Somewhat by accident, I took 14-year-old Seconda to her first rock concert this past December. It was one of those radio-station-sponsored affairs, with a lineup of ten bands and a running time of seven hours, and I bought the tickets assuming 17-year-old Prima, usually an exemplary sister, would be willing to go with her.
Bad assumption. Prima had no interest in seeing any of the bands, no stomach for the seven-hour ordeal, and insufficient sisterly devotion to just grit her teeth and go anyway. Reason didn’t sway her. Strategically applied guilt had no effect. She would not even consider a bribe.
Assuming (again with the assumptions!) a 14-year-old would rather wade a mile through leech-infested waters than go to a rock concert with her mom, I proposed other escorts. Cool childless aunt? Guitar-Hero-playing cousin? Maybe… Dad?
No, no, and no. For reasons I still can’t fathom, my daughter had made up her mind that, if her sister couldn’t be persuaded to go, I was the escort of choice. And so it happened that I went to a seven-hour, ten-band rock concert. Nine hours and ten minutes, actually, counting the time we spent standing in line and the twenty minutes the thing ran over (and believe you me, I was counting).
I saw these guys, but I have no idea who they are. In my day, the people onstage at a concert looked like Boy George, or maybe Prince. Nowadays they all look like this, and you can't tell one from another. (Edit 2/1/11: Alert reader Karen has plausibly ID'd these two as Martin Johnson and Paul DiGiovanni of the band Boys Like Girls. There was indeed a band called Boys Like Girls in the lineup, so I'm going with it. Thanks, Karen!)
The headline act, and really the whole reason for going, was Seconda’s favorite band, Paramore. And towards the beginning of the show, in one of about a billion attempts to pump the audience into a frenzy, the concert overlords reminded us of the lineup, with pictures on the big video screens: “Coming up: Blah-de-blah, blah-de-blah, blah-de-blah… and Paramore.”
And when they said “Paramore,” my fourteen-year-old daughter squealed aloud, entirely without irony, like a kid half her age. It was as though, until that moment, she hadn’t quite let herself believe that Paramore was truly going to be there. Like it all might prove to be some elaborate bait-and-switch somehow. Anyway it was ridiculously adorable, and it made me glad no other escort had panned out.
I’m also glad I went because partway through Paramore’s eventual set, there came a kind of goosebumpy moment. They played this one number – a quieter love song that had been a radio hit – and the audience, most of whom seemed to be young women and all of whom seemed to know the words, sang along. And when the chorus came around for the second time, the singer stepped back from the mike and the audience kept on singing by themselves.
Paramore! These guys I can recognize, because the singer was tiny, red-haired, and female.
I suppose this isn’t uncommon in rock concerts, but in that moment, it just seemed like such a clear and lovely illustration of the audience’s role in realizing – completing – a piece of popular art. The artist writes the song, records it, sends it out into the world, and it’s not really complete until it’s received by someone to whom it means something. The audience gives it that last little spark; makes it real, like the Velveteen Rabbit.
I don’t believe all art works this way, or all artists. Some artists, I’m pretty sure, create what they feel compelled to create, and put it out there, and, while they certainly hope people will like it, that’s not really the point. Maybe they’ll be appreciated in posterity; maybe not. Doesn’t matter. They’ve answered to their muse.
But in the romance genre, as in pop music – I guess I should speak for myself here but I’ll go out on a limb with the gross generalization anyway – it doesn’t work like that. Posterity and the muse take a backseat, I think, to actual people alive on the planet right now.
Does that make the product more transitory? More disposable? Well, maybe. Think of the Billboard Hot 100, or the romance shelves at Barnes & Noble. There’s always something new coming along to push whatever’s there now out of the way. Whereas nobody’s ever going to shoulder out Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, or War and Peace.
