Perception < Reality
A couple months ago, MuchMusic held their annual video awards. Now, those of you who have read this blog in the past know that k-os is one of my favourite artists, and I respect him a great deal. He won, all told, 4 awards that evening. Each time, he walked to the outdoor stage on Queen St. in Toronto to take his award, taking with him his producer, video director, etc... whomever applied to that particular award. Also, for each award he refused to say a single word into the microphone, despite repeated attempts by the hosts, always deferring to the others on stage.
Over the next few days, he was ripped by quite a number of radio and newspaper folks, claiming that he was becoming arrogant and deluded and that the people wanted to hear what he had to say, so he should just say it. After all, he has for years been a masterful advocate of revolution in the music industry and his voice is worth listening to. Has he really become just another form of celebrity prick?
Well, I'll paraphrase what he said about the matter a week or so later. Simply because he's moderately famous and someone sticks a mic into his face does not mean that he must say something. There is no rule that, because he is a musician, he must speak in public. Aside from that, the only thing he would have to say in accepting an award is to thank God for giving him talent and for placing him in this position. However, thanking God after winning an award, scoring a touchdown or any other public display has become just another part of modern celebrity culture. People try to make God just another tool to further their own hype.
Quite right, I say. Better to say nothing at all than to claim God as your secret weapon in the struggle for critical and financial success.
Over the next few days, he was ripped by quite a number of radio and newspaper folks, claiming that he was becoming arrogant and deluded and that the people wanted to hear what he had to say, so he should just say it. After all, he has for years been a masterful advocate of revolution in the music industry and his voice is worth listening to. Has he really become just another form of celebrity prick?
Well, I'll paraphrase what he said about the matter a week or so later. Simply because he's moderately famous and someone sticks a mic into his face does not mean that he must say something. There is no rule that, because he is a musician, he must speak in public. Aside from that, the only thing he would have to say in accepting an award is to thank God for giving him talent and for placing him in this position. However, thanking God after winning an award, scoring a touchdown or any other public display has become just another part of modern celebrity culture. People try to make God just another tool to further their own hype.
Quite right, I say. Better to say nothing at all than to claim God as your secret weapon in the struggle for critical and financial success.