You guys…
I came face to face with the Undisputed Gods of Pop this weekend. I am referring, of course, to the NKOTB.
I mentioned last week (rather excitedly) that my mom’s dedication to WGN’s Kathy and Judy paid off in spades when she won the tickets – SKYBOX SEATS – on Thursday morning. You have no idea how cool it is to be in a skybox. I’m telling you right now that we had our own frickin’ bathroom and an incredible view of an amazing show.
Oh yes. These guys can still perform with the best of them. I thought that my memories of that long-ago concert in 1990 (when I was a wee youngin’) would make me expect the impossible, but this show was actually even better.
My cousin Vee and I showed up way too early to the Allstate Arena and spent a bunch of time people-watching. By the time the show started, we realized that the place looked like the 1980s’ own personal motion-sickness bag, if you get my drift. It was scrunchie city, population one bajillion. Every seat was full – and every girl was all 80s to the max, except us. No sir, I don’t do 80s revival. I bought a hot-ass pair of boots for this show, and so did Vee, on the off chance we might run into newly-buff Jordan Knight. Because, LOOK AT HIM, OMG:
Yes, I was THIS CLOSE. But I’m jumping ahead. Anyway, so the boots were killer, and we were super-giddy about the show, which had Natasha Bedingfield as the opening act. She was really good! Sounds just like she does on the radio, which, if you’ve ever been to a concert, you’d know that’s rarely the case (*cough* SNOOP DOGG).
When the guys finally took the stage, it was a sight to be seen. They whipped our giggly anticipation into an all-out frenzy, and then appeared on stage as if they’d never left.
WHAT?! OMG, I can SEE them. Up close! Vee and I started freaking out and clicking away. The last time we saw them, she was waaaaaaay back on the floor and I was waaaaaaay up in the nosebleeds and we only saw them when other people sat down. This time, I was close enough to get every nose hair, every picket-fence white smile and every random “Hey, girl” finger wag from Donny Wahlberg – starting with the one above.
This includes, of course, every ripple of Jordan Knight’s taut new abs.
But, even Jordan’s buff bod couldn’t distract us from the big number, “I’ll Be Loving You Forever,” that big, sappy ballad that every girl played when she was alone and no one could find out that she actually liked it and sung along. Even on the really high notes.
I realize this was not actually heaven, but it’s certainly close, people. At least for me. Around this time, it was getting late, and you just knew they were about to wrap it up, but Vee and I were adamant: they just HAD to play “Hangin’ Tough.” What would an NKOTB show BE without it?
They did not disappoint. It was the final number.
You might be wondering if I walked out of there with any goodies. I did. I bought one of those trademark big buttons, and I plan on putting it on display in my cube at work. I got so many eye rolls and WTFs from my co-workers that I just HAVE to do it. Hey, they’re lucky there were no more posters left when I got to the front of the line.
So, all in all, it was an incredible show. And if they get back together again when they’re sixty, I’ll go. I don’t care what it costs.
