I want to start out by saying that I feel sorrow and sadness for Michael's friends and family and especially his three children who will now grow up with only a faint memory of their father.
That being said, I am kind of stunned at the outpouring of emotion over MJ's death. I would understand it if it all happened 25 years ago, 2 years after Thriller came out. That would have been a great loss. Back then. In 1984. Because Michael Jackson was a genius and an innovator. 25 years ago.
But since then, it's been pretty much one long episode of "True Hollywood Story". Countless plastic surgeries, several child molestation lawsuits (always settled out of court - I wonder why), baby-dangling over balconies, some hate lyric scandals here and there, Saudi prince bailouts, Neverland foreclosures, planned and cancelled mega-tours and drama, drama, drama. Lots of drama.
Genius usually comes hand in hand with insanity and boy did this kid have it bad. Whacko Jacko started out young in an insane family and lots of talent. Talent became super-stardom which was way too hard to handle alone and the whole thing collapsed. And such a shame too, because some of his songs, dance moves and beats are incredible and will live on for eternity.
I didn't see the "King of Pop" die yesterday. I saw a reclusive pedophile freak die and get a lot of media coverage. Because that's what we consume as shallow human beings. Shame on us!
The "King of Pop" died a long long time ago.
RIP Michael. I hope the demons will finally leave you alone.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Was Michael Jackson really that great?
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4 comments:
have to admit that it was a "so what?" moment for me.
Never liked him, found his personal actions appalling.
He certainly was a weirdo, but you can't deny his pure genius, talent, and creativity, and what that brought to the industry and how it directed the landscape of pop.
His music influenced almost every type of music we hear today.
Not in just a musical sense but in choreography, lyrics, and sound.
Certainly his personal exploits were raped in the press, and only a few will ever really know how bad it was, if it was bad at all, but I think the only thing that can be said was that it was proven in the least as inappropriate.
That being said, his legacy as a provider of entertainment will almost certainly go unmatched in that industry.
For that, I think it's ok to show an outpouring of sympathy and sadness.
So to answer your question...
Yes, I think MJ was really that great.
For me, actors, musicians, et al, are nothing more than products that are here to make the world a little more tolerable. Unless of course I know them on a personal level.
We are told to never let our work, or what we do to earn a living define us as a person. But it's always almost impossible when someone reaches global stardom, because we only know what their product tell us.
Unfortunate as that seems, I guess the cliche' holds true. It's the price of fame/ riches/ etc..
I guess my post title is wrong. There's no argument that MJ was great in many ways. I think the point I was trying to make was, why do so many people care about him now?
Riggs, you make some good points. And thanks for reading and commenting you an JJ.
Yes, he was great. I actually was surprised that so many people thought he was all that.
I actually felt sorry for him. I got the impression that he was trapped in a world in which he could not be truly happy.
I don't doubt for a minute that he molested young boys. My guess, however, it that it seemed okay to him since he was so messed up.
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