Birthing Stars

Related Reading:
Review: 22 July

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As I close my eyes and drift away to a land where there is love, health, peace, and blessings. I wanted to take the time to think and reflect. 

     The other day I wrote my response after watching the film 22 July. After feeling distraught, and living through the trauma of the events, I decided to watch another film. This time I chose "A Star Is Born" at a local cinema, as a way to end my week off school, and also to get outdoors for a walk. 

     After watching this film I was inclined to write a response right away, but after some thought I wondered if a response would reflect a bias, or favouritism for a singer, as Lady Gaga played the leading role of the protagonist Ally. However, after much contemplation I could not leave the issues portrayed without some documentation.  There is a beautiful love story, the romance weaved with complex issues of struggle, survival, mental health, recovery, abuse, addiction and also suicide. The issues are revealed through the setting of the music industry, where the pressure of performing in front of thousands arrives with emptiness, a yearning, craving for some sort of connection, especially when a person has reached a certain level of fame. 

   The film also revealed the complexity, the competitiveness, and even disruption when there are multiple parties involved in a single persons success. Where success, fame, can turn into devastation, distrust, jealousy, and eventually ruin. While we learn of the intricacies, maybe there is truth in the issues that the characters have portrayed. I think there is because stories are pieced together through realities, and imagination to eventually formulate a script, film, or text. 

     To question further, we can think about fame and how this intersects with relationships. Even when we think of a family, or a couple who are truly in love. There is always going to be someone out there that may want to sabotage the success from fame, or happiness, through words or actions. But when we have reached this awareness, we realize what we ourselves must do to protect what is precious to us. Ally eventually reaped success as a singer, but I wonder if the relationship would have survived if Jackson and Ally decided to stay together, write, and sing songs as a couple? As a form of protection towards each other? Maybe it would be the case, but even when there is a couple, fans want to see single artists, because they develop attachments to them, increasing the fan base. 

     But it was the addiction to prescription drugs and the eventual suicide that made me realize that more has to be done within the industry to protect singers / musicians / artists. When all is said and done the success is because they have a message to share, to share their talents with the world, and even fellow artists, but this is also where another layer arrives. That of competitiveness between singers / musicians / artists.  What if singers / musicians / artists would appreciate, love, honor, respect each others talents? Would pressure be reduced? Would there be less tendency to resort to drugs, alcohol if the individuals themselves realized that when lives are at risk, is the desire to be better than another really worth it? 

     However, there is complexity within the question itself. Fame and success is also an addiction within itself. The energy from success becomes a driving force. One that can be positive or negative. Whilst there are complex issues and intricacies, we can see how there is a need for health care, mental Mind/brain care within the industry. We can even take a look at reality where we have lost talent due to suicide or drug overdose. It really is time for the industry to support talent, and come to terms with the pressures that exist. This also includes the back and forth exchanges between singers / musicians. 

Dedication: Thank you "A Star Is Born" for revealing the important topics that have been ignored too often within the industry. And as for love, may we never see relationships ending because of suicide, and real emotional conflict that is caused by the war of words.

My thoughts to share with love & kindness! :) 

Notes: These thoughts were originally hand written on October 23rd, 2018.
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