"How many here don't like to wait very long for something?" he asked. It got a rouse out of the audience, mostly positive.
"Then this is the song for you," Mika replied. "This is It Shouldn't Take Too Long."
It Shouldn't Take Too Long
Too many times have I told you, feel your way
If it's a question of answers, the have your say
Don't go giving me reasons, we all have a price
And in that moment of indecision, you'll never understand why
It shouldn't take too long, to set the thing moving
It shouldn't take too long, so long as you believe it
It shouldn't take too long
Forget the popular notion, lead the way
You've never known what you wanted until today
Through fire and water, you can survive
To make the best of a situation, you have to understand why
It shouldn't take too long, to set the thing moving
It shouldn't take too long, so long as you believe it
It shouldn't take too long, take too long, to get what you want
When I was a boy, in the summer rain
Every hour seemed like days to me
It shouldn't take too long, to set the thing moving
It shouldn't take too long, so long as you believe it
It shouldn't take too long, take too long
It shouldn't take too long, take too long
It didn't take too long
Before playing Don't Look Back, Mika gave this introduction.
"This next song is another new one of ours," said the Finn. "Let's face it, life can be downright crazy. Things happen that you don't see coming, and you don't know what it meant until it gets the best of you. You want something that you badly need, but get something completely different. Crazy, eh? Well, that's what this next song is about. This is Don't Look Back."
The crowd liked Don't Look Back, I've Been In Love Before, and Sahara. The last two songs on the roster were both new ones.
"Alright, audience, how about another new one?!" exclaimed Mika. The crowd again cheered wildly.
"So about, hmm, I guess, two months ago while I was hospitalized in the town of Wales is when I wrote the lyrics to this song," the Finn continued. "At the time, I was going through a rough patch, and this song was very much inspired by that struggle. Now, we all have obstacles that we deal with in life. And this song is about facing those obstacles, and not letting them get the best of you and just drain your spirit. You can't afford to let them do that. And if you believe that things will get better once you beat those obstacles, then that's the first step toward achieving that objective." He paused briefly before continuing. "And the song just says the rest of it. This is One For The Mockingbird."
Kaj started off with a solo intro on his guitar, soon joined by Ryan tapping the cymbals on his drum kit. Eventually, Mika, Keith and Colin joined in. Just like in Any Color, Mika threw in some headbanging for good measure.
One For The Mockingbird
I have learned through all my past mistakes
Not to let the hurdles sap my energy
Time will tell and time is all it takes
You won't see the bastards knock the running out of me!
And the band, they played one more song
One for the mockingbird, they played one more song
All the tears, they fell one by one
All for the mockingbird, they fell one by one
Don't be fooled by those who feed you words
They just twist and tighten up the tourniquet
But the sweetest song of all the mockingbirds
Couldn't hope to match one note of any song we played
And the band, they played one more song
One for the mockingbird, they played one more song
All the dreams, they broke one by one
All for the mockingbird, they broke one by one
Ooh, what are you hiding from?
Ooh, why do you lock the door?
Open up the door!
And the band, they played one more song
One for the mockingbird, they played one more song
All the tears, they fell one by one
All for the mockingbird, they fell one by one
(Colin's backing vocal lines are shown in parentheses)
I have learned
(Time will tell)
Years will pass
(Tears will fall)
Don't be fooled
(Fed by words)
Their sweet songs, mocking-birds!
(Mika makes two simulated mockingbird calls)
(Kaj's guitar dominates the end sound, followed by a drum solo by Ryan for the outro)
The song got quite a rouse out of the crowd after Lapp Attack had finished playing it, most of it positive. Upon hearing the word "bastards", however, Jenna gasped and covered her mouth with her right front paw. Balto was also caught by surprise, but not as much as Jenna. His eyes widened in surprise, but that was it.
"Well, he got that part right," said Balto.
"What part?" asked Jenna.
"The part about we won't see the running knocked out of him," replied Balto.
"Yep," added Jenna. "That's one thing we won't see anymore."
Mika then spoke about the last number.
"This last song is another new one of ours," he said. "It's called The Broadcast."
The Broadcast
Believe me when I say to you
That every word is true
Ooh, that a change is gonna come
You can hear it the broadcast in your radio
Ooh, why are you running, was it something that something that somebody said?
What are you hiding from, are the voices alone in your head?
I can make it look natural, 'cos the more that you see, is the less that you know, is the more that you give
Believe me when they call for you
As you cry out in the night
These four suspicious riders have been circling the borders of your bungalow
But how they ever go to you, I swear I'll never know
Was it just the laws of nature that's been causing all the voices on your telephone?
Ooh, why are you running, was it something that something that somebody said?
What are you hiding from, are the voices alone in your head?
I can make it feel natural, 'cos the more that you see, is the less that you know, is the more that you give
Believe me and I'll pray for you
(Kaj: we'll give you what you want)
With all my fickle heart
Ooh, I could sell you hallelujahs record on a chrome cassette in stereo
So come and make your home with me
It really isn't far
Ooh, fly down to California and become a christian soldier on my late, late show
(Colin: "Anyone hear tonight from California?)
(some audience members cheer "yeah!")
Ooh, why are you running, was it something that something that somebody said?
What are you hiding from, are the voices alone in your head?
I can make it seem natural, 'cos the more that you see, is the less that you know, is the more that you give
(Interlude dominated by keyboard, drums and lead guitar)
Ooh, why are you running, was it something that something that somebody said?
What are you hiding from, are the voices alone in your head?
I can make it look natural, 'cos the more that you see, is the less that you know, is the more that you give
(Outro dominated by keyboard, drums and lead guitar)
The locals in the crowd cheered wildly when Keith began the keyboard intro for (I Just) Died In Your Arms. The dogs in attendance were especially ecstatic when this song started. As this was Balto and Jenna's favorite Lapp Attack song, they couldn't help but sing along with Mika. They were probably even singing louder than he was. In fact, above all the sounds of the instruments and the crowd, Mika actually could hear them. He recognized the voices, but he didn't seem to mind. Toward the end, Kaj added another solo that was completely different from the one that appeared earlier in the song. At the very end, Mika took off his guitar, put it on a stand, then came back to the front of the stage and went, "It's too late!" three times. After the last note, he went "Thank you!"
Eventually, Lapp Attack wrapped up the song and came out to the front of the stage to thank everyone for coming out to watch.
"Hey, before I forget," Mika quickly added. "I think we need to make extra noise for our birthday boy on bass, Colin Stevenson!"
Today was Colin's 18th birthday. The audience acknowledged Mika's request and wished Colin a happy birthday. He asked if anyone in the crowd was from California during The Broadcast because he hails from Sonoma. Keith and Ryan were the only residents of Nome in the band.
After the show had ended, all the acts came out on stage to thank all in attendance for coming out to watch and get their pictures taken for the newspapers. Backstage, a birthday party was held for Colin. The whole band and their parents were all there. The cake was shaped just like Colin's favorite electric bass. And everyone had a great time. The party lasted well into the night. It was almost 2:00 in the morning before most of the guests even went to bed.
Word of the battle to save Nome - and Mika's heroics in that battle - spread quickly throughout the country. The Finn had managed to achieve a heroic status similar to what Balto had achieved after the serum run. In fact, amid all the hoopla, he had received a message from the Detroit Red Wings coach who he had once asked for a spot on the team roster. Apparently, one of his players had retired, and the team was in need of someone to fill in the position of right wing. Mika was rather excited about the offer. But he was soon faced with a difficult decision. He had longed to get out of Nome ever since he first arrived. But now he was riding a newfound wave of popularity with his exploits in the battle to save Nome. Lapp Attack was also riding a similar wave. The live show and radio coverage of it gave them some exposure at the national level for the first time. Prior to that, they were only well known among the residents of Nome.
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