When I say Howard, who comes to mind?
In history there has been a short list of people whose first name, nickname, or adopted single name forever became their possession. Surely you recognize all of these people --
- Napoleon
- Adolf
- Abraham
- Diana
- Prince
- Madonna
- Sting
- Shaq
- Aristotle
- Bono
- Cher
- Elvis
- Evita
- Elton
- Cleopatra
- Houdini
- Jesus
- Judas
- Liberace
- Magic
- Oprah
- Osama
- Pele
- Socrates
- Tiger
- Marilyn
- Rush
What are the attributes they all share?
-- A unique vision for their life's work or personal mission. In other words, they are/were all powerful brands.
-- They all acquired and retained significant power, fame, acclaim and/or wealth, albeit some posthumously. Although I don't know if the Greek philosophers ever collected residuals.
-- They all had tens, if not hundreds, of millions of loyal supporters/fans.
-- Their star burned bright for several decades. (Sorry Bailey, Beyonce just isn't there yet.)
Last names don’t count and most first names are just too common for this discussion. Morrison can stake just as much of a claim as Hendrix or Dean. Kennedy and Wayne would Duke it out over theirs.
Isn't it a crime that Ringo and Yoko are the ones associated with the Beatles that could even qualify.
So, don't peek. Do you remember whom I first asked about?
Those of you who said, "Stern" already proved my point. As for the rest of you please are you honestly going to say you thought of Koch, Dean, Cosell or Hughes?
Howard Stern is one of the most influential and iconic public personalities in the history of the world. If that seems to be a bit of hyperbole, let’s whittle it down just to the 20th & 21st centuries.
For those of you who are about to boycott, please give me a few hundred words to make the point.
Not "liking" someone isn’t what this little exercise is about -- either you thought of his name or not. Remember, I asked who “owns” their name? Last I checked, several members of this club didn't exactly make the world a better place but they do belong on the list. Is comparing Hitler to Stern ridiculous? Sure, but some of his detractors do just that. Talk about hyperbole.
So let’s take historical, political and demonic figures out of the mix.
Now it’s a study of pop culture - music, acting, sports. But Howard is “indecent” or bad for society? That’s what many said about Elvis (and the Beatles). You can find hundreds of newspaper articles from LA, Houston, Miami, Vancouver, etc dripping in venom over Elvis when his pelvis came thrusting onto the scene. One writer said any daughter who went to see Elvis should be "kicked in the teeth.”
This list doesn't consider someone’s personal morals either. Marilyn slept with more married men than Tiger did waitresses.
Notice who else is on the list? Rush. Not the Canadian rock band -- although their drummer Neal Peart is absolutely sick. When I hear Rush, I think Limbaugh. Don’t you? I personally hate the guy and everything he stands for but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t be on this list.
If you think only one (either) of these radio icons belongs, you have to agree to both.
My point was to identify people true icons. Maybe in 50 years there will have been a great basketball player named Elvis or a chart topping singer named Howard, but it’s unlikely.
A new topic -- why I think Howard Stern is brilliant -- but that will be in a few weeks.
