Musical Birthdays

Today is the birthday of Duffy, pop vocalist from Wales, UK. I wrote about her chart last November, see here.



It's also the birthday of Randy Jackson today (record producer, manager, musician, singer and American Idol judge); and Slash (Guns 'n Roses guitarist); the late Adam Faith (British pop singer); the late Stuart Sutcliffe (Beatles' guitarist); the late June Carter Cash, as well as several other musicians whose names are not as well-known.

Who's next for "the treatment"?

Randy Jackson.

Born 23 June 1956 in Baton Rouge LA. No birth time available so chart below is set for noon.






Hmmm ...his chart has a mix of planets in early and late degrees - not much in mid-sign. This will lead to some good integration, I guess.

His only Cancer placement is his Sun (unless it was his rising sign, but without time of birth that remains unknown). Cancer Sun is flanked by Uranus at the very beginning of Leo, with Pluto conjunct Jupiter at the end of the sign. On the other side of his Cancer Sun are Venus and Mercury in Gemini (Venus, planet of the arts, being conjunct Sun which represents the self). Natal Gemini and Leo emphasis is very helpful for those in show-biz. Love of limelight (Leo) and ease of communication (Mercury in Gemini) are necessary tools of the trade. Randy's natal Moon will be somewhere in early-ish Capricorn whatever his time of birth - he will have a well-grounded attitude and a good helping of business sense, which is obvious from his success as manager/producer in the cut-throat music business.

I like the way he has little runs of planets or asteroid in similar degrees,
e.g. 27* Leo/Libra/Scorpio.
10* Aquarius/Pisces/Gemini.
These throw up some helpful aspects, as well as a challenging square - but all in all I'd say they indicate a very well-integrated personality.

As one of the four American Idol judges, Randy comes across as non-egotistical, reasonable, down to earth, courteous, helpful and friendly - almost the opposite of the dreaded Simon Cowell.

Duffy

At Chez Twilight we have to be dragged kicking and screaming into the contemporary music scene. Saturday Night Live is just about the only time we experience music younger than vintage 1970s.

The latest artist to attract my attention, after a showing on SNL is Duffy. It was good to discover that she's from the UK - from Wales, actually. Most Americans are not aware that Wales is "The Land of Song", and just about all Welsh people can sing, and sing well. Duffy also writes her own songs which is a big, big plus. She already seems to be making a name on this side of the Atlantic, which is no small feat. Even Robbie Williams, so popular in the UK, didn't do too well on this side of the pond.

I suspect that Duffy is going to be one of the big stars of the next decade. Her voice is instantly recognisable, and she has a unique style. Watching her on SNL, for some reason I kept thinking of those pin-up illustrations from the mid 20th century. Oddly, at times, she even brought to mind the legendary Betty Boop - her gestures, poses, and the outfit she was wearing at the time all added to the image.

Anyway, let's have a look at Duffy's natal chart. No birth time available, so a 12 noon chart must suffice to show where personal and outer planets lay as she was born. We can't know her rising sign or exact Moon position, but Moon would have been somewhere in Aries unless she was born in the last few minutes of 23 June.

Born 23 June 1984 in Bangor, Wales, UK.




Hmmmm - here's a "see-saw" pattern chart.

Sun, Mercury and Venus form a tight stellium (cluster of planets) in Cancer, Moon somewhere in Aries, with the rest of the planets on the other side of the chart between Libra and Capricorn. Oppositions thrown up by this pattern possibly indicate a bit of an anomaly - in this context, someone who seeks success but also feels a need to fly from it. Three of the most personal planets in delicate, sensitive Cancer indicate to me that there's going to be an occasional need to withdraw from the pop-star circus. Her tough Aries Moon will stiffen her resolve to stick at her chosen career though. Mars and Saturn conjoined in Scorpio widely trine her Cancer planets and add a sexy and tough edge to emotionally sensitive Cancerian traits. Jupiter, from Capricorn, opposes the Cancer stellium and provides the kind of energy needed to do good business through publishing her undoubted talents.

Transiting Pluto will be opposing Duffy's Cancer stellium towards the end of next year and in early 2010. This isn't a bad transit for her, it'll provide further dynamic energy, but two things might emerge during that period - a power struggle of some kind, perhaps regarding record deals or management, and/or some health problems caused by stress and overwork. This seems even more likely as her career blossoms further. Wikipedia tells us:

"In September of 2008, Duffy mentioned that she was "on the borderline of a nervous breakdown" because of the pressure that fame has brought her. She also said that she had considered becoming a recluse, but eventually decided against the idea for the sake of her fans. Although acknowledging that most people do mean well, she finds it "scary" when people recognise her in the street, and has been fearful of her image possibly changing the person she truly is."

I do hope that her Cancerian instincts to withdraw occasionally from the dazzling spotlight and frazzling publicity will, in future, be heeded and acted upon during what are likely to be even more stressful times to come.

Here's part of her SNL performance: