Michael Jackson (non-Hoya version)

[DrumsGoBang]

Don't worry. It should be common knowledge that Micheal Jackson was cursed by a Gypsy (or maybe Elizabeth Taylor) in 1983. (She also cursed the Coreys) Then during the Pepsi commercial in 1984 when his head caught on fire, he actually died, but due to the curse came back as a zombie. It explains why he got so pale and body parts like his nose would fall off. It also explains why he liked little boys. Their brains. Boy brains are like veal. The younger, the more tender. So this means since he was already un-dead, then he can't be dead-dead now.....unless the curse was somehow lifted....OH NO.....That would take some powerful magic. My suspects would be George Hamilton obvious daemon, Kelly Clarkson (daughter or the devil), or Bill Cosby 11th level evil warlock. His only hope would be the good witch Oprah.

[theexorcist]

Jun 25, 2009 21:31:44 GMT -5 Boz said:

Sorry if others find this disrespectful (not that I haven't tried that already), but.....

......am I the only one who thinks this is a bit much tonight?

All regular programming on cable news canceled? For Michael Jackson? Really?

And believe me, I may have not been in the Jackson 5 era, but I was definitely around for all of his solo superstardom, so I'm not saying this because I "don't know how big he once was." Believe me, I do.

But still. He's not a frickin' head of state. He's a pop star who hasn't done anything of significance (in a positive or musical way, anyway) in almost a generation.

I'm all for having some good and tasteful tributes to the artist he was, but really, I was just joking earlier when I said this would throw every news item off altogether.

Again, my apologies and I hope Michael Jackson is resting in peace, but wow.

Feel free to rant at me if you think I'm being too insensitive or callous.

Lots of people were talking about it today (I passed a car on my way into work which was blaring out "The Way You Make Me Feel"). No matter what race or your age, almost everyone has a favortie Michael Jackson song (Wilbon's column on the NBA draft has a great aside on how all the prospective draftees - who all came of age after Michael's prime, still felt a connection to him). This is probably going to be a "where were you when" moment.

And with the death comes nostalgia - people heading to record stores to get albums or to YouTube to watch videos. This, plus the fact that most of now is essentially rerun season, makes it good business sense to tap into that zeitgeist and get some viewers.

On ed's comment earlier, I was pleasantly surprised - with one or two exceptions (usually only specific articles), Jackson's life wasn't sugarcoated. The comment was usually "great talent, but very, very weird".

[EasyEd]

I think a pervert has died. I don't care how many recordings he sold or how many performances he put on, his legacy ought to be that he was a pervert. Wall to wall coverage of him as a performer, eulogized by other Hollywood types as they gush to say "he was such a great star"; and, by ordinary people saying how his albums were so great as they rush to the stores to buy one of them, all of this makes me sick. This is canonization by the media, the entertainment people and the public. If this were a Catholic priest that had molested children but gave great homilies and worked tirelessly to help the poor, would we be concentrating our talk on his homilies or his charitable work?

As I said earlier I hope he got his life together before he died and I hope he rests in peace with the Lord but let's be honest about who he was, at least before he might have gotten his life together.

[hoyainspirit]

One of the most talented and entertaining performers I ever had the privilege to witness in concert. He lived a truly strange life.

[Elvado]

Amen.

[AustinHoya03]

Jun 26, 2009 9:37:50 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

I think a pervert has died. I don't care how many recordings he sold or how many performances he put on, his legacy ought to be that he was a pervert. Wall to wall coverage of him as a performer, eulogized by other Hollywood types as they gush to say "he was such a great star"; and, by ordinary people saying how his albums were so great as they rush to the stores to buy one of them, all of this makes me sick. This is canonization by the media, the entertainment people and the public. If this were a Catholic priest that had molested children but gave great homilies and worked tirelessly to help the poor, would we be concentrating our talk on his homilies or his charitable work?

As I said earlier I hope he got his life together before he died and I hope he rests in peace with the Lord but let's be honest about who he was, at least before he might have gotten his life together.

ed: without agreeing or disagreeing with your statement above, I'd like to ask: does the fact that Jackson was acquitted of criminal charges count for anything?

(My point here is: it's arguable that your characterization of Michael Jackson as a pervert likely stems from the media coverage of his trials on child molestation charges. The media sold a story back then, just as it is selling one today. It's not really fair to buy the story that gets you all frothy-mouthed, then complain that the media is not presently selling such a story.)

[Boz]

Jun 26, 2009 8:14:29 GMT -5 DrumsGoBang said:

Don't worry. It should be common knowledge that Micheal Jackson was cursed by a Gypsy (or maybe Elizabeth Taylor) in 1983. (She also cursed the Coreys) Then during the Pepsi commercial in 1984 when his head caught on fire, he actually died, but due to the curse came back as a zombie. It explains why he got so pale and body parts like his nose would fall off. It also explains why he liked little boys. Their brains. Boy brains are like veal. The younger, the more tender. So this means since he was already un-dead, then he can't be dead-dead now.....unless the curse was somehow lifted....OH NO.....That would take some powerful magic. My suspects would be George Hamilton obvious daemon, Kelly Clarkson (daughter or the devil), or Bill Cosby 11th level evil warlock. His only hope would be the good witch Oprah.

