Do we really need more idols? (and my Phil Collins encounter)

 

Do artists really need idols to guide and mentor them through the creative jungles and corporate human race?  Well that’s a matter of opinion and I have some opinion on this subject you may find shocking or boring.  Either way, enjoy the ride now that I have your attention.

Have you stopped watching tv and read this post yet?  You may get something from it.

Let me tell you a quick true story.  5 years ago, I found out that one of my “idols”, singer Phil Collins was going to perform on the Today Show in NYC.  And to really make the day special, it happened to be my birthday, June 23, 2006.  I traveled 2 hours north and hung out with my friend.  I also designed a banner saying “Genesis Reunion?”, and my friend printed it out and brought it to the Today Show to see if we could get Phil Collins’ attention.  As he sung some theme from “Tarzan” and “You can’t hurry love”, he did look towards my way, as my friend and I were holding our banner high.  For a brief second or two, which seemed like an eternity through time, he looked at us and shrugged as he was saying “I don’t know”.  But we did it!  We got his attention and for that brief second, he was ours, the very famous and untouchable idol communicated to us like we were…human beings.  Then it hit me.  He was just a person like you and me, I think still is last time I heard.  He’s an artist who took a second out of his day to communicate to us.  It wasn’t deep, but a second of Phil’s time that meant all the world to me.

As I look back, maybe it was silly, but you know life is full of silly moments and at that moment, we seized it!  Carpe Diem, man!

As for my stance on idol worship, I’m bipolar I guess.  At one point, I don’t like worshipping anything that is human like me.  Humans are not Gods.  And this could be dangerous because then as we worship them, we are condemning ourselves at the same time subconsciously.  To me, worshipping a sports figure, a president, even a friend, could be detremental to one’s self-worth.  We give them power because we don’t value our own.  It’s time to value your own self-worth and get your power back.  I think a healthier way to look at “worshipping” idols is to admire their contribution and talents they give society, and to learn from them if you’re in the same line of work, so you could have them as your mentor.  Now doesn’t “Mentor” sound better and more accessible than a God?  It shows that we are more connected and putting someone on a higher ground doesn’t make them a higher power than us.  That’s our own perception.  We are all still humans trying to fullfill our potential on earth while we are still living.  The only difference is that famous people, celebrities, artists, musicians are living up to their potential. 

I look up to these well known artists as more like “mentors” or “teachers”.  Because one of the reasons they are famous is somehow, they fullfill something in each of us and we relate to them in some way.  Nothing wrong with that.  I admire the arts and it’s one of the reasons why I’m an artist.  I have something to fullfill and express.  And if they can do it, maybe I can too. 

And for the record, I don’t want to be a God myself, just a great artist, role-model and teacher.  And Phil Collins is still the man.

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