Who Are Your Favorite Artists?

“You can’t use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have“ by Maya Angelou

You’ll often hear my rate topics or categories. I’ll hear a song in car and blurt out “This is in my Top 20 songs of all time.” Sometimes I think I’m blurting it out, but I really am silent. Trust me though – I’m forever editing and shuffling lists and playlists in my mind. I’m like a human Alexa some days in that if you ask me about one of my favorite artists, I can launch an entire catalog of their work at will. 

I have had my faves from back in the day of course while others have bubbled up over the years because of different exposure and experiences. Actors, musicians, writers, dancers, photographers, make-up moguls, and chefs are all artists to me. I appreciate what they have crafted and presented to the world. Sharing their style is a true gift. Certain artists call to me louder than others. I am in awe of their talent and am free to share it with anyone who wishes to listen! 

Based on today’s prompt which actually did ask – I will share some of my choices from a few categories. Favorite actor? I have a few that I am particularly fond of but the cream of the crop for me is Billy Crystal. He just so happens to star in my second favorite movie of all time – When Harry Met Sally. Before that though I fell in love with his wit on Saturday Night Live when he portrayed Fernando Llamas. How I would HOWL at this sketch and completely break up when I’d hear “You look marvelous” each week. It was though – Billy’s Harry Burns that made me love cinema so very much. It was written by my favorite author – Nora Ephron. 

I’d followed Nora Ephron through all of her cinematic creations of course but it was her “I Feel Bad About My Neck” (2006) which was a tell all memoir that slayed. Every page was a confession and descriptive entry into her brilliant story-telling mind. She grabs a reader and hugs you with passion and laughter all at the same time. I followed her into “I Remember Nothing” in 2010. I read forward to her other blockbusters and then went back in time to her works in 1978. I am still exploring her catalog – savoring each passage in each creation. 

Early Kiki fans will know that I started dance lessons a little before I was five years old. I continued through age 19 with formal lessons. I miss it terribly. Over the years I became mesmerized by choreography. I hear a song’s beat and will be choreographing little numbers in my head. The style that completely engaged me though was Bob Fosse. His style is beyond iconic and speaks to my love of dance that I still can’t put into words. 

If anyone is ever speaking to Ina Garten or “The Barefoot Contessa”, please let her know that she has a super-fan on Long Island. I have devoured each cookbook she’s written like long novels. I can recite ingredients and tell you what I made from each book for various family parties and occasions. My heart is with you and Jeffrey, Ina!

As for music – heavy sigh. So many of us have responded to this prompt that we love so many genres of music and are fans to oodles of artists. I cannot read music, but I swear I was a songwriter in another lifetime. I do have a ton of musicians who have touched my soul with their gifts, but it is Kenny Chesney who lives in my heart. He wrote the songs that knocked on the door to my mind. What I love the most – besides the melodies of course is the storytelling. My God -it is his ability to sit you down and tell you a story. Each song to me is a story and leaves you in a better place than where you were when the song began. 

Artists create. They perform. They challenge you. They spark embers in your mind that give light to things forgotten or things to come. Here’s hoping your favorites live within you forever just like mine will always whisper to me “thank you for welcoming me into your world”

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Author: KikiFikar

Kiki Fikar is a native New Yorker who is passionate about taking the day to day life we all experience and sharing it in her tales from Suburbia. She will often be found at the gym, writing snippets each day for future story lines, listening to her two children create their lives, and building the perfect beachfront home and writing retreat in her mind.

14 thoughts on “Who Are Your Favorite Artists?”

  1. I bought When Harry Met Sally for my Apple TV streaming box. I honestly believe that in time, it will be one of the most quintessential films about Manhattan and sort of a time capsule.
    and of course, Ina Garten is amazing. for sure all the programming peripherals on her show was “showy” but underneath it all, she is a real artist at her craft.
    Mike

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  2. I’m smiling that you love Ina too! She is incredible. During my daughter’s Communion practice in church (many moons ago), she had a paper fish and paper loaf of bread. As I walked passed her aisle I heard my daughter say “pssssssst Madre – Loaves and Fishes like on Ina’s show.” I lost it. Ooooh oooh oooh – also When Harry Met Sally brought me Harry Connick Jr who I’ve had the pleasure of seeing three times. Gifts!

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  4. I just learned recently that Billy Crystals line at the end of When Harry Met Sally came late in the production. The original ending didn’t end with them together. Crazy to think that it could’ve gone a different direction! Love his acting. 😎😎😎😂

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  7. I like Billy Crystal also. When Harry Met Sally… was the best, but I also enjoyed Analyze This and the work he did with Monsters, Inc. Maya’s quote is excellent, and I love your closing. That’s so true about artists, we get so much from them.

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  8. Thank you!! Yes Billy has so many hits. Monsters Inc items are in my office!!

    My daughter and I attended his book signing a few years back. He was so gracious even though I was awestruck. I was just giggling instead of speaking. lol

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  10. That’s so funny, 😂 I was thinking 🤔 I have seen that movie at some point and I know who Billy Crystal is of course , but I would not have remembered the name of the movie, then I realized I don’t even remember actors names or the titles of movies, but if u asked me the emotion to it or how I felt or the look on faces I would be able to answer that 😂.
    I can say 60s and 70s music is tops for me, (not one more than another today anyways) I’m a feeler for sure… so if the singer moves my heart the way it moves my feet then their my favorites 😂.
    Mimi Kirk is definitely an artist with raw foods, . She’s my favorite chef, but if I had Social media I’d probably have a million favorites now days. Such a Thought provoking , memory mender here.

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  11. Looking up Mimi Kirk now!! Admittedly I do love to follow the chefs on social media! Years ago my girlfriends and I were on a kick where we went to dinner at celebrity chefs NYC restaurants and events they ran. We always giggled at us being foodie frenzies.

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  12. Oh that sounds so fun I bet it was a blast… I’m such a foodie but an introvert and VERY strategic how I eat even though things look amazing I’m super sensitive to foods so it’s fun to find chefs that cook in a way I can eat lol..😂 I do love love so many different foods … I hope you enjoyed Mimi Kirk…

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