Michael Jackson Dead at 50

[rlrose328]

There are a few songs from his early career and late career that I like, but mostly, I didn't much care for his pop music.  And I don't think he is guilty of the intent to molest boys.  He was found not guilty, but it's more than that.  He was a damaged person, damaged by his parents (father specifically) and I think he had a stunted emotional development.  He identified with children because part of him, a large part, never had a chance to grow up.  I think a majority of the charges against him were trumped up by a family (mom) who wanted money.  The kid's testimony was extremely inconsistent.  Michael Jackson paid a settlement, but I think it was to just make it go away... he was probably advised to do it by family and counsel.

All of that said... I, too, don't understand what is wrong with our country that McMahon's death, MJ's death, and Farrah's death, while tragic for those who loved them, are more important that the state of our world.  The deaths of regular people are far more important than those of these famous people.  That struck us with McMahon died... BIG NEWS over the world scene, and his death and bio (oooo... he was in debt) was the top story all day long.

When a celebrity dies, wars, governments, weather... none of it matters, but we HAVE to have HOURS dedicated to the life of a famous person.  I just don't get it.  I'm not mourning the loss of these people, even though they had an undeniable impact on pop culture... but that's all it is... pop culture.

[karadan]

One of the most original song writers of our time has died. It is something to talk about. Some will mourn his passing and some will celebrate his life. Some will even convince themselves that he is still alive. Conspiracy theories will abound soon.

I used to listen to his stuff a lot when I was a kid. I stopped being interested in him as soon as he stopped making music and his eccentric life took over. I've always pitied him, though. The only possible outcome for someone surrounded by sycophants their entire life is eccentricity and borderline madness.

This is the issue I have with the western pop culture. We seem happy to elevate people to demi-god status and then fuck with every facet of their lives until they break down, which obviously leads to yet more headlines. The media always seem blind to the leeches hanging off these people.

Yep, that guy led a sad, lonely existence. I just hope his kids aren't used by the same bunch of vacuous money-grabbers.

[curiosityandthecat]

This makes me think there's going to be a very interesting conversation happening in lines with what Dragon_Of_Heavon said:

Personally I believe that it is terrible to attack the dead. He should be remembered in the light of the good he did rather than the allegations.

Maybe this should be another thread. Should we pay respect to someone when they're dead, or is that when it's best to speak poorly of them since they can no longer be hurt, but also cannot defend themselves?

[Ninteen45]

Good music. Bad man. I can't mourn a child molester.

Plus, his career died many a year ago.

If anyone remembers Michael for what Michael Jackson did outside of music, then you're a retard. He is one of the top three most important musical artists of all time, whether you want to believe it or not. The king of pop defined pop music, electrified MTV, and brought black and white people together through his music.

And he was also found not guilty.

[curiosityandthecat]

And he was also found not guilty.

So was OJ. Point?

[Sophus]

And he was also found not guilty.

So was OJ. Point?

I'm not saying Michael was innocent. I'm saying "I don't know." To be certain either way just doesn't seem reasonable when we don't know all the facts.  

[Ninteen45]

Amen to that.

[McQ]

Good music. Bad man. I can't mourn a child molester.

Plus, his career died many a year ago.

If anyone remembers Michael for what Michael Jackson did outside of music, then you're a retard. He is one of the top three most important musical artists of all time, whether you want to believe it or not. The king of pop defined pop music, electrified MTV, and brought black and white people together through his music.

And he was also found not guilty.

Hmmmm....

so because we "remember" (as in, retain memories of) other things about Michael Jackson, like dangling his child from a balcony, admitting to sharing his bed with little boys (while in his 40s even), and his bizarre antics outside of actually performing.....

You are saying that we are retarded?

Might want to rethink your statement, there.

And your proof that he is one of the top three musical artists of ALL TIME is...........?

I'll have to give the bad news to the descendants of Beethoven, Bach (J.S., not PDQ), Liszt, Mozart, Handel, Brahms, Chopin, Elgar, Holst, Verdi, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Scarlatti, Shostakovich, Tchaikovsky, any of the Strausses, Sibelius, Rachmaninov, Haydn, Vivaldi......deep breath......if this seems too old fashioned and not indicative of the substantial body of work of black musicians, then I'll exclude all dead or living white people and continue......

...moving on to the narrowed down field of greatest, most influential black musical performers of all time........by the way, this list is compiled by an Ebony Magazine poll, lest I be tagged as racially biased in some way.  http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m ... _87148273/

Marian Anderson, Louis Armstrong, Aretha Franklin, Luther Vandross, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, Nat King Cole, Stevie Wonder, and yes....Michael Jackson does appear on the list! So he was definitely influential and a great entertainer. He appears once in a Top Three in only one category though, making it to #2 in the Favorite Contemporary Male Singer:
               
  Performer.............. % of Votes
* Luther Vandross       36.4
Michael Jackson         14.7
Barry White             11.1
Maxwell                  8.3
Babyface                 6.9


So let's not go overboard, make ridiculous statements and fling epithets of the mentally challenged kind around, shall we?

[curiosityandthecat]

Sounds like you were irrevocably scarred by Thriller, McQ.  roflol

[McQ]

Sounds like you were irrevocably scarred by Thriller, McQ.  roflol

I tell ya', it was traumatic!  

[curiosityandthecat]

I tell ya', it was traumatic!  lol

[Dragon_Of_Heavon]

Yo Curiosityandthecat I thought yours was a splendid idea so I put up the post under philosophy. It is entitled "Pay respect to the dead or is it the best time to kick them? Enjoy.

[Ninteen45]

Bah!
he was still a great person and also...
http://trashselector.com/evan-chandler- ... y-michael/
Now, where was I.
Oh.
 

[curiosityandthecat]

Okay, I'm really over this whole MJ thing, and I guess bringing this to the top of the active threads is a weird way of showing that, but...

Powerful I.V. anesthetic drug Propofol, trade name Diprivan, has been found at Michael Jackson's home, ABC News reports.

TMZ.com reports that Michael Jackson's insurance policy at AEG for his London concerts covered an overdose but not a natural death.

I find that very interesting.

[Ihateyoumike]