What Price for Stardom?

The late Goldie, a star in every right, even after her death in February 2013. It’s the end of the show and the lights are out. It’s all quiet now. The star is back in his hotel room, surrounded by managers, record label executives, friends and hangers-on. There’s drinking and merrymaking all around but his mind drifts. The bank account swells by the week as each performance receives abundant financial compensation. He has added more friends in the last one year since he finally made a national hit than in the 25 previous years of his life. And he wonders: ‘How much of all of this is real?’ ‘Who truly likes me?’ ‘Who would still be here tomorrow if I lost all of this today?’ Stardom is often times a lonely place.

How much of all of this is truly real?
The world of a music star is one many people would give a limb to be a part of. The bright lights, massive stages, amazing photo shoots, unending attention from the opposite sex, incredible praise from all corners and financial rewards are enticing to no end. But how often do we take a step back to ask how we expect these stars who live in this crazy world to somehow meet our expectations, reasonable and otherwise. Some of us have left the upbringing of our children to celebrities, asking them to be worthy moral ambassadors while we live lives we earnestly hope our children don’t emulate.

In reality, how many of us really desire to live such an exposed life? How many of us wish to constantly have the world examine every part of our lives in little bits and pieces under a microscope? Our finer points deleted, and inadequacies broadcast to a global audience… To be eternally subjected to a life of public scrutiny, with detractors waiting with bated breath for our fall.

Truth? I cannot sing to save my life. In the areas where I do have talent and training, I have worked very hard to ensure that I do NOT become a star. The burden of stardom is too much to bear for me. This is why I am always in awe of those who can manage it…it is why I respect stars.

Written By Chris Ihidero