Everyone knows that feeling of being unconditionally in love with an artist. The endless wait for a new album to drop, then playing the album on repeat once it does come out. This has been my life with Beyoncé for seven years. Ever since one of my best friends in high school got me into her, I've been steadily moving further and further away from a casual love of Beyoncé and closer to an obsession. I know not everyone can relate to my undying love for the Queen, but most people have experienced this level of dramatic and possibly unhealthy love for an artist before.
Never having been much of a concert person, I was in no way prepared for the emotional experience that seeing Beyoncé live would be. I didn't know how excited I would be just to breathe the same air as Beyoncé and Jay Z. Anyone who has waited for years to see their #1 artist knows the feeling of anticipation you get after the lights have gone off and you're waiting for them to appear.
The real beauty of seeing your absolute favorite musician perform live is watching the moments you've only seen videos of coming to life on stage. For me, this moment was Beyoncé and Jay Z performing "Forever Young." On their previous joint tour, which began when I was becoming a fan, they had performed this song and I'd watched countless videos of the moment. Every time I saw one, I was left wanting to be there in person. As if they knew what I'd been wishing for, Beyoncé and Jay Z performed this song near the end of their new show in 2018. The only thing my hyper-emotional mind could think about was that this moment was the one I'd been waiting on for seven years.
Seeing an artist live is a unique feeling I can't easily compare to anything else. To me, it felt like coming home. After spending so much time listening to a musician's lyrics, you feel like you know them on a personal level. Their songs have hyped you up and been with you through the darkest parts of your life. Music is an immensely personal experience, and even in a stadium full of thousands, I felt a connection with Beyoncé and Jay Z as they were singing songs which have been with me through the trials and transitions of my life.
Concerts can be expensive, but out of all the experiences I've spent my money on they are the most worth it. Being packed inside a venue and surrounded by ten, fifty, a hundred, or a thousand people all there to experience the same thing is amazing. The love everyone inside that space has for the music is almost tangible.
If you're not a concert person like I used to be, take a chance and experience a concert with an artist you're a diehard fan of, rather than someone you are casually interested in. Whether you're a fan of Beyoncé, country, or even the bagpipes, connecting with live music is a genuine experience which can change your life.
