Dear 5 Seconds of Summer,
I have had many music phases in my young 20 years on this planet. I have been through my Jonas Brothers phase, my Justin Bieber phase and I'm still in my hiatus-paused One Direction phase. But the one band who has never left me in nearly five years is yours. My 5 Seconds of Summer phase has been going strong for four years, and I don't plan on stopping it.
I have a friend, who I hold very near and dear to my heart. At the time her and I had absolutely no musical tastes in common aside from One Direction. One day she said to me "Hey, you should listen to this band called 5 Seconds of Summer." I kind of just brushed it off and said "Fine." I forgot about it for a few days until I saw one of their songs come up on my "Recommended for you" page on YouTube. I made the simple choice to click the link. From that day forward, my life changed in the best way possible.
The very first 5SOS song I listened to was "She Looks So Perfect" better known to non-5SOS fans as "The Underwear Song." This song, for some unknown reason, drew me in. Maybe it was the lyrics, or the drum beat or even your voices. Something about "She looks so perfect standing there in my American Apparel underwear" made me want to know who you were.
After listening to "She Looks So Perfect" nearly 15 times, I was hooked. Something about your nice voices, soothing accents and super adorable faces made me want to stay. Staying in the 5SOS Fam was one of the best decisions I made.
Of course, as a teenager then and a young adult now, I've had my struggles in life. One of the things that has always helped me conquer the tough times was you. Four kind of dorky but totally awesome guys out of Australia. Four best friends who said "Hey, let's make a band," and took the world by storm.
In all honesty, I felt like I have grown up with you four. When I graduated high school, I had your band. When I got accepted to college, I had a 5 Seconds of Summer shirt on (great day, I got concert tickets too.) When I need someone to remind me that it WILL be okay and it WILL work out one day, I have you four. As a band and a fan, we are kids who just grew up together.
Even today, I carry your lyrics with me in my head and my heart. When I'm ready to give up, a lyric from "Outer Space/Carry On" plays in my head. "Carry on, let the good times roll. Sail on, let your path unfold." This song reminds me that life can go on and you need to go with it. With this, I'm reminded of your struggles as a band and how you overcame it to become a world-wide phenomenon. Other lyrics like "You are my getaway, you are my favorite place" from "Disconnected" brings me back home. When I need someone to go to, just to make me smile I can put that song on and know that wherever you are, I am.
You have taught me so much in my time as a 5SOS fan. You have taught me that life goes on, things change, people come and go. My time as a 5 Seconds of Summer fan has done nothing but make me a better person. I've learned from your experiences, lyrics, videos, fan projects and from you four as individuals. I've learned that "they say were losers and we're alright with that" from "She's Kinda Hot" or that "It's not a secret that I'm just a reject" (from "Rejects") and I'm okay with that too. Your band has helped me discover who I am. And for that, I thank you four.
I thank you, Ashton Irwin, Calum Hood, Michael Clifford and Luke Hemmings for being my rocks, my rockstars, my support system, my best friends and my happiness. I thank you for the life lessons you have taught me, will continue to teach me, the good times and the bad, the lifetime of memories you have given me. Thank you for being mine, while being everyone else's. Thank you for being who you are. You've given me a Permanent Vacation and for that, I could never repay any of you. I love you guys to the moon and back.
Love Always,
The Queen to the King of our new broken scene.
