Apotheotic concert: Air Supply in Cuba!

Suministro de aire y amor. El popular dúo australiano-británico en La Habana - "A Supply of Air and Love. The popular briton-australian duo in La Habana"

by Sahily Tabares cultura@bohemia.co.cu

Pics by Gilberto Rabassamailto:Rabassafoto@bohemia.co.cu

Translation to english by Alen Klaad, Jedi Knight, at your service :)

In the first years of the 80's decade - I don't remember the exact date - arrived the first recordings by Air Supply at Radio City of Havana. Some of the programs directors had listened to the Briton-australian duo; other had not. But when they began to play "Here I Am", "Lost in Love", "Just as I am", an empathy got stablished immediately with those voices and their soothing soft rock. Up to that moment Graham and Russell were only Air Supply. Soon the confidence and the gesture of complicity grew : the names of Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock became so familiar that they moved in to stay in the closeness of our homes and the enthusiasm of birthday parties and other celebrations between friends. The news of the arrival of this "old friends" to La Habana was an encounter with music, the teenage of many and love, perhaps from the handle of nostalgia, but mainly from an exquisitely melodic message that never gets out of trend. The remarkable cultural, artistic and social event caused that dozens of people called to editing rooms of the press organs, to the homes of the reporters, in different days and hours, to inquire when they would arrive, where they would act, and to obtain tickets for the concert. It has happened before with other foreign musicians, but the interest for Air Supply broke records. The news that they would perform in the Antimperialista Tribune Jose Martí was stimulating, it made think that Air Supply would be for everybody, live on thursday night at the Malecón de La Habana (Seawall). Many longed for enjoying that night and another in the Karl Marx theatre where they announced a second concert. It was the oportunity to live with intensity the long caressed dream.

Although the imminence of the Dennis hurricane frustrated a second chance, the first was great. Thousands of spectators of different generations defying the possibility of rain didn't hesitate to seize the moment to celebrate with Air Supply their 30th birthday. We would see (Hear) the same hits they walked by Central America, South America and the USA.
We would have 'em close, a few steps from us, to join them singing and dancing, why not?

There are so many things to tell.

The expectations of the audience were shared by the journalists. Would they be the same Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock that met in april 1975 during a rehersal for the teatrical representation of the Rock Opera Jesus Christ Super Star? How were they going to evoke those beginnings, when Graham began to give loose rein to his imagination in hundreds of the most beautiful compositions? How the two famous would express that had managed to sell four million copies with their recordings of Greatests Hits this time?
In short, so many questions we colleagues shared, the only thing that prevailed was to wait that the protagonists of the sonorous and artistic event appeared, enriched during a whole career followed with interest by critics and fans. There were highs and lows of popularity and the acceptance by the critics at some point. However, at the present time, the fresh air of the duo continues blowing. There were Russell and Graham ready to demonstrate it. More than 100 thousand Cubans of different generations applauded the duo.
In little less than one hour of press conference in the National Hotel, the confessions rained. "We have come because you invited us. It is a pleasure to be in La Habana ", said Russell while his partner agreed. They recognized to feel fascinated by the visit to the Superior Institute of Art, where they interacted with professors and young interpreters. "We want to see and to listen to Cuban musicians. Although we have very little time because we're still on tour, is necessary to take advantage of every minute ", commented Graham after saing how lucky he feels, "I write songs every day. Soon a DVD will get to the market, and another album (CD) in 2006".

For them, music is a crucible in which many sounds are amalgamated. "To transmit messages of peace, love and new emotions to the people, that is our aspiration. To that we have come ", added Russell.
There was emotion in both faces when they spoke of the greater influence they have received: The Beatles. Immediately they added: "We grew up With them".Somehow it seemed to me that the four more famous children of Liverpool began to travel mysteriously towards us. There was Ernesto Juan Castellanos, translator and researcher of pop music and rock that compiled the volumes "The Beatles in Cuba", "The Sgt Pepper came to Cuba in a yellow submarine" and "John Lennon in Havana". Is this "travel" possible? I asked him. "Unfortunately, The Beatles never were in Cuba". As I have written, they became a sensitive justification for nostalgia and an excellent bridge to make friends. It's significant the fact that during almost four decades they have stayed stable like one of the most impressive phenomena of pop music history.

Air Supply is not the first band to recognize their influence. In the melodic work, in the harmonies of the voices, there are the tracks of John Lennon and Paul McCartney, wich was in Santiago of Cuba once.

Russell, voice that never ages.

"Air Supply does not get old. With them I learned English, just like my students and my children of eight and 12 y.o. We waited for this occasion, it will be very pleasing to share it in an ample space as the Antimperialist Tribune. In times of turmoil and violence and neoliberal globalization, it will be an excellent supply of air and love." He wasn't wrong. Well-known and new themes vibrated in the voices of the emblematic duo that added three musicians to the band this year. The piano, bass guitar and the percussion have been part of Air Supply at different moments of their history. But it's always them the two who always shine, Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock, managers of a phenomenon that has captivated audiences around the world.
Although they celebrate their three decades with the the CD "Definitive Collection", what we listened in the 80's still today cheers the soul, it approaches understandings, but mainly it bonds us by means of an irreplaceable chant of love amplified by their scenic dominion and talent of unquestionable teachers to whom the time and the creation renewed. More than 175 thousand Cubans echoed "Every woman in the world"; "Lost in Love" grew in adolescents and adults, in spite of rain and the delay to begin the concert. The laughter and the applause were multiplied. There it was, promising to return, Air Supply.
(July 22nd 2005)