Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

I recognise his talent but I was never much of a fan.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

Ditto. I only recognize two of his songs. We lived in the US for 18 years and hardly heard anything about him. Very surprised that for the last two days the news networks have hardly broadcast anything else.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

When someone's music doesn't appeal to us at first they can be easily overlooked even if they are a seminal influence on the genre. Different strokes, etc.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

It's the damn Princess Diana effect. Now the entire world has to mourn someone regardless of how important they were to their lives.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

:nod:

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

That name works for English princesses, but they certainly didn't invent celebrity, Diana's death and the controversy surrounding it is still a topic whereas hubub over Prince's death and the fanfare will be over in no time. The funk & soul music market is millions of listeners so of course it's in the news. Frank Sinatra's death was big news and he was ancient and died of old age. Saturday Night Live has dedicated the whole of tonight's show to just replaying Prince's 3 decades of performances on SNL with Jimmy Fallon as mc . One thing that is telling about people's reactions is the number of tributes from other musicians who either considered him an important influence on their music or who simply recognised his talent. When Ricky Skaggs dies there will no doubt be special programs for weeks showcasing his music, comparing him to Bill Monroe, and talking about his career and his impact on the history of bluegrass and gospel music. When Keith Richards finally pops a clog they'll talk about that too, and specious rumours of drug abuse will no doubt arise. The Princess Diana Effect should be reserved for celebrities who are not only famous, but have become sympathetic characters who have world-wide appeal, Prince was just another talented musician and song writer. I wasn't a fan of David Bowie or his music either but it was no surprise that his fans wouldn't shut up about him dying for weeks.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

There's also a news/media led agenda that whips up hysteria. News has become entertainment. However, as that BBC article pointed out, there will be plenty of clog popping over the next decade, do maybe the media will have to tone things down or risk fatiguing audiences.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

Something similar in the telegraph too I believe.

More people famous (albeit seemingly a looser measure of fame these days, perhaps) more famous people dying would account for a gradual increase rather than the dramatic one.

Not only that, many of those this year have been much younger than usual.

Of course, if there are more celebs, then even with the same proportion of early deaths there will be more early deaths to report.

But the question of why so many this year isn't answered by "just more celebs" point.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

Could it have anyting to do with the lifestyle many led. The 60's and 70's were quite different in that respect.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

All those points are valid, and when you add in the factor of coincidence it almost explains it. DavelovesDee's party lifestyle theory contributes a share as well, though historically it always has since success and excess go so well together. There are a variety of hard drugs that can weaken the heart over time, along with booze and cigarettes and the entertainers I know who used to party all night back in the 80's have nearly all cleaned up their acts because you just can't tour like that and stay alive, very well or very long, but in some cases the damage was done.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

Yes it could but a lifestyle issue over two decades is likely to affect a two decade period later.

What has prompted the topic - not here but in other media - is how the total this year (much more) has compared to last year, the year before...that sort of thing.

Unless someone is practising voodoo or something, coincidence - a freak - is a likely explanation.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

Here's another baby boomer celeb death. I hadn't heard of this person but some of you may have:

Papa Wemba, Congo music star, dies after stage collapse - BBC News

S

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

Never heard of him....but...my husband says he was pretty damned good and popularized the "African Sound"...so RIP.

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

Man agonises over whether to mourn Victoria Wood or Prince on Facebook


:rofl:

Re: Celebrity Croakers 2016
 

Sesame Street mourns as Bert from Bert & Ernie wrongly donated to charity shop


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