Episode 35: 24k Magic: The Price of Fame

"We got engaged on a Friday night/I swore on the head of our unborn child that I could take care of the three of us/but I got the tendency to slip when the nights get wild."

                                                 -The Killers, "Runaways"

    I previous wrote a blog about power and how it corrupts people, but you know what else corrupts people? Fame. I'm sure y'all know this, but fame doesn't always improve a person. All too often, people who become famous become worse people. They become obsessed with their wealth and their popularity, and it sours them. 

    There are many people I could write about who were corrupted by their own fame, but for this blog I will be focusing specifically on one Bruno Mars. I will also compare him to one Brandon Flowers, the lead singer of The Killers who has also released two solo albums, a musician whose fame has not corrupted him.

Bruno Mars

   I love Bruno Mars' old music. He used to write about love and heartbreak, and made songs that average people could relate to. They are also really good. I love songs like "Grenade", "It Will Rain", "Just The Way You Are", and "When I Was Your Man". "Locked Out Of Heaven" also goes very hard. But, listening to his music throughout the years, you'll notice a change. There comes a turning point.

   Mars starts writing songs about all his money, and how much he enjoys his fame and wealth. It kinda started with his feature in "Uptown Funk", but it carries over into other songs such as "24k Magic", "Finesse", "That's What I Like" and "Versace On The Floor".

   Bruno Mars literally has a whole album dedicated to how rich he is. Just to be clear, I'm not saying these songs are bad. They're actually pretty good songs. Bruno Mars never lost his talent as an artist. I just don't like what they're about, and the change they show in Bruno Mars as a person.

Brandon Flowers: Fame From The Heartland

   The Killers is one of the world's biggest bands. Their first album alone scored several hits for them, including "Mr. Brightside", "Somebody Told Me", "Smile Like You Mean It", and "All These Things That I've Done". Their subsequent albums have only gotten them more hits.

   Brandon Flowers has a lot of fame, and thus he's always been highly susceptible to falling victim to it. But he's not let it change him. His music still echoes his humble beginnings in Nevada, his family, and his love for the heart of America. Just listen to "A Dustland Fairytale" or "Runaways" if you doubt me. 

   The lyric I included above shows that despite a life of fame and touring, he kept his eyes on his family. Not only that, but he admits that he struggles with that, but knows that his priority is his family.

   I know I said I was just going to talk about Bruno Mars and Brandon Flowers, but I also wanted to mention Joe Gatto. Despite nine seasons of a very successful show and millions of fans, Joe still prioritized his family in the midst of his divorce and left Impractical Jokers so he could be there for his kids more.

   Anyways, you get the point. If I'm ever famous I promise I won't let it corrupt me. Or I'll at least try my very best.

See you next week!