What is a fan? and whose on a Team?

 The music industry has many very talented artists that are admired by many people. Depending on who you talk to one may identify their self as a fan of, or on Team whomever. So what does make a fan? First of all lets look where the word “FAN” from…. Merriam-Webster, the Oxford dictionary and other recognized sources define it as a shortened version of the word fanatic, and the word did first become popular in reference to an enthusiastic follower of a baseball team. (Fanatic itself, introduced into English around 1550, means “marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense uncritical devotion”. It comes from the Modern Latin fanaticus, meaning “insanely but divinely inspired”. The word originally pertained to a temple or sacred place [Latin fanum, poetic English fane]. The modern sense of “extremely zealous” dates from around 1647; the use of fanatic as a noun dates from 1650.)

Fanatic, the word alone sounds crazy. No wonder a lot of people would rather say the are an admirer of a celebrity then a fan! When one hears the word FAN the image of screaming girls, and frantic scenes come to mind. Such as Beatlemania in the 60’s, The images of frantic screaming girls who have lost all sense of their selves, crying, and ripping and tearing at the Fab Four come to mind. It looks to be dangerous from any angle that you  look at it.

Female fans are far more scary than any other I have witnessed.   I was at an event where Chris Brown was attending, as he and other celebs were leaving everyone was standing on risers. some of us had places against a railing. I was one of those lucky railing spectators. As Chris Brown ran by to avoid being attacked by over zealous girls one female fan literally crawled onto my back just to TRY to get to Chris Brown. I was pushed over the railing and almost off the stairs completely, I looked right into the eyes of Mr. Brown and saw what he must have been feeling… A little surprised. But he couldn’t be more surprised than I was… I was about to fall on my head all because some girl lost her mind and used me as her personal ladder to Chris Brown. After he went into the area the stars were only allowed to go. Then the crazed girl climbed off my back. My son, who was standing next to me was worried that the girl would not only hurt me but push me over the railing. I was about maybe 5 to 10 feet off the ground.

Still these kinds of scenes happen at celebrity events every day. Michael Jackson wrote in his Biography that some times fans forget what they are doing and people did get hurt. He said he and his brothers were hurt numerous times during their careers. There are actual youtube videos of Michael being mobbed by fans. Many photos where his security has to block him off so he could get into his car without being attacked. He said he has had his hair ripped out by its roots by girls who just had to have a piece of him. Or even jewelry ripped off to the point of pain and bleeding. He described it as a form of love, but losing ones self in the moment.

And in recent history two baseball fans got into an altercation, which left one of them beaten so badly that he had to be hospitalized and the one who did the beating wanted by the law. Nothing and no one is worth all that. If someone insults your favorite celebrity or Team… it’s better to ignore them then to feed into what they are saying.

Team; Dictionary.com :

1. Sports & Games A group on the same side, as in a game.

2. A group organized to work together: a team of engineers.

                         Dedication of one kind or another brings about the terms which ever you wish to associate your self with. Chris brown fans, Much like Michael Jackson fans are well-meaning and do support their celebrity to the maximum. They know every word to every song, buy all the C.D’s and anything else they may do or have done. Most of them are pretty well-behaved and respectful. And actually care about the PERSON not just the star.

   Michael’s fans .. .the true fans. Stayed devoted to him and his music. They knew he would never harm anyone much less a child. Michael was a one of a kind and there will never be another like him. We all miss him so much every day. And the world seems so much smaller without him in it!

Back to subject… So now we have fans ( for a lack of a better word ) Calling their selves Teams.. such as Team Breezy,… Navy’s… Such as Rihanna Navy… Little Monsters… Lady GaGa fans… ect, ect.. All of them are pretty much the same thing they are all ardent fans of their beloved celebrities. They will buy their music and memorabilia, they will attend every concert if they can. They will go where ever they think the celebrity may be and even stand outside their homes hoping to get a glimpse at the one who is their focus.

So what are you? A Fan, or on a Team, a supporter, or an admirer? What ever you claim to be… it’s all the same FANDEMONIUM. And all these celebrities are where they are because of the Fans, Teams, Navy’s, Monsters, Admirers, or just one who appreciates.  Everyone is a fan. But it’s what you do in the name of being one that defines the kind of fan you are. After all  John Lennon had fans and he knew one day one would come up and just shoot him dead. He even mentioned this in an interview, Then in December 1980… his words came true. Mark David Chapman, walked straight up to Mr. Lennon and said “John Lennon” when John turned around Chapman shot him point-blank, John died shortly after. All in the name of being a Fan. This is a classic example of an obsessed fan. Chapman later said he wanted to be Lennon, so he killed him because that was the only way he could have the fame Lennon had. There are so many examples of fans gone way wrong. Obsession isn’t healthy and if your admiration for a celebrity starts to make you think irrationally you might want to re-think what you are possibly going to do all  in the name of being a FAN!

Yes one day Chris Brown will get married. But most likely it wont be to a fan. It will be to a young woman who has known him for a long time. Some one he trusts. But not a fan. When Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie, she was not a fan. She knew who he was, but she was not a fan. She came from money, and had her own as well. Michael knew she wouldn’t marry him for his money. And she didn’t. She never asked for a cent just the divorce. That was it! Though Debbie Rowe was admittedly a fan, she also knew Michael personally, He trusted her and she became the mother to two of his three children. Yes she did come into money after her divorce from Michael. Under California State laws, she was entitled to the money as she was married to him long enough to receive spousal support. Michael had full custody of the children, so she did not receive any child support . There are rumors that she struck a deal with Katherine Jackson to give her custody of  Prince and Paris, But according to Rowe and others no such money deal was made, Just signing of legal documents.

So if you are a fan… know you aren’t the only one. And know that these celebrities are flawed individuals, they make mistakes and they will marry people who most likely aren’t you. But to dream of the possibilities… That is your right. Me personally I am a Michael Jackson fan, yeah as a young teen girl I wanted to marry him, I even prayed for it. But it didn’t happen. He did his thing I moved on with my life and got married to someone else. And I have four great kids because of that marriage. I do remember that little wish I had as a young girl and the prayers I said. But then I did in fact like Wendy in Peter Pan…I grew up… so did my Peter Pan.

 I love Chris Browns music and his dancing abilities. His stage presence and his personality. He is funny and full of joy. He is so much fun to watch. I plan to see him in concert… and more than likely if I do I will get some crazed girl screaming in my ears, or trying to climb over me to get to him again… but it was fun before, so it will be again… I even laughed the first time.  It did scare me…. a little.

So who are you Fan, Team, Navy, Monster, Admirer, Supporter… You only can decide.