Losing Your Identity

A while back I posted a link to Applegirl because I thought she had a unique presence.  Probably not as unique as tinkerchel, but definitely had the beginning of an identity.  She was presumably signed or something - but it has resulted in a new single of which a few clips have begun to surface and I'm a little crushed.  But this is such a great example of "What happens" I had to share the comparison.

So, first off, if you've not seen the previous clip - this was what I saw a long time ago of Applegirl that made me take notice.

She's cute, seems smart and articulate and her well rehearsedness translates into a professionalism with a cute twist.  I like that she demo'd what she was doing, but in expanding her act, it would not have to always be demoing what she is doing, but I think the personality of someone who does that should definitely have come through in everything.  Cute and clever and underneath it all, quite talented.

More commentary below the video.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nzh2UygPwDU

So - now that she is doing her first single.  What happens.  Well, 99% of the time exactly what you're about to see.  The artist has an image in her or his head about what it is to be a star - and they very much want to play that role.  People around the star-to-be have an idea in their head of  what they've seen before and associate with stardom.  So everyone starts trying to make her into a star by going for the external end result of what they associate with that.  It's like if I were to watch a few rap videos and associate success with a grill, lots of gold jewelry and a gun in my belt.  I'd look ridiculous, right?  Because it's not me at all.  It's external to my nature. 

But that's exactly what happens to nearly every artist because no one says "Wait - what is really working here.... what are people responding to.  What am I responding to?  How can we carry that story on?"  Nope - they just do this... (more commentary after the video)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyTmDOkbqz0

This is just  such a perfect example because it even looks cheap.  There is nothing glamorous and impressive about a bunch of sheets and gleamy things hanging.  It's just a bunch of sheets in what is probably someone's living room or a small stage.   I liked her better in a real living room.  I liked her better when she seemed like the girl who might be your neighbor that you meet one day and see her playing her contraption and just fall in love for life.   That's her magic.

And this is why so many videos make me so sad.  This is an obvious example but it happens all - the - time.