When discussing the phenomenon of Youtube-era pop stars such as Justin Bieber, the topics that usually come up are the quality of his music (or lack thereof) and his effect on young fans. Topics never discussed are what such sudden fame and riches does to the star and the effect of the limelight on the young mind. In his new book The Love Song of Jonny Valentine, Teddy Wayne explores the thoughts and feelings of a boy catapulted to stardom.
Jonny Valentine, an eleven-year-old boy with a golden voice, is discovered on YouTube by a record label and almost immediately signed to a contract. What follows is a grueling whirlwind of recording albums, touring, and public appearances, all while conforming to his expected image. The book is a thinly veiled criticism of the record labels that create neatly packaged pop stars and the music industry in general.
Wayne deconstructs the modern invention of the pop star by exploring the nature of fame and the reasons that fans obsess over their idols - not for the star or their music, but for the image they have built up in their heads of the star, as well as the way he makes them feel. This novel deftly reminds us that there is a person behind the glam and glitter and that there is a loss of innocence when children are thrust into the public eye. Wayne's portrayal of an eleven-year-old boy with such a hyper-awareness of his own image that he worries constantly about belly "chub" is disquieting because it has the ring of truth.
I enjoyed this book for its portrayal of the music industry and the pop music machine, although it had its flaws. The narrator, Jonny, was problematic, since his inner voice wavered between child and adult, especially when he parroted back information about internet presales and "secondary markets." In the end, it was enlightening to finally get a glimpse of the person behind the pop star and watch Jonny grow and discover the world, but the loss of his childhood and innocence was a haunting reminder of the costs of fame.
No comments:
Post a Comment