"Our life evokes our character. You find out more about yourself as you go on. That's why it's good to be able to put yourself in situations that will evoke your higher nature rather than your lower. 'Lead us not into temptation.'" Joseph Campbell
We often talk about fashion like it's this thing that enslaves
people--the drive to be cool, to look "in", to be accepted. And that does happen. But high
fashion isn't like that--it stands out, it's outrageous, it's different. The people who wear the crazy clothes help provide a variety to society, some kitsch, some eccentricity. John Stuart Mill lamented the decline of eccentricity in his time because he believed weird people kept society vibrant, and imaginative, and innovative:
"The amount of eccentricity in a society has generally been proportional
to the amount of genius, mental vigour, and moral courage which it
contained."
Today's Eccentric Dresser is Freddie Mercury. He was a shy and very private man, but an extrovert on stage (much like Prince). In public he sometimes denied being bisexual (homosexuality had only been made legal in 1960s in Britain), but on stage he really did personify a sort of Gay Outrageousosity. And tricked all the straight or conservative or anti-gay rockers into playing along.
I watched a rather sad bio of George Michael, how he really struggled with hiding his homosexuality ( though he humorously commented that one only had to watch the Wham! videos); how he struggled with depression; and how he thought he was so ugly he wouldn't look in the mirror. And watching some behind the scenes videos of the Freddie Mercury Tribute you could see him singing along, obviously a fan and very moved--which all came out in his "Somebody to Love" that blew everyone away. (I can actually remember where I was when I first heard it on the radio.) Freddie's stage persona must have given some young men the courage to wear their tight pants and open-chested shirts in public and Be Themselves.
So of course Song of the Day must be from Queen (the Freddie photos follow). I'm choosing "Under Pressure" cause I think it's how a lot of my buddies in the United States are feeling these days:
A bit of frivolity today, methinks. After buying her first two albums I suspect I like Gaga more than I like her music, but this "Edge of Glory" song I came across is cute (see end of post). It's got a sax solo, which these days is about as daring as anything she's worn.
I pretty much fell of writing about music this year, what with being Less Than Employed and all. When my income is troubled I try to keep away from iTunes, it's a dangerous place for me.
