My Inner Teenie Bopper
Posted by Deutlich on August 18th, 2008 | Filed under: UncategorizedSo here’s the deal.
I don’t think I’ll ever shake this love I have for the Backstreet Boys.
I know, half of you are laughing. Some of you are nodding. Others of you are sighing.
I don’t much care.
This can not be helped. It is so wholly ingrained in me that none of this should really be any surprise to you at all.
It started when I was 13 and visiting my grandparents in Germany. It was 1994 and the Boys were HUGE over there. I mean, it was ridiculous. And I was thirteen.
Upon my return to the U.S., I lost touch with the whole thing. I had borrowed my friend’s CD for the summer in Germany with no way to record it. Skip to a couple years later and they’re dancing to As Long As You Love Me on the European MTV Awards on my television set.
I was instantly hooked. Well, re-hooked. I didn’t realize yet they were the same band my tween-self had fallen in love with. Not until I borrowed another German friend’s CD, played the disc, and realized I was singing every song from beginning to end.
Somewhere along the way it clicked and I made sure that I saw them at the Constitution Hall in DC on January 23, 1998.
My first concert in life.
I had just turned 16.
I was in the thirteenth row.
It was the beginning of one of the craziest “eras” of my life. I’m not all that old, but I’m pretty sure that nothing will compare to the sheer amount of tour-hopping, magazine collecting, television show recording, money spending, road-trip induced memories I have stored from that whole time period.
It’s no big secret that I was an outcast in high school. That I disliked my peers. That I hated life. That I didn’t get along with my family and that life for a while there was hectic, if not downright upsetting.
I was young and dumb and had no idea how to cope with anything.
I know this is why I latched on to the sugary-pop music of that particular boyband. I know that not a lot of people will ever understand.
None of it matters.
Some kids turned to drugs, other kids turned to angry music, still others turn to sports.
Well. I turned to them and the entire thing. In hindsight, some of it was entirely over the top and completely unnecessary. But I wouldn’t change a single thing.
Not one.
I connected with other fans all around the globe. People I still keep in touch with today, ten years after the fact. People that helped me get through some of the most mind-bending years of my life. People that would fly from out of the country just to visit me. People that would save me front row spots for concerts. People that would go half with me on hotel rooms. People that gave me a free ticket for a DLF Charity Cruise (read: cruising with a Backstreet Boy). People that would listen to me at all hours of the night. People that I hold so close to my heart that I can’t give it proper justice.
This is the reason for my fanaticism. This is the reason I can’t just “shake it off.”
I know it sounds silly when you just look at the surface of it all. But if you dig a little deeper, you’ll see that there’s this massive community of like-minded people who were my crutch when I needed one the most. I won’t get into the nitty gritty, but I was suicidal for a time period and I can legitimately say that without people like Kat and Emma, I might not be here today.
You don’t know who they are, but I do. And I met them through our mutual love for this “boyband”.
And then?
Then I started to meet the Backstreet Boys. The first time that happened, I was 18. It was February 18, 2000 in State-College, Pennsylvania.
After idolizing them for years, I had no idea what to expect. But they were all so incredibly sweet it’s uncanny. Then I met them again. And again. And then some more.
Soon enough I was given accounting duties for Howie’s Dorough Lupus Foundation (DLF) fund raiser/charity event. For those of you not in the know, Howie is one of the BSB members and his sister died of Lupus several years back, after which he and his family formed this foundation.
During the last tour, I met a young lady with lupus who was told by her doctor that without the DLF’s contribution to raising awareness and funding for lupus, she wouldn’t have the medication she desperately needed.
And it’s moments like that which solidify my love for this boy band. I don’t care how stupid it sounds to anyone. I love them and that’s that.
Oh, and last night? I fulfilled my promise to Maxie and she met 3/4ths of the current line up thanks to an inside tip from head of security. Being a fan for the past 13 years seems to come with its perks. When Brian mentioned he remembered me from YEARS past, I turned back into my inner thirteen year old.
Tonight’s the concert.
I’m so excited I might shit a brick.
August 18th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Wow. I was an AVID NSYNC fan….but your story about how the Backstreet boys influenced your life has increased my respect for them
Thanks for sharing
August 18th, 2008 at 10:59 am
Well being a bit older than you I can say with pride that the band that turns on my inner teeny bopper is Bon Jovi. I have seen them 4 times over the years. The very first time was in 1986 during the Slippery When Wet tour and I was in LOVE! I’ve seen then a few more times over the years and the last time was in 2005 with my sister – when I was 35 and she was 32 and we rocked it like teenagers. It was awesome!
