Money, fame and power are not enough

Dennie Quill, Columnist

Oh, Whitney! A beautiful soul passes on, leaving fans the world over in shock. I have been doing a great deal of thinking since the news broke on Saturday that this troubled songbird had been taken from us. The immediate speculation is that drugs played a part in her demise, because it is no secret that her life had spiralled out of control because of addiction.

Her dying a day before the Grammys pushed me to watch the 53rd annual edition of the show just to see how her colleagues would honour her memory. Apparently, her death boosted viewership of the premier music show, which recorded 50 per cent more viewers than last year.

Indeed, Whitney, the pop diva, cast a long shadow on the stage from where she once wooed the world. Jennifer Hudson et al placed her right back on that shiny pedestal where she had enjoyed love and adulation for many years.

Just looking at the entertainers making their red-carpet walk prompted me to think about how so many of them have been tormented for most of their lives.

Whitney's death is a bitter rewind of the lives of so many other entertainers whose talents have been overshadowed by addiction and abuse. They provide fodder for tabloids and gossip columns with trips to rehab, endless break-ups, as well as drug abuse and violence. We have watched helplessly from a distance as they flirt with self-destruction. And many drug-ravaged souls have simply descended into the bottomless pit.

Without being too judgmental, I have often wondered about the ugly existence of most entertainers. These people are rich, raking in enough money to buy looks and all the material things there are. They have the world at their feet, with adoring fans drooling at their every step.

Tangled web of addiction

Drugs have been part of the entertainment scene for many years, and we have been reminded about those who fell to its lure in movies such as Dreamgirls. Talent, good looks, money, it's hard to imagine what is missing from their lives to create the chasm that only drugs could fill.

It is even harder to understand why some people who become exposed to drugs become addicts and others are able to use but not abuse. So although individuals are to be held responsible for the choices they make, we cannot discount the social context in which they exist and the impact that has on their lives.

So here I am watching the Grammys when I see on screen this scarlet-hooded nun figure which seemed like a modern remake of Little Red Riding Hood. Behold, it was Nicky Minaj, the foul-mouthed rapper originally from Trinidad and Tobago on the arms of a man dressed as the Pope.

My system had barely recovered from that Versace gaffe when a Russia-born singer called Sasha Gradiva appeared with one arm enveloped in a steely Robocop accessory made of fake guns, and the best was left for last, the inimitable Lady Gaga, whose face was held in place by a fish-net mask while her silver talons clutched a gold sceptre.

These appearances reminded me how much entertainers thrive on excitement and unpredictability. One after the other, they paraded - spotlight stealers all hoping to score bigger than the other, whether with lavender or blue hair. On a night when so many stars were out, it was difficult to stand out. But some people sure know how to get attention.

I have long understood that money, power and fame are really not enough. It leads one to think that the warm embrace of family, genuine friendships and spiritualism may be much more valuable than we believe.

Will Whitney's death be a wake-up call for members of the entertainment industry?

Dennie Quill is a veteran journalist. Email feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and denniequill@hotmail.com.