3 posts from May 2008

Show us your gorgeous eyes.
Submitted by [Susan].

Cyneye

(I wrote this for my friends in MySpace, thought I'd share it here too...)

A few weeks ago I received a few disturbing messages from a "fan" who wanted to share their opinions with me about how an entertainer is really supposed to act towards their fans.  The emails struck me as odd because the person that sent them to me became friends with me under the premise that maybe I could get them closer to their target since I worked with them.  The emails started off with, "...I just had the opportunity to meet another musician who really cares about their fans, and are rather disappointed in (said musician) for not responding to their fans when they email them or reach out to them..."

Ok cool, however, since I am not the (said musician) I was baffled as to why I was privy to "said" conversation in the first place.  This person also went on to add a disclaimer that stated, "...(said musician) and myself were not all that because we don't care about our fans..." 

People let me explain something to you....when I'm working with (said musicians or entertainers) I AM really just working with them.  I have nothing to do with how they interact with their fans or people in the community.  I'm writing this because I noticed throughout the past few months, I have been held accountable for the actions of another simply because I know them...(yes I know the addage, "guilty by association") but I'm really not the one on stage entertaining folks...I am the person behind the scenes minding my own "bidness" trying to make an honest dollar.

I will however shed a little light for those of you and the "groupie love" you possess.  Musicians, those truly dedicated to their craft are VERY BUSY people.  Throughout the day they normally don't have time to grab a sensible lunch or a cup of coffee, let alone email you back because you just have to have a message from them.  By the way most messages you may receive are generally from the Webmaster and not the artist themselves, so while you think you're having a nice one-on-one conversation...think again...

Since most of the musician's time is taken up in the studio (i.e. rehearsing, practicing, writing, collaborating, video and photo shoots, etc....) there is not  much time to focus on what someone is posting to their comments here in MySpace.  However, when time is permitted some make take the time to peruse comments and mail...some may be catching a flight to their shows or some may be getting ready to go on tour...

In either respect, to have a disjointed view of how musicians should conduct themselves with their fans is a little off-centered.  Not to mention crazy.  These people are seriously working hard for their money like everyone else...they work hard to give you the music YOU want...they work hard to keep you entertained...they are not Postmasters....they do not need you standing at their doorsteps bearing gifts proclaiming your deep and undying love for them...

These are real people with "real" jobs, who probably have a 9-5 in addition to entertaining you....your expectations about how they should recognize your super fandom is ridiculous....be happy for them....support the music....don't expect them to bed you down and create a child from the union...and don't expect them to speak to you every damn day...it's just not happening....

So before you think to write me another email about (said musician's) conduct, think about whether or not you're keeping it real as a fan or maintaining a disjointed viewpoint...then ask yourself this question:

Do you really think Lenny Kravitz has time to chill out with you on MySpace?  Is it fair to get mad because he didn't respond to your mail? (if you answered "no" to any of these, you can be rehabilitated)

Keep it real folks....just keep it real...

Yes...I'm daydreaming of a world that no longer has a reference to the color of one's own skin because people are accepted as they are.  I am dreaming of a day when everyone can break through the color barriers and allow themselves to love one another unconditionally.  Yes....I know a bit of a fairy tale, but in these trying times the issue of race seems to be the next most discussed topic, besides Brittany Spears.

Unless one can see life through the eyes as a person of color, it is hard to define what is most disturbing with today's times.  I would have to venture to say that it is fear that keeps people from trying to discover one another.  That fear seems to be the driving force to further keep a nation of people chained and bound.  This fear that won't allow love, but anger....hatred for another because of the color of their skin, or the religion they choose to practice.

I'm quite sure the talks about race seem to be endless, everyone competing for a shot to state their views and opinions.  One race doesn't understand another, another race seeking supremacy.  However, those who suffer the most are the seeds from unions.  Multiracial, bi-cultural.  Our children are left wondering why we hate each other so much...The things that are discussed at the dinner table, spills out unto our seeds, and they act out in schools, and amongst their peers....Then we sit back and wonder how our children learned such behaviors.  We sit in embarrassment when we're called from the school principals and teachers and other parents, as they explain to us that our children are a bad influence on other children.

Children often emulate what they see and hear.  Favorite icons on television, musicians, and yes....believe it or not we are the molds for our children's clay.  Daughters mirror the mothers, sons mirror their fathers.  We are the educators of our children yet our textbooks are outdated.  The vicious cycle continues to spin, we are the perpetrators of the crimes.  It is easy to say, "I am not responsible for little Johnny blowing up that Mosque,"  however, think about the last time you spewed venom about the Muslim community and your hatred for Muslims.  Children are not born to hate...we create the hate.  The hate that hate made.

All of our fears spill forth into the world.  We fear the man that shaved his head, but is he really a skin-head?  We fear the man because his clothes are sagging, but is he really a gang-banger?  Our perceptions of others has paralyzed our minds.  How we interact with others on the streets is like a sitcom.  We run from the man who says "hello," we refuse to help that elderly lady across the street because we're too consumed with our own selves to even care.  We turn a blind eye when someone asks for help.  "Oh, no....not me I'm not getting involved!"  We utter foul words under our breath when we approach someone different.  Yes different than our own skin. 

Racism is defined as, "the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races..."  My question? How can one race of people be more intrinsically superior to members of other races?"  How can a man sit in awe at the color of blood pouring from the wounds that have been inflicted upon another.  Yes, the blood that pours red is the same color that flows through all of our veins.  That same hue stains the very fibers that America was built on.

America was built on lies and racism.  Racism built America.  The blood, sweat and lives of others.  Strange fruit adorned the trees, blood nourished the seeds in our fields.  It is also our lies, our prejudice, our superiority that is destroying the nation. Our hatred is detroying our world.  Gaia is crying out to be purged of our ways.  Our world is changing dramatically, and instead of trying to make it a better place for all, we continue to wear our chains.  We continue to be bound by the hatred that controls our minds.  We will never be free because our fear will forever hold us captive.