Enjoy your concert tonight – I do understand how they make you feel.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:04 am
it’s amazing how listening to the music brings it all back. GO BACKSTREET! ahhhhh
I’m so fucking pumped.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:08 am
I would not suggest shitting a brick. It might hurt. Try a feather. They’re far more flexible.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:17 am
I’m going to see them with my sister and some friends in a couple of weeks! I’m so excited, though obviously for far less reason than you are.
Also, is Brian so so cute in real life? How tall is he? Is he as sweet as he seems? (Obviously, he’s my favorite.)
August 18th, 2008 at 11:25 am
There are things in life I will never understand…Ever.
Have fun!
August 18th, 2008 at 11:26 am
i say embrace it! which i know you do.
are you going to get to meet them tonight?
cause i want it that way… tell me whhhhhyyyyy
August 18th, 2008 at 11:40 am
Also had the whole suicidal angst thing, life turned to pot and family became completely unreliable – it was difficult – co-fans help. I turned to Nirvana though – one of the difficult people who hated other people everywhere.
August 18th, 2008 at 11:58 am
I left a comment over on Maxie’s blog just saying that YOU HOOKED A GIRL UP!!!!
Very nice of you. Looks like you made her night, err…year.
And I appreciate your story. Music is a powerful thing. Fans are even more powerful.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:08 pm
!!!!
I love this post. I was a huge BSB fan back in the day, and when their reunion tour came to my city, I jumped for tickets. The seats were bad, but, man, it was an experience. I still have all my BSB stuff.
I was also a fan of Hanson, and I can definitely relate to the power of music. I got the chance to meet the brothers when they visited my school, and time and time again their music has helped me keep strong through rough times. Sometimes i feel a littly silly saying that, but then, no, I am proud to say that music can be so inspiring.
I hope you have an AMAZING time. Rock out a little for me.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Do you ever stop and wonder what if it had been some other band and how your life would be different?
Also, have you started or thought about collecting tufts of their hair?
August 18th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Miz – Anytime. And honestly? I was a pretty big fan of NSYNC too, even if I tried to hide it. But… they were always HUGE JERKS to people and I just couldn’t get with it.
Tricia – I’ve seen BSB nearly 30 times. Oy.
Maxie – ME TOO!!!
Downbeat – I’ll try that for sure.
Sequined – I am very excited for you!!!
Matt – Ditto. And thanks!
Alexa – Oh, I totally do. Hahaha. And probably not.
JL – Yeah, I don’t really like talking about it.
The almost right word – Yes and yes.
Holly – I’m glad you got to see them!!
Jack – I do wonder that from time to time. It wasn’t really the music so much as the fans — so I expect it would be a whole different scenario, seeing as how all people are different. And tufts of hair? Definitely not.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
There is nothing better than the anticipation before a concert. Good luck with that brick thing – you may want to seek medical help before the show. That would be awkward to accidentally shit a brick when you were meeting the band. “Hi, my name is – UH OH”
August 18th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
Wow, shitting a brick is definitely the cause of excitement! Or too much constipation followed by fibre.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:41 pm
My monster avatar is fugly.
August 18th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Narm – This anticipation is driving me nuts! hahaha
Essentially Me – Oh noes! Maybe I should change ‘em from monsters?
August 18th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
I’m a little bit jealous. I only saw them in concert three times, but I would love love love to see them again. I miss my boys!
August 18th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
I don’t think I can ever claim to have been a true fan of any band after reading this post!
I think it’s great that you met them (and so often that they remember you!) and that they weren’t douchebags. That’s always the worst… you idolize someone and they end up being a turd.
August 18th, 2008 at 2:50 pm
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I’m SO jealous. I’m a couple years younger than you, but my love for BSB was all the same. My walls were plastered with posters and pinups as well. Howie was my favorite, and hearing his falsetto on all the songs would make me cry. Oh, those were the days.
And that’s SO cool that you’ve met them!!