Nevertheless there’s a value, I think, in that personal connection. In that special, quasi-collaborative relationship between artist and audience. And to see it so vividly enacted – to witness this crowd of young people laying claim to this song, with its resonant-to-them impression of love – gave me chills, and reminded me of what a privilege it really is to write the most popular of popular fiction, romance.
Am I off base? Did I go too far out on the limb? Is a comparison between pop music and romance legitimate? Or do you think the seven-hour concert might have impaired my critical faculties?
OMG I love this post! Yes! For me, creation is all about the audience.
Funny you should comment because I’d originally intended – before the post got so epically long – to include something about my experience of reading the Lily Among Thorns ms and coming to that one joke that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up because it was so exactly a thought I’d had myself.
Maybe I’ll find a way to work it into a future post…
[...] Cecilia Grant just made a fantastic post about the importance of the reader’s input in genre fiction: They played this one number – [...]
Loved your article. its on Paramore’s lead singer-Hayley’s blog by the way.
http://www.yelyahwilliams.tumblr.com if you’re interested …:)
Seriously? Hayley W. linked to this? I am blushing so hard it kind of hurts. But thanks for letting me know :)
i loved the article, i agree with every aspect of it! :]
by the way, i think the picture of the unknown boys are actually martin johnson and paul digiovanni from boys like girls.
Oh, good call! I’m willing to bet money you’ve got it right because 1) BLG were in the lineup; 2) I remember the singer had short blonde hair, and 3) their set came in the latter half of the concert, when my daughter was down on the floor with her camera. (Some of the earlier bands, we wouldn’t have photos of.)
And I want to say “I can’t believe you actually know those guys’ names,” but the sad fact is there was a time when I could have told you the names of every guy in Duran Duran.
Crap. I just thought about it for a minute and realized I can still tell you the names of every guy in Duran Duran. But I’ll spare you.
Such a lovely post. I just thought you should know that I got your link from Hayley Williams’ (that tiny, red-haired female vocalist for Paramore) tumblr. You should be proud, you have mad writing skills.
Thanks for your kind comment. I think “mad writing skills” is about the nicest compliment in the world.
it’s amazing, isn’t it.
i’m a huge paramore fan, and no other concerts i’ve been to have displayed such energy.
the fans make it all happen.
it’s like magic.
Yeah, by about the second song in their set, I understood why my daughter was such a huge fan :) And I couldn’t help noticing that, while other bands in the concert had kept urging the crowd to get crazy, make noise, sing along, etc., Paramore never did that. The audience response was organic, rather than, you know, browbeaten into them.
And yes, magic. Just the right word.
I don’t think you’ve gone too far out on the limb. I think you’ve nailed something here. I think there’s a way in which pop songs are like instant environments, created in the moment for the artist and audience to be in. I always think that music, despite its categorization along with other art forms and media as “entertainment” is and always has been something much more. Songs can create a place in which people’s hearts can breathe, in which people feel as though they’re allowed to think and remember, hope and hurt. Songs can create a space in which everyone can connect, and maybe even escape from the minimally romantic practicality that seems to saturate life. Some people tend to view all pop music as a calculated and designed product. Undoubtedly, some of it is. But some artists write in a pop format because they wish to connect on a scale like you witnessed. There’s really something of great value to that.
Beautifully put. Do you have a blog? You should.
I don’t, but I’ve been thinking about creating one. I don’t know that it would have much of a theme, though. And I don’t know that it would be enjoyable – it would likely be more of a journal/brainstorming space. It’s my last semester of college, so I’m busy trying to piece together a million things, but maybe if I think it’ll serve some purpose…
Nonetheless – like at least a few others here, I came to this post through twitter, via Hayley Williams. But I’ve since looked through a bunch of your posts, and I really enjoy your blog. I’ve never read a historical romance novel, so perhaps I’ll pick yours up when it’s out.
