Lordi celebratory gig (Helsinki)

It was one of the largest gatherings I have seen in Helsinki in the past two years. The occasion was the celebratory gig of the Lordi – the monster costumed, heavy metal rock band of Finland. The crowd had gathered in the market square for the free rock concert to savour the victory of Lordi in the Eurovision 2006. Finland has won the contest for the first time in 51 year history of Eurovision which was held this year in Athens, Greece. It is a competition where bands from European countries perform and people vote. The rock band Lordi, which aims for fusion of horror movies and rock music, scored the highest point ever.

By coincidence last evening I was in Helsinki, though not for concert but for another party. I was not far from market square where television commentators estimated a crowd of 80,000 people. The atmosphere was electrifying. Roaring and raving crowd, many of them in monster mask and waving Finnish flag were swaying with the music. It wasn’t perfect summer evening but lot better than rainy Hameenlinna.

The event started with President Tarja Halonen coming on to the stage to felicitate the band. After this everything gave way to the blast, the loud music and the monsters singing song after song. The pyrotechnics started from the stage and became a fantabulous sight in itself. For a moment I thought of coming out of apartment and joining the crowd but later I decided to see the entire spectacle than being in one corner. The footage from the choppers hovering in the sky captured each and every moment of the thrill.



The climax reached when the band started the song “Hard Rock Hallelujah” the anthem song for the Eurovision which won the award. Imagine a sight where the guitar of the band is spewing fire and lead singer roaring with a chain saw in his hand! That was really monstrous and horrorifingly electric.They also sang their another master piece “Would you love the monster man ?” If they were looking for an answer then the crowd said it all. They were at the stage till 9.30 pm after which other bands took over.

Finland is one rock crazy country having intenationally reputed bands like HIM, Rasmus and the now Eurovision winner 'Lordi'. Earlier this week there was huge outrage against a local tabloid when it published the picture of Lordi without his monster mask. The band has asked the media to publish only their monster pictures and address them always by their band names.

The winner of the Eurovision has to host the next edition, so next year the event will be held in Finland.

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