Show Biz People---Just Like Us, No?

Well, no, actually.

Don’t get me wrong—I love music—hard to do this job without being open to all kinds of music and I really enjoy all genres , from classical to rap (well, SOME rap)

I program the music for 94.9 WHOM, but also for the Top 40 station WJBQ (Q97.9) in Portland. As such, I hear all of the newest acts. The rock bands, the boy bands, the rappers, singer-songwriters and pop diva wannabes. I am exposed to it all—including the brand new acts that somehow break through.

Lady GaGa is such an act. A year ago, she was a completely unknown performer with a rather checkered past. Last Sunday, she performed the opening number at the Grammy Awards with Elton John. A long way—in a very short time.

And she fit right in. Which is to say, she is a whack-job, like most of the other performers. All nice people, but show biz being what it is, NORMAL is not a word that’s welcome to describe someone trying to entertain the masses.

Crazy, weird, bizarre, eccentric…these are the buzzwords of success. Just ask pop singer Pink, who was practically naked as she did a flying trapeze act during the Grammy telecast.

Elton John knows this all too well—as his flamboyant stage persona dating from the 70’s was a huge hit---it was a SHOW. The music has to hold up, of course, but concerts need to be VISUALLY compelling as well.

In case you missed it, here is the Grammy Award performance of Lady GaGa and Elton John:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XuYsqPWXLTo


Coming off of FIVE #1 Top 40 hits guaranteed Lady GaGa a prime spot on the Grammy Awards—and singing with Sir Elton John had to be a career highlight for this pop diva who likely couldn’t have gotten into the venue as a SPECTATOR a year ago!

If you’d like me blog in your weekday box, just let me know: tim.moore@citcomm.com