Loeb peers out from behind her trademark tortoise-shell glasses. "Oh, the shrine," she says, knowingly, referring to his website titled "Lisa Loeb Shrine." "There's a special person here who has a special web site on the internet. It's a very nice web site, thank you very much." Madlangbayan runs to the stage to hand Loeb gifts while the audience claps and whistles for him.

Although other fans argue that nobody could hold the title of being, "Lisa's No. 1 Fan," it is unanimous among the "Loebers" (Lisa Loeb fans) that Madlangbayan, 22, is not just your average fan. His collection of 38 Loeb-related CDs from multiple countries, 23 autographed items, Loeb's coat, videos and posters are arranged in his bedroom to form the real-life "Lisa Loeb Shrine." Madlangbayan travelled to three states for nine concerts with a large sign on his car declaring that "Lisa's No. 1 Fan" was its occupant. Loeb even signs his pictures and ticket stubs, "To my #1 fan Jay!"

Obsession over a musician has been carried throughout the years as idols come and go, from teeny-bopper obsessions over New Kids on the Block and their '90s counterparts, the Backstreet Boys and *N Sync, to the ageless stars like Elvis, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Madonna. You don't even have to be alive to be adored.

For some fans, the level of obsession stops at plastering posters on walls and devoting money and energy to memorabilia and concerts. Others take it further by establishing a religion, stalking and believing that the musician is the fan's soulmate. While society frowns upon this obsession, psychiatrists and other experts look deeper. "[The fans are] troubled people in search of an identity," says Forensic Psychiatrist Park Dietz. "These are people lacking social skills and maturity."

Although Madlangbayan doesn't equate this obsession with immaturity or lack of self-identity, he acknowledges the connection between Loeb and a troubled period in his life. " I admire her partly for her music and partly for her personality," says Madlangbayan. "I feel like I owe her, because of I didn't have someone to believe in or focus on, then I'd be lost."

Madlangbayan recalls a low point in his life when his obsession with Loeb grew after hearing one of her songs, "Snow Day." Loeb sings, "You're not too tired for this life, and it's not gonna matter if you fall down twice." Madlangbayan uses the lyrics as inspiration to not give up in life, regardless of past mistakes or sour experiences.

"I know I'm number one not because of the things I have, but because of the things I'd do for her," Madlangbayan explains. "One of my ex-girlfriends got mad at me because she said i'd travel to Atlanta [to see Loeb], but I wouldn't travel three hours to see her, which wasn't true. But if Lisa ever asks me to do anything, I'd do it." Madlangbayan says every girlfriend he has had always ended up hating Loeb. His current girlfriend argues that she doesn't hate Loeb as a singer, but she hates Madlangbayan's obsessive behavior.

Jessica Broitman, vice president of the San Francisco Psychotherapy Research Group, says the celebrity is often identified with one of the fan's family members, someone who may have ruined the fan's life or has qualities or capacities that the fan desires and hopes to duplicate.

Sporty Spice, of the Spice Girls, has qualities and goals that inspire 18-year-old Jaclyn Chan's obsession with the Spice Girls. "I'm a lot like her - not just because of the sporty part, but in our personalities and goals," says Chan, who mirrors Sporty Spice's aspirations to be famous. "She�s' my idol. I want to be remembered, and I want to be noticed." Chan is already on her way to following Sporty Spice's road to fame with her background in singing, playing various instruments, dancing and acting.

Broitman, who was obsessed with the Beatles, says that most people engage in the mystification of being loved by their chosen celebrity. "We were all obsessed with Paul [Mc Cartney] and were thinking he'll see us in the crowd and tells us he loves us," Broitman remembers.

Keoni Kohner, 20, began an obsession with Nirvana in 1994, when he noticed similarities between the band's and his personal philosophies. His real obsession grew after the death of Nirvana's Kurt Cobain. " I was in shock because I never had anyone I looked up to that much die," Konher recalls. "I know more about Kurt Cobain's life than anyone I know."

The obsession led to earning half credit for English units for a 239-page report on Nirvana, learning to play all their songs on the guitar, posting 60 Nirvana pictures on his wall and editing, directing and producing his own Nirvana videos.

Kohner agrees with psychiatrists' theories that an unstable background can influence the obsession, using it to fill a gap in the fan's life. "I was an outcast in school from the time I started 'til the moment I dropped out/got kicked out of high school," Kohner remembers. " I just feel for people with similar experiences. It was a way to deal with being teased, ridiculed, hated, beat up, pissed on and laughed at. "

Kohner and Madlangbayan have limited their obsessions to creative outlets and dedication, while other fans take it further with stalking and unhealthy fantasies. Madonna's homeless stalker in 1995, Robert Hoskins, managed to sneak onto the singer's property before bodyguards found him and called the police. In 1996, Hoskins was sentenced to 10 years in prison after Madonna testified he had threatened to her ker for rejecting his marriage proposals.

Country singer Barbara Mandrell's stalker of 15 years began with gifts and love letters, and eventually moved to appearing at Mandrell's home and concerts, declaring that he felt vides from her, calling out to him. Although Mandrell was fortunate not to be physically harmed, some stalkers do not flinch at harming the celebrity. Rebecca Schaeffer, co-star of the television sitcom, "My Sister Sam," was murdered by her stalker in 1989.

"Stalking someone isn't likely to get yourself what you want," says Broitman. "Often, it'll get rejection."

Phil Little, president of West Coast Detectives, a 77-year-old company specializing in location, background and surveillance investigations, says forensic psychiatrists have developed general profiles of stalkers. The company's Threat Management Unit assesses the obsessed person's present and future behaviour and the level of danger involved.

Little describes the stereotypical profile as being a white male in his mid-to-late 30s and 40s, a loner, delusional and reclusive. He doesn't have much going on in his life and either lives alone or with his parents. The typical stalker often does not have any direction or purpose in his life and is out of work.

"Something in there is wrong," says Little. "And you can tell by looking at him. They stand out by their dress, mannerism and what they are carrying. If you are looking in a crowd, these people stand out, if you're used to looking for them. But some are not so obvious. There are some women obsessed with men, and you can talk to them and never know that they'd be a stalker."

The West Coast Detectives are aware of s talkers who make reoccurring appearances wherever its celebrity client is present. In a non-threatening situation, such as one where the stalker cannot get too close to the celebrity, the stalker is monitored, and the detectives are prepared for any sudden moves. In a situation such as a red carpet line where the stalker can get close to the celebrity, security is placed near the stalker and maneuvered further away from the celebrity without causing a scene.

"It usually starts with a love fixation or a friendly letter," says Little. "then, depending on the response, or lack of response, it escalates up to the full-force stage." Little says one in 10 percent of the more obsessed fans are dangerous stalkers, so it is necessary to check everyone out.

Although Madonna and Mandrell's stalkers' obsessions may have begun innocently, Madlangbayan does not believe he will follow in those footsteps. Once he cleans up his room a bit, he will videotape his real-life shrine and give it to Loeb at her next concert. In the meantime, he continues updating his online shrine and scours the internet for rare Loeb memorabilia.

"I'm happy if she's happy," Madlangbayan says. "In the end, all I expect is a simply thank you. And I want her to know me."