Coincidence
Please share your music coincidence stories with us!
You know..Those moments that give us goosebumps and affirm what we are thinking or when "That" song comes on the radio, in the elevator...or when you see a sign with a song's name on it, a license plate etc.
Greta's Story
I have had a couple of those moments of coincidence...My favorite was when I won an opportunity to see a small intimate show (3 songs) and meet & greet. Well, we got there early and were sitting inside the rest where the "show" would be. As we waited I called my friend at work and said...I can't believe it...I'm going to be soo close. She asked if I had a camera and I said I wasn't sure if we could have them...well, needless to say by the end of the conversation I was on a camera mission! I asked the staff at the restaurant and they said there was a Radio Shack next store. So I ventured over. When I walked in a did a once over to see if they had any disposables if not I would by a digital which I had wanted to get anyway. As I wanted for some staff to free up for assistance...I walked to different sections of the store. I was standing near some cables when I looked to my left and noticed this little guy with a ski hat on pulled down. I noticed some purple and pink dreds hanging out the back. I WAS IN SHOCK!!! IT WAS ROBBY! I KNEW IT WAS BUT COULDN'T BELEIVE IT AS THE SAME TIME! I am standing forward the the shelf, turn my head to the right and say "Robby??" he looks up with a smile and I said "HI !! You guys are soo great! I'm actually getting a camera for the show next door!" We went back and forth for a while about what they were going to play, how they had 3 gigs that day, if they would be coming up to my neck of the woods in NH when they tour etc...It was at that moment that I said to myself...OH, MY GOD! You have the DVD in your purse incase you met them today!! GET IT OUT!!! So, I said "oh, you know I'm standing her talking away...and just realized I have your DVD incase you were giving out autograph. Would you mind signing it for me?" Then he was saying how he loved that DVD and asked if I watched it? (It was the Music in High Places Series - Goo Goo Dolls in Alaska) I said oh, yeah, I LOVE IT! We then talked about his favorite part when they were throwing him up on the blanket into the air. I thought it might have been the mud slidding. He was so sweet, personable, nice and humble. I was sooo excited he was so wonderful. You never know how some famous people will react when you approach them. After I thanked him he said it was nice to meet you...I couldn't believe it!! And the way he said it ...it wasn't just like "yah, nice to meet you...yadda yadda yadda...I think he meant it". IT WAS GREAT to meet him...but who am I??!! I thought that was nice and said oh, no it was very nice to meet you. that we kind of went our ways in the store. I found that someone was alone for a minute and asked where the digital camera's were. The guy was kind of rude to me and rushed me off by saying "ah, yeah, the digital cameras are in the digital camera section over there" and pointed. I walked over to that section and I hear from the other side of the display "ah, yah the digital cameras are over in the digital camera section" in a nerdy voice...as I looked up there was Robby joking with me! it was cute! We both chuckled! Once I bought the camera I aske the guy to help me as I never had one before. He was putting the batteries in it when I realized...HELLO ROBBY IS STILL HERE!! Ask him if you can get a picture with him!!! I bravely walked over to him again..and said I hate to bother you again...but would you mind taking a picture with me?? He say "oh, no...sure". I was soo excited!! The picture the young kid at the store took came out GREAT! It is I think one of the cutiest pictures of Robby I've ever seen! I couldn't believe AGAIN how sweet and polite he was! I thanked him very much and told him again how excited I was to talk with him and would see him next door! The show next door was amazing...the opportunity was a once in a life time!! Truly a Godsend! My mom and I were able to stand RIGHT IN FRONT of Johnny's microphone literally, I could have had my arms out stretched and been touching his knee the whole time...that is HOW close we were. Unreal...I still can't believe it...they sang and joked...it was a GREAT time. One that I will never forget! After the show we went out back and I asked the rest of the band to autograph my DVD and Johnny to sign my jeans as well! He & the band used my sharpie on most of the autographs that they did for people. And at the end Johnny turned back to me and said..."ah, this was...... yours right?" I said "yes" and he said "thanks!" I said "no, thank you". I can't tell you how much that day and opportunity means to me! It was just wonderful. My mom and I had an incredible time! I'll quote Robby...."I LOVE WHEN THINGS WORK OUT!" And did it ever that day for us.
