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| A Fan's Ultimate Magic Moment |
| 8/3/04 by Huntress123 |
| A wonderful story about a fan's experience of meeting Fantasia after the Indianapolis, IN concert |
| I should just call this "Review From the Rafters," because that is where I was, binoculars in hand. I was disappointed in the overall lack of energy of the Indianapolis crowd. That is not to say that they weren't screaming and excited, especially for Fantasia. I think she definitely drew the loudest applause. It's just that I am used to more. With an audience like the one in Indy, performers really have to work so much harder. It's like working through a fog. I know this from experience, and I felt for them. For those of you wondering if the performances reach the balcony, some had a song or two that might have touched. George and Jennifer singing their duet is one I can think of. But Fantasia? She had every single song reach up there and connect to me!!! Yes, she is a star!!!!! To be honest, I could have missed the first act with everyone singing their individual songs, and come in right at Fantasia being introduced. It wasn't that they were bad. No one was. John Stevens surprised me the most. He is definitely the most improved. I enjoyed him. (Stop laughing...I did.) But I did find that I would at times, during all of the performances except Fantasia's, find myself looking off someplace other than the stage. The best way to describe Fantasia's performance of Signed Sealed Delivered is "Joyous". There are people that beg you to come to their party and there are people that don't have to beg, because they know that even though they want you there, they are going to have a good time, whether you come or not. Because of that energy...the energy that they bring and that they have, any place that they are is a party, and you want to be a part of it. That's Fantasia!! You want to be a part of it. All through this song, she was bobo-ing and kicking and twirling, and it was free flowing and effortless. I loved the sexy playfulness of Fantasia and John Stevens ( Yes I said sexy playfulness) singing "Crazy Little Thing Called Love". Of course I was watching Fantasia while others sang, and she gives them all her full attention. Her eyes seem to say that she is equally impressed with their talents. She was always in the moment. This is something that I didn't always find with some of the other performers. Purple Rain, Purple Rain ,Purple Rain. I want this single. I want Fantasia singing it. I want her white outfit!!!!! I don't have to tell you every song she sang. You all know by now. You've read all the reviews. But I will say, the girl did it again on "I Believe". You know we've heard it ten different ways, maybe more, but I was ready to jump over the rail, she was sooo good. There was a point when she was on her knees during this song and she leaned backwards, looking up toward the ceiling (on her knees mind you!!!), and was singing in ways that most can't sing standing still. As the song was ending, and she sang the "Higher Higher" parts, she walked up the stairs and stepped onto a platform that ascended while she was singing, disappearing into the darkness, while her words soared higher. It was beautiful! Was it worth 50 bucks and a two and a half hour drive for seats in the balcony (though it was first row balcony) just to see Fantasia sing a handful of songs???? Oh Yes Yes Yes!!!!!!!!! But the best is yet to be told!! After the concert I decided to ask a young security guard where the buses were parked. They were parked in an underground parking lot below the field house. Well, I figured that would be the case, and really never believed I was going to meet Fantasia, even though I did bring a camera and a post card for her to sign. I left these in my car, parked a block away because, like I said, there was no way I was going to meet her. As we got outside, we saw the underground parking lot. Since we had nothing else to do after the concert, we decided to stand outside to wait for the bus to pull out, with the twenty or so people that were also standing there. I really don't know what we thought was going to happen . Did we think that three buses were going to suddenly stop because twenty people were screaming? Did we think all the Idols would leap off the bus just to sign autographs? Well maybe. My sister and I struck up a conversation with two nice ladies who I noticed holding Fantasia pictures. We talked excitedly about Fantasia and the concert. They shared with us that performers hate to perform in Indianapolis, because the audiences are so blah. We agreed that this audience was no exception, though all of us were doing our best to keep it up and show our support. After a while we discovered that one of the ladies and myself both posted on the AI message board, which was really cool. Yea Tasia4me! Later we were joined by a family from Kentucky. Basically, we were enjoying our obsession regarding Fantasia ,while we waited for nothing. After 45 minutes, my sister and I decided to risk getting our car and pulling it up to where we were waiting for the bus to pull off, and I could get my camera to take a picture of the bus leaving. LOL Well the bus came, of course with tinted windows, so we saw nothing . But we did scream. Suddenly I had a thought, and asked my sister if she wanted to follow the bus to the hotel. She said that the bus was probably going to the next city, but I said, "Well, if it gets on the expressway we won't follow." Tasia4me and her friend wanted to follow in her car, too. They were from Indy, so we decided to follow them. The buses were about two blocks ahead of us, but we could see them. Then, something happened. The buses made a turn but Tasia4me's car turned too early. We followed her car, but knew we had made a mistake. We then lost their car, so doubled back. We thought they had turned in at the Hyatt Regency and LO and BEHOLD there were the BUSES, and FANTASIA standing outside. We pulled up and leaped out of the car. This is where it is all a BLUR. I think I was star struck. All I can say is that Fantasia is really so wonderful and sweet and nice, and you feel protective of her. I do remember that I went up to her and said, " I Love you," and she came to me and hugged me, the way you hug a family member you have known for years and haven't seen in a long time. She signed autographs for me and my sister, with "lips" next to her name. I said, "That audience was rough," and she kinda confirmed with a nod. My sister told her that we came from Chicago to see her, and Fantasia hugged her, and thanked her, with tears coming from her eyes. There were about five or six other fans there . Maybe more, but like I said, it was a blur. The family I met from Kentucky somehow made it there, too. Fantasia was crying and smiling . She even said, "Y'all making me cry again." I remember telling her to get some rest, but basically I was brainless. It just seemed like a dream. I will say that you feel a sense of peace in Fantasia's presence. She is soooo real; so humble. I could have stayed there longer, but I kept thinking, "This girl has got to rest." You can't help feeling that way. You just want the best for her. As we turned, we saw Jennifer. We spoke to her and got a picture. She even said to us, "Did you guys see Fantasia?" which was sweet, though in my mind I was thinking, "Like Duh! Yeah!" but she was very nice. She looks even prettier in person and I think she's lost weight. She was excited about Chicago, her hometown, and asked me why I wasn't seeing the show there. I told her my schedule wouldn't let me. She, too, confirmed that the audience in Indy was a rough crowd. When we left we were like giggly teenagers. My sister and I hugged. The lady from Kentucky and I hugged. We hugged her two teenage daughters. It was a huggin' evening. My sister and I drove back to the hotel just shaking our heads, and I went to sleep with a big smile on my face. Thank you Fantasia for giving me the ultimate magic moment. I will never forget. |
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| I think I was star struck. All I can say is that Fantasia is really so wonderful and sweet and nice, and you feel protective of her. I do remember that I went up to her and said, " I Love you," and she came to me and hugged me, the way you hug a family member you have known for years and haven't seen in a long time. |