When Anna Nicole Smith died, a friend of mine, not himself a fan of the professional celebrity, said he burst out crying. He “couldn’t help” feeling sad. And so I felt earlier today, upoing learning of the passing of Michael Jackson. I did not cry, but felt a certain unfathomable sadness.
He was, quite simply, one of the (if not the) most gifted musical peformers of our time. He was born with a talent that individuals spend a fortune in money and countless hours of their own time to acquire, only never to distinguish themselves in any memorable manner. This is not say that Jackson did not work hard; there is abundant that he did.
Indeed, the strenuous rehearsals for his upcoming London comeback shows may have caused the cardiac arrest which took his life. We know from stories of his childhood that he spent so much time rehearsing, recording and performing with the Jackson 5 that he could not do what most children did, hang out with their friends and play with their toys, living in a world of their imaginations.
He didn’t have time to dream, performing as he did in a successful band and dealing with the fame brought about by its success.
That ban was successful large part due to his own talents which his father recognized early on–and pushed him to develop. Joe Jackson dominated young Michael’s life until, in his early adulthood, he set out on his own. In a matter of months, Michael experienced a transformation that takes years, if not decades, for most of us, from being in thrall to his parents to being in control of a vast entertainment empire. And just as he was achieving success on his own, music videos, the perefect medium for communicating his talent to mass audiences, were coming to the fore.
Can anyone (without googling) remember a music video which antedates Thriller? And can anyone who has seen that video forget its haunting visuals?
Jackson’s tragedy perhaps lies in his quick ascent. He didn’t have time to figure out who he was before he became an international superstar. In some sense, he became his public persona, almost like a Greek god trapped in a human body from which he could not escape.
He was truly a “musical genius.” His fame caused him to be treated as something more. But, he was beneath it all, like all of us, a human being, with the same longings, the same aspirations as all of us. Perhaps his body simply could not bear the weight of the burdens created by the limelight.
As he passes, we recall how prominently he figured in our youth–and childhood–and that of milions o othes, not just here in America, but around. He was a major cultural icon when his groundbreaking albums and videos were released and remained so as the many controversies of his later life dominated the headlines. With his passing, it’s as if the earth has shaken.
And even those of us who didn’t consider ourselves fans, are moved by his death.
The outpouring from all quarters has been stunning. I think, for many of us, Michael Jackson died many years ago, and only finally today do we get to mourn it.
We’re focusing on the art here, so I’m just gonna give my honest opinion of his art. I’m not gonna defend my opinion at length, because my point is not to be negative, only honest. So here is my opinion, stated one time and in two sentences. While I admit Jackson was unbelievably talented, I found Jackson’s work from _Thriller_ onward rather over-produced / over-calculated / contrived. _Off The Wall_ was nice, but I don’t think even that will be remembered after “his” generation passes.
So GPW – was he, then, not responsible for his actions and choices? (Note: I am not claiming that that follows from what you said. I am *asking* you if it follows from what you said; or asking you to think about it.)
Sorry, I just wouldn’t go that far. Sorry.
ILC, Michael Jackson is, as all of us are, responsible for his own actions. I’m just offering some sympathy for his strange situation. He experienced a certain psychological trauma, that’s all.
That he made some pretty lousy personal decisions is not entirely attributable to that situation. it just goes to show that fame and fortune do not automatically lead to happiness.
Maybe you might have felt the earth shake had you lived in LA!
There comes a time when you have to make choices, his were terrible. They impacted many and he took no responsibility for them.
It is a sad, tragic end. He died along time ago!
R.I.P Jackson !
I’m closer to your opinion GP. Excluding religious figures of course, Michael Jackson may very well be the biggest celebrity of all time. The words “billions” and “trillions” are flung about so nonchalantly these days that one has to take a step back when hearing that Michael sold something in the neighborhood of 750 million albums to appreciate how staggering that is. He is known and recognized by billions of people around the world, many of whom are fans.
His talent, combined with his eccentricity made him the biggest prey of the worldwide paparazzi for nearly his entire life. His every move was followed, and blared across the front pages of tabloids. His every foible was ridiculed and chastised. Nor did he choose a life of celebrity, it was chosen for him when he was a young child.
That’s what I think is so wrong about parents who push their children into celebrity. There is so much proof how damaging and destructive it is for many adults, let alone for children. And while I think as an adult he is responsible for his behavior, and should be held accountable for anything he did wrong, I also think his exceptional circumstances should absolve him from being so screwed up and strange and should garner him more sympathy and understanding than scorn and ridicule.
