The moment that the thousands of tween girls in the arena started screaming like it was 1964 and the Beatles had just arrived, I knew I was witnessing a generation’s history-in- the-making. Or at least a nice anecdote for Generation Y’s “Remember When” moments a few decades from now.

Teen singing sensation David Archuleta had just taken the stage at the American Idol concert at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. My brother and I had brought our kids – his daughter Erin, 12, and my sons Nicholas, 11, and Christopher, 9, — to check out the 10 finalists from American Idol’s Season 7, live and in concert.

Though my brother and I would much rather have been ten miles away at Giants Stadium at the Bruce Springsteen concert, we knew that we were fortunate to have the chance to treat our kids to a concert created just for them. We didn’t have to worry about shielding their eyes or ears from too-grown-up-for-them sights and sounds. Nobody was smoking illegal substances, and there was no perilous mosh pit in front of the stage. Best of all, the kids had a good time. (Also, we escaped without spending money on any American Idol T-shirts or flashlights.)

So, when American Idol Season 8 starts, we’ll be tuning in to see who will make it to next year’s American Idol concert tour. It’s exactly the kind of generational moment that I’m glad to be able to take part in…even if my generation would rather be with Bruce.

–Posted by Jen Singer

Filed under General, Tweens

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