The Curse of the Musical Legends

By Elaine Sihera
Among my friends on MySpace are four of Bob Marley's children, one son for John Lennon and one daughter of Nat King Cole. What is becoming patently obvious to me is that neither of these rich, wealthy and talented children will ever be 'legends' like their fathers, no matter how hard they work and how desperately they wish to make their own name. They will always be hovering just over the sea of mediocrity while being judged every step by their father's fame. Dad will always be hanging around like a sweet smell to remind them of their position. Right throughout history, children of legends seem able to bask in their glory and are given a clear path to their own success, like succession to a royal lineage. But they seem unable to improve on that parent's contribution or supersede them in their success. And I think I know what could be holding some of them back.
Bob Marley had 13 children, all of them sharing in a huge inheritance from their father which grows relentlessly each year, averaging $7 million annually, with him being the most famous reggae artist on earth. His sons have enjoyed their own music studio where they can do whatever they like ever since they were teenagers. The result is that four have emerged as real talents: Damian Marley (who is likened to his Dad and is affectionately called 'Junior Gong'), with his own racy pop style, Stephen, Ky-Mani and Ziggy, all different in their own musical renditions and all eagerly competing to wear Marley's musical crown. Damian certainly looks like his father but it is Ziggy who sounds like him.
Too Close for ComfortZiggy is the oldest with a cracking voice and should have eclipsed his brothers ages ago. However, while he has a solid fan base, one can sense that he is not regarded as exciting as the others, as he is not mentioned as often. Alas, Ziggy Marley might not realise this, but he suffers from the same problem as Julian Lennon - they both sound too much like their fathers and so create some conflicting dissonance in their listeners. Listen to both of them sing and you get goosepimples hearing their voices. But the public doesn't quite like that. It is too close for comfort without providing the original article.
In fact, the public has an ambivalent attitude towards such children. They would give anything to have Marley or Lennon back and secretly hope the offspring can continue to deliver in the same vein. But when they oblige, they perhaps sound too much like Dad, which confuses the audience and irritates them instead. The end result is that, had their Dads not been so legendary, their voices would have made their own impact. But how can you better Bob Marley or John Lennon's voice and style? You can't, so it is best to build up your own style, which Damian and Ky-Mani, in particular, seem to have succeeded in doing. Yet, in true competitive form, children will always try to imitate or outdo their parents, and famous ones are even more so.
Like a king, Bob Marley has bequeathed a huge legacy to his sons. They are like gods and princes for the fans they have, mainly through the magical Marley name. However, they have to fight harder for their place in the music world than lesser mortals. While their money can give them most of what they desire, the Marley name will only carry them so far before they find out what a millstone it could be for them. After all, being given a head start by their father, they will never be certain if they would have made it without that famous name. The Marleys all have their own little dynasties just now, each competing fiercely for that elusive musical legacy. But the ultimate Marley crown will never be theirs because their father's impact is too strong. Just take one look on MySpace and it is clear, from the members' choices, that the boys are not really competing against each other. They are actually competing against their father who is still very much in the running. No contest there. In essence we love the sons and are fascinated by them, as they represent a part of the Old Man, but it's the dad we really want and, even worse, who we use to judge their actions.
Basking in the ShadowsNatasha Cole is no different. No matter how talented she is, just like Nancy Sinatra, they will always be hanging behind their famous fathers, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. Being women too, they are almost expected to stay in the background, basking in Dad's shadow, real success being perennially elusive for them. They are never expected to measure up. Unlike Julian Lennon and the Marley boys, they are perceived in a different way. Being women, they're good, but that's it. They're not expected to surpass their fathers. Their aspirations, and talent, are never seen to be in competition with their dads at all, though the legacy has ensured them some success.The trouble with all those siblings and their legendary dads is that the children are not really expected to do anything spectacular because their fathers have already attained immortality.
Becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, the curse of the legendary parent inevitably ensures that there is only one legend from each family. Everyone else who follows them, no matter how great their talent, will always fall just short of perfection and be consigned to the footnotes of history.
ELAINE SIHERA (Ms Cyprah - http://www.myspace.com/elaineone) is an expert author, media contributor and columnist. The first Black graduate of the OU and a post-graduate of Cambridge University. Elaine is a CONSULTANT for Diversity Management, Personal Empowerment and Relationships. Author of: 10 Easy Steps to Growing Older Disgracefully; 10 Easy Steps to Finding Your Ideal Soulmate!; Money, Sex & Compromise and Managing the Diversity Maze, among others (available on http://www.amazon.co.uk). Also the founder of the British Diversity Awards and the Windrush Men and Women of the Year Achievement Awards. She describes herself as, "Fit, Fabulous, Over-fifty and Ready to Fly!"
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