I have come out of "retirement".
We cannot take ourselves so seriously.
In a world full of Justin Biebers, Shia LaBeoufs, and Kanye Wests, it is easy to forget that we are only as good as our fans. We are only as important as our people. And without the support of our people, we aren't going anywhere.
I "retired" to make light of American popular culture's endless celebration and mourning of fame. I did it to poke fun at ego. (Like…who do we think we are? Seriously.) We endlessly consume celebrity news to the point where it dictates our lives. When an actress picks her nose, it's the top story on Yahoo. And then that actress's publicist issues a statement announcing that she was actually "scratching the outside of the nostril, not picking it". Right.
I thought it would be interesting to parody Justin Bieber's early retirement from music. First off, why is the kid retiring? He's 19. My Greek immigrant grandfather worked in a steel mill until he was in his 80s. I wasn't even fully sure who I was as a person at 19 years old. My creative voice has taken 24 years to develop and it's not even close to where I want it to be. Why quit now? And if you love music, how can you just let it go?
I believe that when you are an artist, and you are helping people, it is no longer about YOU. It is now about the people you affect. It belongs to them. Once you get to a certain level, especially as an international superstar like Justin, you become a vessel for your art. And your job is to get out there and make people happy. The creation transcends the creator. Whether you're sick or tired or hungry or bored, it doesn't matter anymore. You do it for them every day. And that is the beauty.
I'm glad you joined me on my 24 hour journey into "retirement". It was only a joke and is something I could never see myself doing. My father, who is in his 50s, gets up at 7 o'clock every morning and paints. Because something inside him is saying "DO IT". He will work until he croaks. This is a mentality that has been ingrained in me since I was a baby. Our work is more important than us. We are merely humble messengers for the people. And I promise you that as long as I am on this planet, I will do my best to positively impact it with my work. AND I WILL RETIRE WHEN I DIE!!!!
Thank you. I love you guys more than you know.
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