We see them, hear them, and apparently, the tabloids cannot ever get enough of them. They are the pop stars that look flawless in photos, sound flawless on radios, and seem flawless with the help of their publicists. Pop stars accumulate followers like a dropped Cheeto can accumulate ants on a floor. It is a never-ending cycle that may damage our culture in ways that we may be overlooking.
Girls may grow up aspiring to be like their favorite pop star. They will wear or use any products that are endorsed by their favorite pop star, eat what the pop star eats, and make the same life decisions as their pop star idol. But, is this healthy? Do guys also aspire to be like their favorite singers and use their lyrics as mantras for making life-altering decisions? Is this something we should promote? Since pop stars are not known for their virtues, I do not think they should be considered as role models.
I opened up my Facebook app on my cell phone to find status after status about Taylor Swift’s new song, Look. Like most pop stars, Swift developed a set of followers that includes pre-teens, teenagers, and adults. Unfortunately, anyone in this category may hold Taylor Swift on a pedestal because she is a pop star. I decided to follow Taylor’s command and Look at the video of her new song. I immediately became appalled at the overall message that Taylor sent out to millions of people: Look What You Made Me Do.
If I could have a conversation with a celebrity I do not know, I would tell this specific one that she always has a choice for her own conduct, and she cannot blame someone else for most of her actions. She goes on to say “I don’t trust nobody and nobody trusts me, I will be the actress starring in your bad dreams.”
Does this sound like a good role model for society? I do not think someone should have that kind of power if they are going to abuse it to tell people to turn into villains. She basically said that she wanted to be a villain for someone’s subconscious.
“Look what you made me do?” No one made Taylor Swift write this song, sing it, and choose to enjoy feeling evil. Taylor Swift is sending the message that people should be vindictive, closed off, and someone’s nightmare. Being someone else’s nightmare is not the key to happiness. Happiness is not harming other people. Ever.
Taylor Swift is not the only pop star who writes lyrics to send detrimental messages to young people who can be influenced to make bad decisions. We allow these singers to pop into celebrity-pedestal existence, and then we allow them to sing about whatever they want even if the message is wrong.
Maybe they have voices that sound like little cherubs that could sing us away from our problems. Maybe they have faces that show us the beauty that we can achieve. Maybe they have those sick beats that keep us chained to a rhythm regardless of the message that comes with it.
Maybe we should not sacrifice good artistic talents for the sake of money and bad messages. Pop stars can have short-lived careers. They can suddenly pop with new vibes, new attitudes, and new faces. Stars can burn out and turn into black holes. Why do we let them have this unchecked power?
We should focus on doing what is best for us, not acting like tabloids and being all-consumed by people who are drunk on fame.
Pop collars not pop stars.
