The Soundtrack of My Life: Scorpions

Scorpions is a band I started to like because of one particular song: "Wind of Change." This song marked a specific moment in my life. Every time I feel melancholic, I listen to it, and every time I hear it, I yearn for a perfect past. Ironically, while the song celebrates the end of a dark era and the arrival of change, it makes me want to return to the past—as if that change had never happened. 

"Wind of Change" is a 1990 power ballad written by Klaus Meine, vocalist of the German rock band Scorpions. It appeared on their 1990 album Crazy World, but did not become a worldwide hit single until 1991, when it topped the charts in Germany and across Europe, and hit #4 in the United States and #2 in the United Kingdom. (Wikipedia)

The song brings back memories from as far back as I can remember, spanning the late '80s to the early '90s. When it comes to classic tracks, this is definitely in the soundtrack of my life. No, I am not a superfan, but I respect them and their career, and seeing them was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Yet, while standing in line at the Estadio Hernando Siles in La Paz, I hadn't yet realized that in just a few hours, I was going to hear all the songs that reminded me of different chapters of my life. 

The Wait

We arrived about four hours before the concert, and the lines were already endless. Luckily, my brother and I were right around the middle of the queue. It was a good place to be, because over the next few hours, the line behind us grew and grew and grew.

As it started to get dark, the people around us began drinking and singing songs from the group we were all eager to hear live for the very first time—in our city, in our country.

Inside Estadio Hernando Siles

At last! The doors opened around 8:00 PM, and our boredom and fatigue instantly turned into a mix of nervousness and excitement. I had never been inside the Hernando Siles before; I am no fan of football (at least not national football), and I had never attended a concert of this magnitude for an international group like Scorpions. After taking in the sight of the stadium and watching the massive crowd continually pouring into the venue, the show finally started.

First, a Queen tribute band took the stage. I must say they were great in every way, but Scorpions was the only band I was truly waiting for, so I didn't pay too much attention to the opening act.

Then, the lights went off. At last! The entire stadium erupted, screaming with excitement. The stadium lights, the glow from nearby buildings, and the night sky created the perfect setting for an unforgettable evening of classic rock.

When it came time for "Wind of Change," honestly, I almost started crying. I was right there in La Paz, at the concert, listening to a band I never imagined I’d get to see—and hearing a song I never thought I'd get to hear live! I sang, I listened, I took pictures... I recorded that moment in time on my phone and in my mind, because it was the only thing I could do. Thanks, Scorpions.

The set list: 

1.      Sting in the Tail

2.      Make It Real

3.      Bad Boys Running Wild

4.      The Zoo

5.      Coast to Coast

6.      Loving You Sunday Morning

7.      The Best Is Yet to Come

8.      (With Extended Chorus)

9.      Send Me an Angel

10.   Holiday

11.   Wind of Change

12.   Tease Me Please Me

13.   Dynamite

14.   Kottak Attack

15.   Blackout

16.   Six String Sting

17.   Big City Nights

Encore:

18.   No One Like You

19.   Rock You Like a Hurricane

20.   Still Loving You