Music Inspiration (Top 2000/Christmas)

Christmas for me means family time, sharing, raising the glass and music meaning: Top 2000! ♫ In this blog I'm sharing my love for music before we'll start the most wonderful time of the year! 🎄🎅

Tom about the Nutcracker

I really enjoyed listening to Tom Hiddleston's childhood memories about Tchaikovsky's the Nutcracker  (listen below). I always love to hear Tom speaking so passionate about the things he loves and just imagine Little Tommy listening to a beautiful art of music: aww😍 I really appreciate the classical music and every now and then (when writing) I turn on Mozart or Beethoven, but in today's blog the music mentioned are quite a different genre.. Tomorrow starts an inspiring music program as well, hosted by my very own favorite radio channel. It's called the Top 2000 and just like for Tom Hiddleston and many others, music is a very important factor in my life and in this post I'll want to share my love for these 35 songs I gave my vote to this year.


The Top 2000

NPO Radio 2's Top 2000 is a yearly music list airing from Christmas until December the 31st, 23:59 (directly followed by ABBA - Happy New Year). From the 1st until the 7th of December you were able to vote, filling in a list of max. 35 songs, a hard job because if you ask me, picking only 35 songs is quite a challenge! I called it the most important vote of the year. Some songs are rusted up in my yearly list. However every year there are songs that have a special story, especially for this year and therefore those songs made it to this list. Also that is what the Top 2000 is, looking back on memories born this year before celebrating the arrival of the next year. One of the things I love most about the voting is filling in the motivation of why I chose that particular song. Here's my list of songs I voted for this year.


My Top 2000 list:

(Alright, I'm a bad calculator, but I do know that below are 36 songs instead of 35: the why is explained.)

1. Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark – Maid of Orleans 

If you read my blog regularly, you know I'm a very spiritual person. Last year I heard this song on a spiritual night that had all to do with strong women from the past who have meant something for the world. Maid of Orleans is about Joan of Arc, one of the strong women the evening was about. I recognized the song but I didn't knew who it was. Two months later I heard it in the Top 2000, quickly made a screenshot in the app so that I would remember the name of the song (the artist name is one I easily forget..). It's one of the songs I do listen a lot now and after everything I've grew in the last year, it truly needed to be on top of my list!

It's such a beautiful song, listen here:

2. Fleetwood Mac – Go Your Own Way  

When I hear this, I often think that this song is giving me a message. A message to follow my dreams by simply going my own way. This is something I'm really trying to do. It's something I would advice everyone to do, although it doesn't always seem to be easy. One thing is clear: How hard it's going to be, the path is there! The song seems to come to me on moments I need to be remembered by it. Local coverbands do often play this one a lot and last year I heard Fleetwood Mac live on Pinkpop. Go Your Own Way always hits me, and it does get me emotional from time to time..

3. Guns n’ Roses – November Rain 

This is one of my all time favorite classics. In this list, I will never skip November Rain. It's just such a beautiful song and I do remember the rainy videoclip with the wedding, the funeral and Slash playing the guitar outside the church very clearly. It disappeared out of the top 10 last year, I hope one day it'll be back in it.. Often on family-days when a Guns n' Roses song is playing, people tell a story about little toddler Nicole.. I'll explain that one when we'll reach Knocking on Heavens Door.

Something else, I actually never have seen the original Guns n' Roses live but next June I get my chance when they're standing on Pinkpop, a Dutch festival. So.. who's coming with me?

4. Nirvana – The Man Who Sold The World

I dare to say that I find Nirvana's version better than David Bowie's version. Even though many will disagree, Nirvana surely beats the original version in this music top.. Nirvana is one of my favorite of all times and I just love the Unplugged in New York album. Perhaps this was the album that made me fell in love with Nirvana, even though I knew some of their other songs. Some say: Nirvana is one you hate or love.. Well, I love it!

5. Led Zeppelin – Immigrant Song 
Okay, I admit, this song has entered my list the year that Thor: Ragnarok hit the theaters: 2017. I can't believe I had never heard this one before, while of course I knew some songs of Led Zeppelin. We come from the land of the ice and snow! This song always makes me laugh and it reminds me of some hilarious Loki/Thor moments: (Get Help..) It's an epic underrated song. I hosted a intro music quiz (based on the Top 2000) the other day and only one person guessed the artist while nobody knew the title..

