Wednesday, February 16, 2011

The Updated Steven Tyler

I was pleased to read Jon Caramanica's piece in the New York times (online), last Wednesday.
Steven Tyler Escapes From Idolatry.
Pleased because the author highlighted something that stood out for me as we watched one of the recent audition episodes. The incident involved one of Idol's often annoyingly manipulative "sob stories".

"The moment when Mr. Tyler, one of this season’s new judges, claimed the show as his own came during the third night of auditions. Chris Medina tried out with a muscular version of The Script’s “Breakeven” after telling the story of how his fiancĂ©e, Juliana Ramos, suffered a brain injury that left her in a wheelchair, able to move her left arm and little more.

After he sang, he brought Ms. Ramos in to the audition room at the judges’ behest. By any measure it was difficult to watch, testing the viewer’s urge to turn away, to wish for a speedy change of scene.

Randy Jackson and Jennifer Lopez introduced themselves to Ms. Ramos, but Mr. Tyler took charge. “Hi, girl,” he said, shaking her hand. “I just heard your fiancĂ© sing, and he’s so good.” At this point, as she teetered back and forth, he was gripping her shoulder and staring at her comfortingly: a rock, a confidant, a seducer. “You know, because he sings to you all the time,” he said, leaning in to her, stroking her hair, kissing her warmly — all with tenderness — then whispering in her ear, “That’s why he sings so good, because he sings to you.”




It was a stellar embrace, the sort of practiced sincerity that’s one of the wages of extreme celebrity. Except that, over time, it can shake free of its dishonesty, as was the case here. In that moment Mr. Tyler was both deeply practiced and deeply humane. It made for a stunning display of kindness unusual not just for “Idol,” but for all of popular culture in matters of dealing with the severely disabled."
As I see it Mr Tyler's action sprang directly from an innate kindness, an Aries/Leo-ness. The impulsive warmth, kindliness and sense of fun have shone from him from his first appearance. Okay - if someone wants to describe his pointed stares at an auditioning gal, a quarter his age, as "leering" that's in the mind of the beholder. I look at it like this: any gal (or guy) aiming for a career in the spotlight has to be willing audiences, whether judges or the public, to stare at them - so they'd best get used to it. In any case, I see no overtly lascivious leers - only encouragement, approval, interest, or perhaps a weighing up of how the gal might have dressed herself more stylishly - or less vampishly.

Another look at Steven Tyler's chart (my earlier posts are HERE and HERE)




Lots of emphasis on Fire signs, being more pronounced because Jupiter is at home in its rulership Sagittarius and Sun and Mars are in what astrologers term "mutual recption" - which means that they are in each other's rulerships, Sun is in Aries ruled by Mars, Mars in Leo ruled by Sun....a series of celestial underlinings.

I wish we had Steven's birth time - anybody know it?

That opposition Uranus/Jupiter (the unexpected/exaggertion) is no doubt a reflection of his quirky style and signature outlandish antics on stage.

The "Yod" (Finger of Fate) is interesting too. It links Netune (creativity) and Pluto (sexy and powerful) by helpful sextile (no pun intended) to Mercury, planet of communication, by two quincunx aspects (150*). The characteristics of the to sextiled planets are said to be chanelled through the planet at the configuration's apex - Mercury (communication) in this case. Works for me!

The linked article mentions that Mr Tyler is "scheduled to release a memoir — “Does the Noise In My Head Bother You?” — this year..." More communicative skills surfacing!

I'll stick my neck out - again - and predict that there are changes in the pipeline for Steven Tyler, later this year and into 2012 as Uranus transits his Aries Sun, backtracks then transits again. Perhaps his stellar performance on American Idol will lead along previously unthought of career paths for him.



It's looking increasingly likely that Steven Tyler will be my only reason for continuing to watch Season 10. Already, at this early stage the emphasis and re-gurgitation of a set of five or six "sob stories", and "pimping" of producers' favourites is becoming wearing. Even with Nigel Lythgoe in charge, audience manipulation continues apace.

