Christina Grimmie: Pulse

This essay will be a bit shorter, even though this story has so many angles I can cover and much to be said, it’s simply not my story to tell. I never knew Christina Grimmie or her family, I never even discovered her until after it was announced she died in 2016.

But as a content creator, I wanted to at least share my two cents about what went through my mind as I
read her story.

All of America’s eyes were on Florida during the nights of June 11th-12th, 2016. Grimmie was shot by
a stalker after a concert in Orlando, and a gay latino nightclub, also in Orlando, was shot up by an
Islamic extremist the very next night. There was plenty of reason for controversy to swallow the news
world whole following these incidents. America had a growing epidemic with mass shootings, the
Islamic terror group known as ISIS was making its presence known at the same time, gay rights were
just being further explored the year before when gay marriage was legalized in all 50 states at once, and
latinos were suffering from mass discrimination after presidential candidate Donald Trump had painted
immigration as a more serious issue than the “war on terror”. Of course he later went on to become
President after all and pursue that issue more intensely. Dan Barry wrote an article in the New York
Times that details the issue perfectly.

So without needing to say anything further, all eyes were on Orlando during this time, and that’s when
the country learned about Christina Grimmie. And that’s the real tragedy.

“Funny when you’re dead how people start listening.” ["If I Die Young" - The Band Perry]

Now, Grimmie previously debuted on “The Voice”, a singing competition television series that was
fairly popular to say the least, so it’s not as if nobody knew who she was, but the reality of the story is
realizing who she could’ve been.

Only 22, her career was still ahead of her, and we’ll never know how far she could’ve gotten in the
musical industry, but I don’t doubt she’d become a star given more time. Her talent’s without question.

Immediately after hearing the news, I remember going on YouTube and in my recommendations pops
up some recording tracks from Christina Grimmie and I got to listen to her for the first time. Her cover
of “Just A Dream”, originally by Nelly, was what really blew me away.

Like I said, this isn’t my story to tell, but all I know is that the events revolving around Grimmie
resulted in a couple of things. It shined a light on new, potential, rising artists. Young, pure, raw talent.

Performing artists need to be successful when they’ve young. Wait too long and they’re already too old
for the taxing schedule of concert tours or dance-centered stage presence.

“What a waste of blood and sweat.” ["Could Have Been Me" - The Struts]

When you’re young, the best ideas flow out of you, you’re more engaged, goal-oriented, and more
likely to have a positive mindset knowing the rest of your life is still ahead and not behind. Not saying
old artists can’t be successful but in the age we live in where the population is as staggering as it is, to
be noticed, a youthful soul can never be a bad thing.

What I’m getting at is the importance for booking agents, studio owners, production assistants,
directors, accomplished artists, anyone who’s career revolves around the entertainment industry should
take a closer look at the up-and-coming artists, the beginner cover artists on YouTube, the local street
bands at the bar, the soundcloud explosion of artists; you never who you can discover.

In the 2018 film “A Star Is Born”, the hit pop singer Ally was discovered in a nightclub. In the 2014
film “Whiplash”, the drummer Andrew Neiman was discovered practicing alone at his college. I can
keep going, but I was reminded of the disadvantages many small artists suffer from, which is the
struggle to be noticed. After all, how can they be noticed if nobody looks? Other artists born to a
wealthy family have the advantage to afford their own instruments and studios. Artists born in New
York or Hollywood have access to the best musical studios in the United States.

It’s not about what you know, it’s who you know. I’ve always lived by this philosophy and it’s the
reason I’m currently a communications major in college, so I can know more people, earn more
connections, and most importantly, discover and find that next rising star.

And Christina Grimmie undoubtedly reaffirmed this philosophy in me when I listened to her,
because all I could help but wonder was “What could’ve been?”

The second thing her legacy gave us is the Christina Grimmie Foundation.

“Some stars shine so brightly that they shine forever.” [The Christina Grimmie Foundation]

A foundation aiming to support families afflicted by gun violence and trauma like Christina’s family,
and to support victims of breast cancer like Christina’s mother, Tina, who unfortunately also died in
2018 of cancer, 2 years after her daughter. Since 2017, they’ve raised $70,000 in support. That's
monumental.

That’s how you leave a legacy. That’s the story of how Florida, for a fleeting moment, was the pulse of
the United States.

Sources:
Christina Grimmie Foundation
New York Times