Cher. One word evokes so much meaning. Pop icon. Academy Award winning actress. Fashionista. In a career spanning almost six decades, Cher has most certainly done it all. At the age of 71 she remains as fierce as ever and in male and female opinions, a pure icon.
Be it on stage or in paparazzi photographs as she walks down the street, Cher exudes confidence and embodies the modern terminology of slaying it.
However, by her own admission in interviews and during her latest run of shows in Las Vegas, Cher is open about the fact that she has never really fit in during the course of her professional career.
By pairing with Sonny in both music and on television, it was clear from early on in her career that Cher would push boundaries. In terms of fashion, Cher left little to the imagination, bearing all she could within reason, much like her music at that time.
So, by the time Cher arrived in Hollywood and began bagging supporting and leading roles in movies, she was already an ‘other’.
Big actresses at the time like Meryl Streep, had one creative outlet, movie making, as did many others- at this time there weren’t many J-Los around. By choosing to do both, Cher put a lot of people out. The actors thought she belonged with the musicians and the musicians thought she should stick with the actors. In other words, she needed to stay in one lane.
As true artists do they take their struggles and create art and this particular pain can be heard through her music where songs like Half Breed and Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves speak of an inability to blend in and a palpable sense of difference.
In the most outward display of her strength, and to her credit, Cher continued to dip her toes in both pools. Forging a decorated acting career while holding her mantle as the original Queen of music.
Following in her controversial nature, the Turn Back Time film clip, while today revered as one of the most iconic film clips of all time, was labelled inappropriate by the industry. Despite showcasing amazing vocals and her one of a kind almost-but-not-quite raspy voice, MTV relegated playback of the film clip to only night hours.
Constantly pushing the boundaries and redefining her art, Cher released Believe in 1998, opening her music up to a whole new generation and genre of fans. Playing with the dance/electronica genre, Cher became a hit in clubs and buoyed by the success of the album, announced a string of 325 tour dates for her first farewell tour.
However, a voice as timeless, raw and unique as Cher’s couldn’t be silenced as she signed up for Las Vegas shows at the Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace- made famous by Celine Dion.
At the age of 71 Cher still performs on stage like she is 40. Perfectly choreographed numbers play second fiddle only to hearing Cher belt out the notes in All or Nothing.
And, if you think Cher is doing it for the money? Well, you couldn’t be further from the truth. In a recent interview with Andrew Denton, Cher said the simple fact that fans still want to see her perform gives her the fuel to get out there night after night and showcase a broad range of her greatest hits.
Cher has, during her long career, mastered the art of remaining timeless. Having created a catalogue of songs based on the foundation of raw, meaningful and inspiring lyrics, she will in turn have a fan base that is never ending.
Tactical career moves, like an upcoming role in Mamma Mia 2 and pure artistry as displayed in her catalogue of songs spanning six decades, will ensure that Cher’s upcoming Australian arena tour will sell out in minutes when tickets go on sale.
While early in her career Cher must have questioned what the ridicule she received for stepping outside of her singing roots was all for, in 2018, it has cemented her place as an icon. Her inability to fit the mold of one type of star has seen her become a gay icon, an activist, a respected actress and one of the most successful singers of all time.
In music there are a handful of legends who have shaped and contributed to music more than words could do justice and, sadly, some of them have died in past years. While Cher is still alive, it is only just that she is celebrated as the icon she is- as witnessed in her Mardi Gras performance in March.
As long as Cher continues to be an embodiment of female confidence and an inspiration to people across all walks of life, one can never get sick of hearing a Cher song come on the radio, or pass up the privilege to hear a bona fide icon perform live.
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