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Dec. 23rd, 2003 10:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tavellaficOf late, people have been fleeing the fandom in fear of the sheer amount of crankiness. And I have not been the least of the cranky. And I haven't been feeling too good about that. So...
He doesn't give up. He takes on downturns as a challenge. When the VMAs were a bit of a disaster, he bore down and all but *willed* his album into being a success. When success was acknowledged with a faintly grudging air, he bore down again and toured and club showed and guested, won industry and media bit by bit. This goes way back; when MMC was cancelled, Justin didn't just mope in Memphis, he pounced upon JC and convinced him to write songs together -- I don't think when JC stopped in to say hi to the Harless family in Memphis, that he was thinking 'hey, I'll take up writing songs with my 14 year old friend!' And when that didn't work out, he convinced his mother to let him go audition with some guy in his twenties in Florida. There's a moderately famous fanfic where Justin has an album tank and just bails on the music business. And though I think it's a wonderful story, I don't believe it a bit. If Justin ever does have an album fail, I think he'll focus just as fiercely on a comeback as he did on this album. And I wouldn't ever, ever bet against him.
He's a gifted songwriter. I spit (metaphorically) on the NYT Times writer who lazily assumed that Timbaland, not Justin, wrote Cry Me a River. Anyone who bothered to aquaint themselves with the songs he had written, especially Gone, could see the hand of the same writer in them. And I disagree (much more politely) with someone on my friendslist who opined that Cry Me a River was really made by Timbaland's production. The melody sells the song, and if anything the operatic production detracts from it. I'd love to see a purer version of it, and I expect I will, because I think it's a classic that I'm going to be hearing people cover for years.
He's a brilliant frontman; he's good at being a superstar. This isn't a matter of simple egoboo; this is fucking *hard*. I always think of Bono when I think of this gift. Because people think of it as all one way energy, sucking down adulation. But it goes both ways, and what it takes to charge an arena with energy, the sheer amount you have to give is amazing. And outside the arena, always being the lightning rod, always being surrounded by *wanting* -- quotes, autographs, pictures. Not being able to say things without it being news.
He's a loyal person. I've commented that "I hope they are more honest with each other than they are with us", but recently I turned it around on myself, and asked "What has Justin ever done to make you think he would *not* be loyal to friends of his?" Because it's not something that shows in his past is it? He still is best friends with the same person he was best friends with as a toddler; he still writes songs with the kid from the MMC he went on vacation with; he still tours with the most of the same people that have been with Nsync for years.
So if someone's been making you a bit cranky lately, spend a little time thinking about the good stuff, too. And more importantly, talking about it! It's so easy to post when you are feeling worked up about something, but vague good feelings often just stay in your head.
He doesn't give up. He takes on downturns as a challenge. When the VMAs were a bit of a disaster, he bore down and all but *willed* his album into being a success. When success was acknowledged with a faintly grudging air, he bore down again and toured and club showed and guested, won industry and media bit by bit. This goes way back; when MMC was cancelled, Justin didn't just mope in Memphis, he pounced upon JC and convinced him to write songs together -- I don't think when JC stopped in to say hi to the Harless family in Memphis, that he was thinking 'hey, I'll take up writing songs with my 14 year old friend!' And when that didn't work out, he convinced his mother to let him go audition with some guy in his twenties in Florida. There's a moderately famous fanfic where Justin has an album tank and just bails on the music business. And though I think it's a wonderful story, I don't believe it a bit. If Justin ever does have an album fail, I think he'll focus just as fiercely on a comeback as he did on this album. And I wouldn't ever, ever bet against him.
He's a gifted songwriter. I spit (metaphorically) on the NYT Times writer who lazily assumed that Timbaland, not Justin, wrote Cry Me a River. Anyone who bothered to aquaint themselves with the songs he had written, especially Gone, could see the hand of the same writer in them. And I disagree (much more politely) with someone on my friendslist who opined that Cry Me a River was really made by Timbaland's production. The melody sells the song, and if anything the operatic production detracts from it. I'd love to see a purer version of it, and I expect I will, because I think it's a classic that I'm going to be hearing people cover for years.
He's a brilliant frontman; he's good at being a superstar. This isn't a matter of simple egoboo; this is fucking *hard*. I always think of Bono when I think of this gift. Because people think of it as all one way energy, sucking down adulation. But it goes both ways, and what it takes to charge an arena with energy, the sheer amount you have to give is amazing. And outside the arena, always being the lightning rod, always being surrounded by *wanting* -- quotes, autographs, pictures. Not being able to say things without it being news.
He's a loyal person. I've commented that "I hope they are more honest with each other than they are with us", but recently I turned it around on myself, and asked "What has Justin ever done to make you think he would *not* be loyal to friends of his?" Because it's not something that shows in his past is it? He still is best friends with the same person he was best friends with as a toddler; he still writes songs with the kid from the MMC he went on vacation with; he still tours with the most of the same people that have been with Nsync for years.
So if someone's been making you a bit cranky lately, spend a little time thinking about the good stuff, too. And more importantly, talking about it! It's so easy to post when you are feeling worked up about something, but vague good feelings often just stay in your head.
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no subject
Date: 2003-12-23 11:54 pm (UTC)I also agree that he works his ass off. I don't think he has slept a day Since last summer.
And then there is the dancing. It didn't make your list...but the way he moves his body is pretty enjoyable :)
-- Erin
no subject
Date: 2003-12-24 08:02 am (UTC)My thoughts about their relationship with the world are even more chaotic, but I'll say I think U2's most brilliant move, at the very beginning of their career, was to credit all their songs simply to U2. It's a big financial sacrifice for Edge and especially Bono, but not only does it mean that they don't have the internal tension over choosing songs, externally they don't have the same sort of divisions either. Most people who spend any time thinking about the band know that Bono writes the words and the Edge writes a lot of the music, butyou don't get the same sort of what I think of as 'Ringo contempt' directed towards Adam and Larry, because it's never quite clear what was written purely by one person or what was written jamming at a soundcheck or offering lyrics suggestions in the studio.
no subject
Date: 2003-12-24 10:51 pm (UTC)As far as the song writing goes, I think it may be easier for U2 to write as a group. NSYNC is made up of 5 singers, not necessarily 5 musicians like U2. For some reason I see the song writing efforts of a band like U2 being more collaborative than in a vocal group like NSYNC. I also think this relationship (drummer needs guitar player) is what allows bands to stay together longer than vocal groups (singer needs singer). Just a thought.
no subject
Date: 2003-12-24 08:29 am (UTC)*Very* well said!! A lot of what you wrote is perfectly, exactly true, and all of it is stuff I would've never thought of on my own. Or if I had, I wouldn't have been able to coalesce it into anything coherent.
no subject
Date: 2003-12-24 08:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-12-24 08:59 am (UTC)It always fascinates me to see which different memes and things take off and apread like wildfire, and which don't.
no subject
Date: 2003-12-24 09:22 am (UTC)I'm not sure how well it will spread, given it's Christmas and it's not the easiest thing to do, but what the hell. Wanna do one? :)
no subject
Date: 2003-12-24 09:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-12-24 10:30 am (UTC)