Frida in Munich  - Lex Corbach Report

My friend Evelien and I went to the studio around 10 yesterday morning. We arrived there half an hour later, amazed at how easy it was to get in and walk around without anyone asking us what we were doing there. I parked the car and we went to Studio 9 and asked a TV Production employee if he knew when Frida would be there.

He told us that she had been there Sunday afternoon for rehearsals, and that we could see her arrive on the red carpet at 19:15.... Since it was our first time going on an adventure like this, we were disappointed, only to realise a little while later, that he didn't tell the truth... Why should she have been there Sunday? It didn't make any sense, so we decided to stay the rest of the day and just see what was going to happen.

After we had some coffee we found ourselves a perfect spot under a tree with a view on the door where the artists were arriving. Near the entrance was a large tent where they prepared food for the people working in the studio and for the artists (though I couldn't picture Frida eating off a plastic plate, with plastic cutlery, on second thought..., I think she would)

I received a text message from Matthew, he was at the Playground near Mc Donalds. I went there to find him, and we walked to our spot under the tree, exchanging stories and discussing what to do if she would arrive, at that moment we were sure of nothing, so it was a big *if*...

It's a bit of a blur to me, but I think after waiting for 30 minutes or so, Erik called me and told me that Frida had just left the hotel, she was in a good mood (is she ever not?) and took the time to sign a few things and was on her way to the studio for rehearsals.

Try to imagine the feeling you get after a phone call like that...

The one person that you have admired and loved for all she is and all she has done for all these years is on her way, and you're going to see her within an hour.

I could cry now, but was feeling numb then. Evelien was extremely nervous because of the pictures she wanted to take, telling me over and over again that I should not be mad at her if the picture would turn out to be bad. I told her not to worry, even a blurry picture of Frida still is *a picture of Frida* Matthew and I were freaking out. It was SO hot standing there in the sun, but we didn't really care, ha-ha, Frida was on her way!

It took her quite a long time to get from the Hotel to the studio, because Erik, who had seen her leave, arrived at the studio before she did. Maybe due to a fantastic taxi-driver, I don't know.

A black Skoda with on the side 'VIP Shuttle' came round the corner, 2 people in the back....

Jon Lord behind the driver and Frida on the other side.

THERE SHE WAS

First Jon Lord left the car, I didn't pay any attention to him, so I don't know where he went, but I assume her went into the Studio. Frida came round the back. The TV production employee and apparently security guy, the one that told us that she was there on Sunday, acted as a shield, but he was told off by a woman which I think was Frida's chaperone told him to 'Relax and give her some space'.

I loved that! Mr. "Oh, I am SO important".

I managed to greet her, and she said 'Hi', with a smile, I asked if she would sign a photo for me, and put the pen in her hand, and she signed it!

She didn't return my pen, don't know where that went, but I know she also signed Matthews item with it. Lots and lots of people were all over the place, and I still don't know where all of them came from, but it was hectic.

THAT was my moment with Frida THAT was it A 2 second moment that I will remember and cherish for the rest of my life!

It took a while before she went inside, she signed and signed and smiled and was friendly and amazingly patient. She kissed, hugged and thanked a guy for the CD's he had send her, no idea who her was (I think I know his name, but because I am not sure I'll let him remain anonymous) After that, she kindly told everyone 'this is the last one, I have to get inside now', and so she did, sign one more item and went inside.

I took 25 photo's, Evelien took a lot of photo's and Matthew as well. We went to the spot near the tree, in the shade and went crazy, not knowing what had hit us seconds before...

Erik wrote in his report:

>Lex and Matti managed to get photos signed and felt the urge to let everybody know.<

Sorry, but eh...

YES WE DID! If we could let the whole world know, the whole world would have known! So we took our mobiles and called whoever we could reach.

It was, and still, a very surreal feeling. I am still replaying the scene. It took about 20 minutes before we went for a walk, Evelien and I...

Around the corner from where we were, passing the red carpet we found an open door leading into the studio where they were rehearsing the show. Like naughty children we went inside, and could not believe how easy it was to do that.

Now what?

I wrote a text message to Matthew, to let him know that we were in the studio.

A short while after that he came in, through the same door, soon followed by Erik and some others. I must admit that I was far from comfortable at that moment, too many people entering like that, I was afraid that the were going to kick all of us out but...

they didn't

So, there we were, trying to be invisible, hoping they wouldn't notice us. Of course they did, but they didn't do anything about it. FANTASTIC!

