How to deal with fame? Is it hard?
Fame is one of those things that artists crave so badly when they are unknown but as soon as they get it they wish to get rid of it. One moment all you want is people, ANYONE to pay attention to your creations and the next you are hiding in a stall to avoid your fans. Who would think that entertainment industry keep the idiom “be careful what you wish for” in their backdrop?
I have been following this escalating game between artists and stardom for quite some time now and it is a twisted game that can easily leave one’s mind twisted as well. Alright, let me take you through the tangled web that is the artists’ love-hate affair with fame, what do you say?
The Honeymoon Phase: “OMG, They Know My Name!”
Now the first days and weeks, months of fame are as close to a drug, I suppose one could dream of. The breakthrough into the spotlight appeared rather sudden for Billie Eilish, and she called it ‘pretty crazy,’ but at the same time it was like ‘the whole world cared about me for a second’. To have such a feeling like this is really remedial, this boost is the best feeling any writer could ever ask for.
Do you still recall the time when Doja Cat featured in “Say So”? She popped up on tiktok, radio shows, awards, she was smiling ear to ear and fully immersed in the whole thing. This new phase isn’t just the dropping of the debut album, or the first interview, or even the first time that fans paparazzi know you but you stepped out looking like a total mess, just like this.
This phase is one that many artists would consider paradise – a place with unlimited access to the art they love and a robbery victim with money to burn. Taylor Swift wrote songs with the hope that someday people will sing it to her but currently, she performs in front of thousands of fans who sing her songs word for word. It is a fruit of a long time investment.
The Reality Check: “Wait, What Did I Sign Up For?”
Then comes the moment when artists start seeing, that fame’s essence is not in fans and magazine covers. It is also studying, being subjected to trolls and other uneducated idiots, and societies pressure and expectations.
For instance, Shawn Mendes touring the world and revealing that he suffers from panic attacks. Or Lizzo, who, though is not shy to flaunt her curves and bare her light skin on social media, was once brought to tears after being bombarded with hate comments on her new show on Instagram. The biggest reward you get as a celebrity – fame – is equally a big punishment as it reveals all the bitter – including the hatred.
‘‘I was expecting people to follow my music,” is a line that any artist would say after being overwhelmed by the media critics’ focus on his/her private life. Ed Sheeran also decided to take breaks from using social networks several times because the comments and expectations seem to have a weight of a ton.
The unfortunate reality of the matter is that, over time, it is the persona that overtakes the art. Your haircut becomes headline news. Among the anticipated consequences of open relationships that the participants of this type of nonmonogamous relationships experience, one has to mention that your dating life becomes public property. People’s changes to their weights can become the topic of countless articles and blog posts. And privacy? That’s just a distant memory.
The Coping Mechanisms: How They Stay (Somewhat) Sane
So how do artists actually deal with this pressure cooker? I’ve noticed some fascinating patterns:
The Disappearing Act
Some artists disappear when the pressure becomes unbearable whenever they feel that they can no longer handle what is expected of them. That embodies his style, and Frank Ocean is the master of this approach. He produces a work that shocks all the spectators and leaves a deep impact, then he disappears for years. Adele is well known for disappearing from the public between her albums stating that “I need to recharge and have some fun.” This strategy works quite well – time and distance do wonders for the fans’ desire to see Juan and Isabel together.
The Alter Ego Approach
Sasha Fierce is an alter ego that Beyoncé Giselle developed in which she uses on stage, but with a different identity from the real life Beyoncé Giselle. Regarding transformation between Stefani Germanotta and Lady Gaga, Lady Gaga has talked about this many times. These psychological barriers assist artists in differentiating between the real self and the self that belongs to the outside world.
“This way, I have a clear line between myself and the celebrity persona,” The Weeknd once said about his Abel/The Weeknd split. Smart man.
The Brutal Honesty Policy
As we know, some artists just choose to embrace the reality and to present it in their creations. Selma Gomez is among the celebrities who have often disclosed information on her body and mental health issues. For those curious, Jonah Hill has recently directly pleaded with viewers to cease discussing his weight. This is something about being loud and clear when one establishes his or her personal lines.
It is mainly best illustrated when SZA opens up about her issues with anxiety and imposter syndrome; these flaws make fans love her music since it breaks the facade of a flawless singer. It humanizes them while at the same time making fans accept their defense of their privacy more easily.
The Dark Side: When Fame Becomes Toxic
Let’s not sugarcoat it – sometimes fame breaks people. The music industry is littered with cautionary tales.
Amy Winehouse died as a result of substance abuse which was evident for anyone to notice, unlike in other cases where someone is assisted out of such a plight anonymously. The conservatorship case of Britney Spears exemplified how fame robs artists of their agency. Juice WRLD had previously publicly discussed his use of drugs to deal with anxiety, and sadly, he died from an overdose at the age of 21.
This pressure often forces artists to practice and exhibit their talents continuously to remain popular. Avicii died a young death, and it is dominated by ideas about his strenuous touring and fear for life. The film about his life should be a compulsory watch for anyone who feels that music stardom only comes with private jets and champagne.
The Evolution: Finding Peace in the Spotlight
The most interesting part? Recording the growth of artists’ attitudes to the concept of fame with time. The people, who sustain for long-term and who want to stay alive, manage to come to terms with the beast.
Jay-Z went from a rapper that felt the need to thug and exhibit extreme aggressive behaviors to proving himself into a man of business who interacts with stardom in his way and on his terms. Rihanna has established a business for her own self that allows her to release music whenever she wants to (or won’t at all). Tyler, the Creator used to be an enfant terrible with an urgent need to regain parental approval; now, he is one of the most authoritative artists, who does not even need to wait for the day to create something new.
Indeed, fame can be seen as a weapon that serves many purposes or as just another weapon in the modern world, as Pharrell Williams said. “It’s not who you are.”
The Takeaway: It’s Complicated
The fact about artists and fame therefore is that there is no model that can be followed, common for all. While some people love this angle of leadership and positions it enables them seize, others it weakens them with . Where some use fame to change people and the society, others end up being changed and swallowed by the system.
What is for sure is that the roles of the celebrities, producers and writers are fixed, but we as the fans and the observers are also involved in this process in some way. How we experience and engage artists and their work; how we then turn around and discuss artists through a certain set of dynamics or pre-established frameworks also matters. Perhaps the next time we are going to open our mouths to criticize or discuss someone’s appearance or even their life choices, it is important to take a deep breath and to reflect human being behind all that fame.
It would appear as if everything in the fame is so rosy, but there are some things which are not willing to be put on paper when signing for the show. The best artists are those, who manage to remain themselves in a world that constantly dictates who and how an artist should be.
And that, dear readers, is no small feat.
