Life Of A Fangirl

A few nights ago, I asked for suggestions on what I could blog about and my friend Lara told me I should write about the pros of being a fangirl in lieu to her blog post about what a fangirl should NOT do. I said, what the heck! Challenge accepted. After all, how hard would it be to write about it right? So here it goes:

Let's start with the most mababaw of all the reasons

1. Getting recognized by a band member
   
   We all know bands have huge fanbases and a few years back, fans would totally go unnoticed by the members themselves unless you go to a show and meet them. These days, however, especially with the social networking craze, it's become possible for bands to interact with their fans and vice versa. The feeling you get when you finally get that reply is overwhelming - not just because you got a reply but because they acknowledged your existence and then you realize that your love for them didn't go unreciprocated. It's cool when they reply to you. I should know because I get giddy and excited every time a band member replies to me but please don't get up all on their faces just to get a non-sense reply.
    
2. Getting new people to listen to your favorite band's music
   
   Do you guys ever get happy when you introduce a friend/relative/stranger to your favorite band's music? I do. I feel like it's a way of giving back to the band that you introduce people to their music to help them widen their fanbase. I also see it as sharing a part of yourself to another person. If a band and their music means so much to you that it made an impact on your life, why not share it with others? Maybe, just maybe, they'll find strength in the music they didn't have before or maybe it would serve as inspiration to them as much as it did to you. Who knows, right? Music is such a powerful thing not to share to the world.
    
3. Making new friends and meeting new people
   
   I know everyone would be able to relate to this. I have become friends with the most awesome people one would ever get the chance to meet because of The Cab. I've also met people from different countries because we share the same love for the band. When we were little, our parents would say "don't talk to strangers" but these people we talk to on Twitter or Facebook or Tumblr don't feel like strangers at all. It's like you have this instant connection with each other and you "get" each other for the reason that you listen to the same music. It's amazing how one band and their music and bring people and continents together. I have no words for it.
    
4. Meeting them for the first time (or a number of times)
   
   Living in the Philippines sucks when it comes to concerts and meeting the band because security is so tight you can't just walk up to them and ask for an autograph and a picture unlike in other countries. (I have nothing against security, just so you know. I like that they're there in case to protect my beloved boys in case something happens.) So yes, when you do get the opportunity to meet them for the first time it's bliss. Flat out bliss. I'm guessing one of the reasons is that it's only when you meet them that you realize they're real and that they're not just a band making music, doing shows you only get to see on Youtube videos - they're real people. And of course there's that reason that you've waited for a long time to see them and be able to personally thank them for their music that has made such a difference in your life.
   
   If you're lucky, you get a hug. If you're REALLY lucky, you get a kiss or maybe even a short conversation with them but of course, it isn't supposed to be about that. Those are the cherries and extra whipped cream on top of a perfectly good sundae. It's always about the music.


5. Seeing them perform live
   
   There is NOTHING like seeing your favorite band perform on stage, especially for the first time. I thought long and hard about how I would describe the experience and I just can't find the right words so I'm just going to put it this way: when the band plays THAT ONE SONG, you belt out the words and sing at the top of your lungs and then the singer decides to turn the mic to the crowd and you hear everyone singing the same words as you are and you sound so good. It's that feeling of belongingness, that moment where you feel like nothing hurts and everything is good that somehow you've done right and you're being rewarded with music. 

I know everyone has their own experiences about going to concerts and meeting their favorite bands. I suck with words but I hope I got the point across. If you feel like sharing your experiences, go right ahead and comment. I'd love to hear them and exchange stories with you. For now, I leave you with this:

You know what's one of the best feelings ever? Seeing a song being played live that's so utterly relevant to your life. In that moment you just belt out every word along with the crowd & singer. Then suddenly you don't feel so alone anymore.