“Shine bright like a diamond”is the line of Rihanna’s new song that I just cannot get out of my head. I’m plagued with it every few seconds and yet I am not driving myself crazy. I absolutely love it and every time the words pop into my head they serve as a reminder to myself to“shine bright like a diamond”.
The song recognises the beauty in another and within a relationship, however whenever I hear it, it serves as a reminder to be the best of me. If I was the director using this context I would have showcased the general public. Nothing over the top just nice diverse shots of various people of all ages in their environment.
As I am not I decided to use my blog as a space to say, please tell your kids, your friends, your pupils to see themselves when they watch the video or hear the song. I dedicate this song to everyone in an attempt to nudge you into realising your inner potential, your best you. I smile whenever I hear it. Do the work now to manifest tomorrow! Celebrities are not the only stars.
After three girls, Chef Jamie Oliver is the proud father to his first son called, wait for it...
Buddy Bear Maurice. I don't know what to say, though should I really be surprised? Having named his daughter's Poppy Honey, Daisey Boo and Petal Blossom, it's obvious that Paul, Anthony or Luke would't have had a look in. What is it with celebrities that they have to choose such random names for their children? Especially when the majority of them have “normal” names themselves. What is the thinking process behind this? Is this a new craze among the social elite? Is it an obsession for their offspring to be as famous as the single named, globally recognised individuals, such as Madonna and Cher? Or in a world with roughly 6,869,100,000 inhabitants (estimate from Wikipedia) are they just exercising their creative rights, sticking a finger up to conformism?
To be fair to Jamie and the missus, their children’s names are pretty bland compared to these...
Audio Science: Shannyn Sossamon
Kal-El Coppol: Nicholas Cage (Kal-El is Superman’s original birth name)
Sage Moonblood and Seargeoh: Sylvester Stallone and Sasha Czack
Satchel: Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee
Squash these names together and it will form the new advert for Rowntree's Randoms.
My version:
“Hello my little Sergeoh, this new drink of Sage Moonblood tastes like Audio Science, though if I’m lucky, it could turn me into Kale-EL Coppol and then I would be more than a Satchel”.
The original:
When you have money you can call your child what you like, because either way they will be alright. However not all people with weird names were products of famous mummy’s and daddies. Take Tiger Woods for example, he came from humble beginnings and now is a multi-millionaire. Who would have thought that a silly sounding name in childhood and lets face it, the continuous displays of snarling teeth, roaring sounds accompanied by claw hand movements, that I suspect he encountered, would grow up to become a tiger on the green and well... a tiger in the bedroom?
His international success, in my eyes is even more special due to his unique name, which in this instance is a creative blessing as his name fits the field he is in. Tiger on the green sounds fab, but not so fab if Tiger ended up being an employee at the local bank. With a name like that would he have even been employed? I may sound shallow but I am being realistic, as judgements are made way before the interviewing process begins, whether consciously or unconsciously it starts with the name at top of the CV or application form.
So what is in a name? I believe language is important, how you describe/label yourself gives an indication to who you are and what you think of yourself. Hopefully parents would have given some serious thought into the name that extends beyond adding a few Q’s, W’s and apostrophes in odd places, which Americans seem to love, evidenced in names such as Shanqueia and La’Quanda.
Take Erykah Badu’s children for example, Seven Sirius, Puma Sabti and Mars Merkaba, they are evidently unique names that contain an element of coolness and obvious meaning, though not known to me. Knowing that you are the first and only person with a name like that must feel amazing. I say this because on Facebook alone there are 449 Lisa Bent’s which I am quite upset about, I’m sure Freud would have something to say about this but anyway... the point I am trying to make is, does an unusual name give you an advantage in the confidence stakes? or does a parent’s creative inventiveness serve as an embarrassment for their child who may feel pressurised to live up to their name or defend it? Who knows? Perhaps I should ask Buddy Bear on his 21st Birthday!
On the flipside, I am forced to remember the many grown men who are called Devante, as a result of their mother’s fascination with 90’s American Boy group Jodeci. The two that I know, have chosen to use their more classic middle names instead. An unusual name can be fabulous only if it remains unique. I am no expert but I predict that this planet now contains quite a few Brooklyn’s and Beyonce’s which for me loses the essence of what was once unique.
Either way I guess it would seem that being unique can be a good thing but it is good to remember that children grow up. A name may sound cute at 5 years old but will it have the same tone at 19 years old and beyond? Parents may want their children to stick out, though in the early years a child’s whole being seems to be based around fitting in. So should parents be more considerate? Whilst there will never be a right or wrong answer I am contemplating that perhaps a celebrity doesn’t need to be considerate because their children will already have a fighting chance in life. Whereas the less well of need a fighting chance and it could be begin with a less creative name.
Shakespeare said “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. Meaning it is not the name that matters, but what something is. I agree, though the reality is children can be cruel and the world is not equal when it comes to judgements.
It would appear the definition of success for young people today evolves around the concept of being “known”. This thought is echoed by the realisation that the career aspirations of girls today centre on becoming a WAG (Wife and Girlfriend of a footballer), Glamour model or Pop star. The Pussy Cat Dolls song When I grow up, which peaked at number 3 in the UK charts, clearly tapped into the wants and dreams of many. So what is it about this lifestyle that is so appealing? No matter where you look, our screens and papers are awash with high profile successful individuals in glamorous attire, living the life that many consumers want. Hence the reason why so many celebrity endorsed brands do so well. Individuals want a piece of what they have and are willing to part with their money to ‘Glo’ like J-Lo, “Get the London Look” like Kate Moss and even wear FUGG’s (Fake Ugg boots) to imitate the celebrity style.
As an outsider looking in, it appears the hard work it takes to become successful to a mainstream level is not seen as inspiring or motivating, but long, un-necessary and time consuming by the majority of teenagers. Forget Generation X this is Generation NOW, a group of young individuals seeking instant gains for instant gratification. Not necessarily there fault, might I add, teenagers have merely evolved with the changing trends and technology. However I also wonder whether their appearing attitude has a direct link to the one-sided influx of only the most glamorous aspects of what these celebrities do?
Wining, dining, sun bathing, parties, magazine deals etc, rarely do we see the day to day work routine of the rich and famous that has enabled them to have the lifestyle they have and so whilst adults (there are exceptions) have a better understanding of the blood, sweat and tears involved, both young viewers and teenagers are still learning and yet to be awoken by the smell of coffee.
When I was younger I wanted to be Wonder Women, seriously. Other than the red lipstick, tiara, cape and boots, she saved people’s lives which I also found appealing. I decided the nearest real life role was a nurse and so dabbled with the idea until I realised needles, blood and medicine, all of which I hated, were important live saving aspects. To the majority, TV hospital dramas such as ER and Casualty are said to have encouraged many teenage girls to choose careers within the field of medicine. Whilst both programmes are still on- air, reality shows are dominating the screens whilst celebrities are dominating both the press and screens. Consequently should I or any of us really be surprised that this celebrity craze culture has had a huge impact on young people’s ambitions?
Attitudes have changed and so has behaviour which is clear to see on a Friday and Saturday night. Have you also seen the young girls dressed to the nines wearing outfits and shoes straight out of the fashion pages of magazines and music videos that centered on their idols? With great clothes at affordable prices looking fabulous is easy. Don’t get me wrong there is nothing wrong with looking hot and having a great time, the problem is that no one looks like they are having a great time. Why? I have no idea but will contribute the following guesses…too cool, part of the swagger and the blatantly obvious fact that standing in 6 inch shoes is painful.
Artists are protected by bodyguards and hardly ever have to walk more than 100 yards anywhere. Emulating Lady GaGa from head to toe on a night out in London is just absurd and the fact that so many young individuals are doing it surely is a clear indication that inhibitions have definitely been lowered.
Sex sells, it is a fact and one which I find uncomfortable as it feels like a form of grooming. Sexual images, content and suggestion are no longer out of reach on the top shelf of the local newsagent. Press the remote, tune into the radio, look online, it is blatantly there. Look back at artists such as Ciara, Beyonce, Cassie and Britney for example, they all started out looking cute, respectable, innocent and quickly turned into sex objects, tantalising teasers, with outfits associated with porn and lyrical content littered with sexual innuendos. Young girls are emulating their role models just like I did with Wonder Women. However dress up has moved away from innocence to adult suggestion. The underlying messages of these constant sexual images projected onto young girls soon to be women can form into an unconscious internalisation that this is how they are expected to and should behave.
It is therefore no surprise as to why being seen to be seen appears to be the in thing and less to get attention, is definitely more. However this is an act and possibly part of the reason why I find so many clubs in London vibeless. Everyone is trying to be like…so and so rather than being…themselves. A whole lot of swagger with absolutely no substance.
A man could be fine as hell, but a man who has vision and is working towards his aspirations makes him even more desirable to me. Fake it till you make it, is not a notion I believe in, as I see it as selling yourself out, whilst aspirations like becoming a WAG is selling yourself short. Wags are “known” because of their situation rather than their skills. So someone striving to become a WAG could be classified as no more than a glorified contemporary gold digger. Whether you agree or disagree one thing is for sure, this “aspiration” is an underselling of one’s OWN potential?
Many are losing themselves in the desperate quest for stardom, doing anything and everything to be instantly “known”. But can fame ever last more than a moment?
Yes they may grace the cover of top magazines and be papped at awards ceremonies and events, however whilst the smile and beautiful dress is forever captured in a still, the feeling of adoration and external validation lasts only as long as the lights continue to flash. Once this stops there is no attention and therefore no fame. Then what? Stardom can’t give you what you don’t already have.
Everybody is a somebody it’s just a shame that society puts so much value on the notion of stardom. Celebrities are not separate from us, they are mere mortals too, the only difference is that they have a wider platform to showcase there abilities.
