Animosity Unfounded

I am sure many of us at some time have met a complete stranger and thought ‘ I don’t like you’. It’s nothing they’ve said, or not said, not necessarily the way they look, but just ‘something’ you pick up on at that initial meeting that immediately makes you feel uncomfortable and on your guard.

When my mother-in-law died, I remember the family telling me not to like my father-in-law’s bride to be. I’d never met her, knew absolutely nothing about her, yet because of a case of really lousy and insensitive timing (he had announced his engagement less than three months after being widowed) her fate was sealed and the family divided. For my part, although I could understand their hurt, my logic was that at close to 60 years of age, they should have felt happy for him to have found someone to ‘take him on’ thus relieving them of any sense of duty. It was not a close family anyway, certainly not through the time their mother was ill, yet suddenly they all had principles and this poor woman was made to suffer their hostility. Although I had deliberately kept an open mind, the family ganged up on me too and whilst this was not the reason for it, my marriage failed shortly thereafter.

Taking that to another level, how then can I explain my utter and utmost dislike for someone I have never met, nor am likely to, yet this individual manages to put my back up at the mere mention of his name. He’s done absolutely nothing to me personally and knows nothing of my existence. We’re not even the same star sign, so it’s totally irrational, unjust, unfair and unfounded, but a fact nonetheless. I simply do not like him.

Being a member of a male group some 50 odd years ago, he and his buddies hit the big time and took the world by storm. As with all music then, there was plenty of variety to choose from and I liked some of theirs. To me though, it was another member of the group that was the talent and backbone of their success, not this particular gentleman. If you look him up on WIKI there are pages and pages of his achievements, musical ability in multiple instruments, talent, accolades and successful business ventures. It is undisputed that he has written and co-written some classic ballads and songs over the years, and I am not taking that away from him, but in short, I just can’t stand the guy! The big question is WHY? And I don’t have an answer.

Perhaps it was his declaration in the early 70s that he was Jesus, even growing a beard and his hair, then walking around in a long white sheet and open sandals that did it. (I will add here that I am not a particularly religious person, but do not knock anyone’s faith or beliefs) . I was still at school,  so Jesus Christ Superstar and Godspell were in the headlines, though he wasn’t in either as far as I recall. Perhaps I misunderstood at the time and he was auditioning for the part. I don’t know.

In later years when the band split up, he was extremely successful, making mega zillions by being everywhere with his finger apparently in every pie. I got sick and tired of hearing his name and seeing his fissog in every newspaper or magazine. The media have their ‘victims’,  from politicians to fashion designers to pop stars, football heroes and royalty, yet even with their negative publicity and verbal attacks, none have had the same effect on me as this chap. It would appear he does a lot for charity, so he’s ticking all the right boxes for being a good egg and doing his bit for society and humanity. That’s not to be knocked either, but it still doesn’t affect my feelings for him.

In 1977 he had a massive hit with one of the most tedious and mundane songs I have ever heard. It is DIRE (in my opinion) and holds pole position in my top three pet hate records of the last century (Karma Chameleon in 1983 and Under Your Thumb in 1981 being the other two) . His latest album has entered the charts in the top 5, but if his current single is anything to go by, it is just a rewrite of countless of his others with a couple of extra notes thrown in for good measure.

Recently, he did a live radio concert and I forgot to avoid it. I heard half a song, realised who it was and immediately switched off. On his own, he is dreadful live. Every radio programme since has had at least one song from said live concert, and I have therefore changed stations until at least Christmas, as a week after the event, they are still advertising it for re-runs and playlists.

No doubt there are millions of fans who’ll want me hung, drawn and quartered for my opinion, but that’s all this is, my opinion. I’m allowed to voice it, and don’t expect others to follow suit.

We can’t all worship or adore the same people, the same as we can’t dislike people purely because someone tells us to. This successful, obscenely rich and talented man is probably very nice and loved by his family, friends and fans alike. Sadly, I’m just not one of them, so….. SORRY.

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