We all know him.
Oh, maybe not by his face. Or even his real name. But we know him.
By his work.
Around the world. All us kids. You remember his stories. And his rhymes. His times. His rhymes. His times.
Tag Archives: composer artisan
Tactician's Redemption
Though the 54th annual Grammy awards did indeed have a somber undertone with the tragic death of magnificent songstress Whitney Houston: life as we all know it does in fact go on. And so it did for rising British pop star Adele, who took home six trophies including the prestigious trifecta of record, song and album of the year. The young British recording artist also gave a triumphant performance of her hit single “Rolling in the Deep” after having had recent vocal cord surgery. Other notable Grammy events include Katy Perry’s fiery post-breakup performance done of course with blue hair, and Nicki Minaj’s extremely bizarre and god awful ‘exorcism’ themed performance that was subsequently deemed blasphemous by the Catholic Church. Luckily Paul Mccartney closed the night off with some dignity performing some of Abbey Road with Bruce Springsteen and some others. Adele’s acceptance speech was brief, commenting that the album was inspired by something that we have all experienced: a ‘rubbish relationship’. And let’s be honest, nothing cures heartbreak like searing hot success. I don’t know who her ex is but let’s assume he’s having second thoughts about his decision right about now. Indeed Adele’s album sounds pretty good if you’ve ever experienced heartbreak, and we all have, so let’s take a look at this talented singer and songwriter from Tottenham.
Complicated Logistics
Yet another “Hollywood Power Couple” has fallen victim to the devastating effects of real life as luminescent supermodel Heidi Klum and hopelessly-romantic singer Seal have officially announced a divorce after seven wonderful years of marriage and four children. The tragic split seems to be extremely amicable as “the operative here is that we are civil to each other and we both have a tremendous amount of respect and love and we try and do this with as much dignity as we possibly can”. After seven long years certain mathematicians might argue that Seal was stricken with the infamous “seven year itch”. One would think that marrying a girl who many consider one of the most beautiful women on this planet would save you from a stupid “seven year itch” but some people are just downright greedy. Shame on you, Seal. While the couple has no intention of airing out it’s dirty laundry reports say Seals’ temper was a “deal breaker” for the young German model and entrepreneur. Whatever the source of conflict lets hope for the best and take a closer look at this formerly adorable Hollywood Power Couple.
Heidi Klum is a German model, actress, television host, businesswoman, fashion designer, and television producer. Heidi’s modeling career skyrocketed quite early, as she won a national modeling contest over 25,000 contestants before graduating high school. After graduating, Klum accepted a modeling contract over seeking an apprenticeship at a fashion design school. Klum’s success as a model is astounding, having graced the covers of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and Sports Illustrated among others. Klum is perhaps best known for being host, judge, and executive producer of Lifetime’s Project Runway, as well as being a Victoria’s Secret Angel and hosting the Victorias Secret Fashion Show on four different occasions. Indeed Klum is “without peer as master of ceremonies” and makes for an “outstanding hostess”. Extremely hard-working, adorably sentimental, outstandingly personable, and highly accommodating Heidi Klum is undoubtedly a Provider Guardian. With four children, a TV show, modeling gigs, make-up and fashion lines, and now a divorce Heidi Klum certainly has a lot on her plate. No temperament is better equipped however, as “these Providers take their role as family provider seriously, in both a material and moral sense. They provide a sound and safe home, good food, nice clothes, and a store of possessions”.
Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (born 19 February 1963 in Paddington, London, England), popularly known simply as Seal , is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background. Seal has won four Grammy Awards for his music, and is best known for his single “Kiss From a Rose”. A hopeless romantic, Seal proposed to Heidi in a quinzee he built on a glacier in Whistler, British Columbia. Every year during their marriage Seal and Klum renewed their vows on their anniversary with their close friends and family. “Each year, Heidi and I get remarried. It’s a great party, but for about an hour, we go off on our own down to a private beach. We sit there with the kids and read vows to each other as the sun sets. It’s a very special moment to us.” Highly romantic, a very talented singer and song-writer, extremely compassionate, and very private Seal is undoubtedly a Composer Artisan. Indeed Seal is (was) constantly serenading his wife in a very romantic fashion, as “if Composers find a medium of expression, some art form, then they will express their character quite eloquently via that medium”. Seal was also a family man, as “these friendly and soft-spoken Artisans tend to seek a safe anchorage in their home and family”. “With their children, as with their mates, Composers are great friends and mates, though they can be hard to get to know, and their reserve can be a barrier to close relations”.
The most stable and satisfying marriages for Artisans are with Guardians. Not only do Artisans and Guardians both make their home in the concrete world, but the complementarity of their natures seems to fill a void in each temperament. Here is the adventurous, fun-loving SP, bursting with energy and yearning for the excitement of new experiences, attracted to the concerned and responsible SJ, the Rock of Gibraltar standing watch over the established rules and traditions of society. In many ways the match seems incongruous and difficult to account for, and yet the frequency with which SPs choose to marry SJs is compelling. Perhaps seeking the stability they lack, perhaps wanting some missing center to their lives perhaps just needing someone to take care of them—whatever the reason, Artisans choose marriage with Guardians by far over any other temperament.
Please Understand Me II, p. 220
When I first met Seal he had a kindness and compassion that was so sincere I knew he’d be a good father. Bit it wasn’t until Leni was born and we had out three other children that I grasped what a great dad he is. He has infinite amounts of love and patience for our kids,” Klum added. “He puts me and the children first.
