Not everyone in the world is a rock star

Bring AdFreak the head of whoever it was that started calling any exemplary person from any walk of life—technology to religion—a “rock star.” The term is so mis- and overused that it’s all but lost its meaning, and not simply because of the caffeine-laced energy drink of that name or the asinine 2001 movie loosely based on Judas Priest. (Jennifer Aniston as a metal girlfriend? Please!) This screamingly annoying term is used to describe everyone from Donny Deutsch to Carly Fiorina. Then, over the weekend, we actually heard Diane Sawyer refer to Pope John Paul II as the “rock star” of popes. Say what?! Real rock stars drink too much and do too many drugs and pay a lot of child support to women other than their wives. They have blistering conversations with accountants about royalties. They float in and out of rehab. They fight with former bandmates and brag about themselves. They lie to their fans. They laugh at other bands, especially ones selling more records. Does that sound like the Holy Father to you? And for the love of God, stop calling any corporate schmo in tassled loafers a rock star because he’s gotten a little publicity, or your pal Greg in accounts receivable a rock star because he made a good presentation to the regional manager. This man is a rock star. As is this one. Any questions?

—Posted by Celeste Ward

April 5, 2005 | Permalink