I personally met Loreena in Firenze and can testify that she is a common person, she's kind and very sensitive. I still don't believe I've had that chance but thanks to Mark and all the entourage I was with her for about 20 minutes.
She is a star, actually. She shines when you are close to her. Difficult to her to consider herself a star, not interested in money but in quality of music and life, we can only learn from her.
Thanks for beeing with us.

Fabio

Hi Mark!
I'm agreed with Loreena...
Elisabetta from Italy!

Good afternoon everyone. In response to the message below (posted to the techincal forum), I will be moving this topic within the next 24 to 48 hours. I wanted to give everyone participating in this topic an opportunity to see notice of its migration before actually moving.



Dear Mark,

As the MB increases in size, is there something that can be done to better organize topics? For example, as the "General" forum grows, could newer, more specific Forums be started up? And, if this were to occur, could topics then be moved to the appropriate forum? As an example, I wrote a topic in the "General" category on LM & Celebrity Non-Celebrityism. Now that the MB has a Forum for "Greenslade BLOG / Media Accountability / Cult of Celebrity / Privacy Discussion," can I move my topic there? If so, how?

Thanks Mark.
Cheers,
Donna Betts

Thanks, Shan-Lyn. Your writing is beautiful.

I think that certain people enter the music business because they want to be famous and admired. Others do it because they love making music as an art form. These are few and far between nowadays. I think they were more common in the late sixties, early seventies (e.g Nick Drake, Sandy Denny). I think Loreena fits into this second class as does Kate Bush who shuns publicity and, like Loreena, took years to bring out a new album.

quote:

Originally posted by Celtickat:

....But as one who hasn't been capable of doing much of any real value for quite a long time now....

Sometimes I wish I were one of those fortunate few who could prove worthy of somehow becoming accepted by her as a 'real' mutual friend, but I'm highly aware of my own limitations and realize that of course, such could never be possible; I have nothing to offer, really, which would be of interest, at least not any longer. I only wish I had something which she might value to GIVE to her, because she has given so much to me. Somehow, being able to thank her in person after the concerts I was privileged to attend seems so paltry, and not nearly enough...

And, at times I do wish I had 1/10 of her obvious stamina! It would have come in most handy, during my own life! But I've been partially disabled for many years, and have tried, often not too successfully, to deal with THAT in my own journey through this life. I guess our life journeys are all very different! Some just seem WORTH so much more than others....


Jeanne (Celtickat)

Jeanne, I think I agree with you on most of what you said concerning "celebrity" and those who purposely chase after it -- no, I DO agree with you. I do NOT, however, believe for one moment that you have nothing to offer! I remember once hearing about a little girl who was "stuck" in a wheelchair...She over-heard someone saying how much they pitied her, because she was "disabled": She replied that she pitied those who are "abled", because they do not know and appreciate just what they do have. That little girl had more courage, more love of life, than anyone around her!

I will not believe that Loreena would not accept you as a "real" friend, given the opportunity: From all that I have seen here and elsewhere, she is a fine woman and a Great human who does not discriminate on the basis of physical ability when deciding who she calls "friend". I hope to someday be able to sit down and talk with her, myself.

One of my cousins is deaf, yet he hears more in his deafness than most people are able to with their hearing ears; he is a Master mechanic, working for the U.S. Postal Service. Jeanne, you are NOT worthless, you have much more to give than many others I know. If nothing else, you have for offer FRIENDSHIP to anyone who will accept it, and it is more than enough for people such as Loreena and myself.

Actually, I hope to someday meet both Loreena and you, together, just because you both seem to be the kind of people I would enjoy being with. A person's "celebrity" does not matter to me, nor does their "ability", so long as they are a decent and caring person.

--Artúr

quote:

What Rose fails to distinguish is that it's not so black-and-white. ... For example, there is a difference between a famous person who just wants to live for his or her art, and if others like it, great - versus a celebrity who revels in fame and glory.

Good grief ain't that the truth! I'm so sick of hearing about Paris Hilton! Toss the bimbo in jail and treat her like anyone else who fails to appear before a court or violates their probation. Enough already with her.

I think it's entirely possible for any person, to live in balance between work and home. We all make that choice every day. And that's the key, it's a choice.

Because of that, I can't agree that the problem is with the celebrity being forced into a balancing act. I think the problem is with the public and the desire to put celebrities on a platform for the public to gaze upon. Too often the every day person forgets that the celebrities are people too.

Those who want to sing and share their music are not always looking for fame and fortune. They want to share their music, they want to touch people with their songs, and they want to perform because they get enjoyment out of it themselves.

How many of you attended Loreena's concert this summer and didn't see or witness the fun had by the musicians and Loreena as well as the audiance?

It is important to live your life according to your own values. Those who sacrifice their integrity never last and often fade away to that non-celebrity status through heart-wrenching experiences.

I say 3 cheers for Loreena's approach to life. More of us should practice that view and attempt to achieve some balance in our own lives.

