FOR THE FIRST TIME

Samantha Álvarez

It is hard to tell how PSB have influenced my life. They arrived to it only last year, though I am old enough for having met them from their beginnings. Somehow, I missed that, but ever since I found them I have tried to make up for the omission.
When I came across PSB I realised, for the first time, how sheltered my life had been and that there was a whole world of astonishingly beautiful pop music awaiting for me. I remember -sure, it has been only a few months- buying and listening to dozens of songs and being amazed. Nowadays I have most of their music, but they still have the power to surprise me. I have immediately loved most of their songs, and the rest has grown in me within a few times. I am never tired of them and it is so hard for me to make a list of my favourites. They are already a part of my life and I have to play some of them in order to complete my day.
The last year was eventful for me. Not only I discovered PSB but also had to make some tough decisions, that have changed my life completely. Their music has been with me all the way and although it has been only a year for me as a fan, I have fond, touching and deep memories regarding PSB.
I have no words to describe their music, and there is no need either, because others have already done it. Suffice to say that it was the catchy tune of 'It's a sin' which made me hold my breath and want to know about PSB in the first place. But it was their lyrics which made me fall in love with them hopelessly. I was not fond of English before and did not speak it really well, because I could not be bothered. However, PSB made me realise, for the first time, the beauty of English; I noticed what a poetic, delicate, simple yet significant language it is. I have developed a passion for English that will die with me and that has improved my life in so many ways: I have learned a lot and am eager to learn more, I am enjoying, for the first time, English literature and poetry, I have found the courage to apply for a job as a translator and am currently working for an Internet site and, last but not least, I am making good use of English to be in touch with people, world wide.
When I found PSB I also found myself alone. Neither of my friends or relations knew anything about them and no-one wanted to listen and share my discovery. It was so frustrating and sad, I felt like an alien for a while. Thus, I continued looking for information on them over the Internet, and that way I had my second wonderful revelation of last year: the power and possibilities of computers. In July 1999 I became a part of the dotmusic community and started posting on the PSB discussion forum. There I found, for the first time, many people from all over the world who shared a passion with me, so I was not lonely anymore. Before that, I used to think that a fan was a mad yelling teenager, but then I realised that PSB have intelligent and interesting persons as fans, and I started thinking of me as one of them. I was able, for the first time, to talk to fellow fans and to ask questions, to learn about PSB and pop music in general. And to make good friends.
True friendship is another of the blessings that I owe PSB. I have always had friends and close people, and before I started posting on the forum I would have never believed it possible for me to be real friends with someone unseen. But, for the first time, I met persons, unknown in the physical sense yet real in my heart and mind, who are worth my time and to whom I devote a part of my days. Persons who have different lives and goals but who are near and make me think, laugh and hope.
1985 was a significant year for Mexico City, my hometown: there was a terrible earthquake and thousands of people died or lost their families and possessions. I was 17 and still remember; although I was one of the privileged who did not experience damages, I witnessed many sad things and had the opportunity to help in a small way. My life changed ever since 1985, which, coincidentally, was the year when PSB appeared on the scene of world pop. Of course I was not aware at the time. But fourteen years later I was so lucky to find them, and the best simile that I can think of to describe their influence on me is the one of that earthquake. Certainly not for the disgrace, because PSB have only brought joy, beauty and pleasure to my life, but for the sudden, profound, irreversible consequences that they have conveyed with their music. My life will never be the same again, PSB are the dividing point that marks a new beginning, and one of my guiding lights into the future.