SOMEWHERE IN NEVERLAND

Fangirl

One of the most nerve-racking things for me is buying concert tickets, especially for a big name artist. This past Monday, my nerves were high as I waited as person 200 in the queue to buy tickets to see Harry Styles on his upcoming tour in support of his sophomore album. Scoring these tickets would mean being able to see him live as a solo artist for the first time and I guess in a sense, reliving some part of my childhood. And $338 later, that’s exactly what I’ll be doing come Aug. 15 of next year.

As much as I hate to admit it, One Direction was a major part of my childhood from age 11 on. I had a lot happening in my personal life at this time, and One Direction was kind of a safe haven for me to retreat into during difficult times through their music and the countless YouTube videos and interviews I’ve watched with them (I’m sorry, Mom). I saw the group twice while they were still together (one of those times consisted of a flight to Los Angeles) and definitely (shamelessly) cried on the bathroom floor in my high school when Zayn announced he was leaving the band; I’m still bitter.

While I don’t really listen to their music anymore, I’ve continued to follow, and I guess fangirl over, most of them in their solo careers. Seeing them as solo artists now makes me realize how much we all, in a sense, grew up together as they grew as artists. In August 2018, I saw Niall Horan at Red Rocks and I felt like a proud mother seeing him on that stage by himself at such an iconic venue.

If anything, me buying tickets to see all the boys on their solo tours is just a way for my 20-year-old self to fangirl over a band that quite honestly changed my life, but in a more socially acceptable way. And if a reunion tour happens, I’ll be front and center.

Editor’s Pick: “Watermelon Sugar” by Harry Styles