4 April

The attraction of fame is in another word for it - recognition. It’s being recognised, in an otherwise anonymous world that doesn’t care about you. Paul McCartney spoke about this, how fame appeals because it makes a person feel validated, for who they are. A very intimate, personal thing. Something everybody wants. Fame doesn’t deliver this though, because people recognise and adore an image of the person, not them personally. It puts an even greater barrier between them and the rest of the community. Imagine being a Beatle and trying to live a normal life. Impossible. The famous often end up feeling more isolated and alone than ordinary people. McCartney in public is often noted to seem aloof, a bit cold. I’m sure it’s just a protective mechanism, to save his own sanity, to not just be the Beatle everybody wants a piece of. Attractive men and women are often the same, to discourage constant attention. Harrison hated fame, despised it. Most of our lives is pretty simple behaviour. We just want somebody to notice us, to appreciate us for who we are. To get ‘likes’. Fame (and likes) is a terrible way to achieve that, it does the opposite.