Will There Ever Be A Love
Love Parade is back and in full effect for Berlin
Let me preface this discussion with a disclaimer: I have never been to a Love Parade. I find the logistics of a Love Parade somewhat challenging. And I may be too old for a Love Parade. But who cares, square? Berlin is going to make the party anyway! And McFit, a chain of fitness clubs, is taking the contract. No word yet as to whether their weight-lifting banana will be adopted or emulated for the Parade (too phallic? not phallic enough?), but Dr. Motte, the Parade's founder, is clearly feeling the pressure when he says something like, "I think the Love Parade should be saying we think drugs are uncool." You know they've been cool to you, dude.
And as to bringing it back home: everyone knows that the franchised Love Parades haven't quite measured up to the German one (I heard Cape Town was weak), but then again, that could be time -- which doesn't seem to be on the Love Parade's, or my, side. The two-year hiatus will further decay the Parade's whole ridiculous growth parabola. Spec these numbers:
| Year | Motto | Participants |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Friede, Freude, Eierkuchen | 150 |
| 1990 | The Future Is Ours | 2,000 |
| 1991 | My House Is Your House And Your House Is Mine | 6,000 |
| 1992 | The Spirit Makes You Move | 15,000 |
| 1993 | The Worldwide Party People Weekend | 31,000 |
| 1994 | Love 2 Love | 110,000 |
| 1995 | Peace on Earth | 280,000 |
| 1996 | We Are One Family | 750,000 |
| 1997 | Let the Sun Shine In Your Heart | 1,000,000 |
| 1998 | One World One Future | 800,000 |
| 1999 | Music Is The Key | 1,500,000 |
| 2000 | One World One Loveparade | 1,300,000 |
| 2001 | Join the Love Republic | 800,000 |
| 2002 | Access Peace | 750,000 |
| 2003 | Love Rules | 750,000 |
| 2006 | pending World Cup results | ??? |
Techno was awesome, raves were awesome, the Love Parade was awesome. Was. The slow death of techno has been agonizingly slow, reaching Germany dead last. Techno is unfortunately still hanging out with its old friends, trance and drum&bass. And isn't the usage "techno" reserved for people my age anyway? Or Dr. Motte's -- perhaps I should be more respectful. (I still think they should just call it "electronic music" to save everyone embarrassment.) The Love Parade has passed the peak of techno (early 90's) and even the peak of saturation (late 90's), and has nowhere to go but down.
I'm being a total party pooper, predictably. Every attending American I know has been awed and struck senseless by the whole spectacle; they've also summed the experience up with something along the lines of "glad I went, but never again." Which just goes to show that Americans are too easily freaked by desperate exhibitionists, sadistic sound systems and kilometers of overcrowded, broken-glass-carpeted streets to rock the biggest party in the world. Which means the Love Parade Cyborg has to step in with an orbital love strike on all major cities in the US. Let's get digital! Where's my vocoder? Julietta movie marathon at my place, you guys!
Comments
Now, this is interesting. Love Parade sounds spectacular, and those numbers are amazing. Will you be offering people a place to stay this spring -- say, people visiting Berlin for Love Parade? I wish the 2006 festivities much success, unless my wishes jinx it (the party), in which case I'm not wishing anybody anything. Or anything anybody.
Allegheny Office of Alumni Giving; February 23, 2006 7:55 AM
Love Parade and World Cup. Big year for Berlin and those renting their room, could be the year to cash in.
Nico P; February 23, 2006 9:59 AM