#also. got violently reminded several times that cis gay men are still cis men.

[valyrfia]

Who would I be if I didn't express my useless opinion to a random blog, but I just want to say why I record concerts and hopefully you won't attack me for it too much.

If I hadn't recorded (parts of) my harry styles concert when I went I would not be able to experience the feeling I had there again. Not because I forgot but because I was too overwhelmed. So overwhelmed to the point that I was not able to enjoy I just stood there. I didn't record much (because of the reasons you mentioned) but the few songs I recorded became my most prized possession. Every time I look at the videos I'm reminded that I was there and i did that. It's like the feeling lives on with the videos instead of staying there. And no, It's not the same as watching other peoples videos because the POV is mine, I am reminded of what I felt while recording and so on. And every time I rewatch my videos I wish I recorded the other songs as well. Also when I played my video in the car on my way back and heard his voice is when it hit me that I was there and heard it live. Idk maybe I was too overwhelmed and it's not the same for other people but for me, idk what I would've done with 0 videos I really don't know.

Just to give another perspective. Obviously if people are a nuisance with it it's a bad thing but I just don't think it's as black and white. It's hard to enjoy a moment when you are not really IN the moment you know? For me, I thought I would never see him live in my life so being there I was not in my own emotions enough to enjoy. 99% of my thoughts were "you are here you are here" and the other 1% was crying. I did not experience any of the music until I watched the videos later. Like I said, maybe it's just me.

I would be a hypocrite if I didn’t partially agree with you because I take my own concert videos as well (my Noah Kahan view between villages/maine are VERY prized possessions), but there’s definitely a difference between, let’s say a song and half the setlist! I think the obvious compromise for me is artists get back in the way of recording all shows/doing live albums and selling them for some fee until the end of the tour. To use Noah Kahan as an example again—his Live From Fenway album is the reason why I remember that concert so clearly is because even though that wasn’t MY concert the sound of the live voice jogs my own memories.

I think it’s a growing problem with social media making everyone forget that they are only individuals to an extent. The vibes at my concert last night were horrendous because everyone was trying to be the loudest/get the best view for their videos with no regard for the fact that this is a community as much as any place and I blame this need to be seen at certain places!