The sad, strange life of Michael Jackson
So the sad, strange life of Michael Jackson is over. And, however you felt about what he became, you can’t feel good about the circus that his death will surely become. He was a singular pop culture phenomena. Unimaginably talented, unfathomably bizarre, unquestionably controversial.
The media frenzy that has already begun will no doubt rival the Anna Marie Smith and possibly even Princess Diana in size, scope and sheer nuttiness. Someone will show up outside his funeral with a chimpanzee, I just know it. There might also be protesters. Talent does not excuse possible misdeeds. Nor does a tragic childhood, nor does wealth or fame or anything else.
We all know what he was as his life’s end. An oddity, a relic, a punchline. But it’s also important to remember where it started. With that bounce, that energy, that voice and that afro. Just a little kid filled with promise and eager to please. And then, as a young man, he seemed to defy gravity itself – his body made of magic and mystery.
If ever you need reminding that life is indeed a long, strange trip, look to life of Michael Jackson. It’s also a reminder that the leap from fairy tale to cautionary tale is a very small one.
The 8-year-old in me is sad today. The adult in me is, too, but for different reasons.
- SceneIt_by_Marijke's blog
- Login or register to post comments
What a loss.
He was bizarre, no question about it. He thought early on that he had found the fountain of youth. We all saw the pictures of the masks and gloves. He hired someone to have his children, and then hung one of them out of an open window. It was bizarre. The kind of bizarre only a true superstar could get away with.
Love him of hate him, his music is undeniable! His passing is a tragic loss for millions of fans. Although I didn't approve of some of his behavior, and I still question whether he was innocent of not, I am a fan of music, and I feel the loss.
__________________________________
Denial ain't just a river in Egypt
OMG
I feel like it is Iconic Death Time - Michael,Farrah and Ed...talk about definitions of era. I am saddened by the losses. It really is big chunks of my childhood and young adulthood that have passed.
Wow....
What does "lest" mean?
Keep comments like that to yourself next time, idiot.
HOw could you celebrate a pedophile?
Have you lost your mind? You revere pedophiles?
That's what I would like to know, too.
The Modesto Bee buried the passing of Farrah Fawcett to the middle of the news. Shocking.
She didn't deserve that.
***
We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.
Celebrate Pedophile?
How do you know, were you one of the victims? I think the court of opinion is different than the court of law. I tend to place more importance on the court of law, but that's just me.
And, Farrah Faucet was a drug addict.....
Well
Jackson was accused more than once, settled out of court. I don't know if she was a drug addict, but I still have more respect for her than MJ.
***
We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.
Fair Enough
I think most people are celebrating Michael Jackson, the Artist. And, despite the things he has been accused of in his personal life, his impact on the world of music and art in general is beyond significant. Irregardless of his bizarre and quite gross displays in his personal life, Thriller is one THE best albums made of all time.
Just saying I think most, if not all, people are celebrating his impact in the music world, not his personal life.
I agree mtber
I agree with your statement, and I'm sure that is what it is, but still... some people have a harder time separating an artist's life from their art. I am one of those. There are many musicians out there that I will not buy their albums because their private lives are shameful. I'm talking about severe things, not just drug abuse. Those are just mostly hurting themselves. I draw the line when they hurt others.
***
We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.
Mtber..Pastel is correct
You cannot ignore the character flaws that he had. Who cares about the art or the music when it comes to the behavior concerning children. Who in the heck celebrates pedophilia? The parents of these children were like-wise star struck and could only see the stardom and not the harm that was done to the kids. What a sick society that would ignore that behavior. I do not celebrate his life. I have no respect for him. So he was a musician... So what. There are others that are musicians that lead a decent life. Drug addiction is far less a crime in comparisson to pedophilia. Drug addiction is self-destruction and child moestation is obviously against another person.
Correct or Incorrect?
I am not sure this is really an issue of correct vs. incorrect, as it really is a matter on one's opinion. In any case, you don't need to celebrate his life, others will, and that is there perogative.
Musically, he's still on the best of all time.
I still disagree... of course
Musically, he wasn't even the best. I have studied music long enough to know this. Maybe others without music training or ability think so... or even if they have, and like his music, that is fine. It is sad that some people do NOT care about pedophilia enough to make a stand.
***
We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns and syrup.
As long as there is dirt
The news media will add fuel. They thrive on the three ring circus named Jackson. Hopefully they will soon let him rest, ha ha yep just like Elvis has rested. Money is what they are about and it doesn't matter whose blood they suck to get it.
Reverence for not convicted philanthropist dance/song genius
Catholic Church a billion times worse and Mark Twain had all those relationships with little girls (seriously weird) ,he won't be the first person who is very ,very good/bad giant personal gossip history. He broke barriersthat youdon't seem to know existed and tried to help children before all the horrible stories began. True or not those parents threw their children in his path to try to gain some advantage for themselves ,and they took a 23 million dollar payout to end the unproved charges. He was really,really , rich and wanted to be loved bad combination inAmerica and God will judge him .He's in his hands .i don't think God needs your help throwing dirt on a dead man
Whatstand? He's dead.
