Editorial: Talent clear even if fame is fleeting

Hawke's Bay student Shaqaila Uelese

Some say becoming a celebrity doesn't take much and some times I agree with this statement, just look at the Kardashians. Their fame came off the back of their father, a lawyer to the Hollywood celebrity circuit, and thanks to reality TV.

But then there are some who break that mould. One in particular is Hawke's Bay student Shaqaila Uelese, 20. Her four-minute video playing a piano cover of Bohemian Rhapsody has gone viral, with more than 100,000 likes since it was posted on April 28.

Her claim to fame is perhaps just beginning and may be only fleeting, you may even say it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Considering it was an "impromptu" performance, Miss Uelese may even agree with that assessment.

Despite this it took talent, flair and courage to put herself out there like that, and good on her.

You never know how far a video clip like this can take Miss Uelese. YouTube has helped launch the careers of many people, none more so than Justin Bieber. Even Ellen DeGeneres has helped launch people's careers after seeing them on YouTube.

Andy Warhol said everyone will have 15 minutes of fame. This may be Miss Uelese's 15 minutes, and sure it may not have been the most polished rendition of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, but for four minutes and 19 seconds she made more than 100,000 happy.

It's tempted me to maybe dust off my guitar and have a crack at putting something on YouTube. But I'm not too sure: is a video still going viral if it has more than 100,000 people dislikes? Probably not, so I'll leave it to those with talent.

Whatever the case may be, I wish Miss Uelese all the best in whatever endeavour she chooses.