Yes, the songs and the singing are important, but how the artist made me feel during the show stays with me the most.
This weekend Justin Bieber headlined Coachella and he’s doing it again next weekend. This made me reminisce on when I saw him Iive on tour in 2013, which was on the exact same date – April 11 – of his Coachella performance. Let’s say he had a slightly different image back then and was a few tattoos lighter. And most of all: I was only 12. But it was the very first concert of an international artist I went to. Although I don’t remember much of it, apart from the fact that he started much later than planned, it must have left me wanting more because since then I saw numerous incredible artists. Concerts became something I always need to have planned. Today it’s what I look forward to in the same way I look forward to travelling.
Over the years I got the chance to witness fantastic artists doing their thing: Beyoncé, Kylie Minogue, Jonas Brothers, Little Mix, Fifth Harmony, Sabrina Carpenter, Jennifer Lopez, Duran Duran, Roch Voisine, Dua Lipa… And Shawn Mendes, who I’ve seen 4 times already.
Each concert left a specific mark on me: whether the show transmitted girl power, or the message you should always believe in yourself. It’s amazing when an artist creates a world where you feel like you belong and a space where you dare to dream. I even think this is the most important element about a show. Yes, the songs and the singing have to be good. But when the vibe is off and I simply don’t ‘feel it’ live, that’s what I’m going to remember most.
When the vibe is off and I simply don’t ‘feel it’ live, that’s what I’m going to remember most
A perfect example of that is Addison Rae’s show in Brussels last September. Even before the show started, I already felt uncomfortable at her concert. Why? Because of the audience. There were a lot of young teenagers who were already drunk and tried to sneak in bottles of alcohol (I mean, who does that?), but there were also a lot of older men who came alone to see this then 24 year-old sing and dance in underwear… Which felt a bit creepy. The fact that Addison also seemed to be performing for the male gaze, made me experience this concert in a negative way. And that’s what I remember the most, sadly.
When I compare her concert to Sabrina Carpenter’s, it’s a world of difference. Even though she’s also known for her sexual references and performing in underwear style, the audience mostly consisted of young women. The only men present, were the fathers of some younger fans and they were mostly on their phone while their daughters sang their lungs out. There were no creepy vibes, just women enjoying themselves. And that’s why this concert is a much more positive memory.
It’s incredibly important for artists and their teams to create a specific connection with their audiences and to nurture their community well
So yes, for me the vibe makes the concert. That’s why I think it’s incredibly important for artists and their teams to create a specific connection with their audiences and to nurture their community well. In the end, you want your audience to feel safe in the spaces you create.
To me, the best example of that is Shawn Mendes. Nothing beats the way I feel at his concerts. Yes I’m a fan of his since the very beginning, which might contribute to this feeling. But it’s more than that. The majority of the people at his concerts look with the same kind of love and awe at him as I do. It’s respectful and dreamy. The reasons for that are mostly Shawn’s personality and image: his music is consistent, you know exactly what to expect from him and what he stands for, he hasn’t had any great controversies in his more than 10-year-career… You know he’s kind and considerate, so obviously his fans are going to do the same at a concert. Whether I see him in a small venue (during his For Friends and Family Only concert in Berlin) or in a larger arena (like Ziggo Dome in Amsterdam), the intimate feeling of his performance remains the same. And I do believe this is felt as well by people who might know less about him than I do.
The talent to create a bit of magic and a carefully curated world filled with love, is so important. Especially these days. So I hope it gets protected. Because where else do you find this kind of community and experience?
Written by Nikita
Nikita – founder of Nikita’s World – is a Belgian author of feminist feelgood & a journalist specialized in pop culture and the creative industry.