This is funny (not 'ha-ha' funny). I was actually thinking about this last night. I didn't post it because I was being disrespectful enough for the time being, but I have had a ty morning, so the hell with respect.

Think about how different Michael Jackson's legacy would be today if he HAD, in fact died in 1984 when his head caught on fire.

Really, what memorable music would we have missed? The only thing I can think of is "We Are The World," which deserves some credit. But for me, Bob Geldof's "Do They Know It's Christmas?" is a much better song anyway and was really what got the movement going, IMO. (Besides, I am sure Lionel Ritchie could have written "We Are The World" all by himself).

Other than that, what? I think Bad came out after that, if I'm not mistaken, but the only reason people remember that album is for Weird Al Yankovic. Would the world really miss "Black & White" or "Scream"? Especially considering we'd still have Off The Wall and Thriller, not to mention all of the Jackson 5 music.

On the other hand, think about all the things we have learned about Michael Jackson since 1984. Is any of it really good in any way? Does any of it enhance his musical reputation, influence or legacy? I submit that it does not and all it does is reveal a really profoundly disturbed person.

So, maybe he SHOULD have died back then, for the sake of his musical legacy. Sorry, just some morbid ponderings on my part.


(And I am limiting this to his "legacy," because, of course, he has children. I hope nothing for the best for them and I wouldn't ever say the world would be better off had he died without having children. I hope they can grow up healthy and well-adjusted, not sure what the chances of that are, though.)

[SirSaxa]

Everyone knows Michael was deeply troubled and a complex case study for the challenges of being a child star with a super demanding thug of a father.

But from a musical point of view? He was the single most popular and influential individual pop star of all time. Only the Beatles, a group of 4, is in the same or even a higher category.

What we are seeing in the news coverage reflects his overwhelming global popularity and the fascination with him, his music, his dancing, his videos and of course, his very weird personality.

Michael was singlehandedly responsible for the huge early success of MTV -- even though they had to be forced to play his videos.

The years and years of hits with the Jackson 5, when he was already clearly the star at the age of 10, his solo career, Off The Wall, Thriller -- biggest album of all time, his tours, taking video to an entirely new level far above everything that had gone before..... Michael's music touched everyone.

If people did not want to watch the wall to wall media coverage, it would not be on. Tragic story. RIP.

[Bando]

I agree that we can't let his musical output overshadow his personal issues when it comes to his legacy, but we can't let the personal stuff overshadow the music either. Michael Jackson was singularly important when it comes to popular music, his only rivals in terms of influence and notoriety are the Beatles (and they didn't ever reach the worldwide fame he did). He's probably the last artist that every single person on the planet (and definitely every person in this country) likes in some way.

We're able to separate the art from the artist all the time (e.g. Wagner, Van Gogh, Riefenstahl, etc.). I don't see why we won't be able to do the same here.

[Elvado]

As a music fan it is a loss. As a parent, good riddance.

[hoyarooter]

Yes, Michael was acquitted of criminal charges, but he also supposedly paid a $20 million settlement to the family of one of his "boys." Had Michael not (legitimately, no question) been an international superstar, he would have been a pariah for commiting some of the acts that he allegedly committed. He lived a very weird life. I hope he finds peace.

[Boz]

OJ also was aquitted. I'm still pretty sure he stabbed and killed two people.

Just sayin'.

[theexorcist]

Jun 26, 2009 9:37:50 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

I think a pervert has died. I don't care how many recordings he sold or how many performances he put on, his legacy ought to be that he was a pervert. Wall to wall coverage of him as a performer, eulogized by other Hollywood types as they gush to say "he was such a great star"; and, by ordinary people saying how his albums were so great as they rush to the stores to buy one of them, all of this makes me sick. This is canonization by the media, the entertainment people and the public. If this were a Catholic priest that had molested children but gave great homilies and worked tirelessly to help the poor, would we be concentrating our talk on his homilies or his charitable work?

As I said earlier I hope he got his life together before he died and I hope he rests in peace with the Lord but let's be honest about who he was, at least before he might have gotten his life together.

Bah. You're full of it.

As Charles Barkley once said, he is not a role model. Michael Jackson is an entertainer. No matter how much the little crying teens on the Barcelona tour stop may have thought differently, he's just an entertainer.

Based on the above, you are comparing Michael Jackson, who like all entertainers, is nuttier than a Christmas fruitcake (see: Scientology, popularity in Hollywood of), to priests, who are supposed to be rocks of stability and strength in times of trouble.

And it's why the pedophile scandal in the Catholic Church was such a scandal - remember the warnings that, if mommy and daddy threaten you, to go to a trusted teacher or clergymember? That was a total revocation of trust and of who they were. Michael Jackson is not a role model and doesn't get held to the same standard. Priests who mention homilies about forgiveness and who befriend poor families - and who then rape little children- descend into a much further circle of Hell because they dishonored everything that a priest is supposed to be.

I hold my priests to a slightly higher standard. Your comparison is baseless and you know it.

[Elvado]

While the analogy may be askew, the idea that death should not completely deodorize the stnch of one's life is apt.

MJ could sing, dance and entertain. Unfortunately he also liked to diddle little boys.

However, the deepest circle of Hell in this whole tawdry equation should be reserved for the parents who let their children stay overnight with that freak.

[EasyEd]

Jun 26, 2009 13:51:31 GMT -5 theexorcist said:

Jun 26, 2009 9:37:50 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

I think a pervert has died. I don't care how many recordings he sold or how many performances he put on, his legacy ought to be that he was a pervert. Wall to wall coverage of him as a performer, eulogized by other Hollywood types as they gush to say "he was such a great star"; and, by ordinary people saying how his albums were so great as they rush to the stores to buy one of them, all of this makes me sick. This is canonization by the media, the entertainment people and the public. If this were a Catholic priest that had molested children but gave great homilies and worked tirelessly to help the poor, would we be concentrating our talk on his homilies or his charitable work?

As I said earlier I hope he got his life together before he died and I hope he rests in peace with the Lord but let's be honest about who he was, at least before he might have gotten his life together.

Bah. You're full of it.

As Charles Barkley once said, he is not a role model. Michael Jackson is an entertainer. No matter how much the little crying teens on the Barcelona tour stop may have thought differently, he's just an entertainer.

Based on the above, you are comparing Michael Jackson, who like all entertainers, is nuttier than a Christmas fruitcake (see: Scientology, popularity in Hollywood of), to priests, who are supposed to be rocks of stability and strength in times of trouble.

And it's why the pedophile scandal in the Catholic Church was such a scandal - remember the warnings that, if mommy and daddy threaten you, to go to a trusted teacher or clergymember? That was a total revocation of trust and of who they were. Michael Jackson is not a role model and doesn't get held to the same standard. Priests who mention homilies about forgiveness and who befriend poor families - and who then rape little children- descend into a much further circle of Hell because they dishonored everything that a priest is supposed to be.

I hold my priests to a slightly higher standard. Your comparison is baseless and you know it.

Exorcist, no comparison is perfect and a lawlerly look at my post can lead you to the comments you made. But the fact of the matter is (in my opinion) Michael Jackson was an abomination and should be remembered as an abomination, no matter how big a "star" he was.

The fact he was acquitted of the charges only speaks to the power of money and celebrity. I also echo the words above by hoyarooter and Boz and, I add, Clinton was not found guilty of lying under oath.

As for "He's probably the last artist that every single person on the planet (and definitely every person in this country) likes in some way", make that every single person on the planet but me and millions others.

[Coast2CoastHoya]

I hope his soul finds greater peace in death than he was able to find in life. RIP MJ.

[theexorcist]

Ed:

My ire was directed to the "priests got treated the same" - that drove me nuts, since I believe priests should be held to a much higher standard.

I plan to finally get Dangerous on CD now because the profits won't go to MJ, and I thought that the Oscar's adoration of Roman Polanski was also horrifying. But I believe that it's possible to watch Chinatown or listen to Bad and accept that both are works of impressive quality.

[Coast2CoastHoya]

As to the criminal/civil stuff: funny how much room there is between "preponderance of the evidence" and "beyond a reasonable doubt".

[Coast2CoastHoya]

Michael's swansong: www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/06/26/michael.jackson.internet/index.html

The great entertainer brings in the crowds one last time:
"Today was a seminal moment in Internet history. We've never seen anything like it in terms of scope or depth."
"It could go down as the biggest mobile event in history,"

[kchoya]

Jun 26, 2009 14:21:40 GMT -5 EasyEd said:

Jun 26, 2009 13:51:31 GMT -5 theexorcist said:

Bah. You're full of it.

As Charles Barkley once said, he is not a role model. Michael Jackson is an entertainer. No matter how much the little crying teens on the Barcelona tour stop may have thought differently, he's just an entertainer.

Based on the above, you are comparing Michael Jackson, who like all entertainers, is nuttier than a Christmas fruitcake (see: Scientology, popularity in Hollywood of), to priests, who are supposed to be rocks of stability and strength in times of trouble.

And it's why the pedophile scandal in the Catholic Church was such a scandal - remember the warnings that, if mommy and daddy threaten you, to go to a trusted teacher or clergymember? That was a total revocation of trust and of who they were. Michael Jackson is not a role model and doesn't get held to the same standard. Priests who mention homilies about forgiveness and who befriend poor families - and who then rape little children- descend into a much further circle of Hell because they dishonored everything that a priest is supposed to be.

I hold my priests to a slightly higher standard. Your comparison is baseless and you know it.

Exorcist, no comparison is perfect and a lawlerly look at my post can lead you to the comments you made. But the fact of the matter is (in my opinion) Michael Jackson was an abomination and should be remembered as an abomination, no matter how big a "star" he was.

The fact he was acquitted of the charges only speaks to the power of money and celebrity. I also echo the words above by hoyarooter and Boz and, I add, Clinton was not found guilty of lying under oath.

As for "He's probably the last artist that every single person on the planet (and definitely every person in this country) likes in some way", make that every single person on the planet but me and millions others.

For some reason, the beginning of Matthew 7 comes to mind right about now...