Well here is my take on the show I went to Thursday night! Enjoy...
It was undeniably a night I will not soon forget. You see this show was
a well deserved treat for me as I had made so many attempts at trying to
see 98 Degrees perform prior to this appearance, I almost had a feeling
it wasn't going to happen. Despite all the last minute snags I ran into-
(trust me, its a sob story!) I was still lucky enough to get front and
center for one of my absolute favorite bands - 98 Degrees -while they
filmed a guest appearance on Motown Live.
TV tapings are very different than an actual concert , so the atmosphere
was much more relaxed and personal, although a bit tense at times the
overall vibe was very enjoyable. 98 hit the stage at first to film the
end segment of the show with the other artists who performed that night
(Little Richard, Shancie and Jon B.) to end Motown Live with a smashing
rendition of a classic oldie "I saw her standing there" which was a
fabulous mix with all the great performers. A quick set change found me
rushing to the "new school" stage that 98 would be singing on.
98 Degrees then opened with an acoustic version of their hit singe
"Because of You" and shortly thereafter took a breather to get make-up
fixed, and grab a quick drink of water. In the rest period I was able to
get Drew's attention and present him with a small gift and poem I had
written for the guys. He was very sweet and gracious about it and I was
able to meet the other guys in between takes as they were very friendly
in taking time out to talk to us fans in the front row. Then they
performed a Motown oldie by the Temptatons called "Can't get Next to
You" -wow can those guys dance! Lucky we got to see them shoot it a
couple times which made the whole experience that much more enjoyable
for me (and the other fans as well.)! Short but sweet that ended their
spot on the show but it was worth every minute of the horrible things I
went through just to be there...
I would just like to take the time to say that these are the nicest most
down to earth guys I have ever met and it is so refreshing to see how
wonderful they treat their fans. I am so happy I was able to see them
and anxiously await my next 98 encounter!
Here is the poem I wrote for them! :
I was caught in a crowd
By: Noele Shannon 1/99
girls were screaming out your name
I couldn't hear or even breathe
they were caught up in your fame
I came for the music
you see it's a love of mine too
I sing from my soul
same way as you do
When your up on the stage
I feel the lights shine down on me
in a world of mixed up people
Your like a soothing sea
your words echo in my heart
like thunder on the ground
your music is a symphony
of grand and glorious sounds
So I take one simple moment
to share my words with you
for your music has united souls
with a love forever true
Los Angeles CA