Karaoke Forums

I have to agree with the Peter Seller's analogy from "Being There". To take it a step further, look at the life of a Samurai...

Yes, because I am a Samurai!

And when we wake up in the morning....we dedicate ourselves 100 percent to the perfection of whatever it is we choose to do!

Ok ok, so I'm quoting Tom Cruise....but he's right!!!

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Simon: Alright, so we're missing the echo! Robert, I can honestly say you're the worst singer I've ever heard in my life!"

Robert: Thank you!

From X Factor.

Good choice

So what I am gathering here is... you need to be on top of your game... dedicate yourself to whatever your passion or goal is... but... at some point... somebody has to decide you are the best! To me.. that means the best is not really attainable unless others agree to it... therefore... you may never attain it no matter how good you are. Hence "best" is subjective. It is the cumulative opinion of a group or the mass population depending on what THEY feel "best" is. In Johnny's case.. the mass population decided... and he just did what came naturally... and the people loved it!


Heather wrote:

I have an interesting story of a guy I knew. He was the opening act for Ted Nugent. Just a young kid from Atlanta who sang in bands since he was 14.. by the time he was playing with Nugent he was 19 or 20! His big break came when Lynyrd Skynyrds plane crashed. They were supposed to play Madison Square Garden (Nugent and Skynyrd) the day after the crash... but now.. this 'opening act' kid would be sharing the stage instead... and he was catapulted into the spotlight! Some producers grabbed him up and he got a movie deal and an agent real quick.. which led to the breakup of his band since they only were interested in him. He was given a recording contract and a song to be featured in a movie that he would also star in. While waiting for the movie to be released his hands were tied and he no longer had a band... he was antsy to do something.... so he was riding his motorcycle (in New York) and saw some auditions going on for the Broadway play Grease and decided to try out...(it was just something to do). He got the part of Danny (another stroke of luck) and bided his time doing the play till his movie hit. Finally, his movie aired and his song became a huge hit... making him the next big thing! This guy was very good looking.. an extremely talented singer... at the top of his game... and if you talked to him... he had confidence oozing out of him... he just knew he was gonna be a Rock Star legend! But ya know... even with a lot of good people around him ... his albums sorta fizzled... he never really "made it big"... He never had another hit song.. (he's a "one hit wonder"). He did have quite an impressive career ... heck he still does... but not anything near what he wanted or expected. I don't know why... he seemed to posses all of the elements. Even had a lot of breaks. I think becoming a "Superstar" is one of those things that you just can't set out to do... because ultimately it is the people who decide....it either happens or it doesn't. Good thing he found the Theater... cause he is still making a decent living doing that. I gotta respect the fact that he didn't just lay down and become a bitter alcoholic or worse. Most who would meet him today would look at him and think wow... he is a success. He has had an impressive career by most peoples standards. But to him... he has fallen short of what his dreams were... way short! He wanted to be a Rock Star and instead he has made a career of what he used to call... stuff on the back burner.. the Theater. I just wonder... where he would be.. if Lynyrd Skynyrds plane had not gone down...

The "business" is full of stories like that.... some people can think you are the best.. and you can be talented, good looking, aggressive and resiliant... but for one reason or another... it just never connects the way ya want it to.

So I guess the "best" has levels... like Jason said... you shoot for the moon and land in the stars.

a true story.....a few years ago Cheri and I went on a vacation to Nashville....we took the tours....had great seats at the Opery....and good food....I decided before we went that I wanted to visit Tootsies a meca of sorts for country singers....it had been around since the early days of the Opery when it was held at the Ryman.....well the Opery didn't have air conditioning back then and the door to Tootsies was right across from the Ryman, so the stars would go to Tootsies between sets....cause you guessed it they had air.....well the shows at Tootsies were things of legend....you never knew who would be singing from night to night....the walls of the place are covered with the pictures of the talent that has passed through the doors....country stars from yesterday and today all have paid a visit.....

when I got there I had just toured the Ryman.....I stood center stage and the fealing was one I'll never forget....oh how I wished I would have had the chance to sing there....when I got to Tootsies the band that was playing for tips was made up of artists and musicians who were not on the road with their regular bands.....the place was crowded with tourists....

I found the present owner and explained how I would really love the chance to sing on that stage just once....he said that maybe we could find a way....and went to talk to the band....after a bit he came and got me....introduced me to the band.....we discussed what songs they knew that I could sing....a lot of the new stuff I regularly sang they didn't know, but some of the old clasics we thought I could do....as you know just walking up and singing with a band you don't know and who don't know you is somewhat difficult....but I took center stage to sing three songs.....

to be honest I don't remember two of the songs, but I do remember singing "Almost Persuaded"....the fealing was awesome....as I looked at all my heros covering the walls....knowing that I was standing and singing where each of them had stood.....the audience went nuts....I never expected that kinda response.....

after I was done and had left the stage, the owner came over and thanked me.....he then ask if I could come back tomarrow and sing....I told him I had to leave for home, I had to work on Monday.....he ask again if I was sure I couldn't hang around another day....but I went home like the devoted employee....

Monday night as I worked overtime, tring to pay for the vacation, I was reading a Country Weekly, when an artical on Terri Clark caught my eyer...it was an interview she had done and one of the questions ask was...."Where did you get your start"......she answered that she was singing at a place called Tootsies and the owner ask her to come back the next day....she did and there were studio people there...they were impressed... and the rest is history....

I banged my head on the desk....seriously.....now I suppose you might say why didn't you go back....but Cheri has done everything to prevent it...she's afraid that I would give up all we have to chase my dream.....she's probably right....coinsidence....probably....but true none the less...below is a picture of that experience....

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[glow=blue]Tequila & A Song
KKid[/glow]

kkid wrote:

Which leads to another question... do you sacrifice everything to attain a dream? To be the best? A large percentage of people who make it in that business end up divorced... and married and divorced.. and so on. At what cost do you keep going after it? OR the other side of the coin.. look at Wacko Jacko.. or The Beach Boys... who had parents that pushed them to the point of abuse! They were the best.. but at what price? I like the quote.. "life is a journey, not a destination" ... you are never really there..and if you are not happy... then you have failed. Oh I am so rambling now... cough syrup is wearin off... can ya tell I've been cooped up here at home for awhile now? Steven... I think if we ever met at a party... we would be in the corner pondering all sorts of stuff while everybody was having fun... I ponder a LOT!! I'm a closet ponderer hahaha.. Time to get out in the world today... wish me luck!

Glad you are feeling better, Sheree ... Good Luck out there!!

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[shadow=tomato]If you want your significant other to pay attention to EVERY word you say::
  TALK IN YOUR SLEEP   [/shadow]  

oh great sher just tell everyone my whole life story..first of all it was Aerosmith not Nugent..why dont you tell them how you stalked me during my Grease run and wrote your number everyday in lipstick on my set trailer.....
oh by the way isnt that restraining order still valid?

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Gladly helping Kappy to become cyber immortal !!

Ignore that loooooong rambling post... I was heavily medicated ! Restraining order? Oooh YES!.... I keep that updated baby!

thats ok shweetie cause as you know, ive never called the cops when i see ya peekin in my window.....actually i kinda like
it !!!! woooohoooooo !!!!!

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Gladly helping Kappy to become cyber immortal !!