I think “in the last semester of college, trying to piece together a million things” is a compelling angle for a blog, actually. Drop me a line if you do start one. I would read it.
this is exactly whats it all about, hit the nail on the head right there.
glad you both had fun too, theres no way you can’t have fun at a paramore show anyway!
hayley (lead singer of paramore) read this and put it on her blog:
yelyahwilliams.tumblr.com
:D
It was, truly, so much more fun than I thought it would be. And I’m so glad my daughter was able to see them in their then-incarnation: the break-up news came at the end of that same tour :(
Cecelia,
I love the way you describe the environment that music instantly creates. Underneath Paramore’s popular and energetic punk- rock attitude, is a softer, more meaningful and sincere connection with their fans. This connection is what seems to separate them from other artists. I have listened to Paramore since 2006, been to 12 of their concerts and several meet and greets. It’s the “chill bump” effect that you spoke of that keeps me so attached. There’s something so raw about their songs and especially their live performances that stirs up so much emotion in the audience- like you said, it’s not forced. This is why their fans are so dedicated, even through hard times. (I’m sure you will be glad to know that Paramore didn’t break up- but two of it’s members left.) Paramore is still very much a band, more dedicated than ever to connecting with their audience.
“Meet and greets?” I think I need to figure out how to sign my daughter up for one of those!
I’ve thought a lot in the past week about how passionate Paramore’s fans are and why that is, and I think it comes down to what you say: there’s something raw and unapologetic about their energy onstage, but there’s something utterly accessible too. You don’t usually find those two qualities together.
This is simply lovely! I’m 19 & I took my mother to one of Paramore’s concerts in November; she’s going through such a tough time & I wanted to cheer her up. And on that song in particular, you could just sense how everybody felt a part of it as Hayley held out the mic. Just like you say – the song isn’t complete without the audience putting their hearts into it. I watched my mum as she sang along and temporarily let go of all her troubles and worries. She really did look free in that moment, because of a love song, written from the heart, performed from the heart, enjoyed by millions of hearts. I think it’s a very beautiful thing, that unity. Everybody around you is suddenly your friend.
I loved reading this post, thank you!
Oh, I’m glad to hear from someone who experienced that same moment, because I know my description didn’t do it justice. It was sublime, wasn’t it?
And yay for you, taking your mom. I never would have taken my own mother to a concert (I’ve always thought there was an enormous generational divide when it came to tastes in music), but I think maybe your generation is more evolved :)
Really loved your post! I myself have seen Paramore twice and hope to keep seeing them every tour they do :) I’m what you would call a super fan haha, That moment when you talked about when they played “The only Exception” that to me is music at it’s very best and I’m glad an adult like yourself can really forget in that moment that your with young teenagers and you understood how we feel when something like that takes place….when you won’t know anyone there but yet in that one moment you have something in common.
Thanks for this.
Yes, that’s an important thing I neglected to mention: not only is there that thread going back and forth between the audience and the artist, but there are also a thousand little threads connecting the individuals in the audience to one another. It can happen in other art forms (for instance, when you find out an acquaintance loved the same book or movie you did and you share that “Oh my god, wasn’t it amazing?” moment), but I think it’s at its purest in the pop-concert performance, when you’ve got a bunch of people herded together experiencing the same thing in the same place at the same time.
Thanks for bringing that up. I am kind of in awe of the thoughtfulness/incisiveness of Paramore fans now.
I know what you mean. I’ve been lucky enough to go to two Paramore concerts and I don’t think any other band has the same energy. There’s just something about Paramore that sets them apart from other pop-rock bands. It will be interesting to see if they still have it now that the Farro brothers have left….
Here comes a show of my ignorance, but… the guys who left were the drummer and the lead guitarist, right? They did seem like awfully important pieces of the band, so yeah, it will be interesting to see how Paramore re-constitutes itself.
I would love to take my mum to a Paramore concert…but she wouldn’t go in a million years.
Paramore have been my favourite band for the past 3 years and I finally managed to see them live when they toured the UK in November…by far the best night of my life (even though I nearly passed out during the concert haha).
