Remembering One Direction...
2024.10.21
Song of the day:
As you likely know, Liam Payne of One Direction died tragically last week at the age of 31 (read more here). The official cause of death has been released, as has additional information about what was going on in the time leading up to his passing, and it’s all horribly sad. He was a talented yet troubled person who shined brightly for too short a time. He was also a father, a friend and a son, in addition to being a musician beloved by millions.
I was a big One Direction fan (still am, to be honest), and saw them live three times - one in the early days of their career, and twice later on. It was sad when one member left the band and sadder still when it seemed clear they weren’t going to reunite as a band. To see them all reunite in the wake of this tragedy has been heartbreaking. It reminds us that life is short and fragile, that we never know when the time we’re given will come to an end. That we need to cherish and embrace every moment. And even though I never met Liam, it still hit me hard this week, especially when I read the many tributes from the band, his family and more, and even more so when I went back and listened to some of the music I hadn’t heard in a while. The music was not just good, it was great (still is), and they weren’t just a band, they were a phenomenon. And I loved them.
Here are some super blurry shots of the first show I saw back in June of 2012…truly a once in a lifetime experience to be that close.
And a few from the much larger shows in 2015…after Zayn had left the band…
I hope Liam’s friends and family find peace, and I hope Liam is free from all his pain. May he finally be able to rest. I will forever remember these moments.
Amidst the grief and sadness, life does keep spinning, and it’s been a busy few weeks here in the land of retirement. Here is a quick summary of what’s been happening…
Last night - Saw Andy Grammar in concert in Boulder - a great show filled with music, poetry and interactive moments with the audience. If you get a chance to see his one man show, do it. It’s worth every penny.
Saturday afternoon - The Mother and I saw The Hunchback of Notre Dame performed by a full orchestra, chorus and six actors - it was great! I’ve always loved the Disney movie, which this is based on, and the music did not disappoint at all. It took place in a church, which made the setting perfect.
Thursday afternoon - Saw Hamilton for the 16th time (second time for The Mother), and it was excellent. This cast is great, and as it had been a year and a half since my last viewing, I was giddy with excitement. It’s still such a great show. I’m so glad Denver has good Broadway!!
Tuesday afternoon - Saw Piece by Piece, the LEGO movie about Pharrell Williams’ life. It’s so good! I knew a lot about his music, but not much about his life. I learned! Tons of his music is in the film, including a few new songs he wrote for the project. It’s seriously so good. Definitely check it out, even if you aren’t a fan of LEGO or Pharrell.
The prior Sunday - My dad and Frannie were in town to get a tour of the fully furnished house and catch up a bit. We had a nice lunch and caught up on all the things. I’m hoping to get out to their place for another visit soon.
The prior Saturday - Friends gifted me their Colorado Ballet tickets, and I got the awesome privilege of seeing Sleeping Beauty performed in one of the most beautiful theaters around. I hadn’t seen a proper ballet in years, and this was a fantastic event. I hope to get to more productions soon!
Earlier this month - The Mother and I saw Kimberly Akimbo, our first Broadway show of this 2024/2025 season, and it was great! I knew very little about the show and hadn’t heard any of the music so wasn’t sure what to expect. I truly enjoyed it, as did The Mother. We also saw two really good movies: Lee and White Bird. They were both well acted and both primarily set in WWII. Highly recommend both of them. I also built a LEGO rocket, read a couple of books, and watched the Sharks lose their home opener (and to date, they have yet to win a game…sigh). I also watched the Yankees punch their ticket to the World Series for the first time since 2009, and I am EXCITED!! All in all it’s been a pretty good month.
Let’s Go, Yankees!! #BEATLA
Oh, and one more thing… WE VOTED!!! Make sure you get yours in by November 5. Every single vote counts!!
Oh! We also got our NOH8 photo back - it’s amazing!!
Okay, I think that’s quite enough for now. I hope you have an amazing week ahead - especially you, Stacy Kwit - HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! See you next time…
Video of the day: