¬ atlanta, ga - 7.12.98

My name in Tiffiny and I'm 14 years old. I recently went to a BsB concert about 2 weeks ago (on July12, '98, it is now July 22) and I figured I would tell you about my experience. I have never written one of these before, so I hope its not too boring. Ok, here goes.......

The concert was on a Sunday, July 12 '98 in Atlanta Ga. at Lakewood Amphitheatre. The concert was supposed to begin at 7:00, so of course it was gonna be a long day for me! Well, that morning I was finishing my last day at cheerleading camp and couldnt wait for it to be over, I was way to excited to even think about cheering! Camp finally ended around 12:00 and I was off for home (which was only about 30 minutes away). As soon as I got home, I called my friend who I was going to the concert with, her aunt was taking us. About 4:00 my friend and her aunt finally arrived, and we were off! While we were driving down the highway, on our way to Lakewood, we saw a long white limo and we couldnt help but wonder if those BsB Babes were in there, and as we drove behind it we saw several heads through the back window, but of course we couldnt see inside. My friends aunt (my friends name is Andrea and her aunts name is Cheryl) said that if it was indeed BsB they would take the same exit as we were about to, but, as our hopes shattered, the white limo kept going. Oh well, we'd be seeing them in a few hours anyway.

Well, soon we got to Lakewood, parked, and waited in line for about an hour. While we were waiting in line, we noticed a long white limo approaching and my heart dropped. But, once again our hopes were dropped and it wasnt them. At about 6:00 we finally went in, and had to wait in another line for about 30 minutes to get to our seats. As we were let in, we found our seats and got comfortable. I had the seat next to the aisle, Andrea sat in the middle, and her aunt had the third seat. At the time it was 7:00 and the concert still hadnt started. In front of the stage we saw a long black curtain covering it with about 5 feet in front of it. On the side of it were 2 long curtains draped with BSB written long ways on them. Soon, stage crew were testing the mics and 2 men brought out a tall paper thing the was very oddly decorated. Andrea looked at it and asked what it was, and I noticed the initials AC on it and I got all happy and said that it must be Aarons (Nick's little brother) and that the concert must be near beginning!

A few minutes later the big screens (and I mean BIG) on the sides of the stage were being tested. At about 7:30 or 7:45 a man came out and said the opening acts were about to begin and he said the first was about 4 feet tall and 11 inches. At that point everyone was one their feet screaming. Then the man went backstage and the tall paper thing was wripped and standing behind it was the same man who was talking, another man dressed the same as him, and in the middle of them stood Aaron. He introduced himself and his dancers and asked if we knew his big brother Nick.....of course everyone screamed and went crazy. He then began is song "Crush On You". After the song he talked for a few minutes and began his next song "Shake It". Andrea and I could help but notice how he was constantly pulling his pants up and holding them....it was hilarious, but cute at the same time! After he sang only 2 songs, he left the stage and 2 girls came, I couldnt hear their name and didnt know who they were but they sang 3 songs. After they left, Jimmy Ray came on and sang 4 songs. Then, the opening sequence was over and I had more adrenaline rushing then ever! As we were waiting for the concert to start a man was walking up and down the aisle selling binoculars, and since we werent that close, but close enough to see really well, I wanted a better view! So I bought them. A couple minutes later my friend noticed a stage door opening and closing. Well, I used my binoculars and watched it for a while and noticed there was a bus near the opening of the door and the whole time we were waiting, we watched the door, hoping for a glimpse of the boys. Well, we didnt see them, but we did know the concert was about to begin because there were 2 men on either side of the long black curtain in the middle of the stage, holding each side out and covering a little more of the stage. A few minutes later, the man holding the right side of the curtain left and I could see all the people around it (mainly stage crew). As I was looking at the side of the stage with my binoculars I saw someone walk toward the middle of the stage with a metallic jacket on and I couldnt tell if it was Howie or A.J., but I knew it was one of them. As soon as that person was out of sight, I told my friend and she didnt believe me.

About 5 minutes later (at 8:35) the lights went dim and everyone started screaming and goin crazy. The concert was about to begin and I was full of excitement. Then, the black curtain in the middle of the stage dissapeared and the Boys appeared! The crowd went wild and so did Andrea and I. Music (that they dont sing) was playing and they were standing on tall platforms and sure enough, both A.J. AND Howie were wearing metallic jackets! I think who I saw was Howie, cause A.J. was wearing glasses on his head and Howie wasnt, and the person I saw wasnt, so I'm pretty sure it was Howie. 3 songs played.....Mo Money Mo Problems (Notorious B.I.G.) Too Close (Next) and another song that I cant remember right now, played and the boys walked off their platforms and began dancing to them as a group! Woah!! Those boys can dance! Howie and A.J. were wearing those jackets and I cant remember what kind of pants....Brian, Nick, & Kevin wear wearing some type of one piece black suit with gloves and red stripes on them. Brian (sighing) was wearing a red hat backwards (I love the way he looks wearing his hat like that!) and Nick was wearing glasses, more like goggles, similar to A.J.'s on his forehead, and forgive me, but I cant remember if Kevin was wearing any extras!

Howie introduced everyone and they said they were going to sing a song from the past a cappella (a cappella means without any instruments, in other words, just their sweet voices!) and said we might remember it. I didnt recognize it, but I liked it. They were singing "If I Ever Fall In Love". After that they said they wanted us all to get pumped up and that they wanted to "have a party" so, they sang "Lets Have A Party" (convenient huh?). Well, while they were singing that, Nick noticed a poster in the audience that said: Nick Get Naked. Well, him taking this as an opportunity to tease us all, he started to unzip his suit! Woah! It began to get really hot it there! LoL. Then, he took the shoulder of his suit off and we saw that he was wearing a tank top. But, he put it back on, and zipped up, then he turned around with his back to us and begin to take it off again! You could tell he was unzipping it and he'd turn around and give a sneaky smile. Then, he zipped up, turned around and began dancing. As they ended the song, they left the stage and a few minutes later, Howie was back on stage on the highest platform in baby blue pants, a baby blue jacket and no shirt underneath. He was standing there with a dozen roses and said that at this point in the concert all the guys wanted to sing a solo song for us. As Howie was singing "My Heart Stays With You" he gave out his roses to girls in the audience. Next was A.J.. He was wearing baby blue pants, a baby blue jacket, and a white button up shirt which was unbuttoned and you could see his chest. By the way, he had red hair at the time. He sang "If You Lay Down" and while he was "interacting" with the audience a girl whom Howie gave a rose to, gave it to A.J.. He stood up, smiled and said thank you, then continued singing as he walked to the other side of the stage. As he was singing to other girls he tore petals off the rose and rubbed them into his chest! Everyone went crazy including Andrea and me! Then, he went to the middle of the stage and did 2 ''push up's" with his lower body, if you get my point, and everyone was screaming! After A.J. was Kevin. I dont really know what happened during his song except that he sang "Nobody But You". I was watching him dance but wasnt really ''watching''. I was thinking about Brian and knew he was soon to come with his solo song (as you can tell, he's my favorite) Then, Kevin was done and Brian came out! Yes! I was histerical! He sat down on a stool with a guitar next to another guy with a guitar and they both played them while Brian sang "Thats What She Said" (which, if you didnt know, he wrote himself) I was screaming the whole time, only stopping to take a breath! He was wearing baby blue pants and a white tank top. He didnt do much but sing and play the guitar, but near the end of the song he got up and stopped playing guitar and sang at the end of the stage and walked to the corners and sides......He was mezmorizing! Then, when he was done, out came Nick! Once again, the crowd went crazy! He was wearing baby blue pants, a baby blue jacket and a white tank top. He sang "Heaven in Your Eyes". He sang it really well but I cant really remember what went on cause I was laughing at my friend (see, her scream is hilarious and always makes me laugh) and, she happens to love Nick the most and was screaming her lungs out like I was with Brian, so I half the time I was laughing, and the other half I was holding me ear shut (she also happens to have a good set of lungs on her and was pretty loud!) Well, after Nick went off I cant really remember much.

Everything after that was just a big blur but I do remember all the songs that were sang. From the American Album was: We've got it goin on, Quit Playin Games With My Heart (which they all played instruments with: Brian played Bongos, Nick played Drums, A.J. played bass guitar, Howie played electric guitar, and Kevin played keyboards), As Long As You Love Me (which they did a chair routine with), Everybody, All I Have To Give (they did a hat routine with that one) Anywhere For You (Kevin jumped off stage and shook hands with girls) Hey Mr. Dj, I'll Never Break Your Heart (they all sat on stools and sang that one) Darlin', Get Down....they also sang: Lets Have A Party, If I Ever Fall In Love, and there may have been abother but I cant remember, but I dont know which albums they are from. Ok, so back to the concert (dont worry, I'm almost done!) Before I knew it they were singing As Long As You Love Me. Near the end of the song they started saying their goodbye's. All I could think was NO! They couldnt leave! But, after their chair routine, they left the stage. And Andrea was pretty depressed too.....she was slumped down in her chair mumbling..It's Over...nooooo....LOL But, a few minutes later a projection came on above the stage and it was the the video Everybody (Backstreets Back) (when that came on Andrea jumped up and began going crazy and started yelling More! More! it was hilarious!) the whole video played, but there was no singing, only audio. When that video ended everything got quiet. Then, the doors under that stage opened up and some people dressed as Grim Reapers appeared and they were pushing coffins out. Then everyone went crazy! Then of course, Backstreet was Back!

The music started and the Reapers turned the coffins around and left the stage, and we could clearly see the guys shapes in the coffins. Smoke was everywhere and the lights were low. Then, I heard Brians sweet voice begin to sing, and they jumped out! But, before I knew it the song was over, and they were saying goodbye again, this time for good (atleast for that night anyways!). But me, not wanting them to leave, used my bincoulars and watched them leave the stage one by one and my satisfaction came when I saw A.J. take his shirt off! And I was in heaven! Well, that was it, the concert was over and it was time to go home. My throat hurt from screaming, and I couldnt hear very well cause of the loud music. But, by far, that concert made that night, the best night of my life!

*Note* If some of you dont already know this, the Backstreet Boys were on MTV counting down their top 40 favorite videos. When the show started I began to scream! I wasn't sure if my thoughts were correct but a few seconds later my friend (Andrea) called screaming and they (my thoughts) were confirmed. That show (the countdown) was filmed at Lakewood Amphitheatre a few hours before our concert! (actually, it was filmed in VA) It may not seem to exciting to you, but it thrilled us to know that the boys were sitting maybe ten, fifteen feet away from where we were later that night! And, during the countdown they also showed live footage from the concert that night and they show they guys singing the first song of the night in a cappella, I'm not positive, but I think that song is "If I Ever Fall In Love" which they sang great! Tiffiny