I loved every song they played but ‘The Only Exception’ definatly stood out. Hearing everyone singing in unison and seeing the smile on Hayley’s face (we were right at the front); it was the closest thing to magic I’ve ever experienced. And then I looked around to the rest of the crowd in the stands and everyone had their lighters or phones out and its was just this sea of stars…it gave me goosebumbs.
Oh and also Paramore have got a new drummer and guitarist for their new tour…Josh Freese and Justin York (brother of current guitarist Taylor York).
Aha… my daughter didn’t tell me about the new drummer and guitarist, though I bet she does know.
Yes, there were cell phones and lighters during that song at our concert too. (I love your “sea of stars” description.) It was the first time I’ve been to a concert in the cellphone era so I’d never seen that before.
Tell your mom I think she should go to the concert with you :)
Hey! I just checked with my daughter and she didn’t know about the new drummer & guitarist! I knew something about Paramore before she did! Thanks, Ellie!
I was actually at this show it wasn’t my first though it was really this may sound crazy my 20th no lie. I have noticed many pop artist don’t care about having a meaning only money and Paramore has very meaningful music sometimes their meaning is so strong and they are so lyricly powerful they you can’t really pinpoint meanings to the songs but its deffinatly there. Also the lead singer of Paramore has linked this article on her tumblr I didn’t read the comments so I’m not sure if someone has already told you
How on earth have you been to twenty Paramore shows? Do you follow them around like the Grateful Dead or something? They can’t have been to our neck of the woods that many times.
I love what you said about meanings that you can’t actually pinpoint. That’s a thought I’ve had when listening to the part that HW sings in the song “Airplanes.” She never says what it is she’d wish for, but as a listener, I find I don’t have to know. It’s more evocative – maybe more powerful – if I don’t know.
Chills up to your ears, a crowd singing along to the text. Paramore has meant alot to me for years just beacuse of the texts to witch I can relate to and feel so many feelings at the same time for. Concerts are truly the best way to listen to music. Your text is really beautiful :)
I got the sense that all their songs were meaningful to the people there. The crowd actually sang along with every song; it was just easier to hear on the quieter one :)
I’m 14, and also went to a paramore show with my mom. It easily went down as the best night of my life. My mother knew nothing about paramore, and by the end of the night, she understood why they meant so much to me. During The Only Exception at the show we went to, a small fight broke out in the crowd. Hayley
calmly stopped singing, asked for the boys to be ecsorted out. She said, “we dont fight during love songs.” She then proceeded to sing the rest of the song. Everytime my mother hears me play The Only Exception, we both love to sing along. Now and then she’ll remind me of that night, as though I don’t think about it everyday. It makes me so happy. You’ve written such greatl article. :)
I am so impressed by the number of teenage girls willing to be seen at a concert with their moms! I would have, like, stood ten feet away and pretended not to know my mom. I really think you Youth of Today are more mature.
And “we don’t fight during love songs” is so awesome it ought to be printed on the back of every ticket, or perhaps stamped on concert-goers’ hands.
I’m 18, and I would love to go to a concert with my mom! in fact, I’m going to a paramore’s concert next month and my mom is taking me, she’s not going *in* but she said she will dye her hair and wear a paramore shirt, that’s how she is, and I love it! even though she still thinks I’m a little girl so she has to wait outside like if it was my first day at school (first concert, would it be worse?). I love the fact that you as a mom, took your daughter to a concert of her favorite band (and sucha long concert)! I think that paramore writes song first for them and the for their fans, I know they write their hearts out, and sometimes we, the fans, are their muse..
If my daughter were a little older I would have left her at the door, too. But I’m glad I didn’t :)
That was a good read.
About the whole “in my day artists stood out” thing — I think it has more to do with the type of performers than the time period. You mention Boy George and Prince, but I’m assuming the bands at this show weren’t all that influenced by those types of artists.
