I am so full of memories. Some stick out to me vividly while some grow hazier as I get older, being replaced by new memories every day. I am constantly reminiscing, hoping to preserve the moments in my life in which I have felt the happiest, eager to sustain the euphoric feelings that they have given me. Luckily for me, I have plenty of these wonderful moments.
One of many was when I was in the sixth grade and I went to my first live concert. The top 3 songs that year were “Yeah!” by Usher ft. Lil Jon and Ludacris, “This Love” by Maroon 5, and “Naughty Girl” by Beyonce. But contrary to popular belief, I didn’t see any of these acts perform. In fact, I didn’t even see a band that any of my friends at the time knew of. I saw a musical duo, circa late 1970’s early 80’s, called Hall & Oates.
Today, a lot of people my age refer to Hall & Oates as that oldies band that sings that epic song that movies are lately very fond of, “You Make My Dreams Come True.” However, none of my friends knew of them back in 2004. In truth, not many of my friends knew much of the music I listened to. My parents almost absolutely rejected the bubble gum pop music of my generation, and insisted that I only listen to “good music.” Although I enjoyed 90’s music, I grew up on bands like Def Leppard, Duran Duran and Journey. I was constantly listening to Michael Jackson over Britney Spears, Prince over Ciara, and Queen over Destiny’s Child.
When I arrived at the concert with my parents, I realized that I was the only kid there. Everyone was, for lack of a better word, old. But I really didn’t care. I pushed past all the middle aged rockers and stood right at the front singing along, knowing every word to every classic song by heart. My dad still always says how he remembers John Oates catching a glimpse of me and smiling.
I’ve been to tons of concerts since then, but none have impacted me quite like my first. This moment, in which music first came alive to me, will forever be ingrained in my memory. For music fans, live shows are such an incredible experience. I recommend seeing as many as possible, or as much as your time and pocket can afford you. Do yourself a favor and check out some concerts at these venues near you.
