Friday, June 14, 2013

Brace Yourself, It's about to get Snarky Up In Here

**So I'm going to apologize in advance. I'm prolly gonna swear a lot, and sound like an ghetto potty mouthed trucker in a second. I generally am really well at censoring myself, but somehow I think on this blog I may not be able to. We'll see. If that's not your thing, it's cool, you don't have to read.Thankfully (or maybe unthankfully) it tends to be pretty crickets around here, so that may be a good thing.**

I drank the New Kids on the Block kool aid waaaaaay back in the day. My little fourth, fifth and sixth grade self loved them. If I was older I totally would've tried to groupie that. I wasn't bat stir crazy, but I cop to having a couple posters, a water bottle, bracelet, and all the trading cards I could convince my parents to buy me. Oh, and yes, I got up on Saturdays to watch that Saturday AM cartoon. It was heaven. People were haters, but haters are always gonna hate. I loved them, and no one could tell me otherwise! When they broke up, I was crushed. (If I got the wrong flavor icee in the cafeteria I was crushed lol.. you know how it is when you're young.)

Fast forward to 2008 when my trapped little teeny bopper fangirl self found out they reunited and there was going to be a new CD! Whoop! Being older, with more of a stable financial mean about me (ie. I worked, and didn't have to beg my parents for allowance or an early birthday present) I was all up on that shit! The Block was by far the best CD they have ever done. It was NKOTB, but older, wiser, more settled and in charge. It was sexy, danceable, and it also had this softer side to it at the same time that came from growing up and experiencing life and heartbreak. The guys were older, more mature, and let me say yummier then ever.

The reunion tour? Freaking amaze balls. I saw them on the reunion tour opening night Toronto, and it was incredible. Incredible! All five guys were excited, and having fun, and performing, and moving the crowd, and it was the best freaking night ever.

I was two months pregnant the night of that concert, and I didn't get to see them again until the NKOTBSB tour. I hope you understand that even though I drank the NKOTB kool aid, I full on triple  heart love double exclamation point BSB. I am bat shit crazy for those guys. This tour was a panty dropping must in my opinion. I can't say more then it was awesome. So awesome, I saw it three times. (Buffalo, Toronto, and London, Ont.) I dealt with crazy Canadian Toronto traffic and funny money and all sorts of Canada adventures and Matt Morrison (I don't hate if you're a gleeker) because both groups made it worth it. Damn dream/fantasy come true!

Fast forward a couple years later. I just don't know how to say this...while I'm still drinking the kool aid and I love them, I'm also really disillusioned as well. Maybe it's age, and with age comes wisdom, but WTF people?

I have seen the Package tour twice now. Why is it I am seeing a mashup of both the reunion tour and the NKOTBSB tour? Rising circular stage? Check. Joe singing please don't go girl for 15 minutes? Check. Guys coming out into the stands during "Tonight?" Double check. Guitar heavy version of "Covergirl?" Triple check. "We will rock you/hanging tough" finale complete with Boston hockey jerseys/baseball jerseys? Check, check, and check. Same dance moves, Donnie ripping off his tank top and Jordan sticking his hand down his pants, all check! I'm shelling out decent money for these tix, I want a different show then I have seen the past two tours! Put some effort into it boys, give us something new. Generally, a new tour means a new show experience, not freaking deja vu! Not only that, but you have a new damn CD out, why am I hearing "Step by Step" and "Right Stuff" for the 100 millionth time? Sing some newer stuff! The new CD is not half bad. It's not The Block, but it's not horrible. Hell, do something from the Block beside "Summertime" and "Dirty Dancing!" Do something, anything else!