I’m guessing the bands here were pop-punk bands who look up to bands like The Clash, The Ramones, the Sex Pistols, etc — bands that were around the same time as Boy George & Prince but dressed similar to the guys in that first picture you posted.
I’m glad you ended up enjoying the show. As a 21-year-old guy who listens to mostly hip-hop, I’m a little bit outside of Paramore’s target audience but when I saw a show of theirs over the summer they pretty much floored me. They have great stage presence, especially Hayley.
Oh, you’re totally right that the bands in this concert were aiming more for the Ramones aesthetic than New Wave glitz. (And furthermore, I can’t really dismiss the instinct-for-spectacle of a generation that produced Lady Gaga. She’s at least the equal of anything the 80s coughed up.)
Between you and me, I would have liked to see some hip-hop in the concert too. (The sponsoring radio station does play it, so I was kind of surprised there was none in the lineup.) And ITA about Paramore – they had stage presence to spare.
~smile~ This is so lovely. I found the link on Hayley’s tumblr (her mother is a dear childhood friend of mine) clicked on it and happily enjoyed your post. It had even more meaning for me, because I am also a historical romance author. Your words are spot on.
I’ve quoted, attributed, and linked back to you on my own blog. I’ve also added you to my feed reader so I can be sure I don’t miss anything new from you.
Here’s the link to my own post about your post:
I hope this finds you well.
deneane elise
Yay, a comment from a romance author! It’s been an odd 24 hours on my blog – usually the only people who comment here are other romance authors :)
How kind of you to link to me on your blog. Now I’ll look for your books. Is there a particular one I should start with?
Wow! You are a lovely writer. I think it’s very admirable that you took your daughter to the concert :) That must have been a very special moment for both of you. I don’t think I could pay my mom enough money to go to a rock concert! :) I went to a Paramore concert in September, and I must agree, they are a band that truly has a connection with their audience and fans, and that’s what makes them so loveable. It was the best concert I have ever been to. When I was deciding who to take, I really wanted to take one of my sisters, because they both love Paramore, but they were unable to go. I wanted to have someone share the experience with me who felt the connection I do to this band. But in the end I took my boyfriend because no one else could go. We still had fun, but I think it would have been more enjoyable to go with someone who really appreciated the artist, which is what you seemed to have gotten out of it.
PS: congrats on the mention from Hayley! That’s special! I bet your daughter was thrilled to hear that.
Back when I still thought I had a chance of bribing my older daughter to go, I was talking to a co-worker about it and she said, in all seriousness, “It would be worth a hundred dollars to me not to have to go to that concert.” The amount sounded reasonable to me too. But Elder Daughter turned me down before I could even throw out an offer.
And oh, yes, Younger Daughter was thrilled. She wanted me to write to Hayley W. and ask for an autograph. As though I have some kind of “in” now :)
Hi Cecilia,
I, like many others, have also come across this post via Hayley Williams’ tumblr. I’m so glad she posted a link because I loved everything you said about your first Paramore experience.
A lot of people say that Paramore have ‘sold out’ and ‘lost touch with what they started as’ but you post pretty much proves their theories wrong. From what I understand about this amazing band, they started out wanting to create music that ‘touched’ people (and maybe help them out when the time called for it?), and years down the line, they are still doing that.
I’m glad you got to experience that magical moment with your daughter. I’m 21 and I would love to take my mum to a Paramore concert, I bet your daughter loved sharing that moment with you every bit as much as you did.
Hope this all makes sense, I’ve typed in a rush of thoughts so it may not…
(my own post on my last Paramore concert experience: http://lora-myfavouritethings.blogspot.com/2010/11/paramore-not-so-secret-love.html)
Lora, thanks for your comment. The link to your post was broken (you’d left off the .html) but I found my way to your blog, and, after way too much time clicking around (your blog is addictive and I kept going on detours!) found the Paramore post and took the liberty of fixing the link here. I hope people will click over and read it; I liked it a lot.
