(04-02-2013, 12:53 AM)Tusk Wrote: (04-02-2013, 12:21 AM)Swansteel Wrote: JelLo is a dancer who dreamt of being a singer, but doesn't have the talent to pull it off convincingly. She was lucky enough to somehow become famous enough to indulge her fantasy and have lots of people buy into it. It's all part of the state of modern "stardom." Am I bitter much? 
We should give her a bit more credit than that. At her height she was one of the major entrepreneurs. She not only sold albums, but is in the perfume and apparel industries, as well as acting credits. She made herself into an extremely marketable 'brand'. Something Haley is working towards.
Luck might have played a small part, but perseverance and hard work were also contributors
I agree with all that and I'll add a bit.
Almost every hyper-successful person will credit some luck at a few critical times as watersheds.
- of course as the sports proverb goes "luck is where opportunity meets preparation". (it actually wasn't wooden's , but one that wooden loved)
Persistence is another trait and if you keep reaching you're far far more likely to get that "lucky" break..... the hard work and perseverance and talking to everyone you meet and pushing your foot in the door when you see a glimmer and volunteering left and right buys you the "lotto" tickets to get lucky.
BUT also.
On top of all of her great abilities and execution as a business woman (in the entertainment business) she does have some extraodinary traits she has honed.
"Singing" itself is not her forte I agree. I don't think she can write music at all either.. or bring much to the interpetation to make someone elses song better from a "listening" sense
BUT.. her songs are mostly DANCE MUSIC ... and yeah.. she is a very very good dancer of the pop music variety ... and her Musical Interpretation probably was excellent as it related to her medium - she knows what is good to dance to (she's and expert wouldn't you agree?) and she probably did have a large role along with the team of creative people who mixed the music etc.. (even Lenon and McCartney collaborated! as did Haley.)
And, lets be clear also a STAR is more than a singer or a musician. A star is a brand and a persona (as Tusk says)
--- that isn't a cheap way to success ..... because that is the actual PRODUCT that people enjoy... think back to the big Hollywood Studios (if you're a history buff). The persona's off screen of the big stars was as much of what people enjoyed as the acting they did (often in light comedies or even farces)
Great musician ? probably not unless your include creating the music people like to dance to. (and why wouldn't we?)
Great Entertainer? - I don't think that can be argued even if she's entirely not enteraining to us in particular.
I'd also add that she's got Model good looks...... and bears herself in a way with postures and mannerisms and fashion selection and relentless physical fitness activities that are equally important to what god gave her. Being a Model is a skillset too.. and she excels at that.
Do I like J Lo ? She's and admirable person for all I say above.. but she doesn't particularly entertain me. The zillions of people who like her would be bored to tears with the people I find charming (like that guy from star trek on the auto - tune real .. or Garrison Keeler ? or Click and Clack the Tappert brothers "Car Talk" ?)
.... I can't deny her elite skillsets .
