Just Ugly Enough For Stardom

I've been thinking about the chicken and the egg.

Or rather, the rock star and their popularity.  Which comes first, looking like a rock star or actually having the talent to be one?  My guess is that it's different for every person.  As we all know, there are bands that look like rock stars but, in fact, are about as musically inclined as my cat.  That is, not very much.  Some examples of these people:

Age has not been kind to these men.  Neither was the music industry.  Actually, neither was the reality TV industry.

A true hero of Sports Half Time entertainment.

This is my cat Ellie.  She looks like a rock star but is not actually musically inclined.  Also she's adorable.

Then again,

Some of the best artists I can think of definitely look the part.  I wonder if looking this way gave them the confidence to perform music and live their lives as celebrities, or their dress was just a by-product of what they had already produced.  A few of my favorite looks are these:

If you listen to When the Levee Breaks and then look at this picture, it's obvious that they are doing exactly what they should be doing, and marketing themselves accordingly.

Beyonce. This goes without saying.  She would have talent without her looks, but do her looks and style help develop her talent?  Or does the talent evolve on its own?

David Bowie.  Ziggy Stardust. He is prime evidence that a stylized persona does affect a musician's evolution.  I just don't know whether one can exist without the other for most celebrities.

And then there are the underdogs.

 The ones who, despite all odds, convinced people that they were worthy of radio play.  They look like people we see in the car next to us at a stoplight.  They certainly can look like men we pass by at WalMart and wonder what they are doing with their lives.  But lo and behold, they are doing a lot with their lives without any help from makeup, hairspray, or jeans that really are just a little too tight.  These are the people that are a true marvel because they are in the business doing only one thing: making fantastic music out of nothing.  Here are some people that are notably normal, if you can believe it.

My love for this Ed Sheeran is no secret.  It's also no secret that he was asked to change his hair color in his early recording days.  I'm personally glad he didn't because...well for one he's endearing the way he is.  Also, he would look super creepy with any other hair color, similar to a vampire.

A true musical hero, Paul Simon really does look like my next door neighbor.

Phil Collins is the ultimate "normal" guy.  However, I learned today that this is his daughter...

So now we know he's good for at least 2 things: being a kickass musician and making surprisingly gorgeous offspring.  

Lastly...

The men of Radiohead.  It is obvious that over the years they actively decided not to become a product of the Top 40 charts.  They are who they are, even if that is slightly scary middle aged men who have incidentally won multiple grammys.  I can vibe with that.

So, that is basically how I group stars when I see pictures of them.  I think it is a rare and beautiful thing when a celebrity looks normal.  I am aware that there are many more people that would fit wonderfully into this post, and commentary is welcomed!