Episode 666: Should There be a Mandarory Retirement age for Performers?

[00:00:16] Greetings and thank you for tuning in to Drea’s Point of View. I am your hostess, Dreya, and in the next 10 minutes or less, I will be offering you my perspective on a topic that I feel passionate about. So please make sure that you are following the show at Drea’s Point of View on Instagram, Facebook, and Threads. You can also follow along at Dreapoint on X.

[00:00:39] This episode is one where I don't really have a point of view. I'm actually torn. Okay, so I could go either way on this topic. And it came from posts on threads, well, Instagram, actually, where we've seen performers, legends, who've been performing for the show.

[00:01:12] Most of our lives. And some still perform amazing, look like they just started out and others. You feel sorry for because the voice doesn't sound the same. They are not.

[00:01:30] As active. They're really just sitting in a chair. And I've been reading a lot of the posts. It's like, okay, who do they owe? Because there's no way these people should be performing.

[00:01:44] I saw one on the OJs and Eddie Levert. He sounds good. I saw him some years back. He still sounded good. But as of late, that's not the case. But the man is up there. I don't know. What is he like, 80 or close to it?

[00:02:08] And he doesn't do as much. And recently, he had a show where he was performing with the Isley Brothers and someone subbed for him.

[00:02:25] And people were mixed with their reviews on how he looked when he did perform. And then there was Gladys Knight, who I've been seeing as of late, not looking like the Gladys of a few years ago, actually, when she still was dancing and singing along.

[00:02:48] And now she seems to look like she's forgetting the words. I'm just grateful for backup singers. I mean, imagine if these people were by themselves. And people are blaming her son for it. But she was going to do less shows, I believe, was what I read.

[00:03:13] And then you have others, but it doesn't affect everyone. You know, you have some who are still out there and they're giving you all they get. So it's not really, well, it is, but an age thing. You have other professions, let's say, in the airline industry, pilots have a mandatory retirement age.

[00:03:37] But then you have some flight attendants who I read 50, 60 years until they decided to leave. I actually know a few. 45 years, this one woman, I knew a lady who passed away a few years ago, 50 years, and she has so much energy, so full of life, enjoyed her job.

[00:04:02] People are like, okay, when are they going to leave to make it easier for those young ones coming up? Because, of course, they are able to fly the great trips and the junior people are still working and working and don't really get to enjoy as much as they do. Should there be a mandatory retirement age for some of them?

[00:04:33] And my thing with that is, at first I said yes to all professions. I just think everyone should be able to retire when it's time to collect Social Security. And then I'm thinking, well, you have those who actually want to still work. Not everyone needs to work at that age. Some people actually enjoy their jobs and are good at it.

[00:04:57] But you get to the point of being where you can't do your job anymore, then absolutely. You should be forced out. I think that was just an epic profession. You had soap stars that we grew up with. They're still around, right? They're still memorizing their lines. You know, people still enjoy them. They're legends. And no one really says anything about them. Because it's not so much physical.

[00:05:26] It's more of a memory thing. But really, I wanted to focus on the celebrities, the singers. I think, was it Rod Stewart had one? I didn't see it. I don't know how he did with his residency. But everyone seems to have a residency. And these aren't young people, necessarily. And I don't know.

[00:05:56] I just enjoy seeing people who love their job after so long. But if they're not entertaining us anymore, they're just up there getting paid, I don't. I think maybe it is time for them to go. What say you? Has there been anyone that you've seen that's like, you know, maybe it's time? I do remember a few years ago when I saw Frankie Beverly and Maze.

[00:06:26] And I saw Frankie Beverly. And he was barely moving. His voice was very raspy. He just had this look in his eyes that he was tired. And I said to myself, it can't be much longer. And I hate I put that on the universe because a few months later, he passed away. So I'm glad I got to see him before that.

[00:06:53] But maybe that should have been an option for him. Retirement. So I guess I say yes when it gets to the point where you don't really have all your faculties when it's hard for you to do the physical part of it. Maybe you should. I know Charlie Wilson. He had a few strokes recently.

[00:07:23] And I saw him performing. Now, he's very physical. And he can give you a show all night. But that particular show, I want to say from the video, he didn't really do much. He was sitting. And you could tell that he was enjoying it. But it's like, at what point do you just call it quits? You know, we'll understand.

[00:07:50] I mean, I don't think people should keep working and working until they have no breath left. But then you got others who are legends and you can't say anything. Like Patti LaBelle. She's about the same age as Gladys Knight. I just saw her a few months ago. And she managed to change outfits and wigs within her 20 to 30 minutes. Still looked amazing. Not a hair out of place.

[00:08:20] Makeup on point. Boys, she's definitely blazing. So, I don't think she should retire. So, I guess I'll say yes. I think there should be or there shouldn't be a mandatory age. But it should go on your faculties. You know, if you are really coherent enough to perform. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

[00:08:49] TheDreasPointofView.com. Leave a review as well as catch up on my previous episodes. And don't forget, I do have a free weekly newsletter. It comes out on Saturdays. You can subscribe to it at DreasPointofView.Substack.com. As always, I thank you for listening. This has been Dreah's Point of View.