Loud screaming echoes across the late-night sky. The bright lights of the stadium shine down. You sing along to your heart’s content, in awe that you’re finally seeing your favorite artist. You can already feel your throat becoming hoarse with each scream. The back of your shirt sticks to your body as you continue to jump to the beat of the songs, the floor vibrating beneath you. This is your happiness but in a blink of an eye, it’s all gone.
As the remaining months of 2020 come to an end, we find ourselves missing out on many plans. We’ve had to adapt to change from left to right and find ourselves getting into the same routine. Social distancing is still key in fighting against COVID-19, and due to this, we can count on concerts being a thing of the past (at least for now). At this rate, who knows when we’ll be able to enjoy large gatherings without the fear of the virus looming at the back of our minds.
While many people move on, some of us think back to the plans we had and the concerts we thought about attending. As someone who planned to attend a concert back in May, I find myself occasionally looking at my tickets. They serve as a reminder of what could’ve been and what we’ll continue to miss out on if we ignore the pandemic.
Since many events have shifted online it’s no surprise artists have decided to follow this path. Who would pay money to watch a performance on screen? Oh, you would be surprised. I have paid money not only to see one but two concerts, and I know I’m not the only one who has done it. When BTS, a South Korean group, held their online concert over quarantine, they set a record for the most-streamed online concert. Due to their success, they decided to hold a 2-day online concert on Oct. 10 – Oct.11. Their online concerts offered multi-view screens to fans who paid. Their 2-day concerts generated almost 1 million viewers, which resulted in them breaking their own record.
While I did enjoy the online concerts, I have to admit they don’t compare to in-person concerts. At an actual concert, you’re able to feed off the energy of those around you. Their excitement fuels you and as the energy continues to grow you find yourself immersed in the moment. Concerts slow down time as the artists create an atmosphere that you never want to leave. Great concerts feel like a dream with unforgettable moments.
Online concerts help fans reconnect with artists and if the artists are worth it then they are enough to make fans content. In order to enjoy online concerts, even more, I recommend getting together with friends, whom you know have been social distancing, or facetime them in order to have other people to fangirl or fanboy with. Having other people with you will help you enjoy the concerts even more. Despite our longing for the real deal, for now, we’ll have to settle for these online concerts. Like many things, they’ve become our new normal. At least with online concerts, we have something to hold onto that brings us some comfort especially during these difficult times.