"They had me doing Beach Boys remakes and all that. I was basically a marionette"

Leif Garrett's quote, "They had me doing Beach Boys remakes and all that. I was generally a marionette," exposes several layers about his experiences in the show business, especially regarding his career as a teen idol. Garrett, who rose to fame in the late 1970s, experienced the pressures and restraints that frequently accompany those in the limelight at a young age.

Firstly, the phrase "They had me doing" suggests an absence of autonomy in his expert options. Garrett is suggesting that his artistic instructions was not self-determined, however rather managed by others, likely producers, managers, and record label executives. The particular mention of "Beach Boys remakes" functions as an example of how his work was heavily influenced by market patterns and fond memories, rather than any individual creative vision he might have had. It highlights a common practice in the industry to capitalize on established successes, in this case, the popularity of the Beach Boys, to make sure business profitability.

The metaphor of being "a marionette" even more stresses this lack of control. A marionette, a puppet controlled by strings, communicates the concept that Garrett's movements and choices were not his own, however directed by external forces. This option of words strongly communicates sensations of exploitation and futility-- his talents and image were controlled to fit a specific mold that was considered valuable to a target teenage audience at the time.

Lastly, Garrett's experience shows a broader commentary on the battles dealt with by numerous young artists. The show business typically focuses on financial success over innovative liberty, causing a cycle where artists are commodified and pressured into roles that may not line up with their personal or artistic identities. Garrett's reflection is a reminder of the costs of fame and the importance of autonomy, credibility, and firm for artists' wellbeing and satisfaction.