Music was never just background noise for me — it was part of the whole experience. It was cassettes in a Sony Walkman, band merch, cartoon spin-offs, and the kind of fandom that stuck with you for life. From The Beatles to the Jackson 5 to New Kids on the Block, music crossed over into toys, collectibles, cartoons and pop culture in a way that made it feel bigger than just songs. My first concert ever was NKOTB at Lansdowne in Ottawa, and I still remember the heat of the flames from the stage on my skin. And if that wasn’t enough proof that I commit to a theme, I also played roller derby for years and even reffed a professional team in Montreal called the New Skids on the Block. So yes — this page is about the music, but also the merch, the memories, and the weirdly wonderful ways it all sticks with us.