He was a amazinglly gifted dancer/songwriter and if the standardseems to be low probably its what America wanted. Remember the time, We are the world, The Man in the mirror They were greatand he could raise the dead with his dancing. What do you know?
He caught on fire in a Pepsi commercial.
He was not little SusyQ and he was eaten by being sucessful. Like "Slumdog millionaire' little stars jealous craziness and unlilited oppurtunity made him a tragic figure like Marilyn monroe. He was sad.
His talent will be remembered way longer than anything else
beauty will live on forever while your judgmental little attacks on a dead man are forgotten next week
REMEMBERING THE
REMEMBERING THE MAN
YES, I CAN STILL REMEMBER DODGER STUDIUM FILLED TO THE TOP 60,000 FANS PACK THAT NIGHT. TO LISTEN TO MICHAEL AND THE REST OF THE JACKSON FIVE TOUR. IT WAS SPONSORED BY PEPSI AND THE VICTORY TOUR
THIS WAS WHEN BREAK DACNING WAS IN AND I WAS VERY PROUD TO BE PART OF THE GROUP THAT WON. WE WERE WINNERS FOR TICKETS TO SEE HIM AND THE TOUR. I REMEMBER THAT I WAS NEAR THE DUGOUT TO START AND WHEN HE CAME OUT I HEARED THE YELLS AND THE PLACE WENT CRAZY BY THE TIME HE STEP ON STAGE AND STARTED HIS FIRST SONG I FELL IN THE DUGOUT BY WAY OF GETTING PUSH OVER AT THE TIME I WAS A GOOD
ONE DOLLAR AND FIFTEEN CENTS LITE. AND I TRIED TO GET MYSELF UP I LOOK UP AND SAW BODIES DROPPING DOWN. IN ALL I WAS HURT BUT EVERYONE THAT FELL MADE A PACK THAT NIGHT NOT TO LEAVE UNTIL THEY KICK US OUT FOR THE FIRST ONE HOUR AND FOURTY MINUTES THAT WAS THE BEST TIME I WILL NEVER FORGET.
HATE HIM OR NOT HE WAS A MAN ABOVE ANYONE WHEN IT CAME TO MUSIC.
AS FOR HISTORYPROF HE STATES THAT MR. JACKSON WAS A LOW DIRTY HANDED pedophone. PROBLEM WAS HE WASNT CHARGE FOR ANYTHING REMEMBER THAT. aLL CHARGES WERE DROP AND LIFE WENT ON SO DEAL WITH IT.
FAST FORWARD 5 YEARS AT A NIGHT CLUB IN FRESNO CA. THERE WAS A MICHAEL JACKSON CONTEST WINNER TOOK HOME 700.00 AND SECOND PLACE TOOK HOME 300.00 WELL THAT DAY I WAS TOLD BY A FRIEND TO COME TO THIS NIGHT CLUB AND SIGN UP FOR THE CONTEST. I CAN RECALL THAT I WAS THE ONLY HISPANIC THERE WHO TOOK THE OFFER. THAT NIGHT I DONT KNOW WHAT GOT INTO ME BUT I HAD MY CLOTHES /OUTFIT JUST LIKE WHAT YOU SAW IN BILLY JEAN. THERE WAS NO CLAPPING FOR ME BUT AS THE MUSIC WENT I WAS INTO IT MORE I JUST WENT MICHAEL ON EVERYONE.
THE BEST THING I FINISH SECOND PLACE BY WAY OF APPLAUSE FROM THE CROWD. SOMEWERE I HAVE THE VIDEO IN STORAGE
SO TO MICHAEL THANK YOU FOR THE MUSIC AND FOR THE TIME YOU GIVE THE FANS.
AS FOR THE PARENTS OF MICHAEL THANK YOU FOR SHARING YOUR SON WITH US AND BLESSING US WITH HIS TALENT AND MUSIC. WITH OUT YOU THIS WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN POSSIBLE MY PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU HE IS IN A BETTER PLACE NOW AND THE LORD WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF HIM, ON EARTH HE WAS A STAR THAT SHINE. NOW HE WILL BE THAT STAR THAT WILL SHINE BRIGHT EVERY NIGHT IN THE SKY.
remember the man
Pastel...
No offense, but Michael Jackson sold more albums than any other artist in history, except maybe for the Beatles, and you say he wasn't even the best musically?
You may be trained in music, but while MJ was, and continues to be selling records, you're blogging on the Hive. And while you were "studying" music, he was making No. 1 hits.
So, no offense, but come on, lets be a little real here.
irregardless is not a word
irregardless is not a word