My Dad went with me and my older brother to a Paramore concert this summer. I fell in love with them all over again, and truly felt like they loved their fans and our reactions to the songs. There’s nothing quite like hearing a whole crowd of people sing in unison :) It was such an amazing night, and i’m so glad I got to share it with my family. This was a great post!
Did your dad like the concert? There weren’t a lot of dad-age men at the show we went to, and the ones I saw were all in the seated section at the back (where I was, too). In particular I remember a guy reading on his Kindle :)
The first show I went to was in 2006 and I was 15, I saw Fall Out Boy and my mother took me. Ever since then my mother has gone with me to every rock show i’ve ever been to. In 2006 we also went to warped tour where we watched a little red head run across stage while singing her heart out, that is when I fell in love with Paramore. I’ve seen them about 8 times since then and I believe the best thing about seeing them live is the audience. Fall Out Boy was always a fun show too because the audience. My mother also loves going to shows because she likes the reaction of the band and audience. That’s my favorite thing as well. I loved reading your post because it took me back to all those times I’d watch paramore perform and she’d let the audience sing. It’s almost as if for a moment the whole crowd and band members are connected and nothing else in the world matters.
I’m so glad Hayley posted a link to your article, I loved it :)
Who knew there were so many concert-going moms? Well, maybe I’m the only one who didn’t know.
That must have been great to see Paramore so early. Did you know they’d go on to be as big as they did?
Loved this post. Thank you for sharing. I was directed to it via Hayley Williams’ mention of it in a post. Really good writing. I’m glad you were able to receive the Paramore experience. That’s why they have so many dedicated fans.
oh, just noticed it says you’re an author of historical romance. I’ll have to look you up, that’s one of my favorite genres. :)
A Paramore fan who reads historical romance! Awesome.
Unfortunately I don’t have a book for you to read, yet. It turns out there’s this lengthy sort of no-man’s-land period between when you sign a publishing contract and when your book is released, and that’s where I am right now. When I have a release date I’ll post it. Probably in huge block letters.
Thanks for commenting :)
I belatedly caught up with this thread via the Paramore Fan Club message boards, where a link was posted. I thought you might like to hear a view from the “other side of the fence” – I’m a dad who takes his daughters to Paramore concerts, rather than the other way round!
I think I’m one of – if not THE – oldest member of the band’s fan club at 53 (I haven’t come across anyone who will admit to being older!). I saw the band twice last November – with my oldest daughter (24) the first time and my youngest girl (16) on the second occasion.
I’m sure many people must think I’m there because I have to be (designated driver, escort for young child, etc) but I can assure them that I’m there because Paramore provide me with a refreshing all-round experience that I thought I might never find again.
I’ve been attending a wide variety of concerts for 40 years and I can honestly say that the atmosphere when Paramore are playing is unparalleled for me – both on and off the stage.
I remember posting a message on the fan club boards to the effect that, having played to more than a million people live last year, the band had brought an incredible amount of joy and love to our troubled world – and I will always stand by those words.
They bring out the best side of today’s youngsters, many of whom are so often criticised for their actions. To be part of that, albeit from a different generation, is priceless.
The humility of the band members is also inspirational – and of course, I love the music they make. I would urge anyone of more “mature” years who might think they would be out of place at a Paramore concert to reconsider – life is too short for “if only” moments!
Paramore dads FTW! Did you succeed in converting your daughters? I’m fascinated by how strongly young women, in particular, seem to feel about this band.
In fairness to my daughters, they didn’t need converting – they were already familiar with Paramore and their music. But I would have attended the concerts regardless of whether the girls went with me or not!
It’s true to say the majority of the band’s fans are teenage girls. I put that down largely to the following factors:
Hayley Williams is, in my opinion, an excellent role model. She’s talented, engaging, articulate, humble and attractive without being over the top – all characteristics to be commended.
The other members of the band – and it’s important to remember that Paramore work as a team, not as individuals – play their full part in providing shows and music with a genuine feelgood factor.
