Irene Cara may have had just a few hits from her discography as a recording artist, but little did she know that the impact she would be making for other people would be big and would last a lifetime.
Amid the actress' death, Rob Watson published an article under the Los Angeles Blade which details the singer's promise that, unfortunately, did not come true.
The writer shared a personal story from the 80s when the movie "Fame" had just been released. He noted that the song of the same title was "hot" among the LGBTQIA+ scene at the time.
"Fame" had inspired Watson to embrace his true self and become his own "personal superstar."
The song revolves around being instantly famous at a young age and this is what exactly happened to Cara during her prime years. At the time of the track's release, the singer was immediately nominated for a Best New Artist award at the Grammys and the song even won an Oscar.
For other members of the LGBTQIA+ community like a user name Randy 503 on the Joe.My.God site, the song touched him, and the movie itself "tansfixed" him because he was closeted and lonely during his 20s.
"Bought the album and played it all the time, especially her songs. Her voice was so strong, and so expressive, it really touched me," he wrote.
It also resonated with other gay people as some of the lyrics of the song describe being lost and questioning themselves if they really fit in.
Irene Cara's 'Flashdance...What a Feeling' Also Resonated With Other People
Just after the success of "Fame," Cara was also recruited to sing the track which many members of the gay community in the 80s consider as an anthem, "Flashdance...What a Feeling."
Some of the lyrics described being alone and crying silently in a harsh environment, but whenever they hear music, everything changes because the singer can "feel the rhythm wrap around, take hold of my heart. What a feeling, being is believing I can have it all."
Even though the pop star inspired countless fans, not everyone knew that she was struggling behind closed doors as her record label reportedly hindered her from garnering more success from her accomplishments. Cara reportedly earned only $183 in royalties from her songs.
It didn't stop her from breaking boundaries as she stood out from the male-dominated music industry and fought back to claim what's truly hers, but it took a toll on her career which made her blacklisted.
Ten years later, she reclaimed her career and released an album dedicated to women and people of color.
However, going back to the song that launched her into stardom, the singer broke her promise as she sang "I'm gonna love forever."
Unfortunately, Irene Cara died at her home in Florida at the age of 63. Even though she already passed away, the impact of her music will be remembered by the future generations to come.
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