… to ponder the death of Michael Jackson. For me, it's a loss to entertainment, but I always get a kick out of seeing the world fawn and mourn a celebrity simply because he was a celebrity. I mean, is Jackson's death worth exponentially more angst than the deaths on the streets of Iran these past couple weeks? Hardly.
But in America we'll act as if we lost Gandhi.
This effusive outpouring is not limited to America. The London Times called Jackson the most influential entertainer since Elvis Presley. Umm … John Lennon perhaps?
Jackson was musically immensely talented. Thriller remains one of the great albums. He made music into entertainment, too, using the medium of the video to make his music into events. But as time went on, his behavior became more and more bizarre. Especially his relationship with children, which bordered on everything it seemed to be — despite Jackson's denials.
One of my favorite blogs online is the Daily Dish by Andrew Sullivan. He had one of the best analyses of Jackson I've read. In part it reads:
He was a musical genius; and he was an abused child. By abuse, I do not mean sexual abuse; I mean he was used brutally and callously for money, and clearly imprisoned by a tyrannical father. He had no real childhood and spent much of his later life struggling to get one. He was spiritually and psychologically raped at a very early age – and never recovered. Watching him change his race, his age, and almost his gender, you saw a tortured soul seeking what the rest of us take for granted: a normal life.
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*shameless self promotion alert*
here's my take on m.j.
http://www.soothingsoulsuckers.com/2009/06/25/with-strange-eons-even-death-may-die/
That green highlight is a well-written paragraph, but is Sullivan describing Michael Jackson or Bernie Kosar?
But all kidding aside, looking back I would have to agree that Jackson is the most influential entertainer since Elvis Presley. Just to show I'm not blowing smoke, I found an old photo of myself that was taken in the late 80s, just after I got married.
http://xr.com/jzmb
Who is that, Alan? At first glance I thought I was looking at Dennis Rodman in drag.
As far as the death of M. Jackson goes, it's pretty much a ho-hum moment to me. Good singer. Great entertainer early in his career. Self-imploded in middle age.
All of this fawning over him is ridiculous. What would we be seeing as the major headline for 2 consecutive days if Barry Bonds were to drop dead tomorrow? Similar star of the entertainment & sports world. Home run champion of all time. I doubt that his death would be the lead story for two consecutive days. It should not be. A tarnished star who is not one to be admired for his conduct.
Neither should the death of M. Jackson be so publicized. Another tarnished star who is not one to be admired for his conduct.
And I'm sure I'm not alone in this – the passing of Farrah Fawcett means more to me than Jackson's death.
OK, Julio, you got me. I'm pasty white, and I've never given myself a crotch wax, so it can't be me. But the stiletto heels are all mine.
It's the great RuPaul. Come on. How could you not know that? Even Ferry's latest brilliant acquisition, Clark Kellogg … uh, I mean Shaq, recently made a terrific RuPaul reference. Bosh complained to the media that the refs didn't call three seconds on O'Neal. So O'Neal said, "I heard what Chris Bosh said, and that's strong words coming from the RuPaul of big men." Very funny stuff. Not nearly as hysterical as Ferry's moves the past four years, but very, very funny.
By the way, Jackson did himself and his legacy a great big favor by dying relatively young at the perfect round number age of 50. The world have hated to see that gal when she turned 70.
I just read they're doing an autopsy on Jackson. I'd actually buy a ticket to see that. I was originally planning on traveling to see the King Tut exhibit when it appears in Indianapolis next month, but this Jackson autopsy thing has got to be far more fascinating.
alan t.- viewed the tut exhibit in ft. lauderdale a couple of years ago..it is fantastic. i think MJ`s autopsy would have to be pretty good to out do ol tut.
I'll bet King Tut never slept in a hyperbaric chamber or french kissed a monkey. I guess I'll find out next month, if I see any mummified bananas on display, I'll know why.
This has nothing to do with Jackson:
TENNESSEE COUPLE ACCUSED OF ASSAULT USING CHEETOS
(AP)
Fri Jun 26, 3:19 pm ET
SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – Authorities said a couple got into a fight using Cheetos. The Bedford County Sheriff's Department said a 40-year-old man and 44-year-old woman became involved in a 'verbal altercation.' Somehow, the orange puffy snacks were used in the assault.
Deputies said they were charged with domestic assault. No one was hurt.
According to the Shelbyville Times-Gazette, both posted bond of $2,500.
Thanks for the info.
When at the Tut exhibit, be sure to spring for $5 and get the audio tour headphones. Easy to use. Very well done.
One thing I learned which I never knew was that the mummy was placed in a box in a box in a box in a box… 11 total! The chamber the mummy was in was very tight quarters.
I'm confused. Are we speaking of King Tut or Zydrunas Ilgauskas?
And I'm supposed to believe that King Tut listened to headphones? Sounds like a great big racket to me. What, my payment for admission won't be enough? I'll bet Tut really cranked up the tunes on Iron Maiden's "Powerslave" album. http://xr.com/664u
Oh, and Sullivan's blog title of "Daily Dish" is kind of … well … gay. Yes, I know Sullivan *is* gay, but still.
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