Secondly, who the hell in their right mind charges $1000 for an ultimate meet and greet? An Ultimate consists of a few minutes in the New Kid's dressing room, seats inside the barricade, and an individual pic. Nifty, don't get me wrong. (Imagine all the pelvic thrust pics you could get from that view. That is definitely a panty dropping view!) But really? Honey I paid $150 to do an after party and while I didn't get an individual pic, the group pic turned out pretty damn hot. And I got a hug from one of the guys with only a little effort. And while I wasn't inside the barricade, my seats 7 rows back were just right. And did I read right that there was a $10,000 package out there for Mix Tape last year that someone bought so they could ride a damn roller coaster with the New Kids? If I'm gonna plunk down that much money, all the guys better be lying buck ass naked on a bear skinned rug waiting to make all my fantasies come true. And after they did they had better damn well invent some I didn't think of. This is a business, I get it. New Kids are here to make money as much or if not more than make music. It's how they support their families, save for college educations, etc. I GET IT. But when did it become all about the money and not about the music, or effort? (You should see some of the Ultimate pics, there was no effort on the guys parts. I'd be hella pissed that I just forked over a cool grand and one Kid is on his cell and another is yawning, and there's another making faces.) No effort in the tour, just a rehash of the past few, and no effort for the fans. Who releases three different versions of the same CD (the regular version, the ITunes version, and the Target version) where the only difference is that each has ONE song on it that isn't on the other two. So wait, you want me to buy THREE different versions of the same CD for only 3 songs? Put that shit on the same damn CD! Looking at it now, NKOTB was a money making machine back in the day. And rightfully so, with all the NKOTB merchandise that was out there. And I get that now you can't sell me a doll, or bed sheets, so you have to up your game. But come on. $10K to get on a rollercoaster? That's flat out pimping yourselves out, and you should be and can be better then that! People are paying those prices and buying that experience, so I know you're thinking "well lets keep doing it," but if the band put half as much effort into the tour as they did with charging for every meet and greet/viewing party/label anything a party and charge for it that they do then maybe this tour wouldn't be the same old same old in new outfits.

I know I sound angry, or bitter, but I think I'm just being honest. You can love a band, and drink their kool aid, and yet be honest when the career decisions and mistakes that are being made are disappointing. My teeny bopper self is disappointed at what has blatantly become a get that money ploy. My adult fan self is disappointed that what started out so great went downhill so fast, and I'm stunned  that not only has no one came up with a better idea then "Lets charge $80 for the same tour we've been doing for the past two years, but we'll add in Boys II Men and 98 degrees so no one notices," but that the fans are like, "This is the best tour ever!" Honey, it's the same damn tour that you've been seeing for five years!!! (Yes, I had a great time at the show. Why wouldn't I have? I had a great time at the other tours too! And there's beer.) I'm disillusioned that the band doesn't want more for themselves, that finally they could show the world there is no negative stigma with being a boy band, and that they are back, and even better. Instead, it's turned into some weird charade where they pretend they're in it for the fans, but instead they're tripping over themselves to get to the bank and rolling their eyes at all the people who fell for it. (PS. You can run to the bank and be better then you were at the same time you know. It doesn't have to be one or the other.)

Am I still a NKOTB fan? Down to my toes. But sweet lord, get it together already. Take a vacation, take a nap, and come back in two years refreshed and excited again. Or don't come back, but stop just going thru the motions.

6/21/13 Update/Edit: I wanted to quickly make a couple comments based on things I saw or read.

One girl on Twitter said I've been to 50 million shows. Actually, I've been to 6. Three tours, 6 shows. I have been to 1 after party. I have never done the cruise, however it sounds like the crazy people watching part would be fun (do not get me started on the shit storm of insaneness I have heard about the people on the cruise.) I have never done a VIP/Ultimate meet and greet, nor do I want to. ($1000 can buy an awful lot of shoes. Or purses. Or shots!)

A comment on the blog said I wasn't a true fan, and I'm going to address that. This is not a cult, or the mob, or some backwards 5th world country where I have to think like everyone else. I am not sheep, I have never wanted to be sheep, and I do not want to follow the herd. I do not agree that being disappointed in how things are makes me less of a fan, or does not make me a fan at all. It makes me an honest one. Someone else in my defense said that if they put out a CD of shits and farts am I supposed to fall all over myself and love that too? No. I can be a fan, and still think that they are not trying their all, and instead are phoning it in. I refuse to kiss anyone's ass, and instead would rather say, hey, this kinda totally sucks. I am not a teenage girl who thinks the band is god like. I am an adult who understands that people have flaws. I am not afraid to speak my mind, or say how I really feel, and that should not and does not make me less of a fan then the next person. I'm sorry if you feel that it does, but maybe you need to reexamine...something. Life? The dictionary? IDK.

