If you know me, you know I have been a fan of Bea Miller for years now; she’s an artist I feel like I have grown up alongside with. So, when I saw that she was opening for Coldplay at the Metlife Stadium, I knew I had to make the journey from New Hampshire down to New Jersey for this show. My best friend and roommate, Hanna, was a saint and agreed to come with me to the show, which made it even more exciting as now I had someone to share the experience and excitement with.

Yes, Bea as the opener was what initially inspired me to make the trip down, but upon realizing H.E.R. was also opening for Coldplay alongside Bea, I felt like I was riding on a high. Such a talented group of artists, all performing back to back? It almost felt too good to be true! I’d been listening to all three of these artists for as long as I could remember; it felt like they were a formative part of my middle and high school years.

This was both Hanna and I’s first stadium concert and we severely underestimated the amount of stairs you have to walk up to just to get to your seats when you’re in the nose bleeds. After taking several minutes to catch our breath (I wish I was being dramatic), we were finally able to soak in the view from our seats. Even though we were very, very far away from the stage, it didn’t feel like we were separated from anyone in the venue, even the people on the floor at the barricade. I was amazed at how, even before anyone had performed, the stadium felt like everyone was in unison. Just as well, it was amazing to see the efforts that Coldplay put into trying to keep their show environment friendly! There were workout bikes and jumping pads that people were allowed to use to help power the show! It was awesome to see this kind of initiative taken by such a large and well-known artist.

Bea came onstage as the first opener, and Hanna and I were giving her all our energy as if we were right there on the floor level. It felt so surreal to see her performing to such an immense crowd and it brought chills to my skin and tears to my eyes. She, as always, put on a rocking performance, sucking me in even from the nosebleeds.

Just as Bea appeared, she was gone and now it was time for H.E.R., who I was pumped to see for the first time. I wasn’t sure what her performances were like, but, nonetheless, I couldn’t wait to see what she had in store. I felt as thought my jaw was on the floor for the entirety of her performance; not only did she have an amazing voice, but she also played multiple instruments throughout her time on stage. She played the electric guitar and, most shocking to me, the drums!

By the time Coldplay’s intro began, the stadium really felt like one. It seemed like every seat was full and everyone shared the same adrenaline. It was amazing to me to realize how many songs I actually knew that Coldplay had, as they aren’t an artist I think of when I’m listing my favorite artists, but practically every song they played was one I know. Not to mention, even if I didn’t know the song, each song had their own energy that I felt transmitted into my very bones.

It was a beautiful performance, with the bracelets we were given at the entrance to the stadium creating a stunning array of lights and arranging heart symbols throughout the crowd; tears stung my eyes a countless number of times. To be in a stadium full of people brought together by such an artist that put on such a display of love, it was almost an out-of-body experience. I would, and have, recommended Coldplay as an artist everyone should have to see as I don’t think I’ve ever experienced the feeling they gave me that night.