When I was 10, I saw Justin Bieber’s My World 2.0 tour. The minute he took the stage, I started sobbing. More than a decade later, I still can't describe what I felt and why this affected me so deeply. When I saw One Direction, I heard the opening notes to the first song Na Na Na and screamed so loud my mom claims the ringing in her ears was from me and not the absurdly loudspeakers. We plaster the faces of celebrities all over our walls and wish them good night as we turn off the lights. We get made fun of for celebrating their birthdays and knowing their favorite colors.
It’s strange loving someone that you’ve never met, but it is a tale as old as time. Our grandmothers obsessed over Elvis and The Beatles; our moms were infatuated with Madonna and Duran Duran; and now we yearn over Harry Styles and Taylor Swift. They have created the soundtracks to our lives, from the songs we play in our first car to the ballads we sing while cooking dinner.
This photographic essay documents the subculture and experiences of music superfans. It is also a way to celebrate my identity as a superfan while paying homage to the artists whose music has saved my life on numerous occasions. Though the Fangirl often feels isolated in her experience, there is also a powerful sense of community and connection made through music.
It is holding hands with your best friend while singing. It is screaming until you lose your voice. It is hours spent on message boards and reading fan fiction. It is the notes that remind you of loved ones. It is being so excited the only logical response is to cry. It is the Fangirl.