This year they have added a function where you can see a statistic of how the song has been doing it during all editions of the Top 2000. See here how Thor Ragnarok made it increase in 2017:

6. Neil Young – Keep on Rocking in the Free World 

You know, you're able to visit the Top 2000 café every year. It's just that with one ticket (they're cheap and sold out fast!), you're allowed to stay for 30 minutes. This was one of the songs that was playing last year when I was there. It's the only one I remember because it was the only real good song I heard in there. I shall always be remembered to that when I hear this song. I used to have the title written on a sticker bought at Pinkpop, it's a great motto indeed.

7. Electric Light Orchestra – Don’t Bring Me Down 

Speaking of great motto's, this definitely is one too! This is one of the songs I have listened to this year a lot, therefore (and because it's awesome!) it's in the list. The beauty of the list is that there always songs in it that have a extra special meaning that particular year. This year I've learned that I'm stronger than I think I am..

8. Guns n’ Roses – Knockin' on Heavens Door 

Back in the days when I was 2 (long time ago, I don't remember it haha) a TV channel, probably MTV aired a daily Top 5. The early 90s seemed to be the years of Guns n' Roses, Mr. Big, Metallica and Ugly Kid Joe, as these were the artists my parents told me I enjoyed to listen to everyday. They sat me in front of the TV, watched me trying to sing along during Knockin' on Heavens door, while obviously all I brabbled was "Ai ai ai".. Even back then, I knew what good music was!

9. Nirvana – In Bloom 

One of Nirvana I've started to appreciate more and more the last two years. Also this one entered the Top 2000 last year. The best version of this song I think is not the regular version, but the version that's on the Nevermind Deluxe album. I don't know, it's just a little different.

10. Led Zeppelin – Stairway To Heaven 
I wished this was the number 1. It's such a beautiful song. Last year Stairway to Heaven disappeared out for the top 3 because of Billy Joel's Piano Man (not a bad song either..) and this year it ended up on place 5. Well, at least it's still in the top 5! The other day my father showed me a video of a version of Stairway To Heaven sung by the singer of Heart. Who thinks women can't sing should definitely listen to this: Stairway to Heaven by Heart

11. The Eagles – Hotel California 
The forever number 2 (however it actually did beat Bohemian Rhapsody a few years ago..). Such a beautiful song, can't skip it!

12. Boston – More Than A Feeling 
According to my father, this is the best song in the world! It indeed is a real, real good song!

13. Lex Uiting – Nao ‘t Zuuje
This is a local song, very local song. It's from the city where I visited the 'vote-bus' (see below). Actually it's a slightly emotional, carnaval (link to the blog I wrote about this subject in March) ballade. It entered the list last year and that gave such a proud feeling. Note: I'm not that crazy of Carnaval, but a little I can have..

14. Elton John – Circle of Life
The Lion King (1994) still is one of my favorite movies and Elton John's Circle of Life always brings me back to the Pride Lands! 

15. Wham – Last Christmas 
It's almost Christmas and my favorite Christmas song can't miss! However this month I have listened to Christmas Was A Friend Of Mine a lot, so I think I have one more Christmas song that enters my list next year!

16. Jason Paige - Gotta Catch'm All (Pokémon theme song) 
Okay, in 2015 this song was voted in due a FB action.. I thought it was funny, as long as if it's not that extreme (Top 10 for example). Yeah I gave it a vote again and that resulted (as usual) in a discussion with my father. "If you can't find 35 better songs.." I might leave it out next year then.. The radio channel has a game 'The Top 2000 Shuffle' in which you get 5 random songs from the last Top 2000. For each song you got to say No or Yes (if you want to hear it) and if you reach the last song, that one automatically will be played. During the voting week they did this game like every two hours. I was lucky enough to be selected for playing the game and I already feared the Pokémon song to be my first choice.. and that was the case! I made the DJ laugh by telling the story about the discussion with my father but I turned the song down.. I went to the 5th song: a Michael Jackson song, not bad.

17. Nirvana – Smells Like Teen Spirit 
Another Nirvana song: Yep, and it's not the last one! The ultimate rock song!

18. Bon Jovi – Bed Of Roses 
Bed of Roses is such a beautiful song. I once said they should play it on my funeral. 

Isn't this beautiful? :

I wanna lay you down in a bed of roses
For tonight I sleep on a bed of nails
Oh, I wanna be just as close as the Holy Ghost is
And lay you down on a bed of roses

19: Europe – The Final Countdown 
In the motivation I wrote this is the perfect nr. 1 for the Top 2000 (instead of Bohemian Rhapsody).. Because of "The Final Countdownnnnn" and then it's 2020, you know.. Never going to happen.