It’s impossible not to be carried along by the sheer exuberance generated at a Paramore concert, and in an atmosphere where everyone feels included and safe.
Much is made of the Paramore “family” and that should not be underestimated. If any fan club members ask for help or find themselves in difficult situations, the response from fellow fans is both instant and heartfelt.
In today’s climate where human feelings and emotions are often swept aside in the pursuit of fame and fortune, Paramore are – for me – a shining beacon of hope for the future.
Yes, I think a lot of Paramore’s appeal (to young women) has to do with the image Williams projects onstage and in their recordings: powerful, candid, unafraid to be angry, but without that exaggerated, hypersexualized swagger that so many female music performers seem to adopt. Accessible, too. I think that really resonates with younger women.
I didn’t realize the fan club was such a community. Impressive.
I loved reading this, and like many others I found it on Hayley’s tumblir. I am an older Paramore fan at the age of 30. I have been listening to them for five years and I have to say they are so amazing live. I have always been really passionate about music my whole life. My first show was Paula Abdul when I was 11. My mother and older sister took me and I still remember how excited I was. It was a great memory for me and I’m sure your daughter will always be thankful the two of you went together. I love to go to shows and have seen everyone from James Taylor to Britney Spears. I currently have tickets to Janet Jackson, Sara Bareilles and Katy Perry. I think music is such an outlet and you can love it for so many reasons. There is music I listen to just to dance to or to relate to or just so I can sing in my car lol…badly. But I have to say there is something different about Paramore that separates them from everyone else I have seen live. Most artists seem to really have big ego’s and the show’s are so much more for them then for you the fan. When you see Paramore it’s like the whole show is about the fan’s. It’s like a musical thank you note for supporting them. They connect with you on so many levels in their career from their website, to their twitter,blogs, meet and greets, bringing fans on stage. They do more for their fans then any other artist out there. They’re still grateful and that is the difference. If your daughter ever has the chance to see them again I encourage you to not only buy her ticket but one for yourself too. I think it’s amazing you went with her and if I saw a mother/ daughter at a show I would think…”what a cool mom she has!”
Yes, seeing that Paramore show, I understood for the first time that when an artist says to their fans, “We couldn’t do this without you,” it doesn’t just mean “Without you to buy our records and concert tickets, we’d all have to get lousy day jobs” – it really means “The things we make would not be complete without you.”
I love that your first-ever concert was Paula Abdul. I wonder how many people can say that.
Your article is so good I’ve bookmarked it already.
Thanks. I’m so impressed that this post is still getting comments nearly a year after I put it up :)
I commented in this thread back in February – and thought I would post a quick update which underlines the family feel of the Paramore Fan Club. The annual PFC awards have just been handed out after a round of nominations from club members and a second round of voting on short lists of three for each category. At the ripe old age of 54 I was fortunate enough to pick up four of the awards – thanks almost entirely to support from fellow fans who are young enough to be my children! That’s the beauty of Paramore and the fans – age doesn’t matter as we are united in our love for the music and the ethos developed by the band.
I remember you – you’re the Paramore-fan dad who takes his daughters to concerts! That’s so ridiculously awesome of the fan club to give you four awards. What are some of the different awards they give out?
It’s a mixture of “serious” and “not so serious” awards – the one I’m most proud to have received is for Friendliest Member. There’s plenty of competition among the thousands of PFCers and I’ve made so many great online friends there. Each continent has its own “best fan” award, reflecting Paramore’s worldwide appeal, and other gongs are handed out for the quality of message board posts, biggest fans of individual band members – the list goes on. And to a person, everyone is genuinely pleased for those who have been nominated and chosen. If only all life could be like that, the world would certainly be a better place!
[...] seeing my name on the list of participating authors (I’m borderline pathological about that: the day the Paramore fans found me, my first reaction was not, “Whoa! I’m going to have my best day ever in blog stats by [...]