Saturday, February 27, 2010

Famous Like Justin Bieber


When I was a kid all I wanted to do was become famous. I've blogged about this before

I called local drama camps and acting schools in hopes of becoming the next 1980s child star, the next Missy (Benson star pictured on left) or Tracey Gold (Growing Pains star pictured on right). It never happened. Not only was I slightly chubby, my parents didn't have the money or time it would have taken to help shoot me to stardom. 

We were lucky to live a mere 45 minute train ride to Manhattan, audition runs would have been ideal! My mom worked full-time during the week which didn't make sense to me until I matured into a teen and realized two salaries beat one. Thanks to Mom, my first four years of college didn't cost me a dime nor did my first four cars. Looking back it really worked out OK for me--this blog entry isn't about regret or blame. 

In fact, maybe Mom was both realistic and protective. I bet she didn't want to see me deal with the high level of rejection involved in show biz. We didn't have extra money laying around for head shots or a talent agent--that money was saved for sleep-away camp and private school tuition. My folks took us on awesome vacations, to the movies on weekends, dinners out, theme parks and planned kick-ass birthday parties for us at Hot Skates.

Back to Justin Bieber, my inspiration for composing this entry. If I were 12-years-old right now, I'd be really, really freakin' pissed. Apparently this kid from Canada rose to stardom as an Internet sensation. A gazillion people liked his YouTube performances which he says "were supposed to be just for family." Lucky for Justin Bieber he caught the eyes and ears of Usher.

Yeah, so like after seven months of viral videos Justin Bieber is huge today. Singing for President Obama, participating in the updated version of "We Are The World" and selling out gigs all over the place.


So why would a 12-year-old me be really pissed right now? Because damn it, we didn't have the Internet when I was a kid and if we did, I'd make videos of myself singing and dancing. I too might have been an overnight sensation! Yes indeed, I'd make fan pages for myself on Facebook and tweet and Twitpic until my fingers fell off. Nope, instead I was stuck in 1985 sending snail mail to Sean and Mackenzie Astin's mom Patty Duke, asking for advice on being a star like her and her sons.

On any given summer day, you'd find me prancing around our front lawn in my dance recital costumes singing songs from Annie. Our main street--so main it was an exit off of the Southern State Parkway on Long Island--was my audience!  If we had Flip cameras instead of the Kodak Disc, my BFF Dawn could have made videos of my antics. Damn you Justin Bieber, that coulda been me up there on stage with billions and billions of fans. So enjoy every minute of your Internet-found fame, kid and know there's a  jealous former child star wannabe living in Jersey who wouldn't mind a mere fraction of the success you've scored.



17 comments:

Mass Hole Mommy said...

I'm sorry, but I have no idea where this kid came from, but all the sudden he is EVERYWHERE. Thing is 1. HE CAN'T SING and 2. He's a fugly little boy. Why didn't anyone think to wait until AFTER he hit puberty to put him out there. Once his voice changes and he is out of that awkward/ugly stage, maybe he will be a decent artist. UGH!!!

Ally said...

Ha ha, you said fugly! I think my two-year-old nephew is a fan!

nikki said...

Yeah, but at least your embarrassing singing and dancing routines were kept private. I swear to god this Bieber kid with the awful, awful hair (though I guess we grew up in the 80's and can't really talk about bad hair) just might have some regrets about having his awkward teens so public.

Ian said...

That's great! Don't forget to check out my spot for your feature today :)

Aion said...

My son told me about that kid.. that's the first time that I saw his video though.. crazy how the internet works and how it can make ppl famous! The 70's and 80's was wild with Talent... can't even IMAGINE what would have happened if ppl would have had access to it back then!

Hugs and Love Ms Ally :D

Aion

Erika said...

Oh my gosh, ditto, ditto, and ditto....only I grew up in the Midwest so the idea of tripping into showbiz was beyond ludicrous and more offensive to my parents.

Love your blog!

Jerry said...

I have to agree with you if as children we had You Tube and American Idol we all could be famous or at least the more talented ones could.

I don't think I would be among those posting videos of me singing along to Transformers cartoon theme song.

My Thoughts

California Keys said...

All of these teen stars baffle me.... The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, Justin Bieber, etc....

With the invention of auto tune, it's becoming more apparent that anybody can be a star nowadays.... (Have you heard Britney or Miley with out all the overproduction?)

I want to hear the pitch to NBC about the new comedy about the young married journalist and blogger from New Jersey and her life while growing up in Florida....

Come on, it'll be better than the new sitcom starring Nicole Richie as a young married mother....

Ally said...

I love all of your comments! So right on!

AsBlackAs - you're too kind! I actually grew up on Long Island, but I'm often in Florida and I talk about Florida often as my dad lives there :)

I love you guys. I really do. Your comments keep me going, for realz.

Jerry said...

Sorry, forgot to mention that Asblackasobama at I think it's interesting told what a great blog you have and he was correct! Keep up the good work.

Ally said...

BlackAsObama is one of my favorite bloggers! He knows that though :)

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

At the risk of sounding very non-politically correct (and I live in the San Francisco Bay Area), I can't tell if this kid is a boy or girl. Based on your use of pronouns, it appears he's a he. Perhaps this ambiguity, coming from a Canadian no less, helped him make it. ?
Cheers,
Robyn

California Keys said...

Awww... Thanks Ally! Congratulations on the article!

Melanie's Randomness said...

Seriously you are so right!! I would have loved to put my videos on youtube to maybe get famous but yeah when I was lil a computer was still a luxury. Great point!! I hope Bieber's voice changes so he can shut up! lol.

Anonymous said...

So glad you wrote this post Ally, cos the little dweeb keeps trending on twitter and I had no idea who he was, nor could I be bothered to find out, based on the demographic of those tweeting about him.

Feels so good to know something one didn't need to know, from a blog one enjoys…

Pandorah's Box said...

Haha. The funny things about this post are that a) I totally wanted to be famous as a kid and would dance and do gymnastics out on my lawn for all to watch, and b) Even though I have been wondering who the hell this kid is and have not heard any of his songs, I STILL refused to watch the You Tube video you so nicely posted.

So there you go Ally...I find you WAY more interesting than this kid, as I am know many others do as well! oxoxo

California Keys said...

By the way.... I just found a Justin Bieber fan club called 'I'm A Belieber'! You can be a 'Belieber' too! lol

SHARE THIS!

Share |