In a message dated 3/26/2003 4:18:57 PM Eastern Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:
> There's more new peace/political/pro or anti war type songs being released, > but I'm just wondering if some of the artists are just trying to boost > sales > and profits. > This is the question I raised with respect to those celebrities who rose to their feet to applaud Polanski in a swoon of indignant self-congratulatory celebration. With celebrities, no matter how sincere their intent, you CANNOT remove the factor of the possibility of publicity (profit) when determining the motivation for them taking their case to the public. They serve to profit their careers in every instance that they snag some media face-time. Whether or not these songs are pro or anti war, you can bet that these performers and their handlers realize they are sitting on a possible gold mine. And in show business, you had better believe that there are some pretty shrewd businessmen calling the shots. I'm reminded of Elton John latching onto Eminem's coattails a few years ago when his own career was at a real lull, to say the least. I was amazed that Elton, who's good friend Versace was gunned down, would jump to Em's defense after Em wrote some pretty clever but harsh rhymes about Versace's death and about fag-bashing. You can't tell me that he didn't know all along that his teaming with Eminem wouldn't be a huge media cash cow. And I'm sure that helped Elton and his handlers look more closely at the right of Eminem to express himself in his art. Knowing all of this, and the nature of celebrity, I am amazed that people give them such serious attention on subjects other than their art. Tom Sellek and Charleton Heston, experts on the Right to Bear Arms? Jessica Lange and Sean Penn, experts on foreign policy? Give me a f**king break. Ken
