I have many heros from great thinkers and writers to great artists and musicians. After finding out more about their lives there tends to be a common thread that presents itself. They all tend to have endured some level of psychological turmoil, alienation, and many ended up overdosing on drugs or committing suicide. In regards especially to the musicans and artists I admire, I have several theories about this theme.
First, these individuals are/were able to express their emotions so distinctly. They also expressed emotions that many people avoid discussing or thinking about. In fact I bet many people deny even having these emotions as a part of some defense mechanism. To have been able to aquire a sort of expertise on these emotions it follows that they either experienced these emotions frequently and/or in an intense fashion. Familiarity begets knowledge. Their music probably reflects their lives in being an emotional roller coaster. One could argue that many of these artists only sang deppressing songs and therefore were depressed all the time. I disagree in that if your are truely depressed all the time you do not have the motivation to accomplish the things they accomplished. It is more likely that in their upswings they were able to reflect on the bad periods, and find the energy to express them appropriately. Therefore I believe that these people experienced the world differently than most in that life was much more intense. It would suspect that many suffered from bipolar disorder or one of the personality disorders, specifially borderline personality disorder or obsessive compulsive personality disorder (which can manifest itslef as perfectionism).
Second, by experiencing the world in this way they were alienated. Others would have a hard time empathizing with them and also get tired of the intense way they experienced things. It would be emotional draining for others. I'm sure the artists tried to change their outlooks and lifestyles many times to try to fit in, but without success. I am sure there are relatively many people that experience the world in this way but I believe these people were seemingly more intelligent. They were able to compose complex songs and lyrics, market there music, and write their songs in a way that allowed many others to identify with them. I believe having these skills alienated them even more. Many people wonder why famous artists get depressed and lonely when they have so many adoring fans. They probably realize that these fans, like most of the other people that they met in their lives, also would not understand them. The same gifts and personality traits that make them such good artists also create the feelings alienation and lonliness.
Therefore I'm not surprised that these people often end up in mental hospitals, drug rehabs, prision, or committing suicide. Something has to give.
Here are links to two songs that most people don't know the lyrics or the significance of them. I think they reflect a little bit of what I said.
http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/2147394442/Otis_Redding/(Sittin'_On)_The_Dock_of_the_Bay
http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/1755148968/Gnarls_Barkley/Crazy
First, these individuals are/were able to express their emotions so distinctly. They also expressed emotions that many people avoid discussing or thinking about. In fact I bet many people deny even having these emotions as a part of some defense mechanism. To have been able to aquire a sort of expertise on these emotions it follows that they either experienced these emotions frequently and/or in an intense fashion. Familiarity begets knowledge. Their music probably reflects their lives in being an emotional roller coaster. One could argue that many of these artists only sang deppressing songs and therefore were depressed all the time. I disagree in that if your are truely depressed all the time you do not have the motivation to accomplish the things they accomplished. It is more likely that in their upswings they were able to reflect on the bad periods, and find the energy to express them appropriately. Therefore I believe that these people experienced the world differently than most in that life was much more intense. It would suspect that many suffered from bipolar disorder or one of the personality disorders, specifially borderline personality disorder or obsessive compulsive personality disorder (which can manifest itslef as perfectionism).
Second, by experiencing the world in this way they were alienated. Others would have a hard time empathizing with them and also get tired of the intense way they experienced things. It would be emotional draining for others. I'm sure the artists tried to change their outlooks and lifestyles many times to try to fit in, but without success. I am sure there are relatively many people that experience the world in this way but I believe these people were seemingly more intelligent. They were able to compose complex songs and lyrics, market there music, and write their songs in a way that allowed many others to identify with them. I believe having these skills alienated them even more. Many people wonder why famous artists get depressed and lonely when they have so many adoring fans. They probably realize that these fans, like most of the other people that they met in their lives, also would not understand them. The same gifts and personality traits that make them such good artists also create the feelings alienation and lonliness.
Therefore I'm not surprised that these people often end up in mental hospitals, drug rehabs, prision, or committing suicide. Something has to give.
Here are links to two songs that most people don't know the lyrics or the significance of them. I think they reflect a little bit of what I said.
http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/2147394442/Otis_Redding/(Sittin'_On)_The_Dock_of_the_Bay
http://www.metrolyrics.com/lyrics/1755148968/Gnarls_Barkley/Crazy
doolittle:
That whole Gnarls Barkley cd is full of songs with amazing lyrics, I listened to that cd for 2 weeks straight when I first bought it.