there are a lot of new artists coming out that this seems to be the case. Olivia Rodrigo and Sabrina Carpenter [I just know their names but not their song] are really popular though.
I haven't experienced this before, since I always fly economy :D
Very nice of you taking your wife around to get relief and stress free
Have to do it sometimes :)
Hahaha! That's necessary 😁
A good rest at a concert. Just think, I heard Kylie Minogue songs when I was a schoolboy, I'm still young :)
We are still young ;)
I didn't know that she was a gay icon. I have not heard her in over a decade, regardless it must have been a fun show. Though I recall her as hot, but that might be from 30 years ago, so she is probably a grandma now lol.
Huge.
She is 57 and still in pretty good shape!
wow , look at all those ppl. nice digs also. (i mean the hotel)
Kylie still looks good after all these years! 😉😎🤙
She is doing well for herself :)
This journey feels like it was not just a refreshing getaway but also a chance to bond and create shared memories :)
Yeah, it was good. A few funny experiences along the way :)
My wife and daughter just saw her in London. It's too much pop for my tastes, but I'm sure she puts on a good show. She's nearly as old as me, so doing well.
I can listen to a lot of different music, so it is fine. 57 and still performing pretty well!
What a fun and refreshing little getaway! Love how everything from the unexpected suite upgrade to the Kylie concert came together, even with the rain. Sounds like the perfect kickoff to summer!
Hopefully the rain lets up at some point though and there are some beach days!
Glad you got that get-away! Less than 24 hours - that's efficient! And I'm glad that KM (I always forget how to spell her right, sorry) is still true to what Pop was when she surged, and not to what it turned into. Quantity vs quality and such. Brings back some memories. Most of her stuff was before my time, but we did listen to "Can't get you out of my head" a lot.
As far as Australia is concerned, this was her "resurgence" period. She has done pretty well to stay successful, even without global fame. She still has hits from time to time :)
I've seen Kylie in concert too... although honestly it must have been like 25+ years ago, the girl I was dating at the time wanted to go and I assume it was at Rod Laver arena in Melbourne and it was very, very packed. She's a great performer, but yeah, as you mentioned, she's been through a lot health-wise.
Is the photo of the bartender with your phone or a digital camera... because it's a very decent shot. It looks super professional.
Yep. It has been pretty rough - as for many of course. But most don't have to keep on performing at that level.
On the phone. It is a crop. The lighting was a bit better there, so it came out a bit crisper - with some luck. I wanted to take my camera and a longer lens, but I would have just spent all night fiddling with it, rather than enjoying the concert.