I was heartbroken when I learned that Irene Cara, who starred in the 1980 movie “Fame,” died over the weekend at age 63. Many people seem to like listening to sad music, in part because it’s a stronger trigger for nostalgia than sadness. I always felt like Cara was singing right to me, that she had a window into my emotional experience, which made me feel less alone. I’ve seen the original version of “Fame” a dozen times, always mesmerized by the character Coco, played by Cara. All of which might explain my strong reaction to hearing of Cara’s death even though she was a complete stranger.

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