AFTER FOUR AND A HALF AGONIZING MONTHS without KAJ gigs I can finally say: HERE IS MY EXPERIENCE on Viking Grace 15.5.2026.
As always, this is my experience, and these things are picked out of my memory in the middle of the night. So, whether these things I tell are induced by emotion and insanity, or whether they are remembered incorrectly, I take full responsibility from it. Not standing on Axel's side and therefore not seeing him as much, there are less details about him than of Jakob and Kevin. But I included some that I could remember and see of him. I hope that there is everything that I wanted to say about the gig here!
This will be filled more with details rather than emotion. ENJOY!!
Word count: 3278
I got a great place, around the middle, shifting to Kevin's side. To be honest, that wasn't intentional, but rather it just happening when I tried to keep my spot as close to the stage as possible. I'm so glad that my final spot ended up being so perfect, with vision to the middle and also to Kevin's side and with leaning a little bit to the side I also saw to Axel's side quite well. And what was also important for me, there were people in front of me, and this detail elevated my experience a lot!
I didn't end up waiting as long as I usually do, about 45 minutes, but I was glancing at my watch every five minutes while excitement boiled in my stomach. I was impatient and nervous, but at the same time it felt comfortably familiar. There were a few people I chatted with, and it was also amazing to see all the beautiful costumes and props people had taken with them. There were glow sticks being shared through the crowd, and a few people had a captain's hat!
During the last five minutes I was a nervous wreck. I didn't know what to expect at all. I didn't know if I would like it anymore (which has been kind of my fear…), but spoilers: mgmgnhnngh I liked it…….
Soon enough, with my heart beating in my chest, fingers shaky and breaths non–existent, the DJ's music slowly died and it was replaced with a new intro told by Kevin. We started cheering, and soon I wasn't hearing it as clearly from the noise around me anymore. The intro got more enthusiastic, dragging us on to keep the excitement growing, and it was the perfect length of keeping us on our toes before the curtains were drawn to the side and there they were, standing next to each other, with Jakob in the middle, and they all smiled as wide as we did.
It blew me off from how close I saw them even though having rows in front of me. And how perfect of a gap there was for me to see the stage (AND THEM SEEING ME AKSJFNZN). They looked good. Fresh. Happy. Full of energy. They were ready to do gigs again.
Kom ti byin
They started with Kom ti byin immediately, and as I was enjoying the music, I saw something that I hadn't quite paid attention to before at their gigs. During Kevin's verse, Jakob was looking at him the whole time. His own body language followed Kevin. His eyed were glued to him as he listened Kevin singing. It was like his gaze had lead his steps, because he was also walking closer and leaning into him. I think the same happened with Axel, though I noticed it more with Kevin in the beginning.
They finished, and the crowd burst into the night's first cheers of the night. They had started Kom ti byin immediately, so this was the first time we could appreciate them with really taking our time, them seeing and listening while we told it in our mutual language there. It's not enough if I just say that we cheered.
Looking around the crowd, their faces burst from smiles into open mouthed awe as we whistled and screamed and showed how much we had been waiting to see them again. It got absurdly long. As if we were urged on by each other, the new screams were louder than the previous ones and it grew from there. It was starting to be unbelievable to them, with it being visible in their faces, and for us, because we dared them to listen to us and see how long we would have kept going and make them smile like that, in disbelief. KAJ let us show them our love, and it was amazing how loud we were able to get. They had performed one song. And the crowd's excitement was beyond the roof.
ALSLLDLFMGNDNZNX BUT THERE WAS ONE THIBG SNKDNFXN we had already screamed for a good not normal amount of time WHEN I SAW WHAT HAPPENED IN FRONT OF ME. I think there was a group of fans (or one person, not sure) showing Kevin hearts with two fingERS AND SUDDENLY KEVIN IN FRONT OF THEM LEANED TO THEM AND SHOWED A HEART WITH HIS FINGERS BACKALSLFXMMDL AND ALL OF US ON KEVIN'S SIDE WHO SAW IT STARTED ON TOP OF OUR CHEERING TO SCREAM HIGH PITCHED AND JUMP UP AND DOWN AND LOSE OUR MINDS SO MUCH MORE VISIBLY a and it caught Jakob and Axel's attention andand they were grinning alsldlfsnd I'm trembling I was jumping so much that was kdldmfhdjhfh so cute and adorable and I'm getting excited again let me go back I love them so much— THE SCREAMS WERE SO LOUD. Almost double how loud we had been up until that pointttt hgfasdfghjmk
KEVINNNNN SWEETHEART he was smiling hard tooo….. I think he might have looked a bit surprised from the crowd's reaction. In a good way. In a way of not being able to believe that they can reach that kind of support and enthusiasm and love from their fans. <3
Dansgolv
DANSGOLV CAME STRAIGHT AFTER KARAR I ARBEIT. They went straight into it. I wasn't expecting that at all, and when the first notes started, it was as if people woke up immediately. Just like what had happened with Kevin, we started screaming and jumping so much, it looked so funny to me to see heads appearing and disappearing from all in front of me. And their enthusiasm boosted me too, and I in turn started to share my excitement with them, because IT'S DANSGOLV.
