Since my last few posts have been more serious, I've decided to do something more lighthearted today and tell you about my fangirl life.
There's many musicians, books, tv shows, etc that I consider myself a "fan" of. But fangirl is a step further. Fangirl means time and energy invested above just consuming the content. It's being on message boards, meeting other fans, traveling specifically for events related to it, etc. So, in chronological order, here they are.
Kelly Clarkson
You may be thinking that American Idol should come before Kelly Clarkson. It's a which came first, the chicken or the egg situation. But in my case, while I enjoyed American Idol, I LOVED Kelly Clarkson. I was blown away by her voice and enamored with her quirkiness and genuine personality. As she continued to release music post Idol, I joined the official Kelly Clarkson fan club (pretty sure it is the first real fan club I ever joined), and was on the message boards. I used to write her lyrics out on paper so I could remember them better. I bought every album the day it was released. I have seen her in concert 5 times (a pretty low number compared to other fans), and have met her twice.
It's 2023 and Kelly continues to make music (her latest album, Chemistry, is SO good). I wonder if 15 year old me thought that 36 year old me would still be listening to Kelly on the daily. "Message boards" have really turned into Twitter and Reddit, which I do get on sometimes to talk to other Kelly fans. I am so grateful for her music, it's been a constant soundtrack in my life.
Favorite Albums: My December and Meaning Of Life
Favorite Memory: All I Ever Wanted tour. I was in the second row for her concert in Detroit, but this was also the first time I met her AND during the vip party before the show, she sang a cover of one of my favorite Taylor Swift songs, White Horse
Best Thing to Come Out of Being A Fan: Besides decades of music, it's Jill and Kate. They were background singers for Kelly for a while, and fans fell in love with them. They were making original music on the side (And sometimes Kelly made a cameo in their youtube videos). I listen to Jill and Kate music just about as much as I listen to Kelly...but even more prevalent is just their presence in my life. I have come to know them as people and am truly lucky to have them in my life.
American Idol
Someone could truly make a Netflix Documentary about the obsession Sam and I had with American Idol. Like I said above, I liked the show early on. I tuned in weekly, had favorite contestants, and occasionally picked up the phone to vote. But it really kicked up a notch during Season 6. That's when Sam and I became close, but I also just loved that season. Particularly, I loved Jordin Sparks and Melinda Doolittle.
Ready for something really embarrassing but also hilarious? For the next few seasons and years, Sam and I went to several American Idols Live! Concerts. Like, we went to the ones near our towns but we also TRAVELED TO GO. We stood outside before the shows to meet contestants- and during season 7 we were frequently handed VIP passes to meet them again after the show. This continued through about season 10. We watched every. single. episode. We would live tweet during the shows. We were most definitely on message boards, not just for the show but for specific contestants. We went to concerts by the contestants we loved, too. And we met a ton of other fans, some of whom became our very close friends. Oh- and I should also mention we got to know a lot of the contestants on a personal level. One of them, Melinda Doolittle, is someone I consider a friend to this day.
A few years back Idol announced it was ending and although I had not been as attached to the show as I once had been, I was sad. The show had brought me some incredible memories. And, just like that, it came back. I will admit I really haven't been invested. I've watched here and there (although I did not watch a single episode last season) but there haven't been many contestants I have fallen head over heels for.
But, I will always cherish the memories I made being a fan of this show. It may seem weird and wild to some, but it was some of the most fun I had in my life. Also, some of the music I listen to most these days are from former Idol contestants, even ones who didn't win or even make it to the top 5.
Favorite Season: Season 7
Favorite Judges: No one will ever beat Randy, Simon, and Paula
Favorite Winner: If we aren't counting Kelly, then Jordin Sparks.
Best Thing I Got Out of Being A Fan: Friendships. It was something Sam and I bonded over but I also met some of my best friends through this show.
I have literally a thousand photos I could post but this one just makes me laugh and is so 2007.
Taylor Swift
This is probably the one that comes to mind when people think of something I am a fan of. Yes, in 2023 I am still whole heartedly obsessed with Taylor Swift. But since it started in 2007, it belongs here chronologically.
I became a Taylor fan when her very first single came out and remember rushing to the store the day her debut album was released. I sat there and decoded her "secret messages" in the cd liner notes. I checked her myspace often for updates. Obviously, my love for her and her music has remained strong since then. Like Kelly, I would go out and buy Taylor's albums the day they were released and then they would be on repeat in my car for months. I watched her vlogs, every interview she did, etc. Even in 2017 when the world turned on Taylor, I was still a fan. I've been made fun of more times than I can count, but I don't really care. I have seen her live 4 times, and met her once (and will likely never meet her again). I listen to podcasts about her, my entire Tik Tok FYP is Taylor related.
If you were to ask me why I am such a fan of her, it really does come down to the music. I am a lyrics person, and Taylor's lyrics just always hit home. For every single thing that has happened in my life, whether it's heartbreak or joy, I can find a Taylor Swift song for it. It has brought so much joy in my life and made me feel seen during times I felt invisible. I will forever and always be grateful for her music.
Favorite Album: Reputation and Folklore
Favorite Memory: It's got to be the Era's Tour. 3 and 1/2 hours of her performing music throughout her entire career, which I've been here for. I cried, I sang, I danced, I healed.
Best Thing To Come Out of Being A Fan: One thing I love is when other people ask me stuff about Taylor, especially when it comes from younger kids who are just now learning about her. Being the certified Taylor Swift expert at work and amongst social circles is something I am proud of.
Glee
If you haven't figure it out by now, I really love music. Glee was a perfect combination of everything I love: showtunes, cheesy high school drama, and silly jokes. I LOVED this show, it was a must watch every week situation. And yes, I WAS on the message boards. I knew way too much about the cast, and came to love them for themselves and not just their characters, which is why I have taken the deaths of Corey Monteith and Naya Rivera so hard.
I loved tuning in each week to see what they would sing. Hands down my favorite episode is the Fleetwood Mac one. I have, quite often listened to Glee soundtracks...and yes I saw the movie. My love for Glee started to fizzle after Corey passed away. It was harder to watch, and once the OG characters graduated from the school, it just wasn't the same. But I still cried when it ended, and I have since rewatched the series a few times.
Favorite Characters: Mercedes, Santana, Blaine
Favorite Glee Song: The Adele Mashup. Ya'll. It's so good.
Best Thing To Come Out of Being A Fan: I just loved that my parents were also fans, so we would either watch it together or call each other to to talk about it. They were also fans of Idol, by the way.
Orange Is The New Black
I think this may be the last one, although keep in mind my Kelly and Taylor fan girl life is still going strong. There just hasn't been much since OITNB ended that I have dove deep into.
When someone told me about the Netflix show, I looked it up to see if it was the same as a memoir I had read years ago. And apparently, it was! So, I started to tune in. And I was obsessed. The show made me laugh and cry, and I was fascinated by the prison system. Soon I was learning all the actors names and following them on social media (to this day I still follow a lot of them). With every season that came out, I would sit and binge watch it. And then I'd be sad it was over. I became entirely too attached to characters for them to start killing them off. When Poussay died I legitimately felt like I had lost a family member. (One of the reasons i won't watch Handmaids Tale is because the actress is on that show too and I can't bare to see her get killed again).
A lot of people started to fall off the OITNB train after that, but I held strong and while some seasons are better than others, I still love the series. I was a wreck when it ended, because I had invested so much time and energy into loving it. I have rewatched it once or twice, and often think about doing it again. The show will always have a special place in my heart. It got me through a lot- including my dads illness and his passing.
Favorite Character: Tastyee and Crazy Eyes
Best Thing To Come Out of Being A Fan: It made me learn a LOT about prison in America, for one, because I did a lot of research on the side. But I also am grateful I watched so I could come to know the actors in the show. Natasha Lyonne, Danielle Brooks. and Uzo Aduba are ones that I regularly keep up with and make sure I watch anything they are in.
My photo for this one is a screenshot of a message I got from Uzo Aduba on IG- I had written the cast notes when the series was ending telling them what the show meant to me.
So that's that! Like I said there are plenty of other things I have been a fan of, but not sure much else can top these four. I'd love to hear your fangirl/fanboy/fanperson stories.
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