Come out of the closet: What pop culture icon do you admire. As for me... [Archive]

catherine

9-15-13, 3:40pm

I admire Queen Latifah.

Yes, pop culture is so superficial. Some simple living folks might not even know what's going on on "EXTRA" and "ACCESS HOLLYWOOD." Honestly, I'm with you.

But there are some people in pop culture that are really cool. Personally, I think Queen Latifah is one of them--and my kids make fun of me every time I say that, but I don't care.

She is so versatile and so strong as a woman, and so inventive. She has a great voice (i'm not into hip-hop, but she's actually even done a fantastic duet of a standard--"A Kiss is Not a Kiss"--with Rod Stewart!) She's a great actress, and she just has a nice presence about her. Frankly, I think she's awesome.

Please do tell--do you have a pop culture hero (or is that an oxymoron)? Or do you have a pop culture guilty pleasure you care to share (like buying the Enquirer)?

redfox

9-15-13, 4:47pm

I too love Queen Latifah. Have you heard her album, Trav'lin Light? Covers of classic jazz tunes. Sooo good!

I am a fan of Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Lindsey Sterling, and of course Macklemore! Here's a new one for me -- Sara Bareilles. This is my new theme song...

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=QUQsqBqxoR4&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DQUQsqBqxoR4

I also love & learn so much from the writings of Ann Powers, who is a former colleague (Experience Music Project) & friend. She has worked for the NYT, Village Voice, LA Times, and now NPR. She's a fabulous pop culture critic, blogger, and author. http://www.npr.org/blogs/therecord/161375944/ann-powers

catherine

9-15-13, 5:09pm

iris lilies

9-15-13, 5:26pm

Hey that's funny, Queen Latifah must be an pop icon for senior ladies like us because I was just thinking the same thing of her last week.

First of all she is REALLY pretty. She's plus sized but man, she's got the cheekbones and an hourglass figure to knock out any dress. Secondly, she's of an age where she's got a little patina, so I like that she's been around in a tough business, able to hold her own. Then, she is gay, so that's not easy in the hop-hop world.

This week my pop culture icon is Louis C.K. His show is always nominated in the "Comedy" categories but I think--flip a coin--and he could be nominated in the Drama category. His show is a funny drama or a black comedy, take your pick. and I think that he is sweet and real, he is gifted at elucidating the events of life.

IshbelRobertson

9-15-13, 5:32pm

Annie Lennox.

razz

9-15-13, 5:35pm

I have to confess that I had a crush on Morse, is it John Thaw, but unfortunately, he passed away recently. He was an excellent actor, loved good music and gave such an amazing presence on the screen.

sweetana3

9-15-13, 7:27pm

I find Dawn French to be an amazing personality. Not many plus size gals, Kathy Bates comes to mind, that make it big time on the screen.

I really admire Meryl Streep and Glenn Close. They seem to have maintained a stable "outside of the media" life. At least I hope they do.

puglogic

9-15-13, 8:38pm

Admire? Hm. I love Queen Latifah as well! But for whatever reason, the one that comes to mind first for me is Thom Yorke, the lead singer for the British superband Radiohead.

Kind of a crazy strange person, but an example of someone who uses star status to do good in the world rather than just self-indulgent materialistic media-whore-ishness so common these days.

redfox

9-15-13, 9:18pm

Annie Lennox.

+++++!!!!!!

catherine

9-15-13, 9:26pm

ABut for whatever reason, the one that comes to mind first for me is Thom Yorke, the lead singer for the British superband Radiohead.

I LOVE Thom Yorke/Radiohead! Although I admit Radiohead's 90s stuff is what I really love. I haven't listened to their newer stuff, but I do totally admire Thom Yorke's creativity. Didn't Radiohead do a "pay what you want" approach to one of their albums? Love it...

SteveinMN

9-15-13, 9:27pm

Amy Grant. I don't know as she's still considered a pop-culture icon, though.

I've always liked that Grant has never been afraid to show that she is a human being -- capable of publicly experiencing desire, disappointment with her kids' behavior, and the occasional bad hair day -- despite being an icon of Christian music. In addition, she and her husband divorced right around the time XW and I divorced, in circumstances which were hard for each of us to explain to most around us. I think she handled the situation with a lot of class given the prominence both she and her husband (singer/producer Gary Chapman) had and the judgement that many in the church and even some fans "offered". I liked that Grant's music was deeply reflective right after the divorce and, later, brighter as life picked back up and she rediscovered her foundation. The timing was very coincident with my divorce recovery. I don't have many "public" heroes. In fact, she may be the only one.

Rogar

9-15-13, 10:28pm

I feel like a cretin on this one. First of all, I did not know who Queen Latifah was and had to look her up because so many like her. Then, I wasn't exactly sure what a "pop culture icon" is and had to look that up. Fortunately I not only found a definition and several lists of examples. I'm going to go with Harrison Ford, who's role in quite a movies have portrayed what I think of as a great male role model. He also has a fairly admirable personal life. I also might nominate the character of Don Draper who is mostly despicable but highly entertaining. My musical tastes are a little more retro, I think Miles Davis qualifies as a pop culture icon.

bae

9-15-13, 10:56pm

Jay Hunter Morris

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xNQLiPTEKUE/TzorFanJbcI/AAAAAAAAB74/UDpvgBKgYRQ/s1600/siegfried--300x450.jpg

rosarugosa

9-16-13, 6:33am

I'm a big fan of the Grateful Dead and related family of bands/musicians, but that wouldn't be everyone's idea of contemporary.
IL: I've just recently become aware of Louis CK and I really like him. The greatest comedians tend to be philosophers with a genius for commentary on the human condition.
On a somewhat related note, who are the people obsessed with Jennifer Aniston? My Yahoo homepage is always featuring stories like "Jennifer Aniston shaves her legs," and I'm always wondering if there could possibly be anyone who really cares.

