The end of the year is - logically - the perfect time to stop & look back on what you lived through during the past 365 days.

As I was doing this (instead of studying, hem) today, I realized my 2008 year had been incredibly blessed with some of the greatest gigs I ever attended. My top five? Well, let me think...

#5 -- Omnia & Faun


Not so far away from where I live, every two years, a celtic music festival is organised in Anthines. The festival is called "Les Anthinoises".

I'm a huge celtic music fan & especially when it comes to pagan folk. Both Omnia & Faun are incredible pagan folk bands, & not only because of their great music. In fact, one cannot truly appreciates those bands if he hasn't seen them perform. They are awesome musicians, but they also know how to act, make the public laugh (even the Omnia cd's booklets are hilarious), dress (their outfits... woah...), etc.

Both these bands know each other very well, they even sometimes perform songs together when they're programmed in the same event. It was the third time that I saw them live this year, & my ticket to see them once more during 2009 is already booked! Clearly one of my best musical moments in 2008.

#4 -- Sabaton


I may not look like it, but I also love metal music. Sabaton is one of these (very) manly band that I rarely listened to on cd but which I found amazing on stage.

I was not giving them that much of attention before I went to the Graspop Metal Meeting festival. & there, they rocked. Seriously, I rarely had so much fun during a gig. & the fact that they themselves were totally amazed by the number of people who'd come to see them was a real plus. They really didn't expect that many people & we could see the huge smiles on their faces.

I went to see them again in November (if I remember well) & they were as thrilled as back in June : the concert hall was packed. The funniest part of it is that they had booked a tiny concert room in the first place & as people were asking for more & more tickets, they gained access to the bigger one.

So, great great gigs, everybody was totally having fun.

#3 -- Sarah Bettens


This was a very special one. I had missed her performance in Brussels & my brother had the superb idea to offer me tickets for her show in Leuven. Good boy.

I knew the tour Sarah Bettens was making wasn't a standard one, I had heard she was playing some covers, but didn't know more than that.

The show was in a word : terrific. It was acoustic from the beginning to the end (she had only one musician with her, she played guitars & he mostly piano or keyboard). She mainly performed covers from surprising origins : Bill Withers, Counting Crows, Jacques Brel, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder or even ABBA & Prince! She once again proved she could be faithful to her atmosphere & smoky voice as well as re-interpret some huge classics.

A strange musical journey which moved us.

(I even got to talk with her after the gig, you cannot imagine how excited I was!!! I mean, I admire her & her voice since I actually began to seriously listen to music, I adore her. ^^)

#2 -- In Flames


Again, metal music. Again, it was during the Graspop Metal Meeting fest. I was nearly crushed by the crowd, but I had the greatest time of my life! I jumped & headbanged like the crazy girl that I can be. It was pure fun. I hope to see In Flames again soon!

#1 -- L'Arc~en~Ciel


Those of you who know me enough know for sure that the Japanese band L'Arc~en~Ciel has a singer that I consider a semi-god. Yes, a semi-god.

In fact, there was a time when I went deep into the fangirlism thing & got obsessed with Hyde. This man has the perfect face, I never saw more gorgeous features.

Then, during a beautiful afternoon, my brother came & announced me what I dared not hope for was going to come true : l'Arc~en~Ciel was coming to perform in Europe! Better than that : in Paris! (which means : far but not to far to be workable.)

I screamed, cried, laughed, jumped, felt I was going to die of happiness. But I survived, buyed tickets, & that was settled : on the 9th May, I was going to see l'Arc~en~Ciel live. Oh boy, just thinking of this startles me even now!

The show was unbelievable, I was thrilled, overjoyed, & they were fantastic. Bastien & I danced on every song & I was singing my heart out like never. We were not that close to the stage, but whatever, I can die now, I've seen them! (& hope this won't be the last time!)

What a great musical year it was. Look forward to the next!

Pascale.