Eddie dedicated Forever Young to ME!
BlackCorduroy
Posts: 1,374
Well I just returned from the single greatest night of my life.. here it goes:
Before the second Boston show, I hung out outside the venue hoping to meet Eddie for the first time. There were about 10 other fans also waiting. At around 3:30, his security guard came and told us Eddie was coming and that he would sign one item each, not to take pictures, etc. About 10 or 15 minutes later Eddie came by. He went down the line and signed everybody's things. I was the last person in the line. I told him I didn't need him to sign anything and I just wanted to say hello and thank him. (I figure, I may only get 30 seconds with Eddie in my entire life, I don't want to waste it watching him write his name on a piece of paper. I'd rather let him know how I feel.) I also handed him a note I wrote a couple days ago. He shook my hand, thanked me and told me he liked my shirt (EV pick shirt from wishlist foundation). Even though I heard the compliment I was in such awe that I don't think I responded so he repeated himself and pointed at the shirt smiling.
I was COMPLETELY unsure about giving him the letter. I thought he might think it was weird or just throw it away. Earlier in the day I decided not to do it but while I was waiting for him I read it again and decided I'd go for it anyway. I was just hoping that he would MAYBE read it.
Fast forward a few hours, towards the end of the show, Eddie took a piece of yellow paper out (like mine) and says "I got a note today.." I immediately knew what was going on but I couldn't believe it. He talked about me and my letter for about 30 seconds and even read a couple parts out loud. He said he wanted to dedicate the next song to me. I can't even begin to describe what was going on in my head. Just hearing him say my name gave me shivers. I started crying and my knees were shaking. Just the thought of Eddie knowing that I exist amazes me, but the fact that he was actually moved by something I wrote and dedicated a song to me is absolutely unreal. It feels like a dream.
By the time he started the song, everyone around me could tell by my reaction that the song was for me and told me to stand up. So i spent the entire song standing up, so happy and still crying. I totally apologize to anyone whose view I obstructed. I was going to sit down halfway through, but this really cool couple behind me told me to stay up, so I didn't object:D
The whole rest of the show was a blur, it still is. I can't believe something like this happened to me. I can't count how many times I've been jealous of other people's stories and now this happens. I just can't stop saying it- I can't believe this was real. I'm fully expecting to wake up any minute now. Eddie is an amazing person:)
Everyone has asked me what the note said.. Unfortunately I didn't save a copy for myself because I was not expecting him to even read it. In a nutshell, I explained that I just graduated high school and in general I am disgusted by the amount of materialism and conformity in most other teenagers. I told him that his music saved me from this. I wrote that at the end of middle school I was headed down the same path- listening to pop music and obsessing over brand name clothes. I told him about the first time I ever heard Pearl Jam and how I stayed up all night listening, completely blown away. Then I used the phrase (which he read out loud) "4 years and 11 pearl jam concerts later.. I am a completely different person" I explained a couple other ways he changed my life that he read out loud. It was something like "Instead of listening to pop music on my ipod, I'm listening to albums like Quadrophenia on vinyl. Instead of watching tasteless reality TV, I'm playing guitar and writing music. Instead of voting for the next American Idol, I'm making sure everyone my age is registered to vote for the next president" (the wording on that last one might be a little off, but you get the idea)
This post is already the longest one I've ever written. To wrap it up, I have a quick plea. If anyone was there and remembers any of the exact wording Eddie used when he was talking about me, I would LOVE to know. So much was going through my head that I can't remember it exactly. And if anybody has a recording of this, I would love you even more.
anyway, I thought I'd share:D:D Thanks Eddie for the greatest night of my life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHxt3...ture=re lated
Edit- Here is part 2, http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=300410
Before the second Boston show, I hung out outside the venue hoping to meet Eddie for the first time. There were about 10 other fans also waiting. At around 3:30, his security guard came and told us Eddie was coming and that he would sign one item each, not to take pictures, etc. About 10 or 15 minutes later Eddie came by. He went down the line and signed everybody's things. I was the last person in the line. I told him I didn't need him to sign anything and I just wanted to say hello and thank him. (I figure, I may only get 30 seconds with Eddie in my entire life, I don't want to waste it watching him write his name on a piece of paper. I'd rather let him know how I feel.) I also handed him a note I wrote a couple days ago. He shook my hand, thanked me and told me he liked my shirt (EV pick shirt from wishlist foundation). Even though I heard the compliment I was in such awe that I don't think I responded so he repeated himself and pointed at the shirt smiling.
I was COMPLETELY unsure about giving him the letter. I thought he might think it was weird or just throw it away. Earlier in the day I decided not to do it but while I was waiting for him I read it again and decided I'd go for it anyway. I was just hoping that he would MAYBE read it.
Fast forward a few hours, towards the end of the show, Eddie took a piece of yellow paper out (like mine) and says "I got a note today.." I immediately knew what was going on but I couldn't believe it. He talked about me and my letter for about 30 seconds and even read a couple parts out loud. He said he wanted to dedicate the next song to me. I can't even begin to describe what was going on in my head. Just hearing him say my name gave me shivers. I started crying and my knees were shaking. Just the thought of Eddie knowing that I exist amazes me, but the fact that he was actually moved by something I wrote and dedicated a song to me is absolutely unreal. It feels like a dream.
By the time he started the song, everyone around me could tell by my reaction that the song was for me and told me to stand up. So i spent the entire song standing up, so happy and still crying. I totally apologize to anyone whose view I obstructed. I was going to sit down halfway through, but this really cool couple behind me told me to stay up, so I didn't object:D
The whole rest of the show was a blur, it still is. I can't believe something like this happened to me. I can't count how many times I've been jealous of other people's stories and now this happens. I just can't stop saying it- I can't believe this was real. I'm fully expecting to wake up any minute now. Eddie is an amazing person:)
Everyone has asked me what the note said.. Unfortunately I didn't save a copy for myself because I was not expecting him to even read it. In a nutshell, I explained that I just graduated high school and in general I am disgusted by the amount of materialism and conformity in most other teenagers. I told him that his music saved me from this. I wrote that at the end of middle school I was headed down the same path- listening to pop music and obsessing over brand name clothes. I told him about the first time I ever heard Pearl Jam and how I stayed up all night listening, completely blown away. Then I used the phrase (which he read out loud) "4 years and 11 pearl jam concerts later.. I am a completely different person" I explained a couple other ways he changed my life that he read out loud. It was something like "Instead of listening to pop music on my ipod, I'm listening to albums like Quadrophenia on vinyl. Instead of watching tasteless reality TV, I'm playing guitar and writing music. Instead of voting for the next American Idol, I'm making sure everyone my age is registered to vote for the next president" (the wording on that last one might be a little off, but you get the idea)
This post is already the longest one I've ever written. To wrap it up, I have a quick plea. If anyone was there and remembers any of the exact wording Eddie used when he was talking about me, I would LOVE to know. So much was going through my head that I can't remember it exactly. And if anybody has a recording of this, I would love you even more.
anyway, I thought I'd share:D:D Thanks Eddie for the greatest night of my life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHxt3...ture=re lated
Edit- Here is part 2, http://forums.pearljam.com/showthread.php?t=300410
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BTW, when Ed came to talk to the folks in the line. did he come out of his limo or a car or what?
EV- 08/09,10/2008.06/08,09/2009
That is AWESOME. I don't know if you remember me, but we have exchanged messages a few times and maybe done some trades. That is Awesome. I am so jealous, not just because you met Ed, but the band never plays here (well 5 yrs and counting) so I am extremely jealous. What I have come to learn is the coolest things happen at shows when you least expect them too. Again, congrats.
EV Solo: 7/11/11 11/12/12 11/13/12
I did not stay collected! haha but thank you:p
I don't want to go to bed because I'll have to start referring to this as "yesterday". I don't want it to end:D
I absolutely remember you
One thing Eddie said if I remember it correctly was about how as musicians they get payed for doing what they do, but they forget sometimes what it really means to inspire someone, such as Lindsay.
as far as the last "instead" i believe he read that instead of voting for the next american idol you're making sure people vote in the presidential election...
eV: 8/4/08, 8/5/08, 6/21/11
SG: 10/4/08<-- MET STONE!!!
Yep, that was what I wrote, for some reason when I tried typing that it came out totally wrong. I still can't even think..:D
thanks for sharing it with us BlackCorduroy
Katie
2006: Camden I & II, Continental II (NJ)
2008: Camden I & II, DC, MSG I & II (NYC), & EV: NYC II
2009: Spectrum last 2 nights
2012: EV: Orlando I & II, Ft. Lauderdale I
2013: Brooklyn I & II
2016: Ft. Lauderdale & Miami
Just walked actually, he just came around the corner with his security guards.
A friend of mine met Ed when she wasn't even trying to last month after the VH1 Rock Honors and was touched at how friendly and open he was.
I hope that you will always remember and always treasure this night.
"Chirp"
I'm not jealous....I'm extremely happy for you!!!
Reading your note obviously meant a lot to Ed and I imagine was very humbling for him
Such a lovely story
in the end thats what its all about.
Congratulations man
I prolly woulda shat my pants if I was in that position, so thankfully it was you there, instead of me
(Recently there was a thread where someone told a story about talking to Eddie on the phone years ago and I said she had the best story ever. But she's now officially bumped. Not much could top this story.
I do find it a little ironic/funny though because didn't you recently say in a thread of mine that people who wait outside venues before shows are wasting their time, and say in another thread that you wouldn't want to meet Ed this way? I'm really glad you changed your mind!
haha I know I do remember saying that I thought it was probably a waste of time. I'm a bit of a hypocrite:p. It was absolutely not a waste of time
So glad you got to have that experience, keep it ALIVE even when it is "tomorrow"!
In 1992...this band changed my life for the better forever.
Congradulations! You will always have this memory to reflect and share with your family...present and future.
Isn't this was makes Ed and PJ so special and the experience always so personal - for all of us.
We should all have such a rgeat letter in our pocket. I had a chance to say hi to Ed at the Daughter of the Revoltion Hall (Voters for Choice) and barely croaked out hi and thanks and shook his hand. What a dork.