NKOTB - The End?
So, most of you that read my LJ, well, if there are any of you left, know that I'm a huge NKOTB fan, right?
Or DID you know that? LMAO - my layout.
I'm not really one any more. Why?
I loved them back when I was younger. They were huge and so was my heart; and ONLY for them. I knew their every move. I knew what country they were in. I followed every story, every news article, every magazine. My sister and I would sit and sift through magazine after magazine looking for THEE one that we wanted to buy. We walked MILES, and I'm not even kidding, MILES to get the new Bop, Big Bopper or Teen Beat.
When they came back? My heart froze and then skipped merrily backwards 20 years. The feeling I got when they came out on stage at the Staples Center that October night was - well, there are no words that can describe it. Imagine seeing your long lost best friend from elementary school and with her? Your favorite pet from the past, teacher, grand parent, family member and flavor of ice cream surrounding her. It was as if something came alive again. Sparked in me what I had been lacking for the past couple of years.
They announce a cruise. My sister doesn't want to go. We book it.
Then? It continued. Five star passes (also known in the concert community as 5*)? What's this? I can pay to meet them? Hug them? Touch them? RIGHT ON! We did that. I had a great experience that I wouldn't give back for the world. It was amazing. I friggin' kissed Joe McIntyre. WHAT? Yes. I did. Bucket list item number 1? COMPLETE! ACCOMPLISHED!
The cruise of 2009 was the best weekend of my life. Again, the experiences, the whole vibe of the ship, the time spent with my sister- unbelievable and NOT repeatable as we found out in 2010. But we still had a blast when that rolled around.
Now, let's get into 2011. I love Joe. That will never change. And I'm thankful that NKOTB brought my love for him back to the surface. Love it. I've had the opportunity to go to two of his solo shows; die! Amazing. Hands down the best and only New Kid that, in my opinion deserves fame, fortune and success based on talent. Well, that Jordan guy ain't so bad but I can understand if his stuff keeps him a little away from the mainstream. Joe too, actually, but he deserves recognition.
Anyway, this isn't really about Joe. It's not even really about NKOTB as a whole. They're touring with Backstreet Boys this summer and I've always wanted to see them live so this will give me a chance. I'm slightly stoked. Really good seats and all that.
This is about the fans.
Yep.
The ones that "ruined" it for me. Or made it "old" for me. Of course a lot of my close friends that I have now are fans. I wouldn't give them back for anything. They're as precious to me as my memories and family. I'm not talking about them. I'm not even talking about the majority of the fans. I'm talking about those select few. Those that took something so light, young hearted, breezy and turned it into high school.
So, the wonderment and the pureness of elementary school turned into the "hey, that's not fair!" of Junior High. And now? Now we're in High School. And what happened when we got to HS before? The NK's went away, right (well, for me that happened in JR High, but still- I was on the little younger edge of the spectrum).
Now? If you don't have this, if you don't go there, if you don't buy something; you're not a fan. That's not right. You're not the "cream of the crop" if you didn't pre-order this and that.
Before the first cruise, Donnie gave a VERY heartfelt thank you speech. It moved me. I think it even moved my sister. I got goosebumps. All throughout that cruise, he was sincere, he was warm. Fell in love all over again! Right after that cruise I said, "Joe's my favorite New Kid, then Jordan, Danny and Jon. Donnie? He's on a whole other level."
That died quickly. Why? Because the rewarding of bad behavior.
That's another story.
Anyway. I'm sure we're reaching twilight time with NKOTB. The guys need to do their own things. Joe's got three, or will have three, little babies at home. Donnie's doing whatever that's called and Jordan? He needs to do a tour. The other ones? As much as I love Jon and Danny as an inspiration to some; meh. They're there to be there. It wouldn't be the same with out them but I think they're "done" too. At least it seems like it.
This isn't a negative post. This was more to say; I think I'm done. :( And it's sad! I don't want to be done with it!! But every tweet, every post, every OMGAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW SOMEONE SAID T
Would I jump out of my seat if I got a simple "hi :)" from one of them? Yes. I would. How do I know? Because it's happened.
But now? It's a collection of tweets that matter, not what's in your heart. It's not what's in YOU that matters but what's in your favorites. It seems friendship isn't about common ground; it's about common FOLLOWERS.
It's not right. =-\