'Could Not Sing Our Good Ol' Song...'

One of the depressingly mystifying phenomenon’s  has been to witness starlights fading way before their time.

Soccer ace Ronaldhino was rated way above the little magician called Lionel Messi, well that was a few years ago, today at the age of 30, an age whereby soccer stars are a the peak of their powers, Ronaldihno is heading home to Brazil after warming the bench for two years in Italy. He once could make the soccer ball dance, today he’s a miserable shadow of his former self.  What happened Ronnie?

We wished and pleaded with the gods of kwaito to bring us back TKZee, and they obliged, but what an anti-climax the most anticipated album turned out to be. What happened to the magic guys? Listening to TKZee now it’s very difficult to imagine these guys were the kwaito supergroup of the late 90’s.

If you’ve lived in the ghetto you’d know of at least unwillingly rehabilitated thug who once changed cars more than Kaya KM changes their breakfast show DJ’s, a ghetto hero who once made you believe he was invincible but later lost his magic, then we say waphelelwa i-plug (he ran out of the thug bravado).

A woman who once was veeeeery HOT before ‘boys had their way with her’, you’ve heard of something like that, haven’t you? Can a woman really lose her beauty because of her generous sexual nature? Phuza-face aside? Maybe she loses her X-factor and that air of mystery as word gets around she’s ‘easy’, but does her physical beauty actually fade? Many guys tell me it happens. What happens to the magic?

You mean in a few years time there’s a possible tragedy of John Legend not being able to go in the studio and come back with a hit? Imagine Professor, he of the ‘Jezabel’ fame coming out of a recording studio with a lullaby. Oh God please forbid!

You’ve seen a once super couple turn into arch enemies, you’ve seen bosom buddies turn into sworn enemies. Oh so tragic when the magic is gone, when the melody has changed, when they just couldn’t sing their good old song like they could in the good ol’ days.

But is it really divine intervention when the magic is lost or it’s just pure complacency? What are chances Trevor Noah will just be an ‘also-ran’ in a few years time?

More than ten years in the TV industry I’ve learnt this – there is a time in a rising star’s career when the most crucial thing to do is to keep their feet firmly on the ground. Sadly, not many cope with this phase, sometimes people become superstars in their own heads way before they can unleash their true potential, finding a humble superstar is as difficult as finding a Chinese policeman. I know of very few humble stars, Robert Marawa, Steven Pienaar, Prokid, Kirk Franklin…am I forgetting anyone?

You see, in SA we suffer from the ‘I’ve-arrived-syndrome’, one is on TV for fifteen minutes and the head swells. You play a few games for Kaizer Chiefs and assume the sun shines on your ass, you are put on radio for five minutes and all of a sudden you’re a celebrity, guys chill, please? Perhaps that’s why a country of 48 million people can only conjure up only three people as real international stars, other than Mandela, Ernie Else and Charlize Theron who do we have as international superstars recognizable worldwide?   A country with such enormous talent, what a shame.

So maybe the magic is never lost, it’s destroyed by the ego and the unwillingness to continue learning.

In 2011 may your star keep shining success after success, may you never believe the lying voices in your head telling you you’ve arrived. May you squeeze every inch of potential you have till it cries for mercy. May you never take your friends, family and lovers for granted.

Remember, your talent came from God, but what you do with it is a gift back to Him. You reckon He’s happy with what you’ve given Him?

Happy new year.