Shakira's hips??? Yeah, they definitely don't lie

I'm a convert. The Spaniards have officially converted me to a Shakira fan. This will probably come as a shock to most of you, but I seriously like her now. The music festival, Rock in Rio, has made its way to Madrid this year. My friends had been wanting to go and had tried to persuade me to go, but I just couldn't justify paying the price for the ticket. It cost 69 Euros a day and I just didn't think it was worth paying that much for people I didn't really know. I've paid more than that for music festivals, but those festivals were for three days, with a ton of bands, and a ton of musicians I actually like.

The lineup consisted of Orishas, Stereophonics, Amy Winehouse, Jamiroquai, and Shakira. I have no idea who Stereophonics is. I only know one Orisha song from the awesome - yes, awesome - Dirty Dancing Havana Nights movie. I didn't even know Jamiroquai still existed. Amy Winehouse would probably be too drunk/high to perform. And Shakira?? I don't really care much for her. The Spaniards love her and yes I've heard some of her music in discotecas that I actually enjoy. Other than that, I will always associate her with that Forever and Ever song...I think that's what it's called. I hated that song and that music video. Even though I don't know any of her music before that song, I knew she used to be some rock singer in Colombia and I just thought she was just some sell-out with a half top, shaking her ass.

So, I resisted and didn't get a ticket. But by this week, it seemed like everyone I know was going to this thing. I started to change my mind but in true Fran fashion, I didn't exactly decide until the day of. In the end, I didn't want to spend Friday night just sitting alone in the house, stuffing my already fat face (because that's what I do when I'm alone and bored). Plus, when was the last time I went to a concert?? And I haven't been to one show here in Spain.

And so I went and I'm glad I did...for the most part. The concert venue was in some bufu location east of the city. The concert provided free coach buses to transport people from Bernabeu Stadium to Arganda del Rey, the venue. About ten of us met up at 5:30. So we got in the super long line for the bus armed with cervezas and sangrias. By the time we actually got to the concert, it was already around 8. We got in at the perfect time...Orisha just started playing Represent Cuba, the one song I know! I loved it! Then we saw Amy Winehouse, who was as usual drunk. But I thought she was awesome. She was still able to sing pretty well, although she kept chugging - not sipping - wine and readjusting her boobs. It was quite entertaining. And her backup singers were hot!!! I really enjoyed her songs. I just like how her songs are bluesy and jazzy. She even had some reggae in there and at one point one sounded like hawaiian. I wanted to start hula dancing. She would have such a good future if she isn't so messed up. That girl's got talent!

As for Shakira, I judge too quickly. That woman actually has great songs. And that forever and ever song is way better in Spanish! I thoroughly enjoyed her performance. She has this wonderful stage presence and she just gets you so into it. I never thought she was that pretty, but my god she is beautiful and has a rockin' body. At one point I turned to Andrew and said, "That woman could make me a lesbian" and Andrew says, "Me too". HAHAHAHAHA. The guys had an argument whether she was an 8 or 9 or a 10...apparently this rating system by men for women is universal. I personally think she's a 9...no one could ever be a 10! I'm still wondering how she manages to sing while shaking her hips so fast. I of course tried it and it was difficult. I'm definitely taking belly dancing classes.

So that was my first concert experience in Madrid. It was great! I only have two complaints: the sets were way too short (an hour and a half for each band), and coming home was a bitch! Shakira finished at about 2 AM, but the festival wasn't closing until 6 AM. But it was all electronic music after that and there's no way I could listen to that crap for that long. So half of us decided to leave at 3 and pay for a taxi home (Metro doesn't open until 6). However, we had to wait in line for about an hour to get on a bus. By the time we got back to Bernabeu, it was impossible to find a free taxi. We had no idea how to get home! Bernabeu is so far north that there's really no easy way to take a night bus to our homes. So we started walking. Slowly we parted our ways as each person passed their neighborhood. In the end, I was walking alone since I lived farthest south. By the time I was halfway home, the Metro finally opened and I hopped on. I was soo annoyed. My roommates who left after me got home before me! Go figure!!

By the way this is totally off topic, but is anyone watching the Wimbledon match between the Williams sisters. My god, their mom has some huge knockers!!! Also, is that a birth control patch on Serena's back??? It can't be a nicotene patch. You know she don't smoke. If it is a bc patch, then that's just tacky. Way to be safe, but tacky.

I gotta get back to sleep...