Eerie, excellent, foreshadowing, painful, and somber. My favorite writing of yours tends to lean toward heartbreak and melancholia and this, though part review, really gets to the heart of the tragedy of the child-star dying in slow-motion in front of us and the continued violence of minstrelsy. You are singular.
Iām also really loving your return to this subject matter, child stars, hollywood dreams and perversions, Black men and their cycles of violence and victimhood. Such a powerful through-line.
Incredible. You are quickly becoming one of my favorite topical writers. I only fear that you are giving Bieber too much credit with these comparisons š
Yeah, hate to see a lil Pisces in a recursive own-demons death spiral. I think heās been chosen as the next blood sacrifice to the pop gods. Hope Iām wrong and he has the good sense to fuck off with his money and just be a dad somewhere chill
Brilliant and piercing as always. Reminds me that Bieber started out on YouTube as a drumming wind-up toy, like a miniature Buddy Rich, devoid of swing and experience, yet strangely desperate.
When a read gives a powerful emotion and reaction, thatās a seriously good read. I felt like I needed a shower based on the descriptors you used to describe a fellow human beingās descent into darkness. I cannot imagine WHAT he must feel like, but you do a fine job creating nausea in me with this fabulous essay.
Damn, this hits hard. And helps explain why I've always found his presence in the music industry insulting, unimportant, and derivative all at the same time.
Amazing insightsā thanks. Just stumbled across your essay and then was transported. I feel like I learned a lot with my morning coffee, a lot to make me cynical and sad, but also a lot to make me want to learn more.
Phenomenal piece here. I always felt bad for Bieber because he essentially signed a pact with the devil at an age where he had no idea what it would do to his life. It's clear he's not his own man and wouldn't know what to do without someone else telling him. Pop stars all look like hostages to me to some degree, but him especially.
I did a dive on this record, sidestepping reviews to find it on my own. What I found is exactly what you described. āSoulfulā ended me. Itās so sad, and yes, deeply victimized. Michael Jackson came to mind, and not the singing or songwriting. Timberlake, too.
I find it significant that you didnāt even mention mk.gee, unless I missed it.
Thank you for validating what I had decided was just me hallucinating.
Eerie, excellent, foreshadowing, painful, and somber. My favorite writing of yours tends to lean toward heartbreak and melancholia and this, though part review, really gets to the heart of the tragedy of the child-star dying in slow-motion in front of us and the continued violence of minstrelsy. You are singular.
Iām also really loving your return to this subject matter, child stars, hollywood dreams and perversions, Black men and their cycles of violence and victimhood. Such a powerful through-line.
<3 So grateful for your ability to close read and understand the intention behind it all
Incredible. You are quickly becoming one of my favorite topical writers. I only fear that you are giving Bieber too much credit with these comparisons š
Yeah, hate to see a lil Pisces in a recursive own-demons death spiral. I think heās been chosen as the next blood sacrifice to the pop gods. Hope Iām wrong and he has the good sense to fuck off with his money and just be a dad somewhere chill
Brilliant and piercing as always. Reminds me that Bieber started out on YouTube as a drumming wind-up toy, like a miniature Buddy Rich, devoid of swing and experience, yet strangely desperate.
Thank you. Yes, he seemed like a lonely kid turning to the internet but now look
whewwwwwww this was a difficult and incredible read. holy fuck.
your ability to put your thoughts to the digital page is a gift. powerful. this has given me a lot to think about. thank you.
This is so beautifully written, so poetic, that Bieber's image just floated alongside it, nodding.
Then, I snapped to. Basically, Bieber has .been abused, manipulated, molded and he has seen the abyss. You said it.
Exactly what needed to be said, what I needed to read, and what has been completely absent in the clamor for more Blackface music. Thank you. šš¾
When a read gives a powerful emotion and reaction, thatās a seriously good read. I felt like I needed a shower based on the descriptors you used to describe a fellow human beingās descent into darkness. I cannot imagine WHAT he must feel like, but you do a fine job creating nausea in me with this fabulous essay.
Those last lines are a serious mic drop. Brava maestra
Damn, this hits hard. And helps explain why I've always found his presence in the music industry insulting, unimportant, and derivative all at the same time.
This is why I come to substack. Loved reading this
Amazing insightsā thanks. Just stumbled across your essay and then was transported. I feel like I learned a lot with my morning coffee, a lot to make me cynical and sad, but also a lot to make me want to learn more.
Truth, as told from the inside. Writing like this is how we repair, restore humanity and sanity. šš½
Thank you.
Phenomenal piece here. I always felt bad for Bieber because he essentially signed a pact with the devil at an age where he had no idea what it would do to his life. It's clear he's not his own man and wouldn't know what to do without someone else telling him. Pop stars all look like hostages to me to some degree, but him especially.
I did a dive on this record, sidestepping reviews to find it on my own. What I found is exactly what you described. āSoulfulā ended me. Itās so sad, and yes, deeply victimized. Michael Jackson came to mind, and not the singing or songwriting. Timberlake, too.
I find it significant that you didnāt even mention mk.gee, unless I missed it.
Thank you for validating what I had decided was just me hallucinating.
Holy shit this is some good writing.