On Janet, Concerts and The Complete Dr. Sparky Tour Experience

The first concert I ever saw was Janet Jackson’s janet. Tour. I was a freshman in high school and I was absolutely desperate to see Miss Jackson live. Her album was on very high rotation in my bedroom day in and day out. I was a teenager obsessed.

The day of the show came and my hopes were dashed. There was no way I could afford a ticket. There was no way I could get there alone. Janet was going to come and go and I was going to miss her. My fourteen year-old heart was broken.

But my dad came to the rescue. He took me to dinner and, as we were leaving the restaurant, announced that he had a surprise for me. He’d gotten us tickets for Janet’s show. I was beside myself with excitement. It was a night I’ll never forget.

Since that fateful night in 1994, I have seen my fair share of concerts. The full list looks a little something like this:

♦ Janet Jackson – janet. Tour – February 18, 1994 – Oakland, CA

♦ Janet Jackson – Velvet Rope Tour – August 13, 1998 – Oakland, CA

♦ Train – April 7, 2000 – Portland, OR

♦ Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney – June 30, 2001 – Portland, OR

♦ Backstreet Boys – Black and Blue Tour – October 2, 2001 – Portland, OR

♦ *NSYNC – Celebrity 2002 Tour – March 3, 2002 – Portland, OR

♦ Britney Spears – Dream within a Dream Tour – May 30, 2002 – Portland, OR

♦ Cher – Living Proof: The Farewell Tour – August 1, 2002 – Portland, OR

♦ Dave Matthews Band – August 4, 2003 – Portland, OR

♦ Madonna – Re-Invention Tour – August 1 & 2, 2004 – Miami, FL

♦ Prince – Musicology Tour – September 1, 2004 – Portland, OR

♦ Wynonna – Her Story: Scenes from a Lifetime Tour – November 19, 2004 – Portland, OR

♦ Erasure – The Erasure Show – April 30, 2005 – Chicago, IL

♦ Dannii Minogue – Gay Days at Great America – May 27, 2005 – Santa Clara, CA

♦ Gwen Stefani – Harajuku Lovers Tour – November 23, 2005 – Portland, OR

♦ Madonna – Confessions Tour – May 21, 2006 – Los Angeles, CA

♦ Madonna – Confessions Tour – May 27, 2006 – Las Vegas, NV

♦ Kevin Federline – November 8, 2006 – Chicago, IL

♦ The Fray – June 14, 2007 – Chicago, IL

♦ Taylor Dayne – Northalsted Market Days – August 12, 2007 – Chicago, IL

♦ Kelly Clarkson – My December Tour – November 1, 2007 – Chicago, IL

♦ Kimberly Locke – Pride Fest – June 28, 2008 – Chicago, IL

♦ Stevie Wonder – Taste of Chicago – June 28, 2008 – Chicago, IL

A few of these deserve special mention.

The Tim McGraw and Kenny Chesney show was not my idea. A good friend of mine wets her panties over Tim and I took her to the show for her birthday. It was hardly a concert highlight for me. Another friend of mine throws wood over Wynonna (despite being gay) and bought me a ticket to see her for my birthday. It was hardly the best gift I’ve ever gotten.

I saw Cher on her first stop in Portland. She brought her retirement tour back through twice more.

Prince has the distinction of being the one artist I’ve seen to keep the crowd waiting for over two hours before taking the stage. I was pissed at the time, but he made up for it by giving an amazing show.

Kevin Federline, Taylor Dayne, Kimberly Locke and Stevie Wonder were all seen free of charge. You’ve got to love that.

In addition to all the acts listed above, I’ve also seen Usher, Kerosene Dream, Sisqo, Ginuwine, Nikka Costa, Cyndi Lauper, OK Go, Elkland, M.I.A. and Jon McLaughlin. They all served as opening acts for the above headliners.

I apologize in advance to anyone I have forgotten.

And that’s just the beginning. On July 9, my 2008 season of concerts will officially commence when I go and see the one and only George Michael. I’m all jittery with excitement. I’ve been waiting to see this man since I was a child dancing around the house to my mom’s Wham! albums.

Here are the future shows I have tickets for:

♦ George Michael – 25 Live – July 9, 2008 – Chicago, IL
♦ Tina Turner – Tina: Live in Concert Tour – October 4, 2008 – Chicago, IL
♦ Madonna – Sticky & Sweet Tour – October 27, 2008 – Chicago, IL
♦ Madonna – Sticky & Sweet Tour – November 22, 2008 – Atlantic City, NJ

In case you were wondering, that last one is on my thirtieth birthday. Talk about leaving your twenties in style!

And those are just the shows I currently have tickets for. There is a good chance I’ll see Kelly Clarkson team up with Reba McEntire. Bonnie Raitt will be giving a free show this weekend. Donna Summer is breezing through town in August. And while I am currently determined not to cave (my pop diva budget is quickly depleting), I may come full-circle and catch Miss Jackson one more time.

I just hope I still have a voice come Thanksgiving.