CathyA

9-16-13, 6:54am

Bae....is that one of the guys on the Capital One commercials? :~)

razz

9-16-13, 8:18am

Jay Hunter Morris was wonderful when he stepped up to fill the role of Ziegfried in The Ring at the Met. :D

Alan

9-16-13, 8:18am

Amy Grant. I don't know as she's still considered a pop-culture icon, though.

In the pop-culture world, I'm not sure that you could find a better one.

I spent a couple of days with her back in 1996 or 97, running her protection detail (actually a glorified concierge service) when we brought her in for our company Christmas parties. Within about 5 minutes of meeting her, I found it difficult to remember that she was a celebrity with her down-to-earth, unassuming ways. Plus, she flirted with me and I ended up with a little bit of a crush on her. You chose well grasshopper!

1314

CathyA

9-16-13, 9:46am

That's so cool, Alan!

ToomuchStuff

9-16-13, 11:30am

I've been lucky enough to meet more then my share, and won't go into that. In the end, I don't admire any of them, as they are just people, no different then us (except for less privacy and more money).

There are a few, that I would have liked to thank, and one, that I owe an apology to.

Gardenarian

9-16-13, 2:44pm

Taylor Swift. I know she's a teeny-bopper fave; she is also a remarkable songwriter and a true artist.
I'm looking forward to see where her music goes in the future.

catherine

9-16-13, 2:48pm

and one, that I owe an apology to.

I'd love to hear that story..

iris lilies

9-16-13, 8:39pm

In the pop-culture world, I'm not sure that you could find a better one.

I spent a couple of days with her back in 1996 or 97, running her protection detail (actually a glorified concierge service) when we brought her in for our company Christmas parties. Within about 5 minutes of meeting her, I found it difficult to remember that she was a celebrity with her down-to-earth, unassuming ways. Plus, she flirted with me and I ended up with a little bit of a crush on her. You chose well grasshopper!

1314

Hey, that is great! She looks good.

larknm

9-27-13, 3:32pm

Jim Parsons (Sheldon) in The Big Bang Theory.

JaneV2.0

9-27-13, 3:41pm

Jim Parsons (Sheldon) in The Big Bang Theory.

He was on Who Do You Think You Are? recently. The video may still be available on the TLC site.
http://www.tlc.com/tv-shows/who-do-you-think-you-are

pcooley

9-27-13, 5:04pm

Cary Grant has always been my pop culture hero. I'd say in the contemporary arena, Ani Defranco. I like her music - though I'm not much of a fan - I have one album, but I do admire her stance on things. I'm racking my brain here, and I can't really come up with a lot of people -- Ummmm, all you guys?

Azure

9-27-13, 7:31pm

Bono

Elishi

10-2-13, 7:57am

I have a huge amount of respect for Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails. He was a prolific artist in the 90's, when he was one drugs. When he got off them he was almost unstoppable. From writing everything Nine Inch Nails do (music and vocals), to running their own label for a while. That means organising tours, promo, distribution. When he stopped NIN for a few years, he started writing film scores, winning an Oscar for one. He also formed a band with his wife and raised two kids. THEN brought back NIN and put out another album and is curently touring the world.

Incredible how driven the guy is.

The Storyteller

10-2-13, 5:53pm

There are lots of great performers that I love as performers, but not many whose personal lives I admire. I admire three for their philanthropic efforts and activism: Richard Gere, Harrison Ford, and Jeff Bridges.

But I especially admire Jeff Bridges, who has been married to the same woman since 1977 and before he became famous, while other actors tend to dump theirs for some young chickee or yet another supermodel or famous star. Bridges has been with his wife through thick and thin, and that counts for something with me.

Especially when you consider Hollywood.

puglogic

10-2-13, 7:36pm

I have a huge amount of respect for Trent Reznor from Nine Inch Nails.

I have always had a lot of respect for him (well, after he cleaned up a bit at least...before that I just liked the music). Was just thinking about him the other day listening to Queens of the Stone Age. (Elishi, have you heard Kalopsia? Nice)

SiouzQ.

10-2-13, 8:21pm

There are a lot of people I admire but Jeff Daniels came to mind right away for a couple of reasons: he's a local hero around here (southeast Michigan) who does things for his hometown (Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, MI). He is a very versatile actor (no, I have not seen Dumb and Dumber), he plays guitar (I got to meet him and write up some guitar repair orders when I worked at the guitar shop). He's just kind of a really regular guy with a super-interesting working life!

The Storyteller

10-3-13, 4:42pm

Paul Newman is gone now, but I certainly admired him while he was around. That whole Newman's Own/organic food/charity thing he set up still astounds me.

And his buddy Redford has done some wonderful things for the independent film art form.