Forever Young

I had forgotten the joys of a euphoric high after a good concert. I had forgotten and I was reminded.

At the last minute, I received an email from Ari saying I got the concert I wanted, so last night I rushed home to shove a fake-burger down my throat, toss on a dress, and grab Jenn before I headed to the Bowery Ballroom. Arriving a half an hour early, I was surprised to hear music already. Turns out I was not quite as up-to-date about the time of the show as I'd thought. Missing a mere 5 minutes, Jenn and I dashed up the stairs and straight to the stage (o read more about this concert you'll have to visit www.mel.opho.be).

What struck me while listening to Matt White, despite the fact that he lacked the old school crooning persona I expected, was that his songs were all about sweet love, hopeful love, romantic love. There was nothing realist about his lyrics. There was no real underlying doubt. He sang as if his heart had never been broken. It made me think. How much of what he sings about does he believe? How much of what he sings about does he merely hope exists? How much does he sing because he knows it's what women, his audience, want to hear? Am I cynical to question the nature of his music? Perhaps, but in this day in age it's difficult to accept someone believes in love at first sight.

But it also makes me wonder at myself. I swoon. I melt. I yearn for truth in his words. Ever the cynical optimist, my cynicism developed in an attempt to protect my romantic, optimistic hidden self. On the way to the performance Jenn and I chatted about emotions and the notion that those that have really high highs have really low lows. We debated if it was better to live without the highs and the lows or to have the ups with the downs. Without thinking I answered the highs and the lows are what make life worth living. So why, if I believe this is true, am I shielding myself from the highs and lows created by the opposite sex? Should I rethink things? It was a thought provoking evening and, if nothing else, it reminded me that I am too young to know the answers to these questions. Forever young, forever naive, forever innocent. Will the answers come before it is too late?