Once a fangirl, always a fangirl

It’s been more than a month since all five members of *NSYNC took to the stage at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards to present Taylor Swift with the award for Best Pop Video, and their fans are still thrilled.

To top it off, a couple of days later, they announced they collaborated on the song “Better Place” for the upcoming “Trolls Band Together” movie soundtrack.

I’m not a fan of theirs — even though their songs and dance moves are excellent — but I even let out a squeal when I saw all five of them come out on stage during the VMAS.

Fans have been posting their excitement about the new song on social media, and they’re all hoping the members will reunite for a tour.

I have been enjoying seeing their optimism, and I get it, completely.

I loved the boy bands Menudo and New Kids on the Block when I was younger. Through the years, I’ve been fortunate to see Menudo members reunite a few times as well as NKOTB. The best part about New Kids reuniting and touring again is that they recorded new music and are still selling tickets to their concerts a decade and a half later.

I admit it. Sometimes, I’ve been embarrassed to talk about being a fan in social settings. 

While fangirls ran after their favorite boy bands back in the day, people their age were partying at clubs or fraternity and sorority houses. Even though most people understand sports lovers obsessing over their favorite teams, most don’t get someone being a huge fan of a group or artist.

Now I realize that there are people out there that get me. There are more fangirls and fanboys than I ever imagined.

And, I’m not surprised.

We all need an escape to some extent. Sometimes, we need to cry and be by ourselves. Other times, we want to hide from the headlines bombarding us with tragic news. 

Many of us want to turn the music up and dance or listen to a ballad and believe true love will find us one day or at least feel as if someone gets the pain we’re going through.

Boy bands even go further than that for many. For many young people, their favorite musical groups came around during a time when they were trying to figure out who they were attracted to and how to act in romantic relationships. Admiring someone from afar can help a young person explore those feelings when they’re not quite ready to venture into a dating world that sometimes makes no sense to them.

As for the bands reuniting, they bring back a time when things seem easier. Life can be challenging, but when you summon your inner teenager, you tend to remember your dreams and your goals. You start remembering where you came from and what you’re made of, and you think, maybe I shouldn’t let this thing called life run me down as much as I do.

Sure, bands that reunite are fortunate because it means income for them if the venture is successful. For most fans, a reunion tour is just what they need to lift their spirits.

I know I usually leave a concert feeling inspired.

For *NSYNC fans, I wish for Justin, Lance, Joey, Chris and JC to comprehend what a difference they made in your lives and allow you to experience that love again.

This I Promise You — I’ll like every post I see calling for them to tour again, so keep them coming.