Family, my wife and children, that’s my reason for being. Everything is done with them in mind, so perhaps that’s the reason this new album is up-tempo. It does feel like a celebration of life. I am finally in a content and happy place to the point where I feel like I need to sing about it. It’s made me want to address things that are close to home.
- —Seal
The Steel Mask
“The Steel Mask” refers to the Guardians’ incredible ability to disguise themselves with the passions/interests/attitudes typically associated with one of the other three temperaments. Indeed many Guardians are often mistaken for other temperaments strictly because of the career paths and recreational activities that they have chosen in their lives. Statistically speaking however, Guardians are by far the most numerous temperament and certainly abound in all professions and hobbies. Certainly a Guardian can come to enjoy ANY profession or passion, and brings hard-work and dedication to the enterprise. Guardian’s are the unsung heroes of society and simply put: many Guardians are not given credit for being Guardians.
Artisans and Guardians both live in the concrete world of what is going on around them. Both Artisans and Guardians together dominate most social realms and most of society for that matter. As a result both temperaments learn a great deal from one another. Guardians greatly admire they’re Artisan cousins ability to throw caution to the wind and live life to the fullest, and often emulate such behavior with astounding accuracy. As a result many Guardians find themselves in professions that are typically associated with the Artisan, and yet fit in surprisingly well.
Idealists and Guardians both share a concern for society and for the morality of behavior, a wish to do right and to help other people. And thus many Guardians and Idealists find themselves in similar professions, ones that deal with gracefully managing and dealing with people. Indeed many Guardians choose Diplomacy in one way or another as their passion in life, and thus often blend in quite well with Idealists and their professions.
Rationals and Guardians share a lot of similarities in the way they approach their professional lives. Guardians are comfortable with the Rationals’ skeptical attitude and obsession with their work, which seem very much like their own pessimism and sense of duty, and they often admire the NT’s ingenuity. Guardians too, excel in the Rationals’ primary realm of science, as good science requires discipline and dedication. Certainly Guardians are everywhere, but at times can be difficult to identify.
Tactical Humility
Taylor Swift took home three trophies at the 39th Annual American Music Awards including the top honor Artist of the Year. I know, right? What a bunch of idiots. It was the second time in three years she had been given the AMA’s top honor, and the fourth year in a row she’s won Favorite Country Album. Taylor emphasized the fact that she did not expect to win the Artist of the Year Award and I think it’s safe to say that nobody did. There was obviously some sort of huge mix-up and they just rolled with it. Nicki Minaj was also a big winner, while Katy Perry was honored with a special award for being the first woman in history to have five #1 singles from the same album (Teenage Dream). David Hasselhoff brang his idiocy to the table with an appearance in the finale performance by LMFAO. On winning Taylor commented “this is just crazy” and “I really can’t believe that it happened”. Neither can we Taylor. Neither can we. The “award darling” went three for three at the AMA’s and is starting to be the target of criticism for continually acting overwhelmingly surprised during her acceptance speeches. We get it Taylor. You’re a good songwriter. Get over it. Joking aside Taylor Swift is a very talented and humble artist so let’s go ahead and take a look at T Swizzle a.k.a. Tay Tay fo Shay Shay.
Taylor Alison Swift was born on a christmas-tree farm in an obscure town in Pennsylvania, and since early childhood has showed an exceptional talent for poetry, music, and writing. Her artistic talents blossomed quite early, as she won a national poetry contest in the fourth grade, and wrote a 350-page novel at the age of 12. After learning to play the guitar, Taylor had found her passion and started devoting most of her time to singing and songwriting. Taylor admittedly got picked on in school, and used songwriting to express her emotions as an outlet for the pain of not fitting in. After her family moved to Nashville, Tennessee, Taylor was able to display her talents and quickly became recognized. Her breakout single “Tim Mcgraw” was the first of many hits, while “Love Story” subsequently shoved her into the national spotlight. Highly emotional, musically harmonic, adorably sensitive and gracefully timid Taylor Swift is undoubtedly a Composer Artisan. Composers (like Taylor) “prefer to have their fingers on their compositional tools and through them feel the pulse of life”. Indeed Taylor speaks almost exclusively through her music, as when Composers “find a medium of expression, some art form, then they will express their character quite eloquently via that medium”.
“Although Composers often put long, lonely hours into their compositions, we must not assume that they are working on their art in the sense of careful planning and dutiful execution. On close observation, ISFPs prove to be just as impulsive as other Artisans. Indeed, they covet their impulses and see them as the center of their lives. They do not wait to act or to consider their moves, for to wait is to see their impulse wither and die; rather, they live intensely in the here and now, and as gracefully as possible, with little or no planning or preparation. Submergence in their artistry is not preparation for something later, and neither is it artful play, such as Crafters engage in with their tools. Composers are seized by the act of artistic composition, as if caught up in a whirlwind. The act is their master, not the reverse, and, in a sense, the doing is elicited by the action itself. ISFPs paint or sculpt, they dance or skate, they write melodies or recipes—or whatever—simply because they must. They climb the mountain because it is there.” Please Understand Me II, p. 73
Taylor‘s newest album Speak Now was released October 25th and is available on iTunes.
People haven’t always been there for me but music always has.