There are a lot of those once in a lifetime moments. There are the priceless few you wish you could relive just one more night.
The heart-racing adrenaline that made you question reality. Feeling the blood literally feeling it, rushing through your veins. The intoxicating excitement.
And that moment you thought you had it all under control, you could feel yourself coming down, getting it under control – whoosh…. You would peak again.
Every God-given sense worked overtime… the overstimulating sensation making your eyes water with tears large enough to fill a river.
Feeling like a bobble head on the dash of a ’67 Mustang as it simply was impossible to take it all in.
Hearing everything but nothing at all because the sound of your heart beating faster to the rhythm drowned it all out.
The air vibrated with a rich, primal electric energy. Every breath brought a heady collision of an intoxicating unexplainable scent that promised something extraordinary was about to happen.
Anticipation hung in the air; You could almost taste the exhilaration. Sweet and salty, even though your mouth was dry as you screamed at the top of your lungs, uncontrolled bouts and declarations of love.
The intrigue wound around every nerve and could be felt in every cell of your body.
All this was just mere seconds before the concert started.
Weeks after my daughter’s eighteenth birthday, we attended her first old school concert. The ticket price was astronomical – nice vacation or down payment on a car expensive – especially on a single mother’s salary. Some would say my Midget is spoiled and she would willingly concur. I, on the other hand, willfully accepted my fate of eating ramen noodles over the next few months, just to give her a once in her lifetime experience.
I mean how often do you get to gawk openly at a strangely sexy foreign drummer without judgment?
Floor seats SCORED! Phil Collins… and Against All Odds
The day of the concert, we both went through random episodes of barely restraining ourselves from dancing around the hotel room, singing at the top of our lungs, ‘I can feel it in the air tonight, oh lord.’ The singing continued in the shower, while getting dressed, and the entire trip to the arena. All of which was accompanied by the entire Still Not Dead Yet setlist – twice.
People were lined up for what seemed like miles anticipating being mere feet away from this world-famous, he is real, drummer, singer and rock band icon.
Once in the building, there was little doubt that every 70s and 80s child was compacted into the overflowing structure, followed by my 2000 child!
There was not an empty seat in sight. Of course, not until the London-born gent hobbled, cane in hand, on stage and to the microphone. It was like a well-synchronized water ballet. Everyone stood in succession, screaming and throwing their hands about like well-choreographed Air Dancers.
Phil was amazing from the first tune. It was more than obvious why the now Mr. Magoo lookalike is so admired, idolized, and has sold over 150 million albums. The entire stadium materialized into band members and backup singers. Everyone, and I do mean E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E, sang along.
He was amazing, priceless and unfortunately once in a lifetime. Phil’s last song was ‘Take Me Home.’ Such a befitting tune for the world’s best selling artist. Seeing him was definitely just Another Day in Paradise!
If you know Phil, I highly recommend dusting off the old vinyls and Follow You Follow Me. If you have never experienced this magical musician – just ask Alexa for One More Night.
Oh think twice, it’s another day for you and me in paradise
Oh think twice, ’cause it’s just another day for you,
You and me in paradise, think about it
Phil Collins
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