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I got some spare time and a chance to visit this year's (08.07.23) edition of "Love Parade".
An important part of the movement in techno - history, Love Parade, got its spin off last year. The world's largest demonstration is back under a new name - "Rave the Planet". "Peace, joy and pancakes" is known to the majority of electronic music lovers, I'm sure.
We're not going to dig up the past. Let's just talk about the ones which recent generations experienced.
So, as you can imagine, it's a huge event at an international level. There are tourists left, right and centre, a lot of police forces guarding the huge area around the place of event. This year's parade occupied Strasse des 17 Juni all the way up to Siegessäule.
As I'm approaching this area of the city, there are people going in every direction. I was there around seven in the afternoon and the parade officially started at 14:00. Enough time for people to get fucked up. So, I had a relaxed afternoon walk through a piss and puke.💩 🤮 With every step closer, I could hear the bass. You actually needed to go around Brandenburger Tor through the wooded area to reach Strasse des 17 Juni. Walking through this small wood was like walking through the jungle. You could feel and smell the crazy atmosphere. It was more like a magic wood / jungle with its dwarves, elves, animals in it. A lot to see, but a very positive, friendly vibe.
Finally, I am on the street and a truck is rolling by with the sign saying: "equal status for electronic music culture" and I salute that!
What I realized immediately is that if you are there to catch some artists playing or just to listen to the music, you need to move with the truck. Obviously, trucks drive at a distance from one another so as not to get the sounds mixed up. Which means if you stay and chill on the side, you will hear different styles of music every 15 minutes or so. In the meantime, there is a long break, I guess.
Even though there are TOI TOIs alongside this wide street, after my observation - not enough. I was privileged to witness a few lasses shitting and peeing just a few centimeters away from my foot.
☞ I thought to myself, it is good to know that a free spirit lives!!
The scenes like that one or similar to that one draw different types of people to come and visit. In a way it is a spectacle to see. I got the feeling that there is one category of visitors who are there more because of the general atmosphere and to see that craziness - definitely not there to party hard. Also, if you are not crazy about big gatherings and your way of partying hard is clubbing, Love Parade is interesting to pass by for an hour or so.
The other [obvious] category of visitor are the ones who participate to the fullest.
➔ There is also this one question that pulls through a lot when we speak about the Love Parade. ➔
Why dig it up from its grave? The whole point and meaning of it is attached to some different times, to some different underground scene/culture.
If you ask me [nobody asked me but still gonna write it😂]. The old vibe can never come back. I do believe reports saying it was something magical - WAS.
All in all, I deeply respect the fight for music and appreciate the time, energy and love poured into the whole project.
Harsh recommends [Amazon] Bucket Hat