Fans get a One Direction concert experience like no other By Jamie Winter Grade 9, T.A. Blackelock H.S. 21 · Friday, June 8, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com W e wait for two hours. I'm at the front of the line at Ontario Place to get into the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre. I'm with my friends. Oh, did I mention we're waiting for the One Direction concert? We got there at 4 p.m. and the gate opened at 6 p.m. I looked at the line; it must have gone on for miles. When the gates open, my friends and I hold onto each other's bags so we don't lose each other. It takes about 20 minutes to get through the first gates then we walk to go to the arena and on the way there are many stands for free things, we got lip balm, stickers, freezies, glows sticks and candy. We find our seats then go to the "Swag Shack" where they sell the merchandise. Right before One Direction comes on there is a 60 second count down. The screen counts down, 3, 2... One Direction comes running on stage at 1. It sounded like a high-frequency bomb went off, but they were teenage girls -- including me. The noise was super loud, one of the loudest things I have ever heard in my life. All of my friends agreed with me when I said, when the band first came on and you screamed along with everyone else it felt like a nail gun hitting right on your head, but the pain was worth it because you're breathing the same air as One Direction. When the opening song finishes, the curly-haired Harry Styles starts to speak. Harry is my favourite, but I do have room for all of them in my heart, and when he started to talk I start to cry -- weird, but it's One Direction, how do you not? After a few songs, Niall and Louis do their own solos. Niall sings Stereo Hearts by Gym Class Heroes and Louis sings Amy Winehouse's Valerie. After that, they do one of the most anticipated things from the whole concert... the fans ask questions and they have to answer them in front of everyone -- it was funny. During the show, Niall pulls the hat off of his head and says, "You guys like my hat?" He was wearing a Blue Jays cap -- the arena exploded. They then sing a song called Moments, even when I listen to it on my phone I'm singing very loud and when they sang it at the concert I was in tears as well as my friends. About two hours into the concert they say how great the crowd is and how we are amazing fans. They start to sing their North American single What Makes You Beautiful and then they run off the stage. People leave, but soon realize there is an encore. After three minutes of straight screaming, a video comes on the screen. The encore was only one song but I could barely hear one word of it because of the screaming -- just so much screaming. The One Direction concert is the best thing I have experienced, it feels so surreal but I have the loss of hearing and no voice to prove it was real. If you are a teacher or student interested in participating in an upcoming Kids Speak Out - School News column featured in the Beaver, please e-mail Tom Dykes at dykes@ cogeco.ca. Keep Cool this Summer Air Conditioner 2 ton 13 seer $ 1,795 Sal e OPA A rebates available. Carrier Cool Cash Rebates available. Call for Details. (905) 608-9330 www www.brenmar.ca 10 Year Parts & Labour Warranty Available. Call for details. www.destinationfurniture.ca 25 % OFF Limited Time · · · · EXPANDABLE TABLE FROM 84" TO 102" OR 125" WITH BUTTERFLY LEAVES CAST ALUMINUM SEATS UP TO 14 CAST ALUMINUM SETS ·LOUNGES · ALUMINUM SLINGS · RESIN WICKER · UMBRELLAS · BASES · TEAK FURNITURE LEATHER FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES · DINING SETS · BEDROOM SETS · BAR STOOLS · CHAIRS 25 All Floor Model Leather Furniture % OFF NEW HOURS: Mon to Fri 10-7 Sat 10-6 Sun Noon-5 1650 Dundas St. East Unit 14 Mississauga at Mattawa (289) 232-5461 584 Kerr St., Oakville at Speers (905) 337-3653 (upper level)