Thanks for reading guys and girls! It always surprises who checks out this blog. So thank you all, again :)
By now we have all heard the news that Whitney Houston has passed away in Beverly Hills, CA. For those who are unaware she was unquestionably one of the greatest artists of her generation and is an American singing icon. Her vocal power will sing on in eternity in the minds of her millions of fans world wide. You would think that this is her legacy, but by watching media reports you would "discover" that her legacy is her admitted drug use and public issues related to her ex husband.
Ahh, the joy of the sexier Hollywood story. Its true, the drug use is just a much a part of her story as the 6 Grammy awards. Her marriage to Bobby Brown, and all the issues associated with it, stands side by side with the 4 number 1 albums she created in her career. If you really break down her ENTIRE career and life, you will find that Whitney Houston spent a greater percentage of her time creating legendary music and being a star than she did being a train-wreck. Why is it that we hear so much about her negative years? Because that's what sells papers and tabloids. That's more of what people want to hear. Is it fair. HELL NO...and that's exactly why we should discuss it.
To all my fellow artists who read this blog let's be clear, eventually bad news about you will be far more marketable than the good news. Actors, musicians, painters, writers etc..it will be far more "exciting" of a story for you to be caught for a DUI than it will be for you to be volunteering over the holidays. Its not fair, its not right, it doesn't make us feel good..Its just the way it goes. Unlike most professions, as an artist you have to consider your legacy from the early portion of your career. Doing great work in your craft is paramount! Growing as an artist and pushing the creative envelope will one of the things you want to be part of your legacy. Along with that, you want to be known for how much you give back to both your family, fans, and those in the world far less fortunate than ye. I know some of my readers are reminding me of my belief that "you shouldn't care what people say or think about you". That is true! You cant care if you are going to be a remarkable artist. At the same time, you don't want to leave people with negative things they can talk about instead of talking about your art. Again, YOUR ART is most important. You have to control your demons. One thing I plan on telling news outlets as I get more famous is that I am fortunate that I wasn't famous when I was stumbling out of nightclubs drunk and throwing up on the sidewalk.
So you don't believe me..and want to test my legacy theory? Ok..here you go. I'm going to list some of Whitney Houston's accomplishments..
2 Emmy Awards
4 US Number 1 Albums
6 Grammy Awards
11 Number 1 Songs
22 American Music Awards
30 Billboard Music Awards
170 Million albums,singles, and videos sold worldwide
Now, next time you are in Starbucks or someplace random, ask a random person "what do you think of when I mention Whitney Houston?". See what they say..
Live your life for your art, gang. When you hit that vein artistic genius, like Whitney did, leap more into your art instead of going into your demons (which we all have). I pray that when I find my acting genius, that I stay on set and film film film to put that genius on the big screen
Quote of the week...
"A few people of integrity can go a long way"
Thanks for reading!!
I'll bite.
ReplyDeleteSo society should completely ignore the train wreck part of Whitney's life in order to promote her to Sainthood?
Let's see...Whitney had God gifted opportunities that most artist can only dream about; She was born into a music business family,She was vocally trained throughout her upbringing by the best voice coaches money could buy (albeit money didn't have to buy this as they were family), and for Pete's sake, her godmother is none other than Aretha Franklin. She appeared on the cover of Seventeen magazine as a result of her performance at Carnegie Hall. (When was the last time you or anyone you know played Carnegie Hall?)
Whitney turned down several recording contracts...yes, turned down, before she signed with Arista. What struggling artist is in the position to turn down their first, second, third, etc., very lucrative contract?
Clearly she worked hard at her craft and she was somewhat gifted. But she was blessed from day one with an advantage over 1,000's of other artist with at least her talent level.
And what did she do with these blessings? Well, that's the train wreck part. She squandered all she was given, and all that she worked for in the pursuit of self-indulgence. She went out of her way to find the absolute worse relationships. And of course she was seemingly in denial about her self-induced drug addictions, to the detriment of her family.
Had she not been a exceptionally brilliant singer, and just another single-mom addict, nobody would have cared. And certainly no one would have attempted to make her "legacy" something that it's not.
I understand the broadcast media is a business that doesn't care one way or another how they sell their product. But the media can not be held responsible for including the truth about a person of international stature. Nor should we hold up a false idol, ...a make-pretend contrived caricature that only showcases their positive accomplishments without balancing this with the truth.
This balance should be even more important years down the road for yet-to-be artist that can hopefully learn from this. However, From Billie Holiday, to [insert 200+ charting musicians who died of self-inflicted/drug related causes prematurely in just the past 60 years] Amy Winehouse, it seems a lot of artist just don't learn.
Greg, Thanks for being the first official comment on the chronicle. You've won a prize..i dont know what, but you have won it.
DeleteAs for your comment/first question the answer is obviously NO. Society should not ignore. The point of this entry is to remind artists that your failures will always get more news than your victories, once you become famous. Its not about fairness or anything of the sort of the broadcast media. Its about acknowledging the reality and trying to leave a legacy centered around your art. If it were "fair" then all day we would have heard about the awards, number 1s, drug abuse, amazing songs and divorce. All of it as part of her life. Ask yourself..what did you hear more about? Again, for the record, I accept this as a virtual fact of fame.
Said another way, there are very different rules to the game we play. Those rules work for you and against you. Im just trying to tell artists so that they cant claim nobody warned em..
True dat my Brotha'.
DeleteLet ask a related question to you and the other artist reading;
Once an artist earns fame as a result of their work, is there any "moral responsibility" to the society that the artist serves to be a positive role model?
Too flesh that out a little further, I think it would be fair to say that the fame, celebrity, riches, and personal prosperity come from the artist customer base, which indeed is society. Does the artist owe anything, other than the art s/he is selling, to the people who buy it?
Thats a good question. I know hes not an artist but Charles Barkley put the "famous person role model" to bed in my opinion. Parents SHOULD be role models above famous peeps. I do think the artist owes it to society to be a good person and contribute positively. I am personally making the choice to be a positive influence once I get to that position. I realize others may not make that choice which is unfortunate.
DeleteOne related thing that I always like to toss out there, semi-related to this, is that being the "A$$hole superstar" is a choice not a requirement. You dont have to be mean once you get so famous. Clooney is as big as anyone in town and on good information he is nice to everyone.