pride
Last night Chris and I went to the World Pride Toronto opening ceremony, entirely because Melissa Etheridge was playing a free concert, woooooot! We hadn't quite thought about the "opening ceremony" part, but it meant we stood around for several hours longer than we'd thought we would, listening to various politicians talk about how awesome this all was.
Though it was pretty awesome. By dusk there were thousands of people crowding the square in front of city hall, and - honestly - I can't remember a time when I felt more comfortable in such a crowd. For one thing, everyone was so happy! So many smiling faces. So many rainbows.
But, man! That concert was definitely worth the wait! I only know two songs by Melissa Etheridge, I'm the Only One and Come to My Window, but I've known them and loved them since I was in my single digits. She sang both of them, and I sang along as best I could, along with seemingly every other person there. It was what I'm calling an Indigo Girls moment.
I want to write more about this. It is a unique and extraordinary feeling to hear a song you love performed live, in front of you, and sing along with that song's creator(s). Maybe it's a first-time feeling, I don't know. I wasn't struck like this when I saw Springsteen for the first time, but then I didn't know his music that well (it was seeing him live that made me search out his albums, actually). But, like the Indigo Girls' "Closer to Fine," being able to essentially sing "Come to My Window" with Melissa Etheridge was a truly incredible, joyous experience. Like, endorphins! Bam! Flooded with 'em!
And then afterwards there were fireworks. Rainbow fireworks. Of course.
Here's a video from the nightly news if you want to see for yourself.
Yay, World Pride!
Though it was pretty awesome. By dusk there were thousands of people crowding the square in front of city hall, and - honestly - I can't remember a time when I felt more comfortable in such a crowd. For one thing, everyone was so happy! So many smiling faces. So many rainbows.
But, man! That concert was definitely worth the wait! I only know two songs by Melissa Etheridge, I'm the Only One and Come to My Window, but I've known them and loved them since I was in my single digits. She sang both of them, and I sang along as best I could, along with seemingly every other person there. It was what I'm calling an Indigo Girls moment.
I want to write more about this. It is a unique and extraordinary feeling to hear a song you love performed live, in front of you, and sing along with that song's creator(s). Maybe it's a first-time feeling, I don't know. I wasn't struck like this when I saw Springsteen for the first time, but then I didn't know his music that well (it was seeing him live that made me search out his albums, actually). But, like the Indigo Girls' "Closer to Fine," being able to essentially sing "Come to My Window" with Melissa Etheridge was a truly incredible, joyous experience. Like, endorphins! Bam! Flooded with 'em!
And then afterwards there were fireworks. Rainbow fireworks. Of course.
Here's a video from the nightly news if you want to see for yourself.
Yay, World Pride!