Country Music Singers:
Personal Lives and Paying It Forward
Country music singers can appear one way to the outside world, and another way to those with whom they have close relationships. As fans or country music lovers, it is easy to forget that the artists we see on the TV screen in our family rooms, or the “big screen” at the movies are people just like us. There is one exception-they “scored it big” with their talents, but humanly, they have the same hurts, pains, likes, dislikes or loves as everyone else. In many instances, the country music songs they sing tell the world what is going on in their souls. Listen and you will hear!
Just as we enjoy touching the lives of people in a positive way, so do country music singers. Having this awareness is the focal point of this article. It takes a look at the personal lives of artists, who they were before, during and after fame and fortune, and how they use their wealth, knowledge and connections to impact the lives of others.
Personal Life Defined
How does one describe an individual’s personal life? Wikipedia says, “In modern times, many people have come to think of their personal lives as separate from work. Work and recreation are distinct; one is either on the job or not, and the transition is abrupt.” The definition makes a distinction between being on the job and not being on the job. Being on the job seems to dictate one method of behavior, while off the job signals another. Once the job is clearly known, the behavior when one is there should be different from the behavior when one is not there.
Personality, on the other hand, defines the core of a person’s being-his individuality. Unless he is especially clever in deception, observation erikalloydmusic.com/ of habitual patterns and qualities of behavior give a glimpse of who a person really is. Watch the attitude! Check out the physical nuances, and soon, the real person shines through.
Society equates financial success and prestige with good character and sound moral values. One has nothing to do with the other. A DUI for a country music singer should not make the headlines if a DUI for “Joe Blow” does not make the headlines.
There are those who would argue “That’s the price you pay for fortune and fame,” or “Fortune and fame are only placed on broad shoulders, wear them carefully.” The flip side of that argument is “As long as I give you great music, what I do outside of that, is my business and not your concern.” Should character, conduct and motives be private? Such a question is food for thought and not the focus of this article.
The underlying principle that governs what one does on the job, should govern his motives and actions outside of the job. There are consequences for all actions-famous or non-famous, rich or poor.
Paying It Forward
The phrase “paying it forward” is tossed around in today’s conversations like a basket ball in a “play-off” game. What does it mean? How does it apply to country music singers?
I read several definitions before writing this article, and the one many readers chose was: “When something, usually good, happens to you, you turn around and do something good for someone else. Instead of paying something “back” you are paying it “forward” on to the next person.”
The writer is simply saying one kind act done to you, deserves your doing a kind act to someone else, not necessarily the person who did it for you. It is simply the Golden Rule jazzed up a bit. Now that we are all on the same page with the meaning, the question arises, “Do you believe country music singers pay it forward?” This article takes the position that they do. Millions of fans pay it forward by buying the artists’ CDs and DVDs. How do the artists respond?