Another comment I read on Twitter was that people don't listen when people like me complain, so we have to put it in writing. Actually, I write this blog for me. I vent, I spew, I write so when I'm 80 and senile, I have a way to remember how much fun my family and I had, or what our struggles were. I really don't care if people come here and read what I wrote, because I'm not writing it for anyone else. I did not expect for one post to be as popular as it has been, however I did not write this for people to listen or pay attention to. I wrote it after looking at a bunch of the VIP pics, and was frustrated and annoyed with how the guys appeared in them. Because again, if I plunked down a grand, you better damn well fake that you are having the time of your life with me, not looking like you are bored and miserable and all around jerky diva. It's common courtesy.

43 comments:

  1. you hit the bulls eye with that!Kudos!

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    1. Anonymous? Wow at least the author had the balls to own her opinion, as much as I disagree with her I can at least give her some respect for not hiding. Tacky...very tacky.

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    1. Names are cheap. What do you get from a name? my name is Megan. And? Satisfied?
      It's still the truth what the blogger wrote.

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  3. I respect and am aware that you are entitle to your own opinion...But, I completely have to disagree, I think the album is great, very different from everything I've heard from them, very fresh,new and unique. To me, and I know to a lot of other bh's the album's one of their best work so far and I sincerely hope they keep making music like this. About the subject of why they keep performing the old songs, they have said it themselves...The fans love our old music and always request it on our shows.

    With all due respect, since you seem to have hated everything about the new music and cd, concerts, m&g etc, etc etc. I honestly hope you stick to everything you said here, and NEVER go back to an NK m&g, buy a cd or a concert ticket. You can't have it both ways, you can't call yourself a fan and bash everything they do, you can't call herself a fan and criticize their show, song choices, choreography, stage etc, etc. That's not what a true fan does.

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    1. you need an otologist. and get rid of those rose colored glasses

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    2. What I got from your tantrum is that TRUE fans have to do the 24/7 asskissing routine? A real fan is who'd also buy bottled farts? Not surprised the band got lazy and unmotivated.

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    3. I respect your opinion too. We don't have to agree, and I knew when posting this people weren't going to agree with me, and I wasn't going to agree with others. For example, I do no not agree with your definition of a true fan. Just because I do not agree with the money making machine choices they are making does not make me less of a fan. It means I am an honest one. It means I have realized for the moment, that these guys do not belong on a pedestal because for the moment, they are phoning it in. Do I want them to do better and show the haters they had it wrong? Absolutely. This is not a cult where I have to think everything they do is the shiznet or I'm banned or stoned to death. And for the record, I did not not criticize 10. I said it wasn't horrible, but it wasn't the block. I also did not criticize the tour specifically, I criticized the fact that me and the rest of their fans have been getting the same show for the past 5 years.

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    4. Yeah you are definitely drinking that NKOTB Kool-Aid. Sad but true. Years from now I can't wait to hear from only Danny Joey and Jonathan as to when they felt the need to drop out of site with this album and did they really think it was a total garbage to produce? In their own opinions I guess. Not to mention, what is the difference between paying for a half NKOTB fan club membership than a Full membership? Why waste money when half the videos and photos end up on twitter YouTube Facebook and countless other sites? Do they care about their fans I am sure to a point they do but they definitely care about the money they are making on all of us! Just don't get it twisted honey! Wake Up and get real

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    5. I mean NKOTB Fool-Aid. When and at what point of the Package Tour did you Danny, Joey, Joey, want to drop out of sight and disappear forever. How did you really feel about the new album "10"??? How many fans did you really f*cked? Do you really like black people? Etc. The book was a joke but better to have than not at all. Somebody or a true groupie fan should write the unauthorized story about NKOTB and tell the truth instead of lying and continuing this sugar coated bubble gum ride they have started since the reunion in 2008. This can't be like the old Aesop's Fable the Fox and the Grapes but it sure is beginning to look like it.

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  4. i totally agree with the author, that s my point of view too.

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  5. I am also in total agreement with the author.

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  6. Respect for the truth :)

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  7. Elizabeth Máximo: Enough with this true fan crap. We are not 14 year old girls anymore. Fans can like the group but not like their shows. A true fan does not need to suck their ass on everything they do. I agree with the author, the album is not their best work. However, I am still a fan. Am I tired of seeing the same set list at every concert, yes. Will I go to another one, yes. As a FAN, I only want to see the guys succeed. Sugar coating everything they do does not make anyone a fan. I prefer the honest approach.

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    1. Quote: "fans can like the group but not like their shows. A true fan does not need to suck their ass on everything they do. I agree with the author, the album is not their best work. However, I am still a fan. Am I tired of seeing the same set list at every concert, yes. Will I go to another one, yes. As a FAN, I only want to see the guys succeed. Sugar coating everything they do does not make anyone a fan. I prefer the honest approach." That's my point! Thank you.

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  8. I found myself nodding with almost every statement that you said here. It's been a fun ride, but it's time to close this chapter for me. I'm still confused why the Block was such an awesome album & 10? Not so much.
    -Melanie

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    1. Thanks! Part of me thinks that to, like get out now before I'm more disappointed, but at the same time, it's been a great ride!

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  9. I agree a thousand percent. I'm completely confused as to why they promoted "10" over and over and over and over and then barely sing any of their songs in concert. I've seen a ton of concerts by a ton of artists. When the new album comes out....that's what you hear at the show. I saw last year's concert and loved it. This one is a carbon copy....even Donnie's belt buckle is the same! And last year, I had to pay $200 on StubHub the day before the concert. This year....$10.00!!! That's proof right there that not everyone is drinking the Kool Aid any more.

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    1. I've heard that about stub hub! I've also heard that they've been upgrading people to the VIP seats for free because they didn't sell as many as they expected, and they don't want to have empty seats so close to the stage.

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    2. And that's my point about 10 and the concert.

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  10. Yep very true!! I was disappointed to see the set list, as it includes so much of the oldies. I'm not a huge fan of "10" but I've memorized the songs enough to sing along. Now it looks like I barely get to do that! (I read/heard somewhere that the guys worked with European producers which is why "10" has a different sound). Thanks for writing this article and echoing what so many of us think! Now if only the word would get back to the guys. And mean something.

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    1. I was too! 10 grew on me the more I listened to it, but it's definitely not my favorite. And they only do three songs from it! I wrote this just to vent not realizing there were others out there thinking this way too. Thanks for the support!

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  11. Love this post! I totally agree with you. Same show ...not the same energy.

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  12. Thank goodness someone told the truth because when I see the concerts this year it's definitely looking like they could care less about the fans and more about the money train in their pockets. Even the concerts they put out this year seem like they are exhausted and lack of effort and that to me if not to others a lack of disappointment. I don't even see the group having fun with the audience like they did the first time around when they started their reunion tour. Years from now they will not remember much except how much money they squandered from us as they get older and eat green Jell-O from a senior citizen home. For once I would like to see a majority of fans just not turn up at a NKOTB event and throw the book at them or show up and turn their backs on them so they understand and get it in their heads.

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  13. I think you vented a lot of people's frustrations (if they had the courage to be honest with themselves). Thank you for venting because now I don't feel so alone in my frustration.

    -Katherine

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  14. I didn't realize other people were thinking this way too! Your welcome, and thanks for showing your support!

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    1. Oh yes! There's a whole bunch thinking the same. They're silenced by the guys and their asskissers

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    2. I agree too. I love the fact that the guys are still around and I love the album 10 (some cheesy songs, but overall great). What I don't love is the huge price tag that comes along with anything NKOTB related. In their recent book, the guys bang on about hating the way their merchandise was heavily flogged back in the day, and how that took over what they were about and who they were. It feels a bit like that all over again. Do they see this, or just the $ and £ signs? I really do love them and respect them for coming back and making so many people happy and for allowing us to relive our youth, but greed is taking over. One fan recently went to an after party and was really disappointed with Jordan's lack of enthusiasm or willingness to acknowledge his fans . (Maybe the guys are spreading themselves a little too thin). This fan got bullied on twitter for speaking up and jordan actually blocked her. Good for you for saying it how it really is. X

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    3. @diana, I'm starting to see that based on the comments people have left! Thanks for the support. @anon I agree, I love that the teeny bopper fan girl in me was allowed to come out again, it's a nice break from adulthoodness lol, but I shouldn't have to go into massive credit card debt and second mortgage my house in order to do so. I heard about the fan incident, and that's just all sorts of messed up. A. Again, we're not sheep and if she had a bad experience she should be allowed to express that and not be twitter bullied for doing so. B. j is a grown man who should be able to take some criticism every once in a while and not block someone who was disappointed and or unhappy with the experience she had. ESP if its "all about the fans."

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    4. @V despite they're NOT grown men (brain-wise) just a bunch of pubescents in a 40+ year old body. They've been asskissed for too long to be able to take ANY criticism.
      I also remember one fan about 2 years ago who mouthed her (negative) opinion about being ignored by Mr.Cheapendale and it got her a one-on-one Meet&Greet. Wonder what happened along the way to become such a thin-skinned asshole

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    5. @diana, the ass kissing is why they grew lazy, at least I think. You have all these people telling you you can do no wrong and your god, why bother trying? Most guys lag on the growing up part, but criticism is part of life, and its def part of it when you're in the public eye. i'm confused by your last sentence?

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    6. my last sentence? It's about Jordan. Mr.Cheapendale is my new name for his sad attempt to be like prince and not even reaching the level of the Chippendales with his ahem "performance.
      Like 2 years ago someone was griping about him ignoring her and rather care for the sexy chicks, he apologized and she got an extra M&G. It looks like these days are long gone, nowadays you going to get blocked ;)

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    7. @diana, bwahaha! I love it! That is the funniest comparison i have ever heard! idk what's happened in two years, because that's a huge jump from one end of the spectrum to the other! And if people get blocked for complaining, then someone's gonna be doing an awful lot of blocking tonight, based on the catastrophe that was the Cincinnati ap:(

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  15. "based on the catastrophe that was the Cincinnati ap"

    remember: some or all are not OBLIGATED

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    1. @diana, so true on your first comment!! On your 2nd comment, it's the after party hosted by donnie wahlberg, he out of them all should have been there, instead of bouncing and having woj cover for him!

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  16. You're an idiot. Only a completely clueless moron who has a mind so tiny it can barely produce a reasonable thought would write a blog like this. These guys are not "phoning it in." They work their guts out at every single performance and invest their own money into their albums and stage shows to make sure their audience has the best experience possible. Do you really think the Rolling Stones are still on tour because they perform the songs off their latest album. No, that's stupid! They perform "Satisfaction" "Angie" "Beast of Burden" and "Start Me Up." because those are the fan favorites. That's what gets people in the doors. Bruce Springsteen never does a concert that he doesn't sing "Born To Run" or "Born In the USA." You don't hear his fans complaining that he's still performing his hits. Then to say people HAVE to spend $1000 for an Ultimate (which is inaccurate-that's a Total Package, but I digress.) is just misleading. There are many levels of tickets you can purchase and still enjoy the show. Total package, if you're the fan that wants to chit-chat with them for a few minutes before the show, then there's Ultimate, 5* plus, 5*, 4*, right down to $50-60 regular seat tickets. That's called choices. It's capitalism. Part of what makes America tick. You should look into it. Then you talk about drinking the kool-aid and if you don't "what happens to you." What a stupid comment! You're right, this isn't a cult. Everyone has free-will to love them as much or as little as they want and the guys should be able to block, not be nice to or love whoever they want. And typically, if you're a fan it means you like the group, so as a fan, you defend them. We're not "drinking the kool-aid" we're doing what comes natural to fans of a group. If I had Internet trolls like you constantly tweeting me negative crap, or writing blogs about my shortcomings, I would block you too. It's called being human. The next time you go to work, I hope someone stands over you and tells you everything you're doing wrong and then tells you you're not worth the amount of money you make. Oh, and if you're writing this blog just for you then why put it out there for everyone? You just enjoy the negative attention it gets. I'm sure your livid now and plan on attacking me for my opinion of you. That's fine, go ahead. How does it feel when the shoe is on the other foot?

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  17. I agree with 90 % of everything u said. I will admit I purchased 1 of those 1000 dollar tix and also paid the extra 250 for an ultimate. I don't have any credit card debt and went to several shows this tour. I did it to live out some fantasy I guess. Had a great time with my girls. Did I have fun? Yes I did because of my friends. The TP seats at 1000 dollars a seat were a total scam and a way to make more $ I would never get those seats again. Sat in those seats just to get a lame rose from B11M then only to be ignored by NKOTB cuz the seats were way too close. Most people I talked to agreed the seats suck! Still love the old music, still a fan but def not drinking anymore nkotb koolaid! What is it with these BH's they act like they ate In a freaking cult they are crazy! Lets follow Donnie's new girlfriend on twitter. It's 1 thing to be a fan but to have the New Kids run your life is crazy! Get a real life with real people do u can have a real life not a fake one u have made up in your head!

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    1. @anon, thanks for the feedback! There's nothing wrong with any of the fans wanting to have that type of experience. What I don't like is the insane price tag that comes with anything new kids related. And cosign on the BH's part!

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