Preview

A Pop Icon's Death: The Talent And The Tragedy

Satisfactory Essays
Open Document
Open Document
213 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
A Pop Icon's Death: The Talent And The Tragedy
In the past two decades, the music industry and the world had to witness the tragic deaths of three legendary performers who had made a big impact on the lives of the people in their generation and more. One such artist was Michael Jackson who died in 2009 due to cardiac arrest based on the article “A Pop Icon’s Death: The Talent and The Tragedy.” What made him so special is that he established multiple hit singles on many occasions that made him a force to be reckoned with. Another famous artist who we lost was Whitney Houston who died due to drugs according to the article “Whitney Houston, Pop Superstar, Dies at 48.” Despite the drug addiction she had, her credibility as one of the most famous artist in her generation was unaltered. The most

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    La Reid

    • 1421 Words
    • 6 Pages

    In the music industry, there have been many figures that have transformed the business, as we know it. Perhaps the most successful of these is Antonio ‘L.A.’ Reid. Antonio Reid has been best known for his determination to strive for success. He exhibits an array of skills both in his musical talents and managerial flair. Having been exposed to both the singer/songwriter, and behind-the-scenes work since his roots in the industry, Reid has without a doubt grasped the music business in its entirety in a way in which no other person has. Displaying musical skill in vocals, piano, and percussion (Net Industries, 2011. Para8) as well as his outstanding ability to manage and multitask, describing himself as an “overachiever”(Norment, 2003. Para 8.), Reid fits all the requirements for a successful career in the music industry. However what set’s him apart from the rest, is his infamous ability know talent when he see’s it. Despite being unable to describe exactly how he obtained such a skill in the industry, stating, “It’s something that I feel when I meet an artist”(Net Industries, 2011. Para10), it is without saying that he has proven his ability to recognise star-quality when he can see it. This is evident through his countless triumphs in his career, discovering successful artists such as Toni Braxton, TLC, Usher and Pink, just to name a few. (Net Industries, 2011. Para10&11) Reid’s unique sense of knowledge in the music industry, along with his other attributes, distinguishes him from others in the music industry, and has helped his success. His passion for all genres of music, having grasped the importance of musical diversity, has set him apart from others in his line of work. Not only is this something that I admire in Reid, but also it is something that I wish to apply to my own career in the entertainment industry, and hope to obtain enough experience and knowledge to strengthen a sense of understanding of what can be successful music. I…

    • 1421 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the context of music, there is only a handful who have been legendary enough to be labeled as “kings” of their genre. Two of these include the “King of Rock ‘n’ Roll” Elvis Presley and the “King of Pop” Michael Jackson. They revolutionized their respective genres. These music stars are able to boast bold style choices, pragmatic personalities, and multiple award-winning albums and songs. Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, though part of different genres and hailing from different pasts, held strikingly similar methods of pushing boundaries with their music and style.…

    • 591 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Life after the Second World War changed for many, including the previously jolly jazzmen in Harlem. Whether through conspiracy, a search to remedy the anxieties of a ‘struggling for image’ musician, or just something that was pressed as a requirement to belong, heroin certainly made its bleak presence known. Trumpeter Red Rodney once said, “Heroin became the thing that made us different from the rest of the world. It was the thing that gave us membership in a unique club.”…

    • 631 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Thirty six years after his death, Elvis Aaron Presley, known as the King of Rock and Roll, is thought of as much as if he was yet alive and still successful and making progress. Millions of people pay tribute to Elvis, The King of Rock and Roll, every year during the anniversary of his death, August 16, 1977. Throughout the world, Elvis Presley’s talent, good looks, and compassion have earned the admiration of millions of fans. According to Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., because of his huge success during his career, his image and work are constantly repeated in people’s lives through his impersonators and music by various music artists. John Lennon said, “Before Elvis, there was nothing.” (Logan). Therefore, he had a huge impact for people’s way of life through his determination to succeed through rock and roll music, television experiences, and legacy that he left behind that has inspired others to follow his footsteps that still make him successful today.…

    • 864 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Throughout her important career, Mahalia Jackson used her powerful voice and inspiring interpretation of spirituals to move audiences around the world. Even though, her talents were rejected by many people, this didn’t stop her from reaching her dreams. In the early days, as a soloist and member of church choirs, she recognized that music was her life and later, as a world figure, her natural gift brought people…

    • 1341 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Jans Joplin Biography

    • 1608 Words
    • 7 Pages

    Janis Joplin once said "I always wanted to be an artist, whatever that was, like other chicks want to be stewardesses. I read. I painted. I thought." The 60's were a time that stuck with the American people, and it doesn’t seem to be leaving. It was a time for expression and success in new ways. But not everyone's success came as easy. Janis Joplin was a free spirited person, who didn’t believe in judgement but she believed in second chances. Whether that applied to her success or others. Her career finally rose above expectations in the late 1960's, as a blues vocalist. She lived a singled-minded life to keep her goals in front of her, even with her life threatening battles in the way. The purpose of this paper is to explain how a new female…

