The history of watching concerts (and more)

Watching concerts has been a passion of mine since I was little kid in the 5th grade. I actually started to feel interested in watching one, when I found out that Michael Jackson -at the time when he was a neither black or white in the late 80’s, but looked cool in leather and recently done his nose- was coming to Rome (I was living there, damn I’m so lucky!). But since I was only, like, 8 so doh! My parents just laughed at the thought of me going to a concert that ended up having people killed and squashed for being so crazed up for Michael. I mean, who wouldn’t be at the time? The King of Pop was him and the Queen was Madonna, and she still is until now, bless her. Anyway, I really idolized him and I don’t remember if I cried for not being able to watch him, but I do remember of getting excited seeing Duran-Duran in a hotel lobby in Rome. Hmm…I wonder what’s that got to do with idolizing Michael Jackson…………………………………………….

Ok, so here I am in the 5th grade, suddenly in love with Kenny G. I know, Kenny G, right? So he came to Indonesia, at the time I was in Jakarta, and watched his concert with my friends. Oh my gosh, I was soooooo into him at the time! Imagine collecting all of his albums, 5 or 6 of them, and listening to each and every song in the damn tapes that I got. Why did I ever do THAT?!?! Anyway, suddenly, I fell madly in love with this guy with clear blue eyes and curly hair, which I think, reminded me a lot of Kenny, from the band, Color me Badd. His name is Sam Watters (aaaaahhh…I love you Sam!!). I guess I fell in love with him first, then the songs and then everything about them. Check out some bits of the songs from them:

‘I’m so glad you’re my girl, I’ll do anything for you
Call you every night and give you flowers too.’ –taken from song called “All for Love”
Or when they sang about ‘Forever Love’
‘Forever Love, I need you now, you’re the sun that chases away the rain….’
Or
‘Oooooooo…..I wanna sex you up…..’

I mean, c’mon! Who wouldn’t like them? Hehehehehe…I guess it was just me. Fortunately, Hard Rock Café Jakarta was opening its branch in 1992 and Color Me Badd was invited to sing for the opening. Of course being a fan of them, I had to see them live and they were awesome. Imagine feeling in dreamland when calling out Sam’s name he looked at me and smile. At that time, I thought I could just die and let me be happy forever in heaven.
There was another concert that I came to see before heading for Bangkok, Thailand, and that was of Bobby Brown. The great part about his concert, is that we all get an ‘extra’ performance from Whitney Houston singing one song with him called ‘Something in Common’ and that of course, is a bonus point for anyone who knows how amazing (at the time) Whitney Houston was as a singer.
When Michael Jackson became big again sometimes before the ‘allegation’, he came to Asia and held a big concert. He came to Bangkok, which I was living for almost 5 years, and me, being still an avid fan of him, went to see his concert. This was my time; finally, I was able to see his concert! Then 3 minutes after he started the show, I was pushed forward, as I was standing with about 1000 people around me, and felt breathless. I cried in pain, and left the stadium. There goes my moment in watching him…Boo hoo! Soon afterwards, the molestation charges were up against him, and then I was glad to feel a bit disinterested in him by then.

The times in Bangkok was an ‘eye-opener’ for me on what defines watching concerts or meet and greet with artists at the time. Imagine having moments when you get to fully see the Spice Girls right before your eyes and start chatting and laughing with you. Or, having the Gemini’s –a twin boyband from England that was famous for 15 minutes- kissing both your cheeks (as requested) and seeing Ricky Martin, Backstreet Boys, Aqua, ect. signing autograph for you and able to touch and feel what is like to be a fan of them.
After failing to watch Michael perform, I didn’t give up in watching concerts. I went to see The Cranberries when they visited Bangkok and they were AWESOME. Then Boyzone came, and I don’t know how I ended up going to their concert, but I wasn’t thrilled. Me and my friend at the time just looked at each other and said “Why are we here?” But yeah, I think I got free tickets to see them and I didn’t want to waste freebies, hehehehe…. Then Take That came, and I instantly become a fan of Howard from the band for wearing ‘G-strings’ while performing minus Robbie Williams ...Man, was I boycrazy!
You’d never guess who came back after awhile. Michael Jackson. This time, I did watch him again, safe and sound with no more fire in me for him. Oh well, at least he came and I got to see him. The stadium was better organized and the layout was all with sitting arrangements, so that was cool.
I was back in Jakarta just turning 17 and wanting to see Arkarna. And so I did. At the time, they were huge in Jakarta and I didn’t want to miss them, even though I had to watch them all by myself, as no one I knew then really like them as I did. Wow, I was into anything that can sing!

The greatest moment of my lifetime is when I get to see 2 concerts in a year… The Black Eyed Peas came first and soon after, Beyonce. Oh my God! I really…Really am glad to love music this much! This is a story that you tell your grandchildren or even your kids about your crazed-up life with group bands.
Now, I know I forgot to mention some other concerts as people tend to have short-term memories, but I’m sure writing this much is surely going to bore anyone to death anyway, so I will stop here. I love reminiscing back on those memories and will never forget why I love music, artists and concerts that much.