20. Muse – Uprising 
One of my favorite bands of the century! And I think Uprising is their best song. I have seen Musest (Muse Coverband) two times now. Muse is definitely on my list too!

21. Linkin Park – In The End 
Another example of a band from which the singer died way too soon! (a.o: Nirvana, INXS) Spoken of things the singers (Kurt Cobain & Michael Hutchence) have in common, Chester Bennington had such an amazing voice. 

22. ABBA – Waterloo 
Waterloo💓 My favorite ABBA song. Every time I hear it, my heart warms. And of course, it makes me think of my favorite country: England!

23. ABBA – S.O.S 
Also this ABBA song has something special. A few years ago I also had a great night when seeing a tribute-band of ABBA.

24. INXS – Never Tear Us Apart

I remember there were years I had added a lot of INXS songs to my list, some of them never actually came in the list and a few have disappeared last year. The singer Michael Hutchence had such a beautiful voice which is to its fullest in this song. I often say I am born like 20 or 30 years too late because the 80s truly were the years when lots of men had long hair. Unfortunately only a handful have such long locks nowadays. 

25. Michael Jackson – Leave Me Alone

If you have never seen this videoclip, you definitely should. It's a funny one with labradors. Around the time Michael Jackson died, we just had our labrador. One channel aired Michael Jackson videoclips non stop for days. So every time I hear this Michael Jackson song with the labradors in it, it reminds me of my own labrador. 🐶

26. Foreigner – I Want To Know What Love Is 

Just a really beautiful song!

27. Sly Fox – Let’s Go All The Way 

Funny story. This is a song I have heard a lot on the radio, but first the only thing I remembered was the beginning. That's something like: "sham sham zea" <-- googling that, no results of course.. However somehow I found it and when I requested it, the Radio DJ even played it. Unfortunately, the song hasn't made the final list. 

28. Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators – World On Fire

As for the motivation for this song I refer to a blog from June: Pinkpop/Music. My highlight of the the Pinkpop festival this year: The rocking sounds of Slash, Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators. I made the choice of going to stand in front at Slash's performance. That's something I don‘t choose to do often, or like ever. (You shouldn't do that at a performance of Rammstein or Rage Against the Machine for example, if you don‘t want to end up in the raging crowds or if you don‘t feel like you‘re standing so secure in your shoes, like me.) Since last year I‘m developing myself by stopping to see my legs-condition as an obstacle. It‘s like they are less a burden now, but of course there are some limits. But standing in front at Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators is not something I regret. I hope to see Slash again next year, when he comes with Guns n' Roses.

29. Nirvana - Heart Shaped Box 

One of the first songs of Nirvana I knew. I bought the single of this song. Unlike the videoclip, the image on the single is quite beautiful.


30. Nazareth – Love Hurts 
Really beautiful song, although some here at home disagree..


31. Ugly Kid Joe – Cats in The Cradle 
It's sad that there's no song from Ugly Kid Joe at all in the Top 2000. This one or Everything I Hate About You should have been in there!

32. Nirvana – Come as You Are 

Here's Nirvana again, you know me by now! I really like this song. As read in the title, this song is about being yourself. Don't pretend to be someone else. And a "No, I'm not going to judge you", perhaps is to read in the line: "No, I don't have a gun", Kurt keeps repeating.

33. Guns n’ Roses – Estranged 

Estranged perhaps is the less known sister/brother of November Rain. Give it a chance, because it truly is just as beautiful! A little lyrics: Cause I see the storm getting closer And the waves they get so high Seems everything we've ever known's here Why must it drift away and die..


34. Led Zeppelin – Kashmir
They made such great music, Led Zeppelin! I'll always enjoy this one for the full 8:30 minutes!


35: Giant – I’ll See You In My Dreams / Journey - Don't Stop Believing
I listed these two songs together because they kind of have the same meaning to me. I voted for I'll See You In My Dreams last year, but it's actually not in the voting list so I chose Don't Stop Believing from Journey instead. Never stop believing in your dreams, it's something I have mentioned in my blogs a lot. Ever since my teen years the song Don't Stop Believing came to me on moments when I was about to stop believing.. It's like it's the Universe's way to send me a reminder, a confirmation and it's so beautiful. It's something that gets me emotional too. You know one of my dreams is meeting Tom Hiddleston one day and when he was on the English Radio 2 (betrayal interview) the song Don't Stop Believing was played during that show or after it. And here it comes: Two hours later I switch back to the Dutch Radio 2 and on the very same moment there it is: Don't Stop Believing from Journey!

I would like to share the lyrics of I'll See You In My Dreams with you, see why I have fell in love with it:

Gone, the voice that used to fill the room is all but gone
An echo of a perfect love that ended wrong
Girl, we tried so hard when love was on our side
And yesterday will always be the reason why
You keep comin', you keep comin' back, you keep comin' back for more

I'll see you in my dreams
There we'll be safe tonight, from the lonely days of memory
I'll see you in my dreams, oh

Time, time will never be a friend of mine again
It tries to make your memory fade, but I won't let it end
Let the sun go down, so I can drift away
Let me close my eyes and live another day
You keep comin', you keep comin' back, you keep comin' back for more

I'll see you in my dreams
There we'll be safe tonight, from the lonely days of memory
I'll see you in my dreams, oh

The truth, oh it's there for you to see
Sometimes it's painful to be on your own, on your own

I'll see you in my dreams
There we'll be safe tonight, from the lonely days of memory
I'll see you in my dreams
Back in my arms again, and no matter what tomorrow brings
I'll see you in my dreams, oh, oh, oh

Visiting the 'Vote-Bus':

and I also visited the 'vote-bus' itself, as they had a stop somewhere close. So, on the 6th, just like many others, my alarm went on 6 o'clock and I was traveling to the location on 7:20. The only difference is that for most people if the alarm is set on 6 o'clock, its for work and definitely not for fun.. I'm not traveling towards the café this year, so I really liked it that the bus had a stop close to my home this year. The weather had turned into a December Rain and my feet were cold afterwards.. But I spoke with one of the DJs of the radio and of course scored me a photo. It was definitely worth wasting some sleep hours for! 

I hope you enjoyed my blogpost. And now let's go enjoy Christmas!

And I wish you a..

xx

Nicole

Pinkpop/Music

Music (I attended Pinkpop Festival last Monday)

This time the blog post is all about music. A subject that lies close to many people‘s hearts. Therefore I don‘t think many of you will bother to read a post like this here. For me personally music does a lot. My taste in music is big. When in a certain mood, I only need to listen to the music that fits my mood or brightens my day. Sometimes that‘s Nirvana, other times INXS, Muse, Fleetwood Mac or anything else. Music inspires many people too, including Tom for the role of Loki (In this Only Artist fragment he mentioned that he listened to the song Mind Heist by Zack Hemsey for the role of Loki, and we know he got a lot of inspiration from listening to the Prodigy too.) He also shared 'Song of the Day' tweets now and then back in the days.

One of Tom‘s old 'Song of the Day' tweets.

Last weekend was a busy, but fun weekend. While in London the last performance of Betrayal happened on Saturday, here in Holland we approached an holiday (Pentecost) weekend. (Sunday and Monday) All three days I had fun things to do. On Saturday I visited an event that was all about healthy food/ healthy lifestyle, on Sunday I had a private event and on Monday I traveled to Landgraaf, where the yearly Pinkpop festival was held. This music festival had names like Slash ft Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators, Fleetwood Mac, Bastille & the Pretenders this last day. 

My Betrayal card I send to the theatre last April

A little background talk

Pinkpop is one of the largest Dutch music festivals. It‘s held in Landgraaf, an hour driving from where I live. Pinkpop is founded by Jan Smeets. He‘s known as a true Dutch hero, this year he even had his own statue on the festival. The festival had it‘s 50th anniversary this year. Can you believe my first visit was in 2013? Back then Green Day was the headliner. Awesome experience by the way, they were great!  That day I discovered their song 99 Revolutions, happy memories every time I hear the 2013 live on Pinkpop version. A amazing 50 year old festival this close to my home and I've only visited it 3 (Actually 4 times if Pinkpop Classic counts too) times.. I should go out more.. According to WikiPedia Pinkpop is the oldest and longest running annual dedicated pop and rock music festival in the world. Wow! The name Pinkpop actually comes from Pinksteren (Dutch name for Pentecost), because the festival is usually held on the Pentecost weekend. When on the Pentecost weekend, it‘s held on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. But when the Pentecost weekend falls on a date in May (the next two years), the festival is held in June from Friday through Sunday. Pinkpop‘s logo/mascot is a black haired doll wearing a pink dress. Also that‘s to be referred in the name since 'Pop' is the dutch designation for 'Doll'.