    • 1608 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    He wasn’t just some junkie that made music, he was a true artist who is appreciated and will never be forgotten. It’s evident what kind of impact that he has left on the music industry, even today in this generation you can ask people of the younger age groups about Marvin Gaye and they will know him because the music and work he put into his master pieces are timeless. “Gaye’s last public performance was on February 13, 1993 performing the “Star-Spangled Banner” at the NBA all-start game in Inglewood, California” (Grow). A day before his 45th birthday Marvin and his father got into a heated argument and his own father shot him in the heart, then in his shoulder. He was taken to the hospital and was pronounced dead the same day. This goes to show how love and hate are basically the same thing and will drive you to do things that you can’t imagine. The charges if murder were dropped on the father because they found traces of cocaine in Marvin’s system and he had a brain tumor that he didn’t he didn’t tell anyone about. Hopefully this paper has opened your eyes to the world of Marvin Gaye and his trials and tribulations to make it as…

    • 412 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Better Essays

    Nina Simone was one of the most powerful singers of not only her time, but of all time. Her music made people think, change and copy. In her music, she made contributions to the civil rights movement. She used and touched so many genres of music from jazz all the way to modern day rap She had influenced countless artists and passed without any acknowledgment or fanfare deserving of such an amazing artist.…

    • 1302 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    1975 Characteristics

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages

    In this case the band Pink Floyd released one of the most famous albums in history called ‘The Dark Side of The Moon’ in 1975 as they began to spread their genre of acid rock that was big in this time period as many songs and groups were making music influenced by psychedelic drugs. Just like it states “ Rock artist increasingly concentrated on thematic albums with extended suites of songs that lasted as long as 30 minutes, like the album ‘The Dark Side of The Moon’ in 1975 represents the extremes of this format,” (“Rock Music” 1) from the article “Rock Music” from World Digest News. To add on to the point of drug influence in the music being made in this time period there were multiple deaths of famous artists that were all drug/alcohol related like it says “ the 1970’s began with the disintegration of the Beatles and the drug-and-alcohol related deaths like Hendrix, Joplin, and Jim Morrison” (“Rock Music” 1). Likewise, an additional example of a big musical breakout in this time period was “ when Queen wanted to release Bohemian Rhapsody various executives suggested to them that, at 5 minutes and 55 seconds, it was too long and would never be a hit” (Harris 2). But little did those producers know that the song became famous…

    • 910 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Zerubbabel Essay

    • 1446 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The addiction led to the loss of her marriage, rejection and career. The singer battled hurt and pain of losing her father. Her additions led her to hitting rock bottom. It wasn’t until she hit rock bottom that she had to face her worse demons and fears. She had to face herself. Like many others, we fail to seek and participate in professional help. Some of us are strong enough to allow God to do the purging and restoring. Others need more. They need a program and or professional services to assist them throughout the process.…

    • 1446 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Many people listen and like music just for the rhythm or the flow, but not many people realize what kind of a message some of these artists are trying to send to society through their lyrics. Kendrick Lamar or “K-dot”, the lyrical genius of today’s rap culture, is one of my all-time favorite artists in hip-hop and is one of the rappers that send these messages to their audience. Recently, one of K-dot’s popular new singles “swimming pools” got released rapidly throughout the world. This single impacted society positively inspiring teenagers and anyone else with a family member that has drinking problems to get through it and to never give up by relating himself in that same situation, and it also impacted older high school and college students by hazing the negative effects of alcohol and also by stating the false feelings alcohol portrays.…

    • 1084 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Whitney Houston had a youthful childhood with her family. She made many memories that still remark her life throughout this day. Nonetheless, while touring for her shows, she started the act of using drugs, specifically like cocaine and marijuana. The most shocking part of all is that her older brother Michael was the one that started her on drugs. Whitney looked up to Michael since she was a young girl. She imitated everything her older brother did, and wanted to be just like him when she grew up. But little did she know, looking up to someone close to you isn’t always going to lead you the right way.…

    • 913 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    As one listens to music of any genre, one typically hears but does not recognize the elegant use of poetic and literary devices used to make the music more alluring to the human ear. Different sound and literary devices are used to invoke and create different emotions within the listener. Many musicians enhance these techniques well and go on to successful careers although very few achieve fame. The Who is one such band that wrote many successful songs and was among the few, who properly utilized these techniques and went onto be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.…

    • 441 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    When I was younger, I looked up to my older sister a great deal. Anything that she did, I wanted to do. She was like my hero, or that cartoon character ever child wanted to go up and be like. When my sister and I were growing up, we listened to a lot of music and watched a lot of cartoons, but only because she wanted to. My sister, Christine, had a favorite rapper and singer. Now her rapper choice I thought was great but he wasn’t my favorite. Christine, or sometimes Tine, favorite rapper was Tupac Shakur. Though we did not agree on the same rapper, we did however, agree on our favorite singer together. We both chose an artist by the name of Aaliyah Dana Haughton. The first time I heard her music I fell in love.…

    • 800 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    There has been a war raging for thousands of years, a silent war, the war within ourselves. Depression is a serious issue, it has taken thousands of lives. Depression has caused men to soar to greatest heights just as it has crippled others. Some of the most famous people in history have secretly battled with depression, which has made them do extraordinary things. Two such people with amazing talents were Sylvia Plath and Kurt Cobain. Sylvia Plath was a great author who wrote various poems, while Kurt Cobain was a talented musician that wrote many songs in a poetic style. One of Sylvia Plath’s greatest works was a poem named “Daddy”, most scholars agree this poem was actually an autobiography of her own battle with depression. Kurt Cobain’s autobiographical song “Something In The Way” was also a reflection of his battle with depression. Both Cobain and Plath were prisoners of themselves, and their great works demonstrate how much depression had a grip on them and how their art indicates something was in the way of their becoming happy with themselves.…

    • 850 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays