Ironically, the most famous Latvian heavy metal band played last night at the Liepaja Metallurgy Stadium in Liepaja along with the Liepaja Symphony Orchestra. Livi (pronounced “LEE vee”) has been popular in Latvia for 25 years as the top heavy metal band. The fact that they played with an orchestra last night was a kind of artistic statement that resounded throughout the country. Violinists waved their bows and trombonists waved their trombones to the beat!
Līvi
At one point in the concert, Livi played a song (in Latvian of course) that, when Kristina told us, is about the native language of Latvian. It was a song that’s been popular since 1988 because at that time when Latvia was in the Soviet Union, it was illegal to propagate anything that was specifically cultural (i.e. non-Russian). The fact that they sang a song in that time celebrating the Latvian language was a huge statement in the face of the Soviets. When they sang that song last night, the whole crowd was on their feet singing at the top of their lungs, waving lit lighters.
During another song, Livi gave the audience a chance to sing, and I leaned over to Lydia’s ear & yelled, “This is the best sounding crowd I’ve ever heard in my life.” 4-part harmony… everyone on key! It should be no wonder really that I should experience that. The motto of Latvia is “The land that sings” & they sing!!
It wasn’t my favorite style of music. It wasn’t the most comfortable seat (on the concrete steps in an aisle). But it was a privilege to have taken part in something so fun & so cultural with all the other Latvian missionary staff (By the way, we were the only non-Latvians in our group!).
Cheers,
~t
