February 5, 2009
It was really weird to think it had been a year since we all went to Australia for the boys to write radio:ACTIVE, and now here we are, at Wembley Arena in London, for the boys to play the third to last show on the tour.
after tonight, there was a two day break. Then there would be a show in Liverpool, and then we were all getting on a plane to Tokyo for the show there.
The boys were in the dressing room, as they do, blasting music, doing their hair, practicing their instruments, drinking too much alcohol and doing vocal warm ups (in that order).
Fletch and I sat on the couch. He was doing something on his phone, and I'm responding to as many emails as I can before the break.
"So...guys." Tom says, turning to face us.
"Yes Tom?" Fletch says.
"We were thinking..." Tom says hesitantly. Fletch and I instantly stop what we're doing, look at each other and then up at Tom, and the other three boys, who are now all standing next to each other, looking at us.
"I hate when you do that." Fletch says. "It doesn't happen often, and when it does it's dangerous."
"Let's hear them out." I laugh. "What were you thinking?"
"After tour...we've had such an awesome time with the whole process of radio:ACTIVE that we want to start writing album five right away." Tom says.
"Well that's not bad at all." I say.
"What's the catch?" Fletch asks skeptically.
"Fletch, give them the benefit of the doubt. The boys are hard working and-"
"We want to do it in Australia." Harry finishes. There's silence for about a minute.
"Ok...so you were right." I say, turning to Fletch.
"Lads, do you know how long it took for me to get you space in 301 and a place to stay? Plus, We'd have to get your producer down-"
"Jason's already there." Danny says. "And we already rented out the same penthouse." Fletch looks shocked.
"You gotta give it to them, Fletch. When they want something, they get it done." I smile.
"How did you manage that?" Fletch asks.
"It's crazy what you can get when you say 'it's an emergency!'" Harry smiles. I can't help but laugh.
"It's only three weeks. Just to get the beginning of the album done." Dougie says.
"We just loved it last time. We want to do it again." Tom says. "All we need now...is you guys."
I put my laptop on the table in front of the couch and get up, joining the boys in the little line they've made with their arms around each other.
"Come on then, Fletch. You wouldn't mind going back to Oz." I look over at the boys, who are all smiling at me.
Fletch laughs and puts his head in his hands.
**************
The boys had just gone onstage and finished the first three songs of the set, which they do all in a row: One for the Radio, Everybody Knows and Going Through the Motions, all songs from radio:ACTIVE.
I know the boys are jumping around a lot, but it honestly shocked me that they could sweat so much in only ten minutes.
Because the boys were at Wembley Arena tonight, they were having a tour DVD made, as they usually do when they perform at Wembley, so there were cameras all around the stage.
Just as they finish Going Through the Motions, Tom begins to speak to the crowd.
"Hello Wembley!" He screams into his mic followed by the roar of over ten thousand people. "You guys ready to have a good time?" More laughs and screams (and a few cries). Tom pulls hair out of his mouth. "I have swallowed, like, a whole yarn full of my own hair." He says, fake gagging. "I've got hairballs." He sighs.
"I told you to get it cut!" I yell from the side of the stage, even though none of the boys can hear me.
"Welcome to our radio:ACTIVE tour, 2009!" He calls out over the applause.
"Wembley!" Dougie cuts in, and Tom looks a little surprised. "Can I get a hell yeah?"
Hell yeah!
"Can I get a Hallelujah?"
Hallelujah!
"Can I get Tom's the most sexiest person in the world and I wanna make love to him right now?"
And yeah, all of them said it back.
Tom just nods.
"Ten thousand people just lied to me." Tom says. "Okay. We're gonna play and old song. Sing along. This is called Obviously." He says, as Harry counts them in by tapping his sticks together, and Danny strumming his acoustic guitar.
Recently I've been
"Sing it!" Tom screams, and of course, the whole audience does.
hopelessly reaching
out for this girl,
who's out of this world,
believe me.
"1! 2! 3!" Tom calls, as all the boys begin to play.
She's got a boyfriend
He drives her round the bend
'cause he's 23
He's in the marines
He'd kill me
So many nights now
I find myself thinking
About her now
'cause obviously
She's out of my league
But how can I win?
She keeps draggin' me in
And I know I never will be good enough for her
No no,
I never will be good enough for her
Gotta escape now
Get on a plane now, yeah
Off to L A
And that's where I'll stay
For two years
Put it behind me
(I'll put it behind me)
Go to a place where she can't find me
Oh
'cause obviously
She's out of my league
I'm wasting my time
'cause she'll never be mine
And I know I never will be good enough for her
No no,
I never will be good enough for her
She's out of my hands
And I never know where I stand
'cause I'm not good enough for her
'cause obviously
she's out of my league
I'm wasting my time
'cause she'll never be mine
and I know I never will be good enough for her
'cause obviously
she's out of my league
but how can I win?
She keeps dragging me in
and I know I never will be good enough for her
'cause obviously
she's out of my league
I'm wasting my time
'cause she'll never be mine
and I know I never will be good enough for her
no, no
I never will be good enough for her.
//