Fame. What price is a person willing to pay for the glory of adulation? How far do we go to achieve global success and once we gain that recognition, what restitution do we make to keep us there? And why?
I was profoundly saddened by the passing of Whitney Houston. Her angelic voice accompanied me through my dating strife and the club scene. Karen Carpenter. Elvis Presley. River Phoenix. These people were crushed under the mantle of their success. At the end I wonder if they looked back and thought it was worth it. And more importantly, if they had a chance, would they do it again.
All artists, no matter their medium, have to deal with the public’s demand. But performing artists are under the constant microscope of scrutiny. Forever looking over their shoulder for the next ‘up-and-comer’ to jostle them out of their position. Did these people drive themselves to reach the pinnacle or were they swept away in the tidal rush of committment; their inner voice drowned out by the words of those surrounding them.
I understand the joy of doing something you love. The passion that propels you to continue and better yourself in your craft is an intricate part of being a creative person. After the crown of achievement is presented, in all its jewel-encrusted finery, how soon before the gold becomes tarnished? Why do these idols insist on subjecting themselves to the thorns of the tiara? Money? Notoriety? Ego? Eventually, the once glimmering adornment becomes a noose, leeching out the pleasure derived from the desire to perform, paint, or write, and changing it into a prison sentence. Not as entertainment for them but for everyone else.
Do performers recognize the point where they no longer love what they do? That the act that once filled their hearts with hopes and dreams is now devoid of joy. Perhaps they look for their happiness in the next album, the next movie, the next stage, only to find the elusive commodity slip through their fingers. The fickle public demands more, in less time and by better looking people. Heaven help those who don’t toe the line.
And the enormous responsibility. No longer able to live strictly for themselves, entertainers have a litany of staff to support. Helpful people who depend on them for their livelihood. Is that one of the reasons performers stay in the limelight, under crushing schedules, increasing demands and the total lack of privacy?
I don’t think anyone could ever be prepared for the repercussions of fame. The losing of one’s core self to be replaced by a marketable clone.
A brilliant star, that once glimmered and shone with promise, dimmed and then blinked out the night before the Grammy’s. And the heaven’s lost their luster.
To Whitney: for what you gave us. Yes, we will always love you.
I will always love you – Whitney Houston
What happens when our ‘world’ stops turning? The event that creates the void in our existence for a moment and then is replaced by so many things like grief, sorrow, incomprehension, and loss. Is this when we realize just how fragile and short life is? Or more importantly, this is when we see who was brought into our lives and how their presence has changed it. 
