As some of you may know, I have always been musically inclined. When I was 4, I remember smashing on a tiny drum kit with no idea what the hell I was doing. I have been trying to dabble in music in a production sense since I was 13, and while funds have been short to completely follow said dream, I have done my best with what I’ve had.

When I began gettting ready to go to University, I was faced with a decision that would have ultimately affected my ability to go to school: should I persue music and risk no funding from the Canadian Forces for my degree, or take law and have improved chances.

Sadly, I decided to follow law.

That isnt to say I had no interest in the subject, but I had given up my dream since I was in diapers just so that I wouldn’t have to pay for school. Consequentially, I found myself in a course I hate with my marks and attendance slowly declining, along with my mental health.

Eventually, my sanity declined to a point where I stopped wanting to live. And then had tried acting on said thoughts

Around that time, a certain hot Jew told everyone his anxiety story in an episode of Game Grumps. And I stopped and listened.

I had listened to NSP long before Game Grumps, but I had never seen them as more than a couple jewish guys singing about sex. When Jon left Grumps, I was certainly put off, but I remained cautiously optimistic of Dan. He was a very capable Not So Grump, or else Arin wouldn’t have asked him on.

It turned out Dan was more than just some singer. He had stories, wisdom, insight that I didn’t even realize was possible to put on a show that used to just be guys yelling at video games. His stories quickly became my absolute favorite part of the show, because in many of his stories, I could relate as a teenage idiot who had no immediate goals outside of playing elder scrolls (even if i never got whiplash beejing myself)

In many ways, Dan Avidan saved my life.

In even more ways, he became my artistic inspiration. I had started going to more and more school-hosted open houses, singing anything from stupid covers of stupid songs to serious pieces, and it has been the most exhilarating experience of my life. I remembered how it felt to just play, not impress anybody but do what I love. Suddenly, for a brief moment, life stopped being such a miserable thing.

Not too long ago, Dan quit his day job, finally able to sustain himself with NSP and Grumps. This was the tipping point for me. Dan has finally reached his goal, built his mansion, and it’s time for me to lay my bricks.

All because of this little shit in tights.

So thank you and happy birthday to Leigh Daniel “Sexbang” Avidan for inspiring me to pursue music again, and I can only dream to be nearly as successful as you have become at attaining my dream.