This is what I heard from a friend (a friend!!!) after the gig. When the first beats came to us, and they saw how the crowd's reaction was A LOT more enthusiastic so far, Jakob had given Kevin's back pats as an encouragement, as if he was wishing him good luck for handling our thirst. He sent Kevin to our way, he knew what Kevin was able to do and what effect he had on us. It became clear from our reaction.
OH and and Jakob was the one who said the first line that Kevin usually speaks!!! I can't remember if Kevin had started it and Jakob continued or Jakob said it fully himself, but with this small modification the song somehow felt extra exciting to hear. <3 And it sounded so good when Jakob said it. 10/10 from me. Would listen again.
Can you now excuse my thirsting over him, please? My eyes were glued to him… Kevin was so smooooth with his movement!! His control over his own body is incredible. It looks effortless when he uses his muscles just as he wants to. He has strength and he has grace and he combines those beautifully. Just being in his own, comfortable bubble during Dansgolv, when he grinds the air and makes circles with his hips, really feeling healthy confidence flowing through himself.
Damsgolb <3
TEXT TV
When Kevin and Jakob were doing their silly dance behind Axel, Kevin AGAIN was making faces to Jakob whenever he was turned to him. They were looking at each other, and as my eyes were on Kevin, I saw him grinning so wide the whole time. Then Kevin widened his expression at Jakob, wide eyes, open mouth with a smile and raising his eyebrows. It was like he was saying, "Can you believe this? This is our life now". I love how they interact with each other like that on stage. I love it so much.
Mosquito
When it was Kevin's turn to sing his verse, Jakob came to him and played a mosquito, tickling Kevin's upper arm with his fingers he had put in front of him and pretended to suck. It took Kevin a while to notice him next to him, but when he did he turned to Jakob in pretended disgust and tried to swat him off. Axel was behind them and at first (if I remember correctly) played a mosquito too. But when Kevin was at the end of his verse, Axel's demeanour changed and walking to the middle of Jakob and Kevin he tried to separate them and pushed them apart. It looked like he was lecturing them, shaking his finger at them with a stern expression when they finally parted.
Some details
One thing that also caught my eye, was how close they all were. Physically, I mean, and more than they normally are. The whole gig they seemed almost clingy with each other. During the songs they sought each other's presence so much, especially Jakob with how much he looked at Axel and Kevin, too. If I didn't know better, I would be very heavily thinking that Jakob has a big crush on them! (I don't know if I'm biased with this. I mean, I do like to joke that they all are boyfriends, but even for an outsider…) It's sweet to see how comfortable Jakob is with being physical with them. Maybe I'm just not used to seeing that. He was always trying to catch their gazes and go next to them. Or their sides were brushing, leaning shoulder to shoulder, just being in each other's presence. Maybe to seek company, support, whatever it was. Maybe it's just as simple as them enjoying their friends' company (it's probably like that). Nonetheless, it's very adorable to see on stage! <3
With standing a little bit further from the stage and therefore seeing my surroundings better, I absolutely loved to see the whole atmosphere in my vision. And it was amazing to see how people reacted to the songs that dominated the crowd's joy that night. When the first notes were played, surprising us, to me it gave such a boost. To hear Pa to ta na kako's start, I just knew that I'd get what I desperately have been needing, or Taco Hej's brisk start where my brain doesn't process it yet, but my body knows as a reflex that it's time to dance. KAJ fans are amazing company at gigs, who can let go and allow KAJ's music to guide them. And I love that so much. <3
And I loved watching Kevin having so much fun. <3 Whenever there was a chorus where Kevin didn't sing, he started dancing and his mouth immediately fell to a wide smile and it looked like he laughed too. He was so happy when he looked at the crowd, at the people there dancing in front of him. And I love to think that people were mimicking his dance moves, and that's why he was looking at the people so much and smiling so wide. <3 That he was seeing the fans dancing with him, sharing mutual joy from performing and experiencing, both giving and taking in the process.
Jakob in general was SO expressive with his voice when he was singing. He played with it, he performed the lyrics and lived as the characters. He really got into the whole core of singing and performing and he was having so much fun. It was visible in him that he enjoyed himself throughout the whole night, with grinning from ear to ear and jumping and dancing and looking at his friends with so much love.
JAKOB'S SMILE HELLO AT SOME POINT HE WAS SMILING SO MUCH. My words are not enough at describing how much he smiled. All of his teeth were showing, it wasn't even a grin but a grimace, (that's a good thing) and ajkndvnjsjkfkg he was so happy, and it was visible what he thought, that that was what he ever wanted to do in life. It looked like he was at that moment thinking "this is my dream. And I have it." And he looked to be savouring EVERYTHING FROM IT.
The joy in his voice. <3
Vems pojk e do
We all know they sing those smooth, seductive hums and look at the audience from under their lashes with brows adorably scrunched. Well, Jakob was having NONE of that! He hummed so sarcastically! His voice ascended, the mm–hm sounded so diva-like. It was so good and funny! Again emphasizing how much he loved to use his voice and improvise his singing.
