Close Ad

musicians

How BTS’s 'Map of the Soul' Was Influenced by Carl Jung’s Psychology
Pop Culture

How BTS’s 'Map of the Soul' Was Influenced by Carl Jung’s Psychology

With BTS’s buttery vocals, irresistible beats, and Carl Jung’s psychology in its mix (literally), Map of the Soul rocketed to success in spring 2019. At first listen, you might not expect the album to examine Jungian concepts. Just how psychological could tracks like “Boy With Luv” be?RELATED: Kendrick Lamar's New Song "The Heart Part 5" Is a Heart-Wrenching Tribute to the Power of ForgivenessYet for the BTS fan base (or “ARMY”), this connection is no surprise. After all, the band has been using music to inspire fans to better themselves, and defy cultural expectations, since their 2013 debut. But they are no strangers to weaving thoughtful literary references into their music.After diving into their Love Yourself era (2017-2018), it seemed logical for BTS to move forward with exploring the self.‘Map of the Soul: Persona’ Reflects Our Inner StrugglesKim Namjoon on the set of 'Intro: Persona.'“Who am I? The question I had my whole life,” raps BTS leader Kim Namjoon in the opening track, “Intro: Persona.” According to Jung, a persona is the mask we don throughout life. While we might not be singing and dancing on a global stage, we all have behaviors we use to feel accepted. We all ask ourselves, “Who am I?” Dr. Murray Stein, author of Jung’s Map of the Soul, for which the album was named, observes how the album wrestles toward authenticity. It moves intensely, mirroring the band’s inner turmoil. Every track is infused with themes like self-worth, self-deprecation and belonging. In “Mikrokosmos,” one of many love letters to fans, the band sings about finding wonder in our humanity: “Perhaps the reason this night looks so beautiful / Is not because of these stars or lights, but us.” RELATED: What Shrek and Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah" Teach Us About Rejection and PerseveranceFinally, Map of the Soul: Persona culminates in a chaotic track, “Dionysus,” which may seem like a detour from Jung into Greek mythology. Yet even this song points back to the persona. Some fans see “Dionysus” as BTS abandoning the mask because of how the Greek god casts away inhibitions. Meanwhile, others recall Dionysus as “the masked god," or even an “outsider among gods." These fans theorize BTS might feel similarly.And in a cutthroat industry, and societal pressures blown up on a global scale, who could blame them for yearning to be real?But what “being real” entails for BTS might feel more coherent in the second chapter of the Map of the Soul era.How ‘Map of the Soul: 7’ Expands on Jungian Archetypes(Image by: HYBE Corporation)Released in early 2020, Map of the Soul: 7 is the follow-up album to MoTS: Persona, and even features the latter’s tracks. Unsurprisingly, this album also calls back to Jung’s work. The Jungian archetype “shadow” refers to our repressed desires and flaws — what might not be acceptable — while our “ego” is the conscious part of our psyche. In “Interlude: Shadow,” Suga raps about wanting it all. On the other hand, J-Hope raps about finally trusting himself in the introspective and joyful “Outro: Ego.” RELATED: How Frank Ocean Outsmarted His Record Label and What That Teaches Us About Self-BeliefThe album’s duality results in a profound, nuanced glimpse of self-actualization. We are never all shadow, ego, or our persona. We exist in multiplicities. Likewise, songs like “Louder than bombs” and “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal,” which focus on the love between BTS and ARMY, underline the “collective unconscious,” which Carl Jung believed was a reservoir of the human experience and knowledge we all inherit. For instance, in “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal,” BTS details how they overcame their hardships together — as a band and as a collective with their fans. “We are not seven with you,” Jungkook sings as the song finishes, reminding listeners they’re never quite as alone as they might feel.Why Navigating BTS’s ‘Map of the Soul’ Era Matters(Image by: HYBE Corporation)This era is iconic for many reasons, from stunning choreography and music to commemorating the septet’s seven years in the industry. Most importantly, though, Map of the Soul shows how defining yourself means facing your past. Real growth means talking about your feelings and what you've gone through.RELATED: Bob Marley's Deepest Thoughts - and How They Will Help You Reach a Higher LevelBoth installments of MoTS reference BTS’s past music. “Boy With Luv (feat. Halsey)” is a response to “Boy in Luv.” The gentle vocals of “We Are Bulletproof: The Eternal” juxtapose the more aggressive sound of “We Are Bulletproof Pt. 2,” released in 2013. Rather than tear down their early concepts and music, BTS builds upon what’s familiar. With the help of Jung, they acknowledge the shadow, ego and persona they’ve constructed, and carve a new way forward from regret. A gorgeous experience, Map of the Soul reveals the turbulence of finding yourself and the marvel of embracing every aspect of your journey.KEEP READING: 120 BTS Quotes That Will Remind You to Follow Your Dreams

How Did Elton John Save Eminem's Life?
Friends

How Did Elton John Save Eminem's Life?

Eminem and Elton John are both known for being powerhouse musical talents, but it turns out they have something far deeper and darker in common: a history of addiction, and a long journey down the road to recovery.In 2007, Eminem, much like Elton John several decades before, nearly died from a drug overdose. At the height of his stardom, he developed an addiction to prescription medication.At the time, he was taking "up to 30 Vicodin a day" and once was rushed to the ER after taking the equivalent of "four bags of heroin."That’s as serious as it gets-- so how did he survive?How did Elton save Eminem?A new biography by Anthony Bozza entitled Not Afraid: The Evolution of Eminem, reports that after several overdoses, the rapper and actor reached out to pop legend Elton, who came to his rescue."As a fellow musical superstar with nearly 30 years ofsobriety under his belt, Elton John was the perfect mentor to help guideMarshall," writes Bozza. (Enimen’s real name is Marshall Mathers.)"The two started on a program of weekly check-ins andgrew very close."This isn’t the first time this recovery journey has made it to social media and the airwaves. Eminem even talked about it openly in the documentary How To Make Money Selling Drugs, released in 2013.How the unlikeliest friendship blossomedElton and Eminem developed a close friendship, even thoughEminem had a history of controversial lyrics that referenced homophobia."I didn't know [Elton] was gay," Eminem said in a 2004 interview with MTV. "I really didn't care. But being that he was gay and he had my back, I think it made a statement in itself saying that he understood where I was coming from."And Elton was just the person to help Eminem as things got dark. "Some days I would just lay in bed and take pills and cry... I needed pills in my body just to feel normal, so I would be sick. It was a vicious cycle," Eminem has admitted.How did Elton become Eminem's sponsor?Elton himself overcame a cocaine addiction in the 1980s and is now Eminem’s sponsor for his recovery. "I'm Eminem's AA sponsor. Whenever I ring to check in on him, he always greets me the same way: 'Hello, you [expletive]', which I guess is very Eminem,” John told The Telegraph. A friendship that began with a duet at the 2001 Grammy’s has become a lot deeper over the years."When I first wanted to get sober, I called [Elton] and spoke to him about it," said Eminem to The Guardian in 2009. "He's somebody who's in the business and can identify and relate to the lifestyle and how hectic things can be. He understands... the pressure and any other reasons that you want to come up with for doing drugs."I reached out to him and told him, 'Look, I'm going through a problem and I need your advice.'It's a friendship that has survived decades. Elton refers to Eminem as a "dear friend” and gushed about his talent and artistic skills while hosting the Apple Beats 1 show "Rocket Hour". In a fascinating read, a phone interview between the old friends was shared by Interview Magazine. "Your sobriety day is in my diary. I'm so proud of you," Elton says to Eminem in the interview.I’m so happy you exist in the world, and I’m just so proud of you. You’ve worked so hard on yourself, and no one deserves this more than you, Marshall, and I love you from a long way away, okay? Eminem responds, "Thank you, Elton. I love you, too."It's a true friendship built to last, one that we can all learn a great deal from.Eminem and Elton overlooked their obvious differences-- age, nationality, musical style, sexual orientation-- and were able to connect on a very genuine level thanks to their shared experiences. Both men have acknowledged that the moment their lives changed for the better were when they finally admitted:I need help.Having the bravery to admit when they needed help made it possible for both Elton and Eminem to continue shining as icons in the music industry. They fought their addictions and came out the other side stronger and ready to help others going through the same things.Only you can make the decision to seek help and change your life-- are you brave enough? More inspiring musicians:The Misunderstood Brilliance of Pop’s Party Girl, Ke$haInside Missy Elliott’s Secret Illness and Triumphant ComebackWhen Luke Bryan’s Sister Died, He Adopted Her Orphaned ChildrenDemi Lovato Has Moved Beyond Body Positivity– and You Should Too

What Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin Got Right About Conscious Uncoupling
Heartbreak

What Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin Got Right About Conscious Uncoupling

