If you are not familiar with the cult hit, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it’s not too late.  Anyone who has seen it either thinks its the greatest show ever made (it is) or thinks it’s completely ridiculous.  When I mention I’m a fan (understatement) I either get laughed at or embraced.  It started years ago when I first moved to Charlotte, NC.  My roommates at the time, Chris and Ryan, were obsessed.  I was new in town and moved in with them for a while so I could save up money for my own place.  The devotion they had for this show intrigued me, so I mentioned that I was interested in checking it out.

That was all I needed to say.  Within moments, I was placed (literally) in front of the TV as Ryan starts pulling out VCR tapes (yep, 7 years ago).   He just HAPPENED to have every single episode from the season one premiere all the way to season 5.  Season 6 was also under way, but they had all of those on the Tivo, waiting for anyone willing to watch.  Watch I did.  For 3 straight weeks, every single waking minute, I watched.  I watched alone, I watched with friends.  I watched on the very couch I sit on now. 

I remember one night, my roommate Chris went to bed as I was watching.  The following morning, he came out of his room to find me STILL watching.  I’d quote what he said, but it involved expletives, but it basically broke down to his amazement at my sudden devotion to the show.

In just 3 short weeks, I had absorbed 5 years of Buffy.  I loved these people.  Joss Wheadon has a way of making you feel not like you’re watching a show, but that you are a part of something.  I knew these characters, I loved them.  Once I was fully caught up, the boys get all giddy and excited, saying the best was to come.  I still had to watch the musical.

A musical?  Yes, a musical.  Not just any musical, the BUFFY musical.  Season 6, Episode 7-”Once More With Feeling”.  WOW.  I’m sure many who watched it were entertained, but they could not possibly have been as entertained as I was.  In the years to follow, I’m hearing others have follow suit, but I’d like to believe my roommates were the pioneers of what is now called Buffyoke.  That’s right- Buffyoke.

The TV at the house was a 65 inch big screen hooked up to the stereo surround sound.  Ryan, technologically brilliant, took it upon himself to wire the sound through the stereo, but turn it off on the TV, enabling the closed captioning.  In doing so, we were able to hear the entire show as usual, but with the added bonus of having the words up on the screen so we could sing along.  A new world was born.

Daily. Weekly. Constantly, we sang.  We had parties and sang, we sang alone.  Eventually, an actual CD of the songs was released, and we own it.  Anytime we felt the need to burst into song, we could.  We’d turn the TV on and hit play on the TIVO and we’d sing Buffyoke loud and we’d sing it proud (and we’d sing it pretty drunk, considering we were all single and without children).  The episode was brilliantly written.  It was Buffy as always, except Sunnydale was possessed mysterious force that caused them to sing their deepest secrets. Anxiety before marriage, mistrust in a relationship, secret loves revealed.  Written flawlessly, to entertain those who have never seen yet capture the heart of the show for the faithful.

In the years that followed, life took its course.  The show sadly came to an end and life went on.  I married one of the roommates, Ryan, and we now have 2 children.  It’s been a while since we’ve had anyone over, but we’ve actually been in talks to have a Buffyoke party at our house, to christen our new TV.

Even though the show has ended, Buffy is still strong in our hearts.  We have a life size SMG (Sarah Michelle Gellar-now Prinze) cardboard character in our home.  My son used to carry her around with him, saying he was playing with his friend Sarah.  (Fun fact-she and I were born on the same day, April 14, 1977.  We’re practically related).  When Ryan and I married, the opening song we had play prior to me walking down the aisle was “I’ll never tell”, the pre-wedding song by characters Xander and Anya sang on the show, you can watch the video below.  We named out first cat Anya, our hamster Hamstanya (part hamster, part Anya) and our first son bears the middle name Alexander, in honor of Xander from the show.

Take a moment to watch our wedding song, “I’ll Never Tell”.  You can see the hard work and detail that went into this.  The lyrics are hilarious and catchy, the singing and dancing excellent.  It’s my personal favorite during the show.  My husband and I always sing it together.  I mean, come on!  Who hasn’t wanted to just burst into song?  Now you can!

For more information on the episode, you can read about it on Wikipedia here.

This is the song that was played at my wedding

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