N.A.M.

For the last 12 years, I have been a huge Natalie Merchant fan.  Most of my life, my musical interest has gone through phases/stages.  Some people I have been huge fans of at some period or another are:

-Janet Jackson

-Debbie Gibson

-New Kids on the Block

-Gloria Estefan

-Fleetwood Mac

-Dixie Chicks

-Dave Matthews Band

-K's Choice

But Natalie has resounded through all of this.  She's been in relative obscurity for the last 6 years but she has still held that top spot for me.  I can pull out her CD's and just fall in love with her voice all over again.  I can do the same with DMB or Fleetwood Mac, but there's just been something special about Natalie.

I've seen her in concert 4 times (tied with the Dixie Chicks who I have seen 4 times as well, including a road trip to Nashville to see them).  Once another die-hard Natalie fan and I had front row seats at the State theatre.  That was AMAZING!  It was the dead of winter, it was cold out and we waited for her to come out of the building after her concert.  We got signatures from all her other band members, but never got hers.  She came out briefly to bring someone a stack of NY Times papers as a joke and that was it.  She was gone - I never got her autograph and haven't seen her in concert since then.

But, she is now back.  Eight years later, she has a new CD coming out in mid April.  And the best thing happened - I got an email from her record company that said the first 500 people to pre-order the CD would get the double disc set and an autographed limited edition photo of her.  

Yeah, I totally ordered it.

I'm crossing my fingers and toes and whatever else possible that she will tour this year.  I must see her again - it's been too long!  I will travel to see her, if I have to.  

But whatever happens - if she tours or not. at least I will now have the Natalie Merchant autograph I have always longed for.  :)

Yes, I'm a nerd.  And I know it.