I believe Kenny Rogers said it best in his song "The Gambler": "You've got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em, know when to walk away, and know when to run.” While it’s (relatively) easy to accept good things like money, opportunity, and romantic love into your life, being able to recognize when something is no longer serving you— and in fact may be impeding you— is another matter altogether. Why did Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin break up?Let’s take Gwyneth Paltrow and her ex husband, Coldplay frontman Chris Martin as a perfect celeb example of knowing when (and how) to best fold ‘em, shall we? In 2014, after almost a decade of marriage and 2 children to think of, they announced their “conscious uncoupling” on Paltrow’s lifestyle website, Goop. The term, originally coined by lifestyle guru Katherine Woodward Thomas rose to fame largely in response to their statement.“We have always conducted our relationship privately, and we hope that as we consciously uncouple and coparent, we will be able to continue in the same manner,” the statement read. Martin and Paltrow finalized their divorce in 2016. What is unconscious uncoupling, really?So what's the difference between conscious uncoupling and divorce? Is it purely semantic? I mean, what's in the words we use anyway? Earlier this year, Paltrow broke down her now infamous take on divorce to Dax Shepard on his "Armchair Expert" podcast. Of the ritual anger, bitterness, and separation that typically characterizes even the best of divorces before it's remotely possible to consider ‘being friends,’ she said, "I wonder if there's a way to circumvent that and just go directly to the point where we're friends. We're family, that's it. We can pretend we're not, and hate each other ... or, let's try to reinvent this for ourselves.""At the time I was in a lot of pain,” she says of the initial uncoupling. "It felt like such a failure to me. It was so hard and I was so worried about my kids… We just want to be nice to each other and stay a family."Terminology aside, a family they have stayed. "We’ll have a weekend all together; holidays, we’re together. We’re still very much a family, even though we don’t have a romantic relationship. He’s like my brother," she says of Martin."Conscious uncoupling" vs divorceAs is to be expected, Paltrow faced a considerable backlash for using the term “conscious uncoupling” rather than “divorce.”The phrase was ridiculed for being new agey and a self-helpy—not to mention it had already been a topic of exploration on Goop before she herself used it. In response to the eye rolls, Woodward Thomas points out that there are several misconceptions about uncoupling: that it is only for celebrities and the elite, for example, or that you have to have your former spouse on board to go there.How conscious uncoupling really works“It isn’t about becoming friends with your former partner if you don’t want to be,” Woodward Thomas says. “If you have been badly treated you might want to never have anything to do with that person again, but you don’t want to internalize your hatred… It is particularly for anyone having a hard time and in danger of moving into a negative cycle that can end up hurting them in the long run.”The conscious uncoupling process is for anyone, including someone still not over an old heartbreak, and even those whose relationships are characterized by betrayal or abuse. Thomas calls it “a thing we aspire to,” adding that she hasn't met one person who has done it perfectly, herself included. The process is made up of several steps focused on identifying, naming and accepting negative emotions, as well as taking responsibility for one’s part in the separation, no matter how small. Then there's also a bit about forgiving the other person and being forgiven (presumably flexible depending on one's situation), clearing away old agreements the relationship was formed upon to make way for new ones, and helping one's community/family understand the new form the relationship is taking.The goal? Gold, of course!If you're staunchly in the eye roller’s camp, that’s your right, but ultimately the goal of consciously uncoupling is to, well, consciously learn from your experiences and move forward to healthier and happier relationships.Last year, Paltrow married TV writer Brad Falchuk after dating him for over three years. As Gwyneth wrote on Goop: "I have decided to give it a go again, not only because I believe I have found the man I was meant to be with, but because I have accepted the soul-stretching, pattern-breaking opportunities that (terrifyingly) are made possible by intimacy.”And in case you're wondering what Falchuk thinks of his wife still spending time with her old family unit (that means Martin), he’s totally down. For their honeymoon, they chose a family affair, inviting along Martin, his two kids with Paltrow, Apple, 14, and Moses, 12, and Falchuck's two children from a previous marriage.So there you have it. Perhaps there is something to being intentional about one’s evolution after all. Words are powerful agents, so why not use them to add positive definition to life and love? Here’s to conscious coupling and uncoupling alike! May we own our feelings through it all.More empowering breakup stories:Miley Cyrus’ Split From Liam Hemsworth is a Lesson About Outgrowing LoveDemi Moore and Bruce Willis Saved Their Relationship by Getting DivorcedWhat We Can Learn From Nicole Kidman’s Infamous Breakup PhotoKaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki Bonded After Their Breakup

Carey Mulligan Married Her Childhood Pen Pal, Marcus Mumford
Marriage

Carey Mulligan Married Her Childhood Pen Pal, Marcus Mumford

“Love letters are becoming a lost art form, which is very sad,” Carey Mulligan proclaimed back in 2013. “To have a love letter from someone, to hold it in your hand and know that you can keep it for your whole life… well, that’s an amazing thing,” she explained. And she sure would know. Mulligan is a bit of an expert when it comes to love letters and the power of words. The actress and her rock star husband Marcus Mumford used to pen letters to one another as kids and now that they’re enjoying wedded bliss, they haven’t forgotten about their roots. More specifically, the lovebirds still regularly write love letters to one another, cherishing the importance of open communication that comes straight from the heart.From childhood sweetheartsCarey Mulligan’s romance with Marcus Mumford reads like the ultimate rom-com script. The British actress and her musician beau, who’s best known for being the lead singer of Mumford & Sons, first met when they were kids and managed to build a lifelong relationship thanks to letters. Although they’ve never spoken about those early years publicly, according to insider sources, Mulligan and Mumford first crossed paths when they attended the same church camp around the age of 12. They hit it off and, as the summer came to an end, they kept up their friendship and nurtured it through hand-written notes. To pen pals...According to the unnamed source who spoke with The Sun, the pair became full-fledged pen pals, as they "began sending each other letters through their churches when they were kids." Time passed and Mulligan and Mumford reportedly lost touch, as they began pursuing their respective careers and dating other people. Then, fame thrust them back together and their strong childhood bond did the rest. They reconnected as adultsThe couple actually reconnected at a house party in Nashville in February 2011. Mumford & Sons performed that night, but even before that, Mulligan and her rumored boyfriend at the time, Jake Gyllenhaal, were spotted having dinner with Marcus' band at a local restaurant. While the tabloids focused on Mulligan and Gyllenhaal, they missed the real sparks that began to fly between the actress and her longtime friend. Even though Mumford & Sons went on tour shortly after that party and Mulligan’s acting continued to take her around the globe, being apart was nothing new for them. Besides, they had a secret weapon: letters. The very thing that kept them connected at a young age is the same thing that has allowed them to remain connected as adults, even when they’re physically apart.A “practical romantic”Just one month before she rekindled her relationship with Mumford, Mulligan spoke with The Telegraph about dating and her approach to relationships. I’m a hopeless romantic and I always say how I feel. I love love stories.It’s no surprise then that she would cherish the act of writing (and receiving) a love letter to such an extent.During that same interview, the Great Gatsby star also revealed another important element of her personality. I suppose that’s the romantic side of me, but I am quite practicalShe continued, "My friends at school used to say, ‘If a guy texts you, you can’t text back for three days.’ I was always like, ‘Bollocks! Text back!’ I’m a practical romantic."It’s that practical romanticism that ensured she didn’t waste any time once Mumford was back in her life. Just five months after they started dating, they got engaged, then said “I do” on a farm in Somerset, England in April 2012… less than a year after the courtship began. Jump to 2015 and they had had their first child, daughter Evelyn, then in 2017 came their son, Wilfred. Their bond inspires them to give backBut Mulligan and Mumford aren’t just aligned on the romantic and family fronts, they also share a major passion project: charity work. Both act as ambassadors for War Child UK and, as Mulligan noted in an interview with People, they’re very hands-on. "Marcus and I have been to the field and we’ve seen the work," she revealed, recalling a trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo. If there’s one thing we can all learn from Mulligan and Mumford’s successful, decade-long relationship, it’s the importance of speaking from the heart and going that extra mile with romantic gestures, as well as the fact that happily ever after doesn’t happen overnight. True love can ebb in and out of your life for years before everything aligns and the timing becomes right. When that does happen, all you have to do is be open to the possibilities ahead... and be a practical romantic. More inspiring love stories:Ed Sheeran and Cherry Seaborn Show the Lasting Power of Childhood FriendshipAdam Brody and Leighton Meester Refuse to Let Drama Poison Their LoveKurt Russell Stepped up for Oliver and Kate Hudson When Goldie Hawn’s Ex LeftStephen and Ayesha Curry’s Teenage Missed Connection Paid Off in a Big Way

Lizzo's Journey From Rock Bottom to Radical Positivity
Success Stories

Lizzo's Journey From Rock Bottom to Radical Positivity

If you don't know Lizzo already, you're about to. There's a very good reason AfroPunk has dubbed the future icon “the star we need right now.”The uber-talented 31-year old singer, rapper, and classically trained flautist (no joke) is becoming more and more recognized for her unique and delicious sound. Plus— she’s a bad-ass, body positive, big, black woman who’s not afraid to spread a powerful message of empowerment and self-love.Take, for example: her recent number one hit "Truth Hurts", which she released nearly two years before it finally hit the top of the charts. The song is an infectious anthem about loving yourself even when others mistreat you -- of never letting other people hurt your sense of self-worth. If you're in the mood to learn a lesson or two about fearless self-love, here are a few that Lizzo's been sharing with us all for some time now.Here's how Lizzo made it to the top:She’s not afraid to take up spaceAlthough it was far from her first step into the professional music world, Lizzo finally made headlines back in April with her third album, Cuz I Love You. In this and many other music videos, like "Tempo", her infectious collab with Missy Elliot, she owns her right to occupy space, both literally and figuratively. It started with wanting to be somebody else and actually not loving myself. Then one day I was like 'Yo, I'm going to be in this body forever.'Many of her videos and performances show her as the biggest person on stage (physically). She wears this like a badge of honor, with the rhymes, vocals, and moves to match.She refuses to stop doing what she lovesThis may seem obvious, but it’s an important lesson. As Bob Dylan once said in his timeless tune "Buckets of Rain": “You do what you must do and ya do it well.” Lizzo's persistence over the last 8 years -- and recent success -- is proof of this. Although ger performances are incredibly well-rehearsed, they're far from soulless. She and her dance team look like they’re having a blast, every time. As some of us are fortunate enough to have figured out, when you love what you do, the self-love inherent in that fact colors how others engage with you! That’s why Lizzo’s unstoppable energy is enough to inspire even the most deflated among us.She came back from rock bottomWhen Lizzo was 21, not only did her father pass away, but she spent the year homeless, living out of her car, and she was skinny. "I was addicted to the gym, I didn't eat, and I was sleeping in a dusty car," she told Teen Vogue. It was only after hitting rock bottom that Lizzo as we know her today started emerging.But — she wishes it didn't have to be like that. "Everyone shouldn't have to hit rock bottom to love themselves. That's just the society we're all unfortunately born in—the one where you have to hit your worst and hate yourself in order to love yourself? Those laws only exist because self-hate is so prevalent. Body positivity only exists because body negativity is the norm," she said.She’s not afraid to be vulnerableWhile some might assume that a persona so outwardly exuberant and confident must be so all the time, Lizzo has discussed the reality that giving a lot of herself to strangers on a daily basis can take its toll, sharing publicly that she sees a therapist and finds it very helpful. On The Breakfast Club, she explained:I went through such a dark age in my life that now, as a grown woman, I work really hard on self-care, self-love, and trying to be positive -- and it shows.Her practice of full disclosure even when discussing personal struggle only adds to her overall positive energy, which we can all learn from.She takes big risksIn June, standing atop a giant cake in a wedding gown, Lizzo took the BET Awards by storm with her hit "Truth Hurts", breaking to twerk and play the flute simultaneously—one of her trademark moves. She accomplishes with the flute something no one else does, and she knows it. In August, she wowed crowds at the MTV VMAs when she kicked things off with a troop of twerking dancers in chaps — and a pair of giant inflatable buttocks as a backdrop to boot. As she segued into "Good As Hell", she reassured the audience: “You deserve to feel good as hell!”, who roared their support fr her unique brand of creative and emotional risk-taking. It’s so hard loving yourself in a world that doesn’t love you back. Am I right? So I want to take this opportunity right now to just feel good as hell because you deserve to feel good as hell!More inspiring musicians:The Misunderstood Brilliance of Pop’s Party Girl, Ke$haSocial House on Turning Pain Into Pop ArtAaliyah’s Forgotten Light: Her Powerful Legacy Beyond Death — and R. KellyHow Going “Straight Edge” Manifested Greatness for Liam CormierAriana Grande is Proof of the Power of Crying in Public

Miley Cyrus’ Split From Liam Hemsworth is a Lesson About Outgrowing Love
Heartbreak

Miley Cyrus’ Split From Liam Hemsworth is a Lesson About Outgrowing Love

If there’s one thing Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth’s relationship can teach us, it’s the importance of honesty. Honesty with yourself, and to those around you. Being unapologetically true to yourself can be difficult, especially when a relationship is involved. The very thought of letting your partner down might keep you from making a decision that’s right for you. Add to that the fear of being considered "selfish" by the outside world and choosing to follow your heart can prove to be a struggle. Cyrus and Hemsworth certainly never had a simple, linear romance. After meeting in 2009 on the set of The Last Song, the couple were on-again, off-again for years. Even after first getting engaged in 2012, they called it quits, then reconciled in 2015, and eventually walked down the aisle in December 2018. Unfortunately, come August 2019, the couple had separated, less than a year after their nuptials. What happened? Although we may never know the full story, Cyrus has since spoken at length about embracing personal growth and learning that “change is inevitable.” Here's what we can learn from Miley and Liam:First, give love a fair chanceCyrus and Hemsworth first began their courtship when they were still teenagers — she was 17, he 19 — so it was inevitable that they would grow, both as individuals and as a couple. Unfortunately, you can’t guarantee that you’ll always drift in the same direction as your partner. Cyrus certainly did her best, however. As she explained on Twitter, “I f***ed up and cheated in relationships when I was young, but the truth is, once Liam and I reconciled, I meant it, and I was committed. There are NO secrets to uncover here.” Don't ignore your differencesWhile the young stars clearly saw the importance of having faith, putting in the work and giving their love a chance, after a decade, they were unfortunately “not on the same page when it comes to a lot of fundamental things that make a relationship work,” a source told People. For example, Hemsworth reportedly wanted "to settle down and have a conventional family including kids” while Cyrus was never shy about voicing her disinterest in a cookie-cutter romance. As she told Elle in 2019, “My relationship is unique [...] It’s so complex, and modern, and new that I don’t think we’re in a place where people would get it.” “I’m in a hetero relationship, but I still am very sexually attracted to women,” she added, explaining, “I made a partner decision. This is the person I feel has my back the most. I definitely don’t fit into a stereotypical wife role. I don’t even like that word.”While merely giving up is never the answer, there is no shame in walking away from a situation in which you feel forced to compromise or change your true self in a way that simply isn’t rewarding. Don’t fight your evolutionDespite the effort that Cyrus and Hemsworth made to find a middle ground and work past their differences, their relationship simply wasn’t meant to be eternal — and that’s okay. The time they shared was certainly not a waste. As Cyrus declared on Twitter, “I’ve said it before and it remains true, I love Liam and always will.” At the end of the day, the decision to part ways was not born from a place of hate, but rather from the admittance that time changes you. “I had to make a healthy decision for myself to leave a previous life behind,” Cyrus confessed on Twitter, adding, “I am the healthiest and happiest I have been in a long time. I am proud to say, I am simply in a different place from where I was when I was younger.” She elaborated on that same principle on Instagram, writing:Don’t fight evolution, because you will never win.If you grow from it, it's not really an endingOnly when you stop listening to outside voices and start paying attention to the one that matters most — your own — can you set yourself free from unfair pressure and expectations. It's only once you decide to be true to yourself and your evolution, no matter how difficult that may be, that you can set off on the road to finding pure happiness and total fulfilment. That, in turn, will always land you exactly where you’re supposed to be. More powerful lessons about heartbreak:Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams Proved Real Love is More Romantic Than MoviesKaley Cuoco and Johnny Galecki Bonded After Their Breakup

Aaliyah's Forgotten Light: Her Powerful Legacy Beyond Death -- and R. Kelly
Celebrities

Aaliyah's Forgotten Light: Her Powerful Legacy Beyond Death -- and R. Kelly

Almost two decades ago, a bright star was lost. To this day, the world is still mourning that woman -- and what she represented. August 25 marks the 18th anniversary of the very sad and untimely death of Aaliyah, when she was just 22 years old. But is the tragedy of Aaliyah's death overshadowing the memory her amazing talent?Many people know the story of her sudden and shocking death: a plane crash that also took the life of everyone on board -- Aaliyah along with 8 others. In fact, for a lot of people, her tragic fate seems to have eclipsed any memory of her impressive and important life.Aaliyah Dana Haughton was born in Brooklyn and began sharing her artistry at the tender age of 10. At that age, while living in Detroit, she appeared on the talent show Star Search, and soon after started to work on her first album, Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number, which she released in 1994 -- when she was only 15. It went platinum and the whole world was introduced to a rising star. The Princess of R&B becomes the Queen of Urban PopAaliyah had nowhere to go but upThe newly-crowned "Princess of R&B" helped to bring the genre front and center in the mainstream, and brought a whole new sound "urban pop" sound with her. Her smooth vocals, tight dance moves, and powerful charisma earned her the admiration of her peers and heroes, as well as five Grammy nominations.Music had been briefly put aside after her second album, One in a Million, while she started to grow her brand by expanding into film, like Romeo Must Die along action icon Jet Lee and Queen of the Damned, in which she played the titular queen. When the plane crash that took Aaliyah's life occurred, she was en route back from the Bahamas, where she had filmed a music video for "Rock the Boat", the newest single of her third and self-titled album. Aaliyah the album was a statement of artistic and personal maturity for the young singer -- it finally hit number one on the charts shortly after her death.Age ain't nothing but a number?While Aaliyah is often held up as the personification of a candle blown out too soon, more recently, her relationship with the infamous R. Kelly has been the subject of much focus. Aaliyah first met R. Kelly when she was only 12 years old, and it was reported they were illegally married in 1994, when she was only 15. This naturally would have meant she was beneath the age of consent and it was reportedly later annulled, though neither Kelly nor Aaliyah ever actually openly admitted they had been married in the first place. Still, in 1997, Aaliyah reportedly sued to have any marriage records officially expunged and refused to discuss Kelly in public or private.Starting in 2000, a continual series of accusations would be made against Kelly over the years by various young women and girls. It all seems to have finally come to a head this year, with the airing of Lifetime's docuseries Surviving R. Kelly and Kelly's dramatic and aggressive interview with Gayle King.Speculation about Aaliyah's relationship to and possible victimization by Kelly have been weighed in widely and broadly. With the anniversary of her death upon us, this all seems to coalesce into a miasma of tragedy that overshadows the true effect Aaliyah had on others: she was -- and continues to be -- a bringer of light.One in a millionOn her second album One in a Million, Aaliyah sang about how she "came to spread my love to my fans across the world. Reach out to you, touch the hearts of boys and girls." As an artist, that’s exactly what she did.Always conscious of her impact on her fans, Aaliyah touched a lot of people, both creatively and emotionally. That influence is still seen today, not only through the artists who still sing her praises, but also through all fans she inspired and spoke to through her songs.“I loved the way you carried yourself, the way you dressed, the confidence with which you addressed passion and relationships in your music. I said to myself that even if we never met, I wanted a woman in my life just like you,” Drake wrote in a letter on the anniversary of her death in 2010. The rapper has a tattoo of Aaliyah's face on his back, so her influence is something he literally carries with him daily. “I loved the way you carried yourself, the way you dressed, the confidence with which you addressed passion and relationships in your music. I said to myself that even if we never met, I wanted a woman in my life just like you,” Drake wrote in a letter on the anniversary of her death in 2010. The rapper has a tattoo of Aaliyah's face on his back, so her influence is something he literally carries with him daily. What we can learn from Aaliyah's lifeArtists admire her, as fans do, for many reasons, but at the forefront of those memories was that there was an authenticity to her music, and a realness to her words, that many have tried to replicate since her time, and few have come even close. Aaliyah wasn’t a performer trying to replicate what someone else was doing, she was simply herself. Always. When the artists we grow up with are lost before their time, the blow has a particular pain to it. The lost potential compounds the life lost. Aaliyah was very much still on her way up, and had so much more music and inspiration left inside her to share.We are still mourning the loss of Aaliyah, decades after her death, but it’s also important to celebrate her life and talent. Aaliyah deserves to be remembered -- not for the men she was involved with, or the way that she died, but for the amazing life she lived while she was here.More inspiring musicians:The Misunderstood Brilliance of Pop’s Party Girl, Ke$haSocial House on Turning Pain Into Pop ArtDead Set on Living: How Going “Straight Edge” Manifested Greatness for Liam CormierAriana Grande is Proof of the Power of Crying in Public

Social House on Turning Pain Into Pop Art
Goalcast Originals

Social House on Turning Pain Into Pop Art

Social House, made up of Mikey Foster and Scootie Anderson, are a musical duo who first made their footprint in the music industry by writing and producing for stars like Jennifer Lopez, Meghan Trainor, NCT 127, and Ariana Grande -- for whom they co-wrote several songs on her platinum album Thank U, Next.Their move into the artist/performer sphere coincided with Grande's "Sweetener" world tour and she brought Social House on as her openers, where they performed their own songs like "Music in the Hamptons" and their newest single, "Boyfriend" -- featuring Grande.Even prior to their rise to stardom, Foster and Anderson have had a long history of seeking connection through music. When they finally met, two isolated, creative spirits forged an unbreakable connection by expressing their pain through their art.First, they had to fight their way out aloneMikey credits music with saving his lifeMikey Anderson's family was very poor growing. He recalls having to choose between utilities such as gas, electricity, and water. Everything changed when a member of his church saw his talented and gifted him a computer to make music.A whole new world was opened to him: "I had something to do. I had something that somebody had given to me and that was like a goal that I could have. Literally that inspired me to spend all my time and actually build a dream. Somebody else believed in this dream so now I can actually believe in it too. It was like that was validation I needed."Raised in a violent environment by parents who struggled with drug addictions, Mikey found a positive outlet in the music he was creating. "Music was the way I cried, it was the way I lived," he recalls. "I didn't know how to express myself other ways." On winter nights when the heat was off, Mikey would head into that mouldy basement room and find sanctuary in his music. "The ability to cry in a productive way, and the ability to put forth that energy towards good and meaningful that could actually grow the world." The strength he gained from the songs he made empowered him to do anything -- even to risk everything and move out to LA to follow his dreams.Scootie grew up idolizing his sister, a gifted singer in her own right An overachiever in school, Scootie Anderson was shy and struggled to connect with the people around him. He was an athlete, a student, and a performer in musical theater, but couldn't reach out on a personal level.Feeling isolated and left out when his sister ran away, Scootie turned to music for a sense of belonging. The only problem was: he only had one CD, and it was an anti-drug school-sponsored album. Still, it gave him a feeling of support and connection he couldn’t find elsewhere in his life. “It was therapeutic because somebody was talking to me," he shared.Scootie has brought this learning to his writing and producing work. Grande, in particular, has opened up about therapeutic effect that recording Thank U, Next had for her. She told Vogue the album "was this moment of self-realization. It was this scary moment of ‘Wow, you have to face all this stuff now. No more distractions. You have to heal all this shit.’""Experiences connect us all"As producers, Social House see it as their gift to help artists channel their pain and experiences into music: "No one can really tell a story better than the person going through it."When they were introduced to Grande, Mikey confesses he didn’t know who she was right away: "She was knitting a scarf on the floor in the garage and she just seemed extra cool."Who she was didn't matter -- what mattered was what she had been through in the last couple yers. Social House were able to help her channel those experiences into songs like "7 Rings", "Thank U, Next", "NASA", and "Goodnight n Go".Making something beautiful and uplifting out of a painful lived experience is pop music at its purest level.“The overwhelming amount of painful scenarios you go through helps you really help you connect with other people,” says Mikey. “I think that things that happen in your life, they happen for you, not to you. It’s really important to realize that because you could think life is here to crush you or you could think life is here to build you and make you stronger and make you more capable.”In their own music, they clearly live this ethos: "We put our experiences into songs because, just like we said, experiences connect us all. Everybody has gone through that one thing where it made them feel this type of way. It’s like: we’re with you. We feel you."Whatever form your self-expression takes, Social House are a reminder that channeling the painful and difficult things you have been through into something positive won't just help you -- it also helps others. "That’s what music is, entirely, right?" Mikey explains. "Just connection. Just telling somebody that it’s going to be okay, in your own way."

Dead Set on Living: How Going "Straight Edge" Manifested Greatness for Liam Cormier
Goalcast Originals

Dead Set on Living: How Going "Straight Edge" Manifested Greatness for Liam Cormier

At 39, Liam Cormier is at the top of his game. As the singer and a founding member of punk bandCancer Bats, which he started in 2004 with guitarist Scott Middleton, Cormier has brought his musical dreams to fruition. The Canadian band has released six critically-acclaimed albums, snagged five JUNO nominations (the Canadian equivalent of a Grammy) and toured extensively around the globe. And it all started with one important decision -- a fundamental change Cormier made early in his career to become the best possible version of himself.“I just wasn’t happy,” Cormier tells me when we meet backstage at Heavy Montréal, as he’s getting ready to perform in front of a rowdy festival crowd. “I just thought, ‘This isn’t a positive place for me to be.’”The year was 2001...The aspiring musician hadn’t yet started Cancer Bats, but he was already involved in the music scene. It's a scene that often includes endless partying and excess, but he found that the drinking and drugs just weren't cutting it anymore for him.That's when he discovered straight edge — a punk subculture that stays away from drinking, smoking, and doing drugs — and was inspired to make a change. It wasn't easy to eliminate the "party" elements of his rock star lifestyle“It was definitely a process and there were a lot of positive decisions that I [needed to make] within that,” he admits. Remembering the moment he decided to seize a new way of life, Cormier recalls: "I looked around and saw people who were straight edge who were working on bands, creating art and wanting to go on tour and I thought, ‘OK, sick! This is 100% what I want to dive into and focus my energies on.’"Cormier jumped all in, packing up his life in Waterloo and moving 300 miles to Ottawa to be closer to his newfound tribe. “I decided I’m moving to Ottawa and I’m going to change my whole situation,” he recalls. “I decided I’m straight edge, I’m not doing this anymore, I want to take my musical life more seriously, make this my actual focus and gravitate towards these people who are into this as well.”He devoted himself wholeheartedly, which he cites as a major key to his successful mental shift. “I think if I was on the fence [I might have failed], but for me, straight edge was so associated with positivity and I was just so excited about all of it,” he explains. “The language of straight edge is forever — that’s what I really loved about it.” Unexpected side effects Cormier’s newfound lifestyle soon began manifesting positive change across all aspects of his life, which in turn gave him the drive to keep going. As he reveals, past his second year, being around any sort of temptation became a “non-issue.” First, there was his career“I don’t understand how people are able to tour and drink,” he says. “Drinking and smoking were just so hard on my voice. I couldn’t even begin to imagine touring as hard as we did if I was also trying to party and drink and all of the things that would be associated with that.”His finances didn’t hate him either “You don't think about that when you’re spending money on booze or spending money on cigarettes, but you’re also spending money on feeling better after you’ve destroyed yourself,” he points out. “I realized I could buy a cool BMX bike instead, which I couldn’t even have imagined affording before. I actually blew all of my money on records at that point — it was great!” he laughs. “I still have those CDs.”Most rewarding of all were the meaningful relationships he finally built“I think you do gravitate towards [similar] people,” he starts. “Especially when you become busy, you’re like, ‘Well, I don’t have time if all we’re going to do is talk about nonsense.’ I don't have time to talk about Danzig at seven in the morning with a bunch of people doing cocaine. I know Danzig is great — I can skip over that part and go to bed at two,” he quips. “You become more realistic with your time and so, naturally, you’re going to make more time for those people who are having realer conversations.”Dead set on living It’s been nearly two decades since Cormier first decided to become straight edge, but it’s still opening his eyes to valuable life lessons. When one of his best friends, famed chef Matty Matheson, struggled with substance abuse, resulting in a heart attack at age 29, Cormier was there to support his friend by opening both his heart and his mind. “I was living with him when that all happened,” says Cormier, thinking back to that dark period in 2012, which sparked an entire album and a new mantra: Dead Set on Living. "It was me being able to deal with it,” he says of the writing process. “Me being able to wrap my brain around some of these conversations that we were having and showing my friend how much it meant to me.”“That’s how I learned about the 12 Step Program, from talking to Matty about it, and there’s so much about the step work that I think is great for everyone to keep in mind,” he notes. “I feel like there was a point where, for me, I almost used straight edge as [an out], like, ‘I’m fine, I’m straight edge, I’ve done the work,’ but then you learn about these other things that no one’s talked to you about, like step work or Inner Quest, and you realize there’s still so much stuff that you need to come to peace with in your own life,” Cormier explains.“We should never stop looking at why we interact with people in certain ways and how we can use this as a starting point,” he elaborates. “I think of sobriety so much differently now where it’s just the beginning. Let’s move on to bigger ideas. Let’s move on beyond money and let’s move on to how we treat each other.”Some of that change is already happening: “We’re in more of a culture now where people want to talk about mental health."Cormier continues: “Male suicide is something that’s finally being talked about. [Before it was], ‘You’re not allowed to talk about mental health as a man’ and it’s like, no, you’re just a person with a brain. You can have trauma that you haven’t dealt with that’s now the reason why you’re drinking. But you have to admit that you have this trauma before you can look at why you’re even wanting to drink as a release. "I think we’re finally in a world where we’re actually taking some of that stuff seriously.”The most valuable lessonAmidst everything that Cormier has learned through his own journey, there’s one early lesson that stands out, which helped put everything into perspective. “A big thing for me was realizing that I was still having just as much fun,” he states. “I was still doing the exact same things, but the hangover side of it wasn’t slowing me down the next day or derailing me. I wasn’t missing out on any opportunities.” Because the most valuable opportunities are the ones you’re bold enough to make for yourself.

4 Life-Changing Books That Inspired Madonna to be Fearlessly Different
Studying

4 Life-Changing Books That Inspired Madonna to be Fearlessly Different

You hear her name — and you instantly hear her voice. Then her face. And then you sigh in admiration of this legend who has changed the way women are viewed in the music industry. Madonna has been the "Queen of Pop" since the 1980s, as she’s challenged gender norms and given women permission to be their most authentic selves, with no apologies. In her tenure, she’s sold more than 300 million records worldwide, earning her the title of "The Best-Selling Female Recording Artist Of All Time: by Guinness World Records. In addition, she was named the second highest-certified female artist in the United States, with 64.5 million album unit, and Billboard deems her the most successful solo artist in its hot 100 chart history. To date, she’s amassed a $1.4 billion fortune from concert tickets. This Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoree has an estimated net worth of $590 million — and counting since she's still making music and touring.When she isn’t performing, wowing audiences, dedicating her time to charitable efforts she believes in, or serving as a mentor, the one-and-only Madonna is also a major fan of… reading! Though she hasn’t said much about what’s on her bookshelf, she did reveal her favorites to pal Gwyenth Platrow in a Goop newsletter. Here’s what you can expect from Madonna’s favorite books:The Bad Girl by Mario Vargas LlosaShe may be the Material Girl, but one of Madonna's beloved reads leans more toward the darker side. In this page-turner set in the 1950s and 60s, you’ll follow the tangled web of Ricard Somocurcio who is in love with — you guessed it — a bad girl. He met her in Lima, Peru in the 1950s, where he knew her as Lily before he she disappeared. They meet again in Paris, where she’s married to a wealthy Englishman. Their paths cross again in Tokyo, where she's the mistress of a Japanese businessman. Even though she doesn’t treat him well, he can’t get enough of her. Find out what happens with this lifelong romance that teeters on the side of obsession. Shantaram by Gregory David RobertsIt seems as if Madonna has a taste for mystery since this debut novel from Gregory David Roberts makes her list. Shantaram is set in the darker side of modern Bombay, where a man who was convicted with a fake passport manages to escape a maximum security prison. A faithful friend is by his side throughout the adventure, and they come across the underbelly of the destination, meeting prostitutes, soldiers, actors, gangsters, and more. As the police try to find him, he lives in the worst possible conditions as an apprentice for the mafia, taking him through war, torture, murder and lots of other gut-wrenching experiences. Along the way, two characters help him to freedom. Like Madonna, you won’t be able to put this down since, hey, it’s based on the life of the author himself.The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey NiffeneggerYou’ve probably cried in the movie portrayal of this untraditional love story but have you paged through the book? Madonna thinks you should, since it makes her must-reads. In The Time Traveler's Wife, you’ll follow Henry and Claire who fall in love throughout various stages in their lives, thanks to Henry’s ability to time travel. It’s an impossible relationship from day one but love doesn’t ask questions — it only demands you to feel the same. Just try not to cry as you obsess over every last page.The Quran In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar, Madonna shared: “I am building schools for girls in Islamic countries and studying the Holy Quran. I think it is important to study all the holy books.” Though she hasn’t outwardly said she’s read it herself, she finds to to be one of the most influential books in the history of literature. More inspiring book recommendations:4 Life-Changing Books That Inspire George Clooney to Challenge Himself5 Life-Changing Books That Inspired LeBron James to Keep Winning6 Life-Changing Books That Inspired J.K. Rowling to Write5 Life-Changing Books That Mark Zuckerberg Couldn’t Put Down