Ava Valianti’s song titled “celebrity” examines the thrilling influence of idolisation from a warm, romantic and slightly dizzying point of view. It deals with the situation in which admiration for someone else becomes so strong that one starts to feel larger than life; rather than concentrating on fame in the ordinary way, Valianti reverses the usual idea by describing how you end up making another person the “celebrity” in your own life, so that their minor actions acquire great significance and the person gradually becomes the focal point of your attention.
The song is based on the concept of viewing someone through a rose-coloured lens; this way of seeing imparts an intimate character to the idea of “celebrity”, since the fascination arises from how the admirer sees the person rather than from who the person actually is. At the same time, there is an awareness of the dangers that can be involved in such admiration. The song shows the blurred boundary between being infatuated and idolising someone, describing the feeling as both romantic and exciting while at the same time acknowledging how easily admiration can turn into an idealised image of that person.
“celebrity” gives Valianti’s music a warmer and more soulful character, incorporating elements of jazz and R&B while still maintaining the introspective and imaginative nature of her songwriting. As a result, the song holds a special position as the first single from her upcoming third EP, “kismet”. The theme of the song fits with this musical evolution, since it includes reflections on attraction, perception and idolisation within a sound that is described as richer and more soulful. Once again, the emphasis is on the emotional aspect of the fascination and on how admiration can alter the way someone is seen.
The song also provides an interesting contrast between Valianti’s own desire for opportunities to achieve fame and her experience of putting someone else in that position of fame. “Celebrity” looks at the way intense fascination can turn ordinary actions into moments which seem important; although it has a rose-tinted view that gives the song a romantic atmosphere, its recognition of the phenomenon of idolisation adds another dimension to the narrative. When acting as an introduction to “Kismet”, the single gives a concentrated examination of attraction, perception and the complex experience of placing someone on a pedestal.
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