This week's episodes, aired tonight and tomorrow, feature the travesty known as "group rounds" where the remaining contestants are split into groups of 3 or 4 and left to arrange a performance, singing together. Where many young teens and twenties are gathered together, competing egos and levels of excellence rapidly oppose one another. All manner of unpleasantness often ensues. Men are separated from boys, and the gals - well, they'd better rope in their inner divas, at least for this round.

16 comments:

Astrology Unboxed said...

Hi Twilight:

It seems so far the prediction from Rolling Stones Magazine we talked about previously is not panning out.
That said, it will be interesting to see what happens when Uranus conjoins Tyler's sun late this year and next year.
Having observed several of my Pisces friends go through this transit recently, I can report they all felt liberated, having gain a sense of freedom in their lives that was not there before. All of them also embarked on new life paths that they had not even considered in a million years. And very happily so.
So, we can speculate that new artistic venues will open up for Steven Tyler.
It should not be too long before we see the first signs of this new endeavor (with his memoirs coming out). With an Aries sun, it will certainly be new and pioneering.

Wisewebwoman said...

You speak of a strange world to me, T, as you know, not owning a TV set for nigh on 19 years now.
I do wonder sometimes about the failures and their life trajectories afterwards. Anyone who would expose themselves to such an intense, brutal scrutiny would live in chronic disappointment/depression surely?
I don't think it healthy at all.
XO
WWW

Twilight said...

Astrology Unboxed (Fabienne)~~

It does indeed.

Ah - I'm glad you have some real-life experiences to relate regarding this Uranus transit. Thanks!

When Uranus transited my own Sun back in the mid 1990s it tended to be disruptive, but in the end what happened turned out to be "for the best", I guess. But Uranus is the ruler of Aquarius Sun and perhaps he has more intense "lessons" to offer to his own. ;-)

I'm very interested to see whether ST will "evolve" in some way, in the near future. I'm betting on it!

Twilight said...

Wisewebwoman ~~~ I think that if these young people have show-biz "in their blood" they will survive, come what may. Failures are part of their learning curve.
If they don't have that true strain of show-biz though, and only a need for attention, then some will suffer from the rejection for a while, but I think most will get over it and find other projects to satisfy their passions.

Healthy ? Dunno, but I guess it's no different from a thousand other things young people like to experiment with. All as a part of growing up.

Shawn Carson said...

hi twilight,
thanks for the cool story and horoscope of steve tyler who is the most pleasant surprise of this year's idol show. i consider myself a fan of his and i read a biography about aerosmith written by a former manager.
the biggest surprise to me is his level of engagement and interest in each performance. he exudes sincerity and i would credit this to the likely sextile from natal moon to jupiter.
he also has plenty of physical energy and staying power in his long career despite a high level of toxic influences from lots of illicit drugs for years and years and that may be illustrated by the conjunction of natal mars, saturn and pluto. this also may be the reason for his stubborn streak.
he is a fascinating person and i would love to meet him, but will not be trying out for his show.

Twilight said...

Shawn Carson ~~~ Hi there!
thanks for you extra astrological points - much appreciated.

Yes, I feel the same about Steven Tyler. I'll be watching for his book later this year - it should be a good read!

Stacey5271 said...

I have been more than impressed with his sincerity and interest as well. It's given me a whole new respect for the rockers of the world. I always imagined these groups as a group of guys that just wanted to play and worked hard enough to be successful. Obviously the band members who play instruments have talent enough to play, and I figured these singers were more just lucky to find talented musicians to match their gift of voice. But ST has proven that he not only has the voice, but he understands it and can lead others to understand theirs.

What I also find interesting is that this is at least his 2nd career rebirth. Aerosmith was considered a has-been when Run DMC re-invigorated them. They went on to even more success then. You could say that path has wound down, and here he is coming back yet again. I love seeing how re-invention plays out in people's lives.

Twilight said...

Stacey5271 ~~ Hello there!

Good points! Yes! Though I do suspect that all rockers are not the same. Steven may well have extra potential, outside of performing and being the consummate showman, that others of his musical genre don't have.

I was very surprised at the producers' choice of Steven as a judge when it was first announced.
Someone in the production team perhaps knew him well and sensed his potential - my guess.

Yes, personal re-invention is a fascinating topic.

:-)

Vanilla Rose said...

Last year's "X Factor" in the UK was refreshingly devoid of "sob stories". The eventual winner has a missing kidney, but I don't recall that ever being mentioned on the programme. (I have occasionally posted comments to friends with seemingly encyclopaedic knowledges of pop music: do they know of any other mono-renal artists. No answer yet.)

I have occasionally seen "American Idol". Mr Tyler looks a little like the actor Jeff Kober, who has had so many small roles in so many different series. (He, plus Jane Lynch, plus Alan Dale, are currently my top 3 "goodness, they've been in nearly every series I've ever watched and I didn't even notice" actors.)

I suppose that since Mr Tyler is Liv Tyler's father, that makes him a grandfather.

I eventually found the info I was looking for on John Ritter (it's on my memory stick, which is not here).

Twilight said...

Vanilla Rose ~~~ Sob stories have become a staple ingredient of American Idol - I suppose the producers think it makes the ontestants seem more "real".

A good comment I saw the other day was that "American Idol is a reality show about a talent competition."

Yes Steven T. will be a Grandpa, odd as it seems. He seemd very subdued and serious on last night's results show, hardly spoke at all....perhaps fighting the 'flu or something. And one of the most popular contestants is in hospital, again. Seems the pace is even harder this season than in previous years, and might be getting to those with weak spots.

Vanilla Rose said...

Matt, who won the "X Factor", struggled with tonsilitis in the final week or two, although I don't recall the kidney being mentioned. I only found out about it when I accidentally googled something about his having hidden his middle class background.

I don't think he hid it. He said that he had been working as a painter and decorator before he auditioned, which seems to be true. He also said that he was from Essex. Maybe it is supposed that no middle class people inhabit the county of Essex.

I found the quote about John Ritter for you. From "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer: The Watcher's Guide" by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder, with Keith R A DeCandido, Pocket Books, New York, 1998. Interview with stunt co-ordinator Jeff Pruitt, page 280:

"Of his favourite moments on the set, Jeff says there is one that doesn't have anything to do with stunts or fighting. That would be working with John Ritter.

"'Ted' is not a great fighting episode," he says. "But I enjoyed John Ritter. Now there was a nice guy to work with. He was so sick that day,
[with stomach flu - see page 237; interview with JR which begins on page 235]and he brought me my pads back all separated neatly and put in little plastic bags and he gave them back to me. No one had ever done that before. They usually just rip them off and fling them. I have never met a guy like that before, he is so great. He's super."

Twilight said...

Vanilla Rose ~~~ I'm not a bit surprised that some of the contestants get sick during the months of stress and excitement.
It's a sudden change of lifestyle for most of them, who've up to now been 9 to 5 ers - or at least have had fairly standard lifestyles.
although being thrown into constant rehearsals, photoshoots, making commercials, etc. etc. is what they've dreamed of, the tensions and stresses, probably unrealised at the time, have to take a toll on some of them.

That's a lovely quote about John Ritter. We were obviously right about him being a super guy.
Gone far, far, too soon.

Anonymous said...

Steven Tyler's birth time is 11:18 PM according to Astrotheme.com which gives him a 12th house Scorpio Sun and Sagittarius rising. Astrotheme has thousands of celebrity charts.

Brian

Twilight said...

Brian ~~~ Thank you for that! It fits him well too!

Anonymous said...

Ooops. I meant 12th house Scorpio Moon and yes, 12th house Scorpio Moon fits his emotional intensity and sensitivity as well as a 4th house Aries Sun. Lots of intensity and sensitivity all around.

Brian

Anonymous said...

Double oops! Moon in Scorpio in the 11th house! I have a hard time reading the chart style on Astrotheme.