Give Some Lovin' To The King...You Must Be An Elvis Fan

Besides talent, what does it take for a performer to achieve the iconoclastic status of Superstar? Some might say a great agent, while those with a little wisdom will tell you that it's all in who you know. While these assets might propel a performer in the right direction, the deciding factor of fame is in the fans. Moreover, the frenzy of the fans is what differentiates a "flash-in-the-pan" for a true Mega-Star.

Each Superstars fans are a breed unto themselves. Any seasoned DJ can tell you who a person idolizes just by sizing them up for a minute or two. I most certainly have noticed certain shared qualities in the fans of many different Stars. As the site administrator of OnlinePopstar.com, an online karoake site, I listen to karaoke versions of songs by these legendary artists performed by some of their most avid fans!

We have an online singer's forum called CyberStars where a lot of discussion takes place on favorite singers, music styles, and general chit-chat. From these discussions I have gleaned some very keen, and often humorous, insight.

Below, I will profile the fans of Tom Jones, Jimmy Buffet, Elton John, Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, and Bon Jovi. These guys are some heavy hitters in the music industry and have some of the most faithful fans in the world.

Let me preface my profiles by stating the obvious; the fans are as wonderful and as distinct as the artists themselves and my generalizations may be just that: general.

However, my years in the karaoke industry have allowed me to meet a great many very passionate music fans. Like everyone else, I can spot an Elvis fan at 50 yards away; unlike everyone else, I can also easily pick a Van Morrison fan out in any crowd (he's usually not quite sober, of Irish or Scottish descent, wearing a scarf.)

I will attempt a profile with a twist; not only will I attempt to cite some commonalities in the fans of these singers, I will also add what I believe would be their beverages of choice!

Tom Jones fans are in their 60s and have steadfastly clung to their 1970s culture. No slaves to current fashion, the women have meticulous bouffant hairstyles, wear ornate displays of cosmetics, and cleavage-baring two-piece pant suits. The men still sport their jaunty sideburns and their gold-chain entangled chest hair is displayed by the open-front silk shirts they wear. These fans have all been divorced 2.8 times. They are rarely wealthy, but never poor. The money that they should spend on family therapy is instead spent in Vegas. Tom Jones fans can be spotted sipping Seagram's 7 & 7.

Jimmy Buffet fans are in their 40s and 50s. They were Hippy Wannabes in the 70s, they bought the Free Love concept but lacked the idealism then that they now display so fervently in their numerous humanitarian works. Usually enjoying life from the upper-economic status, these fans have taken a laid-back approach to life and have surprisingly few wrinkles. Most Buffet fans are college educated. Many have become teachers and professors as they need to have full enjoyment of their summer vacations. Collectively known as "Parrotheads," these hawaiian shirted, flip-flopping kids can most always be seen with Margaritas in both hands.

Elton John has a lot of gay fans. He has many more straight fans. Sir Elton fans defy any demographic for age as his musical genious has garnered love from people since the early 70s. The next generation of his fans are listening to him sing during their Disney movies. His most avid fans are all rich and famous, which is a good thing as your average person really can't afford his concert tickets. Elton John fans drink anything from Chardonnay to chocolate milk in sippy cups. Elton John fanatics do NOT drink; they are working a 12 Step program.

Billy Joel fans are the blue-collar working-class realists. In their 30s and 40s, his fans relate to his humble beginnings and, like him, they are tough on the outside with hearts of buttah. No matter what socio-economic status, Joel fans are all down-to-earth; it ain't pretty, but it's real. You can spot Billy Joel fans in a crowd wearing baggy pants,t-shirts, and baseball caps. If the crowd is devoid of Joel fans, it's because it's a beautiful boating day and they're all out on the water. Joel fans prefer Long Island Iced Tea.

Bruce Springsteen fans are the blue-collar working-class dreamers. Also in their 30s and 40s, Springsteen fans are idealists. They believe that dreams come true and, despite quiet inferiority complexes, tend to be tenacious in whatever they do. They very rarely divorce. Many are self-employed. Springsteen fans tend to be quiet loners until they gather at one of his frenzied concerts; this is when their collective pain-spattered idealism erupts into cataclysmic joy in the emotional abandon that is reflected from their hero. All Bruce Springsteen fans can be spotted wearing too-tight Levis with boots. The obvious choice of beverage is a Bud.

Bon Jovi fans are female. They are those 30-something girls who are stuck in the 80s; the crowning glory of their tanning booth tone is their Frost-N-Tip hair, teased out to glorious heights and secured with 16 ounces of Aqua-Net hairspray. Most of his fans smoke cigarettes and chew gum at the same time. Bon Jovi fans believe his lyrics and are modern-day Cinderellas, waiting for their Cowboy to ride in on his steel horse and rescue them from a never-ending adolescense. They tend to be overly-friendly touchy-feely type people; superficially nice, but never mean-spirited. A Bon Jovi fan will always try to get a guy to buy her a Fuzzy Navel.

There you have it. A concise fan profile of some very legendary artists. I have presented my thoughts and ideas as would any decent Billy Joel fan; I gotta tell it like it is!

If anyone reads this and wants to yell at me, come on over to CyberStars. I'm tough, I can take it. In any event, come visit me at OnlinePopstar.com for a rockin' good time!