Martas Story~
The idea came to me like a bolt of the blue. I didn't expect the Goos to be touring in Europe.. so when I saw the Europe dates announced I knew I had to do it: NOW OR NEVER – I thought and for the rest of the day I was waiting impatiently for my boyfriend (Sylvester) to come. When he arrived I entered www.googoodolls.com, showed him the dates and told him: I AM GOING FOR ONE OF THOSE CONCERTS. He was a bit surprised, probably because he saw and felt I meant it :) . After a while I heard –OK, I'M FLYING WITH YOU! And so our preparations began. We had to decide which concert to go to. London was out of question because of the dates (and my job), but the other options seemed perfect. We chose Dublin because Sylvester's cousin lives not far from the city, so we knew we would have a place to stay at. In the meantime Julita, my boyfriend's sister, also decided to go :) So there were three of us eager to see GGD live :) We bought the tickets online and when I saw the confirmation it was the first time I actually began to feel REALLY anxious. One of my biggest dreams was coming true.. It was soon after buying the tickets that I began to search for any information about the Ambassador Theatre where the concert was to take place. However, there was not much info online.. and after a few days of searching we only knew that the venue is small.. and we only saw a pic of the entrance. Nothing more. Anyhow, while searching for the info, I found a site www.musicishealing.org and shared my joy with Jane, the admin :) (HUGS JANE J) Actually it was Jane who came up with the idea of making a banner. I didn't think about it cause I decided to focus on my work and studies and try not to think about the concert at all, not to go mad ;) Anyhow, the idea with the banner seemed great so one day before the flight I made it, with my roommate's help. It said: I CAME FROM POLAND TO HEAR YOU PLAY "BECOME" (Jane's idea J ) Next day was Thursday and I only went to work at 8 a.m., finished by 10 and, instead of going for my classes, I went home, had something to eat, and waited for Sylvester and Julita to come. We went 100 km to ?ódz. and at about 8.30 p.m the plane took off.. we landed in Dublin pretty late, missed the bus to Rush (where the cousin lives) but were lucky enough to get there anyway, with the help of the Irish bus drivers (THANKS A LOT J ) We went to sleep at 3 a.m. On Friday, May 26, we went for a short walk by the seaside and then drove to Dublin (which takes about 1,5h). Ireland is sooooooooo beautiful... When we arrived in Dublin we went straight to the Ambassador to pick up the tickets (It was about 2 p.m) but the staff told us we would have to wait until they open the doors at 7. We had 5 more hours so Sylvester and Julita decided to take me for a walk (they had been in Dublin before). The trouble was that when I couldn't see the Theatre any more I felt nervous and wanted to come back. So we made a deal: We would go and have something to eat and then I would go back and Sylvester and Julita would go sightseeing. That was what we did. When we finished eating they walked me to the Ambassador and were to leave the place when suddenly a black van arrived. I felt something strange so I immediately took out my camera. I was right!! The door opened and Robby came out of the van!!! I was so shocked when I saw him that I couldn't even take a picture.. I forgot how to use my camera! I just stood there, not believing it all.. Then Mike came out.. and I knew John would be next. But I couldn't do anything! But then another man came out of the car (he played the guitar, I don't know his name) so I had 5 seconds to prepare the camera.. and so I managed to take a picture of John :) :) :) . Most of the people there forgot how to use the equipment.. Everybody was like: "Oh my God.. Robby.. Was it Robby..??? Oh.. Here comes Mike... ? OOHH... J O H N N Y!!!!!!!!!!" They entered the Ambassador through the front door!!! For the next few minutes I was sitting on the ground and not moving.. It was all so surreal.. And I was angry that I only took one pic.. Well, considering the fact that many people didn't manage to take any, and some were not there yet and missed the chance of seeing the Goos.. It was not bad :D While sitting and waiting for the doors to be opened I began to talk with the people who were sitting there as well and this is how I met Jacklyn and Grace. We had a really nice chat about the Goos and all.. :) At about 7 (with Sylvester and Julita back from their quick walk) we saw the people line up outside of the door.. It was kind of surprising cause in Poland very few people would be so patient as to actually line up.. BUT we were the first people in the line so I began to get really anxious :) Finally the doors were opened. We entered the theatre.. and were asked to wait for a guy with the tickets for 10 minutes!! I sat down on the stairs and watched others enter the venue and I began to cry. I couldn't believe it.. fortunately the guy was very quick and it all lasted less than 10 mins. I ran inside and saw there were not so many people there yet. I found Jacklyn and Grace.. they promised to keep a place for me. And they did.. right in the front row!!! I don't really remember the support band but the music was OK :) A bit of Placebo style I guess. When they were playing I saw the Goos' setlist on the eqipment. I saw that "Become" was to be the last but one song..so I decied not to unfold the banner until half of the concert would be over. When the Goo Goo Dolls ran on stage I couldn't believe it! I was screaming and yelling like I was 17, singing, smiling, taking pictures and filming the band like a madman :) They played 1. Stay with You 2. Feel the Silence 3. Slide 4. Can't Let it go 5. Smash 6. Black Balloon 7 .We'll be here 8. Iris 9. January Friend 10. Broadway 11. Better Days 12.Listen I guess it was more or less after LISTEN when I took out the banner and wanted to unfold it. John was not looking so I thought it would be a good moment. I took the banner.. and then John got interested... He was standing on the stage.. looking at me with a smile (Yes, his smile is gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!) and a face expression saying: Well.. Show me what you have there cause I'm curious.. :))) My hands were shaking but I finally managed to unfold the banner.. John read it.. and when he saw the red-colored POLAND (the rest was black).. he smiled at me in a way I will never forget :))) Then they played 13. Without you here 14.Let love in And then I heard "Become"... I was all shaking... I looked at John and he pointed at me and said: "AND THIS IS FOR MY FRIEND FROM POLAND".. I couldn't stop crying.. I was so shocked and moved and what not.. Well.. I just can't describe it, it's too much.. This was something I would never even dream of.. AMAZING!!!!!!!!! :) :) :) So, number 15 was Become and Give a little bit was last. I wish the concert was longer.. BUT MY DREAM CAME TRUE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then 2 weeks after the concert I saw the pics from Dublin on the Inner Machine.. Taken from the stage.. and I saw a close-up of my banner on 2 of them.. I just couldn't believe it.. If only John, Robby and Mike knew what joy they bring to my life.. I'm so grateful..