We watched Vanessa Mae perform her act (playback)

After that someone from the production team came on stage with a set of clothes on a hanger, and the producer of the show (who was only a voice coming from above) said that these were the clothes Frida was going to wear during her performance. The guy held them in the light in front of him, and camera's pointed at them. The produced then said he needed to have Frida on stage wearing the clothes. That never happened during the rehearsals

Rehearsals went along...

An Opera singer from Peru, a violin player and Zucchero. He was acting like a big artiste, not happy with the violin player that played during his performance. He wanted her to rehearse more. (during the recording of the actual show, the violin player was removed from the act, and someone else took her part) That scene took more than 20 minutes.

And still no Frida

Oh yes, she was there in the studio, on the floor, sitting left from us, 30 meters or so, watching almost everybody do their thing. Thousands of times I thought of approaching her, but it simply wasn't possible. So close but yet so far...

It was announced that there would be a five minute break, people could drink a cup of coffee, or smoke a cigarette. I am addicted to nicotine, and I believe Matthew is as well, so we looked at each other like 'shall we?' or 'shall we not?' Evelien told us to stay put, but by that time I clearly was under the influence of my addiction, and we went outside for a cigarette. We left Evelien in the studio, and our bags as well.

While smoking, and not even enjoying it that much, that TV Production employee and security guy came up to us, and told us to keep away from the door, and leave the area. He closed the door to the studio, and told us again to get away from the door. I told him that my friend was still inside, and our bags as well... So he went in, and came back, and told us that he had not seen our bags and Evelien, and we had to leave the area!

We had a panic attack, and I looked at Matthew and we could not believe what was happening. I called Evelien and told her that we couldn't get in anymore, all se could say was 'NO!'

Was a cigarette going to be the reason for us missing out on Frida's rehearsal? This was NOT happening! Oh, but it was...

Mr. 'I'm SO important' left while he was making a call, and as soon as he was around the corner we ran to the door, it was open, and we were inside the studio again...

Evelien thought we were pathetic, and she couldn't believe we had taken such a big risk. We agreed, it was one of the worst things I did in my whole life. And I don't know how I would have felt if we had really missed Frida's rehearsal.

It was 18:55 when Frida got on stage. I know the exact time, because I have recorded the whole rehearsal on my MP3 player.

What can I say...she sang "The Sun Will Shine Again" twice, her rehearsal took 16 minutes and 5 seconds. She was not wearing her stage clothes, but black shoes, pants and a V-neck long sleeve shirt.

She was standing right in front of us, at least 20 meters away, but she was there, and she was on stage holding a mic, and singing. Yes, playback, but looking at her face on the big screen I could clearly see that she was singing along with the tape.

I tried to fully realise what I was seeing. Almost impossible to do, because this was just too much to take in.

I enjoyed every minute of it, and was thrilled to hear the producer say that they had to do it one more time! We gave her applause, but couldn't be too enthusiastic, because it was rehearsal, and we were not support to be there. Evelien took a few pictures before they told us 'NO PHOTO'S'! (I think there were more than just photo's taken)

Meanwhile, I have read Erik's report, and I was about to write a report on the recording of the show, but he has done a fab job, and all I would write down is a lot of the same, and less detailed, so I'll skip that part...

I recorded the performance of Jon Lord and Frida during the taping of the show as well. It's a very clear recording, and you can hear it all happening...

Even though I don't feel like talking about it, I think I have to say something about it.

The shouting incident changed our moods completely. It changed the atmosphere in the building, it got tense, and he screamed out so loud that I know for sure Frida must have heard it as well. The host was standing further away from this shouter than Frida, so if he heard it...

And I believe it is visible in her performance, she looked sad and nervous, and the performance that has been recorded wasn't as good as the rehearsals she did. She put on a really brave face when the host of the show did a short interview with her, but she must have been relieved that is was over.

But, that is my interpretation of it, based on emotion and being there. I felt like going to Frida and give her a hug, sounds stupid, but I really did, and still do.

We left right after Frida's performance, with mixed emotions due to the shouting.

I read in several messages that there are people on the list that know this man. That's good, so they can tell all of us who, luckily, didn't have the pleasure of meeting him, who he is. Let him be there during the international ABBA-day 2005 in Roosendaal. If he is there, and I find out who he is, there will be no mercy on my part! I can only express myself in Dutch about this:

WAT EEN ONGELOFELIJKE KLOOTZAK!!!

4,5% of the voters on the ABBAMAIL-Poll about this say that it was 'Spot on' and 'Frida should have sung live'

4,5%?

I find that shocking!

No more about this, it's a waste of time!

It was wonderful to meet fellow ABBAMAILER Matthew, we had such a great time together!

Thanks to ABBAMAILer Lex Corbach, Ten Boer, The Netherlands