So Gwynn and I were floating around the Interwebs the other day and happened upon a YouTube video of Lady Gaga in concert. She sounded good and was dancing around the stage putting on quite the show. Suddenly the sound track stopped and there was no music. At all. A bit awkward for a music concert.
She acknowledged that they lost the music but instead of taking a break until it was “game on” again she kept singing. <gasp!> Unlike some entertainers she was actually singing the songs live and not merely lip syncing.
And you know what? She was good. No she was great! She just kept singing and her timing was bang on and the only reason you knew you weren’t listening to a CD is there was no music.
After watching that clip we thought isn’t it sad.
Isn’t it sad that we are actually surprised when someone in our popular culture displays actual talent – real talent. There are a lot of other entertainers who, if in the same situation, would simply walk off the stage and for good reason. Some of these people really and truly can not sing, dance or do whatever it is that they are famous for.
I know I’m picking on the entertainment industry but this can be said for a number of other industries as well. I’m not exactly sure when talent lost it’s edge to a look – “the look” but it’s unfortunate. There are a lot of very talented people who never get an opportunity to share their gift with the masses. As much as I don’t particularly care for reality television I think it’s actually doing a bit of good. Reality TV gives regular everyday people exposure to a much larger audience than they would have other wise.
I don’t know that I really had a point with this post. I guess I just wanted to get you thinking about how we might be short changing ourselves or others around us by not looking for good, raw talent regardless of the package it comes in.
What do you think? Are you often blown away by things that, when you think about them, you really shouldn’t be blown away by?
See also:
What If You Could Do Anything?
How To Live The Life You Want: Follow Your Dreams
Photo courtesy of: pfaff
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I heard her live on the BBC Radio 1 “Live Lounge” once – just her and a piano and I agree she really can sing very well. Powerful voice.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/livelounge/artist/090420_ladygaga.shtml
puerhan´s last blog ..Walking in white
Sherri – I agree with you and having two tweens, I know all about the pop culture/no real talent thing. Ughhhh. But on the other hand – let people surprise you. Give them a second chance. I’ll bet someday, you’ll be amazed.
Sherri:
Thanks for the post. Reading your blog is a joy.
We may be critical of pop culture.
On the other hand, sometimes we may actually enjoy pop culture.
What’s important to keep in mind, however, is to support talent whenever we can.
Supporting the human potential movement is essential because there is nothing more depressing than to see talent go to waste.
Life is full of challenges. It is never easy.
Sometimes, we are not even good at spotting the potential in other people, and give up on them too easily.
Not only that, but we hurt them by our words and deeds. Instead of encouragement, we discourage them from pursuing their dreams.
“Oh, you’re just not good enough. Why don’t you forget about it, you’ll never make it anyway.” No wonder youngsters hang up their boots, and pursue safer options in their lives. And yet, think about this:
Where would we be today without Jerry Lewis, Woody Allen, Peter Sellers, Steve Martin, Robin Williams, and so many other talents? Think about how much they have contributed and added value to our lives.
When the chips were down, we watched their movies, and they made us laugh. We were rolling on the floor, delirious with joy, and tears started to stream down our faces: okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but you catch my drift? Such people made us smile when the blues chased away the thunder in our lives.
I am sure someone, somewhere, out there must have been supportive to these luminaries. Someone must have cared enough to provide them with a meal, a word of encouragement and economic opportunities. It paved the road to success.
Each one of us is a diamond in the rough.
It is not bad to be amazed by those things that should not. Still you have a powerful point, we should stop looking at how people look, and pay more attention to what they can do.
A lot of people can really sing, play an instrument, write a wonderful story, build something wonderful, cook like nobody else, and yet we are unable to see it because he dress in a different way, or does not look as we think he/she should.
We need to take out time to look beyond, to the real value of the person. It is a quest I try every day, and I would like to share it with you.
Thanks for bringing this topic Sherri. =)
Alejandro Reyes´s last blog ..Is money bad?…
Sometimes we do need to change our Belief System (or BS for short) in order to see how the world actually exists around us.
Thanks for this reminder.
So interesting that you’ve chosen Lady Gaga. I LOVE HER MUSIC.
Did you know that I used to sing opera? Not many people do and I wasn’t particularly successful at it. One thing that you do learn from it, however, is a deep appreciation for musical acumen, artistry, and pageantry.
…which Lady Gaga has in abundance.
She is masquerading as a Britney Spears style of performer because she is young and she is interested in fashion, also she is a marketing genius.
She has an amazing ear for melodic line and, as you pointed out, SHE CAN SING. I think we might be at the point where we assume someone is a ‘product’ until proven otherwise.
Hi Sherri,
Yeah.It’s sad to see we miss people with real talents because of the people who pretend to be talented.But one thing is sure. People with real talents will come up like a rubber ball in the water one day.
Thanks for the interesting post !
vikum´s last blog ..Developing the achievement muscle
I’m so glad I stumbled upon your blog. Loved this post and I’m going to be catching up on all I’ve missed and those to come!
C
Have blogrolled you.
Corinne Rodrigues´s last blog ..Quote of the Day – 31/01/2010
I love that Hayden sang opera. I also think she is a marketing genius. Two years ago nobody knew her and with nearly 7 billion people in the world that’s nothing short of a miracle.
I’m older so she reminds me of how outrageous my generation though Madonna was…another marketing genius.
Tess The Bold Life´s last blog ..Born To Run
I think your point is that in our society we are way to focused on appearance versus substance. And it has become so obviously true that we need to get back to some substance!