August 18th, 2008 at 2:57 pm
I think you just described years 1996-2002 of my life. You know, minus the working for DLF and meeting them multiple times (it was only once but so worth the wait). The women who I met thru BSB were all ages, all backgrounds, all types and I loved it. I am still in touch with many of them to this day and only they know all the lies I told my parents and the money I spent to go to all these crazy events. The connection I had with my fellow fans was like knowing them for many years. Who would have thought this would happen through our mutual love? How I didn’t meet you during that time, Deutlich, is beyond me! I know I’ll always be a BSB fan. KTBSPA
August 18th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Love you, B! World is a much better place with you in it.
Have a great time tonite!!!
August 18th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
Dude that monster looks like me!
August 18th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Oh my God, I can’t believe he remembered you!! I mean, not that you aren’t memorable, but that is so cool of him!
August 18th, 2008 at 4:50 pm
hee. that’s awesome. i don’t have the dedication necessary to ever become a really good fan. i’m too lazy.
August 18th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
well, see the fact that you are aware of others possible thoughts about your backstreet boys fanship makes it alright. You know what society as a whole might think – but dont’ care! that’s what makes it a-ok! Have fun at the concert… but try not to shit a brick – I hear it’s uncomfortable! hehe
August 18th, 2008 at 8:00 pm
EEEKKK I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU!!
August 18th, 2008 at 8:35 pm
Oh, THAT’S what the twitter posts are about!
It’s also good you are not ashamed of this love. In music, there should be no guilty pleasures. Only pleasure.
And that sounds dirty but you know what I’m getting at.
August 18th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
i love it, haha. hope you had a blast =)
August 18th, 2008 at 9:27 pm
Thirteen years of Backstreet devotion? Holy crap!
Hope you had fun!
August 18th, 2008 at 9:58 pm
Once my sister and her friend went to an nsync concert wearing back street boy t shirts to be funny – the younger girls were so mad they did everything short of beat the crap out of them.
Hope you had fun!
August 18th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
I find so much amusement in your love of the Backstreet Boys. You and Maxie are just too cute about this.
August 19th, 2008 at 12:34 am
Cutest post everrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:39 am
Honest moment, when I started reading I was going to make fun of you (in a nice way) but once I hit the lupus part I was floored.
My Father-in-law and Sister-in-law both have lupus. I had no clue that any of the BSB were so involved.
Can you email me any sites about lupus and about the foundations out there (even ones that just give me info on the disease). My in-laws are horribly uneducated about the illness and my FIL is suffering from a flare up that may very well kill him because of his lack of info.
You are a good person for helping out
August 19th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Please move to Arizona so I have someone to go to BSB concerts with. Everyone here thinks I’m nuts for even hinting that I want to go.
August 19th, 2008 at 11:54 am
Very cool!
August 19th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
i have no room to talk. i was 13 when the spice girls got a hold of me. now if I could just meet them, oooo-weee…
anyway, jam out with your clam out mamas!
August 19th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Please don’t shit a brick – I think it would hurt pretty badly.
August 19th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
okay that is just awesome. as a fellow teenie bopper i totally understand how not possible it is to shake it off. i only wish my status of fandom was as cool as yours. aw awesome.
August 19th, 2008 at 8:37 pm
I once saw NSync.
I speak the truth.
August 19th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
This is one of the few times I will admit it, I did have a brief thing for Nick, and we used to battle for them in the playground, over who knew the most about them. I knew when I was 8 Nick’s favourite colour was green and he loved sausages.
& now I’m embarassed I still remember that.
August 21st, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I love it. I’ve been a fan of BSB since I was like 12. I understand EXACTLY what you are saying. When they were such a big part of your life for so long… you just can’t stop liking them!
August 21st, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I just wrote on Maxie’s post about how I stalked both of your albums on facebook. I love this. I used to be a huge fan, too. It’s great to have an outlet and something to turn to like music. The Millennium tour? Best. time. ever.
August 21st, 2008 at 3:08 pm
Also: I DARE someone to tell me with complete honesty that listening to their songs doesn’t make them want to sing and dance, and just make them happy period.
Hear that everyone? I dare you.
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
…and that’s what I’m waiting to happen with me. I already know that I love/am a fan of my favorite band. At this point, it’s mostly weighed on the raw emotional content thats communicated in every bar/chord/hook/verse…but i want to…experience them.
that sounded kinda groupie-ish, didn’t it?
August 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 am
ha. funny thing just happened. i pressed next on my ipod (on shuffle) and guess what song came on?
“the call” by bsb.
no lie.