I met up with my sibs Josh and Rebecca and friend Maddie in Salt Lake. Alessia Cara opened, and she was incredible! She was only 18 and carried so much confidence about her. She was very motivational! I could have sworn some of what she said in-between songs was directed right at me, as I have felt like a mess at times while pulling myself back together after a recent tough break up. She also introduced her song "scars to your beautiful" by talking about how the world's nonsense and noise tries to make us feel like we are not good enough, instead of seeing our own individual true beauty. Her words, "I remind every human being in here that there is all of that nonsense and all of that noise...I think they should change their perspective, but you don't need to change you!' Whew that was a powerful moment!!
Eventually her time was done and we waited for the tech to set up for Coldplay. Then, at 9 pm the lights turned off and the crowd became wild!! Good grief I already began to cry!! Everyone was given wristbands that changed colors according to the frequency waves, and they began to flash red on and off to the beat. Background voices rang out of fans from all around the world. Then, Coldplay was introduced, and the deafening screams cried as Chris Martin came out singing "A Headful of Dreams!" Josh and I sang every word at the top of our lungs and I cried literal tears of joy because they are honestly my favorite band!
The entire concert was full of Chris Martin dancing all over and having the time of his life! Our wristbands changed colors to the songs, an array of all colors and sets of hues illuminating the arena. There were songs where lasers and lights rapidly moved everywhere to the point you could not see much and could have a seizure at any moment from all the hype. Then there were songs where Chris played his piano or guitar to some of the most soul-piercing songs that connected the entire audience, allowing us to sing the choruses to some of the best--the Scientist, Yellow...and eventually the classics "God Put a Smile Upon Your Face" and "Green Eyes" as the band sang literally up in the stands in the middle of the audience.
There were times when I lost it--these songs have gotten me through some of life's deepest, most emotional wounds and excruciating physical pain and frustrations. There were those that created spiritual experiences, reminding me all God has given me, filling every ounce of me with a delicate, sweet and powerful amount of gratitude. There were those that were so fun to run to and be excited about life all these years, as Coldplay had their rapid lights everywhere with large bursts of fire coming from the stage with confetti and stars falling from the ceiling and large, bright and bold balloons falling and bouncing around. I will say every emotion was felt--I cried, even heavy sobs of tears, especially to Yellow--during which I had one of the most spiritual awakenings, opening my mind to how that song must have always had a doctrinal interpretation I never realized), Trouble--as I had not heard it since my break up and once again every word pierced my soul--this time with the regrets that haunted me. I began to cry at Fix You as Chris Martin lied sprawled flat against the stage, but not as many tears came as I was in shock that I was living that moment of hearing this song and seeing Chris singing it that way brought back how I felt at times in my life. I began to cry at Amazing Day, as it is so beautiful and reminded me of the beautiful gifts and days the Lord has given me--and still has in store. Then there was Everglow, reminding me of the people I have lost in this life but are not ended forever as they remain eternal as their light will "everglow". And later--the last song, as I knew they would, the tears would not stop. It was the song that provided healing through every one of its words through some of life's most recent trying times--even straight from tendonitis in my wrist for months straight to hip problems with physical therapy to a series of illnesses every couple weeks to then every couple days which landed me in the hospital for two weeks, then to knee problems once again preventing me from running and landed me with another physical therapist, to fracturing my foot that took 5 months to heal to then hip problems because the hip from that same leg became weak, to having a hernia and then to this one break up I mentioned that has been one of the hardest, emotional, trying times--all of this within the last year and a half (right after getting back from my mission)--a time where life doesn't seem to give me a break. And even though there have been other sources of healing, there was this song where its words have slipped in the cracks for light to escape in. For encouragement to come in--that hope that all will. get. better. and to. not give up.
Up&Up--a song which may just seem pleasant and nice to many--has done wonders for me more than anyone other than God may ever know. When there seems to be no reason to "keep going, keep hoping, keep trying and keep believing," there is a power that can be found within us as we can "believe in love" and know that "Heaven is cheering us on yesterday, today, and forever." (Thanks Elder Holland.) That love, as Coldplay sings about, conquers all and is the greatest power to exist the greatest love came from the greatest sacrifice to ever exist.
As you can tell, as dramatic as I just made everything sound, this night was a transformative experience. It was the best concert and I wish I could live it all over again!
Bucket list item: Go to a Coldplay Concert: CHECK.
What a breathtaking night!!
No comments:
Post a Comment