Green Day - 99 Revolutions live at Pinkpop 2013

In 2007 Pinkpop gained a little sister, a spin off called Pinkpop Classic. Held in August with more classic bands, most who stood on Pinkpop many years ago. I've went to Pinkpop Classic with my father in 2013, the last edition because it was very hard for the organisation to book bands for this one. My father said if I came across of Jan I had to tell him to give Pinkpop Classic a comeback, but I only saw him standing on the stage in the distance.

Actually the Pinkpop first performance I saw was from Tom Odell. A beautiful performance. Pinkpop also is a stage for newer musicians, which he then was. Back then Tom Odell said: "I think this is the largest audience I've played for so far. Thank you for being here so early." Another great performance from 2013 was Kensington, a Dutch band. I even had seen them here in a local town that same year. Nowadays, if you want to see a Kensington concert, you have to book early since their shows in the Ziggo Dome are known to be sold out in a few hours. Even though Pinkpop wasn't sold out last Monday, I remember back in 2013 it felt far less crowded.

Kensington sparkled the sky at Pinkpop 2013

Spoken of sky shots. I took another one this year. One with a very grey looking sky. Not long after it gave us the first rain shower! Well, that‘s where the grounds got colored with all different colors of disposable raincoats (also by the people who indeed disposed them by flinging them off on the ground afterwards).

When Fleetwood Mac got announced, a voice inside me already got enthusiastic in wanting to attend the festival this year, and later when Slash got announced I knew that I needed to go! Why? In 2015 I saw a few songs of their Pinkpop performance that year, filmed by 3FM. Among others they aired You Could me Mine (Guns n‘ Roses cover) and World on Fire, one of their own songs. They were so great, with that (and especially because of World on Fire) I had found another music love, found out that Slash was much more than the guitarist of Guns n‘ Roses. Outcome: I so regretted my decision of not attending the event for 2 days that year. Slash and his band were there on Friday and I went on Saturday, mainly because of (my friends and I wanted to see) The Script (also they were great too). So I said to myself: Next time Slash is coming, I‘m definitely going! (Last minute I found three people to come with me, phew!) I had to wait 4 years, but hey nothing compared to the 6 years I‘m already waiting for 30 Seconds to Mars, another band I regretted not have seen live after seeing the performance (Plus point: Their whole performance was live to follow!) on the TV.

30 Seconds to Mars at Pinkpop in 2013. Photo by: Bart Notermans.

Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators

My highlight of the day: The rocking sounds of Slash, Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators. I only saw a few songs of the Pretenders because they played on another stage before, and you have to make choices when you want to stand in front at Slash‘s performance. (Light point: I could watch The Pretenders a day later at home, because it got aired and Slash‘s wasn't.) That‘s something I don‘t choose to do often, or like ever. You shouldn't do that at a performance of Rammstein or Rage Against the Machine for example, if you don‘t want to end up in the raging crowds or if you don‘t feel like you‘re standing so secure in your shoes, like me. Fun fact: In 1994, the Pinkpop crowds had caused a small earthquake at the performance of Rage Against the Machine. Since last year I‘m developing myself by stopping to see my legs-condition as an obstacle. It‘s like they are less a burden now, but of course there are some limits. But standing in front at Slash ft. Myles Kennedy & the Conspirators is not something I regret. Except for a moment when the camera‘s were in front of my face, however it‘s not aired anyway.. 

The performance was awesome, a great experience to live from up close-by. I was able to take some photo‘s as well. I've got no professional camera, you weren‘t allowed to bring them anyway, but the photo‘s are good enough for Facebook and Instagram. (Next year I think I need a new phone, perhaps I should deepen myself in it a bit more.) Unfortunately the sky had mistaken Slash for Splash because it gave us lots of Splash the entire performance. But I‘m definitely not made from sugar. I wore the raincoat again, only my shoes were dripping wet. 

But yes, they totally were my highlight. And of course they didn't skip my favorite song, World on Fire! For those who don‘t know the song or like the song, I would like to share the song. The band probably didn't gave permission for 2019‘s performance, but because they had given permission to air the song in 2015, I can share 2015‘s version. I like Myles interaction with the public in the middle of the song, he‘s such a great singer. Yeah, they definitely know how to entertain the public! Their new album and tour name is named Living the Dream ♥. Dream, one of my favorite words. Following my Dreams is something I‘m working on hard, so me standing in front of a performance of a music hero who‘s music I grew up with, (I babbled with the music of Guns n‘ Roses since I was a 2 year old toddler!) definitely is no coincidence! 

Had this posted on my Instagram a day before, my Slash pop was ready too!

(I also used my Slash pop last Halloween, to pretend Loki had dressed himself up as Slash for Halloween.)

Festival food

Mainly when spoken of festival food, you‘ll think of fastfood, the unhealthiest of the unhealthiest.. But a few years ago Pinkpop has introduced the Kalm aan Laan (Stay calm avenue), where lots of food trucks with healthy, organic and vegan were located. A very good initiative if you ask me. They had Pink (made from beet juice) vegetarian burgers, Banana bread, yoghurt, sweet potato fries, salades', name it. I took me a falafel burger (also pink), a piece of Banana bread (Too bad I didn't took a photo of the Banana bread counter, because they had more kinds and it looked and tasted delicious! But I‘m not the best at taking food pictures as you can see on the photo below..) and some frozen yoghurt (I guess the yoghurt thing is a tradition for me). So I managed to stay on the healthy course quite good. Only I took some fries before going home, to clear out my consumption's. (also bought a few souvenirs) You know at the healthy food event I visited last Saturday, they said it‘s okay to eat/snack unhealthy for 20% as long if you make sure to keep the healthy meter at 80%. And I stayed off the meat!

Festival outfit

Besides the famous pink Pinkpop hat (You can buy them on Pinkpop, also to support Amnesty International): What‘s the perfect festival outfit? Ideal is if the weather is good, so you can walk around in a top + short. Then you see people in bikini too. Not me, no definitely not! But when it‘s below 24 degrees, I can recommend bringing a little coat for when it‘s cooled down later in the evening. And don‘t forget to bring a small bottle of sun cream! (I also took bug spray with me, but didn't needed to use it.) Actually I would say: just wear what you feel comfortable in. (Once someone even made a pants from all the old pink Pinkpop hats, but I‘m not that creative!)

My dog with the 2013 hat (photo is a few years old) and this year‘s Pinkpop hat

I like to wear something that shows my love for music. I wore a Guns n‘ Roses t-shirt with the Use Your Illusion albums images on it. As a kid I always noticed the Red/Yellow and Blue/Purple colors of the images from these Guns n‘ Roses albums my father had in his CD collection.

Photo: Large.nl

Last summer I decorated an denim jacket with patches and pins from Nirvana and Guns n‘ Roses. I even got a patch from Thor on it. (Unfortunately no Loki patch to be found in the Netherlands!) Also I have added two Pinkpop pins and a pin I bought at the Top 2000 café on it. There‘s a big Guns n‘ Roses logo on the back. Actually I meant to buy a small one, but when I bought it, I forgot to look what the size was. This jacket I also wore last Monday, however during most of the day it was covered by a transparent plastic disposable raincoat and before 14:30 it was too hot, so I took it off.

Stands out right?

Fleetwood Mac & the Fireworks

I felt enjoyed by the performance of Fleetwood Mac, but it wasn't I didn't feel the spectacular vibe (like with Slash or Green Day) a headliner should bring over to the public. Now and then singer Stevie Nicks went out of tone and for my feeling, she talked a little too much. But the fun and pleasure was well present and goosebumps during Go Your Own Way, one of my all time favorite songs. The title of the song is one of my favorite motto‘s. I you are going your own way, you are following your dreams! ♥

Because this was Pinkpop‘s 50th anniversary the organisation showed past highlights in video‘s after the performance of Fleetwood Mac. (Was watching a take In The End by Linkin Park from 2012, wow yeah goosebumps again!) Also there was fireworks while All You Need is Love from the Beatles was to be heard. If it was Bohemian Rhapsody it would have given me an New Years Eve feeling (Nr. 1 of the annual Top 2000, which ends a few seconds before the year ends). Beautiful and worthy ending of a successful edition! 

To end this post, two foto‘s of me being in my element at Pinkpop festival. The first one is from 2016, during the performance of The Script and the second one is a selfie I took last Monday.

Left: 2016 / Right: 2019

Keep on rocking in the free world!