Many Blessings,
Spring
"A teacher doesn't teach, until the student is ready to ask the question."

quote:

I respect not only Loreena as a musician, but also as a person -- because of what she has done and continues doing for the betterment of others.

Loreena is a special soul that has a great gift of showing us how we as humans living on this one planet we call home should take to heart the traits that will benefit everyone and every creature.
Her humilty in wanting to just be and not strut her ego is a hard listen to learn for some people. Her examples of love, beauty, compassion, peace, and harmony remind us that there is more to life then just money. To her life is not about making more money then everyone else, it is not about having power over people, it is about learning how we can be better and help other people become better people. To live with peace, love and harmony no matter what your beliefs are or where you have came from or if you can sing or not. It is all about love and respect and honor. No other artist I have heard has brought out those aspects and I love her for doing so. I love the fact she does not serender to the "cult of celebrity". As much as I would love to give her a hug and a huge thank you and tell her how her songs have impacted my life, I am not going to fly to Stratfort and bust down her door. I also repsect her for all she has done for us and I will not ever do something that would offend her in anyway.
Love to All,
Gina

I think the bottom line is, is that she realizes she's a performer and in making a living in this business (and it is a business)requires a bit of selling to be successful.
Tee shirts, DVD's, CD's, tickets and whatever else comes along with it. It also requires selling a bit of yourself. I've always been a big believer in "you must give to get". She has to give up a bit of herself to get her success. When she is on tour, she is the celebrity and she showed she is willing to meet with us (her community) and shake hands, sign autographs and put herself out there when the time is right.
I think the respect she wants in return, is when you may run into her at a restaraunt and she's having dinner with whomever, that is when she just wants to be Loreena and not to be interupted.
Barnes & Noble CD signing's "yes", Olive Garden dinner "No".
She wishes to be more of a behind the scenes "Pulitzer Prize" winning type celebrity VS. a Rod Stewart, Paris Hilton, Pam Anderson mob scene type celebrity.

I think that her goal succeeds, but it is partly from the type of popularity her music and activities engenders at least in the U.S.. While she has a overall large fan base worldwide, her fan base in most countries is small compared to more mainstream celebrities like Norah Jones or (gasp) Britney Spears. Certainly if I talk to the average man in the street in Austin, Texas (self proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World") very few people have heard of her. She could certainly walk the streets of Austin and enjoy complete anonymity. This is not intended in anyway as a putdown, but just an observation of where Celtic music is in the general popularity in the U.S.

quote:

Originally posted by Dan:
The way I see it, celebrities aren't that much different from the rest of us, other than having a special talent or circumstance that made them well-known. They probably have the same hopes and desires and faults as the rest of us. It's when a celebrity starts feeling like they're 10 times better than everyone else and everyone should drop everything for them that we get irritated with them. Thankfully, Loreena doesn't act like that at all. For my part, I wouldn't idolize a celebrity. Yeah, I might want to meet them and say thank you for whatever enjoyment they may have brought to me, but I'm not going to treat them much different from anyone else I've just met. Any further admiration will be based on the merits of the individual.

I agree with what you have said, Dan. As the Dalai Lama once said (and I know I am not going to be able to give an accurate quote): "Whether a president or king, they are as any other man: for they are but men." (I apologize, for not being able to remember the actual quote. I have it on my computer, but the Word file refuses to open...) As I was taught in the military: It is required to show respect for the rank (position) of the officer, but it is not required that you respect the person holding that rank. It is not the person who is "special", but what that person does which makes them "special".

I respect not only Loreena as a musician, but also as a person -- because of what she has done and continues doing for the betterment of others.

--Artúr

The way I see it, celebrities aren't that much different from the rest of us, other than having a special talent or circumstance that made them well-known. They probably have the same hopes and desires and faults as the rest of us. It's when a celebrity starts feeling like they're 10 times better than everyone else and everyone should drop everything for them that we get irritated with them. Thankfully, Loreena doesn't act like that at all. For my part, I wouldn't idolize a celebrity. Yeah, I might want to meet them and say thank you for whatever enjoyment they may have brought to me, but I'm not going to treat them much different from anyone else I've just met. Any further admiration will be based on the merits of the individual.

Yes, I believe it is possible for her to be the "Non- Celebrity" that she says she wants to be. It is up to us, "the members of her community", to respect her wishes.
I'd much rather sit down and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee with her, then say Paris Hilton.
There are only a couple shows left for this tour. Then I'm sure she goes home to Stratford and rests for a while, takes care of business and then she sets out on the next part of the "journey" and see where that leads.
Hopefully it will be more music in the making down the road.
So many celebrities come and go quickly, she seems to be in it for the long haul. If we keep respecting her way of doing it, maybe she'll want to continue doing it and not get burned out on celebrity.
I got to meet her, shake her hand and speak briefly with her because she's not a snob, she just wants to be Loreena, and that's fine with me.