miley cyrus: an example of the king david dynamic👑

Also, WhatsApp is the lamest app ever. It isn't slander, it's fact. My fact.

Heyooo! Happy Sunday. Hope you had a rad day. I tried to write this afternoon whilst cooking my Sunday Rice (more like concoction rice or is it sapa jollof?) but my hot plate be cooking like the world's about to end or something. Anyhoo, this newsletter is half a hundred subs and I'm grateful to the fifty-something of you consistently sticking with me and my thoughts. This means that we're left with less than fifty more subs to hit the 100 subscribers goal before the year ends and I'm glad. Keep sharing🎉🤗

---

I have a problem with WhatsApp! Well, not the app, but with the people using it, my contact list to be precise. Honestly though, sometimes I feel the app is just a farce. People can be quite disengaging and be more disconnected on the app (again, I feel like this is happening to me only but let me know if I'm not alone). Every day, it's the same cycle: Check for messages, check statuses, haha emojis, "send pls", swipe left/right, etc. This doesn't apply to you if you own a business on WhatsApp, you guys have real fun, I think. If the status feature was removed from the app, I don't think it'd be “interesting” as it is now.

I've been wanting to get off the app, not totally but just stop posting. Alas, for me, posting on WhatsApp is more of a reflex now or maybe it's a drug I don't know. There was a time when I made progress and then I ended up getting texts and face-to-face convos of people asking about my welfare, I barely post anymore, and they miss my posts. Bruh, maybe I don't have cell data! Buy me data🙄

This past week, I've been excessively posting. They think I'm back but it's really the last days of "Osakpolor's WhatsApp TV" 😂

My contact list. They can be quite boring. You post something and expect replies, and they view it (I think they do even though I have no evidence because I turned off read receipts) and don't even engage. Yes, like most of you reading this newsletter😔

I have a lot of nerve when they're most likely the majority of people reading this newsletter and sharing it with their friends. I still love you all (well, most of you😬 )😂

I've been reading publications on substack and engaging with writers and posts on Twitter. Yes, Twitter. I realised that I do have a knack for words, written stories, excellent writing, and expressing thoughts and opinions about certain things in words. Indeed, self-discovery is a never-ending journey. I'm interested in exploring new ideas creatively in writing but alas I do not have enough writing skills, hence I've started taking some writing courses on Alison. Great! I've added more workload to the ones I already have. Just great! At least, now you know why the writing in this newsletter seems amateurish but hopefully, that changes soon.

💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫💫

What was the craziest thing you did in secondary school? I'll go first. One day, during lunch break, I acted like I was possessed and scared the hell out of my friends and classmates they had to report me to one of the teachers that was a pastor to deliver me😭 That's one of the many crazy things I probably did when I was younger. Not funny. Crazy I know, but you see;

🎶I know I used to be crazy🎶

🎶I know I used to be fun🎶

🎶You say I used to be wild🎶

🎶I say I used to be young🎶

Miley Cyrus is just amazing. I started being a fan when she released Flowers. Yes, I missed out on Hannah Montana, Wrecking Ball, MTV VMAs and all of the drama and controversy that she was about. I didn't even know Hannah Montana was Miley Cyrus until last year, also didn't get to watch Hannah Montana until two years ago. I'm sorry, I've been living on Mars but I'm gradually getting used to Earth's customs😭🙏🏾

One thing I'll say is Miley Cyrus knows her worth and I'm proud of her. Used To Be Young is not only a love letter to her fans (they were also crazy with her lol) but also tells much of how much she's grown. The music video too is a tearjerker.

🥺

I've been listening to her a lot and I understand why her fans are her ride or die. They treat her like a god and she is. Stay with me. She's extremely talented and was able to build on her fame from Hannah Montana and make a name for herself. Despite all her flaws and drawbacks, she still sustained her place in their hearts. She is a quintessential example of what Rodney Omoekachie calls the King David Dynamic.

One thing people forget is that the most talented and groundbreaking artists channel the good and the bad parts of themselves, and utilise it in making some of the masterpieces we all know and love. It isn't easy channelling darkness and putting it out there for people to consume. It's them literally making themselves vulnerable to the world. Sadly, some of them get lost in the darkness and start misbehaving but it's left for us to remember that they're humans too and can be flawed. Cut them some slack. Don't use their pain against them or see it as an opportunity to feed your malicious tendencies.

🎶You tell me time has done changed me🎶

🎶That's fine, I've had a good run🎶

🎶I know I used to be crazy🎶

🎶That's 'cause I used to be young🎶

The King David Dynamic is an idea that explains why artists (musicians, artistes, creatives, etc.) seem to get away with shortcomings based on the fact that they've contributed and added a lot of value to society and culture, and these are weighed in contrast to said shortcomings and then pardoned. It doesn't seem fair but neither is the world.

In this episode, Rodney tries to understand why artists are so dysfunctional… [he] begins to ponder on what it is about fame and talent that makes these talented people so prone to misbehaviour. Are they really above the consequences? And do we need to separate the art from the artist? Rodney's thought process begins in the Bible, where King David's relationship with God serves as a prime example of the complicated nature of creative genius. Rodney draws parallels between David's story and the lives of today's celebrities, getting into the nitty-gritty of why artists are wired the way they are. Things get even darker when Rodney examines the psychology of artists and the dark side of creativity as well as the role of the audience in the dynamic with regard to celebrity worship and Cancel culture.

Miley Cyrus despite all of the controversy still maintained her place in the hearts of her fans because she's had an impact on their lives and pop culture. You can think of a few more artists that are typical examples of the King David Dynamic. Nevertheless, Miley has won my heart.

Movie Recommendation

It isn't as hilarious as the first, some may even say it's a “painfully unfunny unwanted sequel”, but it was nice seeing the gang (and John Cena) again lol.

I'm contemplating taking a break from writing this newsletter until I've finished my writing courses but I still have one more stuff to write about and it's a little out of my comfort zone and a whole new genre entirely. However, by the time I'm done, the topic will probably become stale. Want to know what it's about? Hint: Substance.

Also, I'll have to make time to listen to the new album and give my honest review. Time that I don't really have the luxury of at the moment but it depends on you reading. Tell me if I should write about it or give it a rest in the comments.

I recently got new earphones and subbed my Spotify and I've been listening to a lot of Miley Cyrus, Emily King and Johnny Drille's new song. I'm slowly getting back at listening to my podcasts and a few new ones too. I've been busy with exams but will be done soon. I honestly can't wait. I've got a lot of stuff to do with the two-week break but we'll see how much I'm able to strike off the to-do list.

While you're deciding the fate of my newsletter hiatus, tell me about what you've been listening to, reading or watching. I'd love to know and would reply. Have a beautiful week.

Cheers to more engaging issues, excellent writing—and as a friend would always say—getting better at my crafts🥂