Hupparipäivä
HUPPARIPÄIVÄ. WHEN IT CAME, PEOPLE AGAIN STARTED SCREAMING AND WHISTLING AND JUMPING. All of the people I saw in front of me started jumping in excitement, and in turn it made me jump too. That was a very good indicator of what songs were doing it for the crowd, because for a few songs we cheered but stayed put. (I was jumping at most of the songs that came I WAS SO HAPPY AKSKGNNGB and the surge of ADRENALINE!!)
AAHAHJDVNVKS Hupparipäivä was SO energetic!! From the start people sang along to all the words, and it was an amazing build up to the chorus, and when it came, with the boys jumping in front of us it boosted us too and the crowd exploded into happiness and partying and singing. When Kevin sang the chorus, I could see from his face that HE WAS SERIOUS about singing those lyrics, he gave it his all and he was showing it with extra 150% effort too. (Singing for the crowd, he did that so often and seduced those he looked at and ajjkdkdvn I'm melting.)
And Axel was again singing that part that Jakob sang under the stream of water in the music video, and HE WAS SLAYING with the last longer note!!! He prolonged it even more than the track has it and he just kept going and going, and Jakob looked SO PROUD as he was watching him. After that the chorus of the Hupparipäivä felt extra good and special and amazing, as Axel had given us a boost with his talent and with Jakob and Kevin jumping and it was perfect with the crowd going crazy.
Economy PLUS
The start makes me laugh every time and I couldn't hold my laughter when they started introducing themselves. :D We listened Mr. International, we listened SCHakob, but on Big KeeEeEv the crowd said it with him and it was so fun to hear it! I had previously been worried with the dance they did during the chorus, because it they'd do it with every chorus, they can't encourage us to dance like they always do. :( I've noticed that with them jumping and encouraging us, it really helps to loosen up and party with them, and I love it so much when they do that. Like giving permission to move. But I was worrying for nothing! Because they did the dance only on the first chorus! And after that they had their usual energy back. <3 The dance was okay in my opinion, and it was very fun seeing them do it and sway like that! (I was looking at Kevin okay… and.. before came the part where they made the running move, his expression was so focused, and well, hot, a and as the move switched, he got into position and hit his hip mghgfmf and started doing the running move, and it was so attractive… the way he.. slappmgh yeah…..) The song was interesting to hear live. It's not my favourite and I think the melody differs from their other songs a lot with the chorus being so full of everything. But that's another story. It was a good party song!
There were songs that I wanted to hear, and they were Pa to ta na kako, Taco Hej, Dansgolv and Karaoke. I was quite confident that I'd hear most of these, Dansgolv not so much though. They had performed Dansgolv (INSANE, that feels like a sacred treat) Pa to ta na kako and Taco Hej already, and when at the end Kevin went away to get his leather vest, and I hadn't heard Karaoke yet, I was a little sad. They always end on Yolo, with BBB coming the absolute last. But oh how happy I was when they played Karaoke after Yolo!! That was such a fun surprise!
I was sweating so much, it was so warm in there and my clothes were so hot ( ;) ). But I laughed so much when I had to swipe the sweat drops off my forehead the same way Kevin does in BBB.
My throat is sore right now. There were times when I screamed yes, but there were also times when I saw something and I couldn't control my scream. It was primal, it was pure happiness and excitement that I couldn't keep inside. And at random points during the songs I just broke out into giggles because I was just so happy. They made me so happy. And I am so happy right now.
The atmosphere at the gig was amazing. The songs they sang were all the ones that I love dancing along to. In between songs they didn't give us time to breathe or recover, as the next one already started. And it was the same positive rollercoaster again.
Mmgmgnnfx I could be wrong, but I think there were times when Kevin looked at me. He could have looked at someone behind/around me and I think there were actually just a few moments when he actually looked directly at me. But it was still nice when HE LOOKED AT ME AND I KEPT MY HANDS LOW BUT IN HIS VISION AND FORMED A HEART WITH THEM AND HEEEE, KEVINNNN, HIS SMILE GREW AND HE LAUGHED AND LOWERED HIS HEAD I AM SCREAMING BABYYYYYY FUCK I'M GONNA LOSE MY MIND LET ME SHOW MY LOVE TO THAT SWEET BOY AJJDKDVMVMKDSK I'M GONNA CRYYY I LOVE THEM SO MUCH
I really hope that was true and that he had seen my heart, and his reaction is so fitting and it was timed perfectly, so I dare to think that it was… <3
I think I spotted Jakob and Axel looking at me too. I hope they did recognize me from last time. <3 The knowledge that they saw me and knew how wide I was grinning and how much I danced and had fun just because of them is so important to me. I want them to know how loved they are. Because they absolutely deserve all of it that they can get.
Unfortunately I don't have any videos or photos to share, but I hope that you enjoyed reading this! For me this was such a joy to write and live the gig again through these memories. This was definitely the best day of my life this year. <3 Thank you so much for reading all the way here, I hope that this left you smiling, too! ^^
GUESS WHO'S BACK!! My beloved profile picture that I have used since I can remember is back!!! This change feels incredibly good. I think this is the only pic I have used ever since I got into Kaj, when I first put this as my pfp in the summer.
