Now the funny thing is that I initially went on Spotify to listen to just that song and then go listen to some Marren Morris, another country singer I've recently discovered after seeing her open for Niall Horan. So eventually I began listening to her album and again was hooked.
Now to be fair I've always had a soft spot for a little country, but that really only included Taylor Swift's early work and Hunter Hayes. Classic T-Swift was just too damn relatable and catchy not to love, and Hunter is just an amazingly talented man. Not to mention seeing both of them perform some of these songs live just made my love for them grow.
But obviously, I always thought I was more of a pop-country kind of girl. And to be fair both of my newly discovered country loves aren't the most hard-core country singers.
Alas, I must admit I regret judging some of those extreme country music fans because it appears they may have been on to something. But it just shows that we should all stop being so judgemental of each other's music taste and just let people listen to what they enjoy. For whatever reason, people become incredibly defensive about their music, when personally I just want to listen to whatever sounds good regardless of the genre.
Fast forward to the Sunday before the concert, I was about to go to sleep when I started thinking about how close I was going to be to Niall on Thursday. The twelfth row was sounding pretty sweet but I knew there had to be better seats out there somewhere. So I started looking at StubHub and SeatGeek and the resale option on Ticketmaster. There were a few things within the first five rows but I was on the fence about spending more money on another ticket when there wasn't a great chance I could sell my original ticket. After searching various ticket sites, I decided to see if anyone was selling anything on Twitter. I spend a lot of time on Twitter and I had seen some people selling tickets for other shows so I decided to dig around and see what I could find for the Chicago show.
Somehow, I stumbled across a girl selling one row four ticket that was right in front of the stage. I honestly couldn't believe my luck. At this point, it was already almost 3 AM and me was sure she was asleep but I direct messaged her anyway about the price and she answered right away. After working out a plan, I had actually secured a fourth row Niall ticket and I was shook.
Zoe Johnson
A few months back I had been talking with one of my Twitter friends and she offered to be my transportation for the concert so on Thursday, she and her friend came and picked me up and we went on our way to the Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, IL. Once we got to the venue we went in and got merch and talked to some other Twitter friends. Finally, it was time for Niall to come on and he did not disappoint. He played all 13 songs from his album, a new song from the "Smallfoot" movie soundtrack, two One Direction covers (RIP), an unreleased song, and a Bruce Springsteen cover. Maren Morris came out and sang "Seeing Blind" with Niall and me and him had some major eye contact during that song not gonna lie. I took so many amazing pictures and videos and it was just so calming to be so close to him.
Zoe Johnson
I have never felt so safe and calm at a concert before, and I know I say that at every concert I go to, but the atmosphere that Niall creates at his shows is something I've never felt before. I was so emotional because the last time he was at that venue, he was on the Take Me Home tour with One Direction, that was the first time I had ever seen them, and I had been on the lawn for that show. The glow up was so real, I actually did that.
Zoe Johnson
I already miss Niall so much but he promised he'd be back to his favorite city in the United States (Chicago) as soon as he had written his next album. He's got such a bright future as a solo artist and I can't wait to see what he does next; I'm so unbelievably proud of him. Hopefully, he doesn't take too long on this next album because I want to start counting down the days until we're reunited again.
Sad, but true, friends come and go. Between you and your high school friends, you guys are on different paths. Therefore, you grow apart as you begin to spread your wings. Yet, you still get a chance to make new friends. Personally, I have the privilege of keeping the same best friend since fifth grade and many of my other friends aren't so lucky.
In college, you'll notice that it consists of many different people from all over the country. People come from towns that you have never heard of. You get a taste of the real world and home seems to become this small universe and even smaller as you establish a place for yourself.
As you get older, your taste changes from pretty in pink to dark or pastels. Once you come home for a break or holiday you'll want to re-arrange, change a couple of things, maybe even get into Pinterest décor. However, there are parents who take this into their own hands and turn your room into an office or a storage place.
When you go back home and make plans to hang out with some old friends, you'll realize the places you guys used to go are not the same. It's not your crowd anymore because you're not a teenager anymore and you're not twenty-one, so you're stuck with finding a new place to have fun.
Granted, while at home, you have to eat what is cooked for you and it might not be what you want. In college, you have all the control you want, and you get to test your taste buds finally. Yet, food from home still has a place in your heart because nothing can compare to a homecooked meal that you didn't have to make or order.
I am guilty of this but unless you are like me and my best friends, no one wants to interact with you anymore. Most people even run the other way.
Making a way in this world is difficult, in college you're on your own, but not just yet. While your old friends are too busy not being your friends and everyone else is working, you end up spending most of your time with your family.
Once you come back home for summer break, it will hit you…You're not in high-school anymore. College has changed you and has even shaped you through various experiences and life will never be the same.
Out with the old, in with the new! You'll realize that all your clothes are from your high school days and you need new ones because bedazzled jeans and band tee shirts are not your thing anymore. So, you end up tossing all of your old stuff and you get the chance to reinvent yourself.
People from your hometown will recognize you from the same school or through other occasions as you grew up. But the person they knew and the person you are are not the same. Trying to connect with someone who doesn't know the 'new' or 'grown-up' you is very difficult because they assume everything about you from the past.
While you're away most of the year, holidays become more fun when you're barely home. You get to be surrounded by family that you haven't seen in so long, you're fed free food, and you get to leave right after before it gets normal.
Because you have no current hang-out spots when you come back home from college, you discover new things to do for fun even by yourself. You guys start to rely on going out to eat, to the movies, house parties, or even long drives.
After being away from home for so long, you learn to appreciate the little things. Like your favorite local restaurants that none of your friends from college have heard of or even sleeping in something in your full-sized bed that's not a twin.