50 years old, and he apparently died still very messed up.
That’s what I regard as tragic.
That’s a very good, thoughtful post on a talented and troubled star, I can’t add anything to it.
But on this:
“Can anyone (without googling) remember a music video which antedates Thriller? And can anyone who has seen that video forget its haunting visuals?”
I have the years and the memories that antedate Google 🙂 and I remember more than a few “music videos”. They use to be short -films-. Without going back to “soundies” (Google that!) think Ricky Nelson, pretty much a music “video” every week. I can recall the imagery from “Travelin’ Man” (e.g. the double exposure of a “pretty Poltyesian baby”).
Jump ahead to the Beatles “Strawberry Fields” video with it’s psychedelica and the up-close images of John, Paul, Geo and Ringos faces.
There’s probably about a half dozen other examples I could offer just off the top of my head. (Of course, having worked in film and video helps.)
But the point being it wasn’t a vacuum and I think you almost got the key here:
“just as he was achieving success on his own, music videos, the perefect medium for communicating his talent to mass audiences, were coming to the fore.”
What you’re missing in particular is _MTV_ – before that there really wasn’t much 24/7 Rock&Roll to be had on TV. There was the syndicated “Now Explosion” which aired for much of the weekend in a few places and that was nothing but pop music videos. Some by the musicians themselves, but most were produced by a college arts/video group. I believe there’s a website dedicated to the show, which only aired for 2 years – 1969-71, I think. And yes, I remember imagery from some of the videos it aired.
But Michael Jackson and MTV exploded at almost the same time. Although I believe he at first had a bit of a tough time getting airplay since there weren’t very many black artist’s videos shown, mostly it was heavy metal and babes with big hair. But when he did get his time, as we all know, he _owned_ it. It was a case of both (Jackson & MTV) being in the right place at the right time.
Excuse the verbosity. It could have been worse if I would have needed to Google anything! 🙂
there was a major disturbance in the ‘force’ yesterday. MJ was a remarkable person. No one, could withstand the pressures of the spotlight cast on MJ, from his family, his father, his fans, and his critiques. someone so fixated on ‘morphing his appearance’ certainly seemed unhappy in his own life.
“Musical genius” ? Far from it. Gershwin was a musical genius, Duke Ellington was a musical genius, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lionel Hampton, Copeland – the list of real American, not to mention world wide, talent is astonishing.
Michael Jackson, not really. He played no instrument, neither did he write his music, nor orchestrate any of his music or shows. He sang and danced, but he was neither a Pavaratti, nor Astaire.
The selling of bazillions of records has not one whit to do with talent, it has to do with popularity. What Jackson represented was a vanguard of the debasement of American music from being talent based to production based and media made thus giving rise to the Spears, Jonas Brothers and other pop that litters the musical landscape.
The details of his life may be unfortunate, but if we are to be honest, musically the world lost far more when KoKo Taylor passed on the 3rd of June. “KoKo who ?” The tragedy is that the vast majority of those lamenting Jackson never heard of Taylor, or any of the other great talents who have become buried under piles of mass produced dysphonia.
“Musical genius” ? Far from it. Gershwin was a musical genius, Duke Ellington was a musical genius, Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Lionel Hampton, Copeland – the list of real American, not to mention world wide, talent is astonishing.
Michael Jackson, not really. He played no instrument, neither did he write his music, nor orchestrate any of his music or shows. He sang and danced, but he was neither a Pavaratti, nor Astaire.
The selling of bazillions of records has not one whit to do with talent, it has to do with popularity. What Jackson represented was a vanguard of the debasement of American music from being talent based to production based and media made thus giving rise to the Spears, Jonas Brothers and other pop that litters the musical landscape.
The details of his life may be unfortunate, but, if we are to be honest, musically the world lost far more when KoKo Taylor passed on the 3rd of June. “KoKo who ?” The tragedy is that the vast majority of those lamenting Jackson never heard of Taylor, or any of the other great talents who have become buried under piles of mass produced dysphonia.
He surrounded himself with people who couldn’t tell him what he needed to hear. We hear about his “tragedy”, but his popularity was calculated and his idiosyncratic persona was at least partly a conscious attempt to make up for both a lack of musical substance and to ascend within his own lifetime to a legendary level very few attain, and usually only in death. Would he have been as popular had he been better adjusted? Does a homosexual have any grounds upon which to wish better adjustment on anyone?
Was he gifted? Yes, but he’s really just a speed bump in the history of music. He was vacuous (he pronounced Socrates “sew crates”) and depended upon people who saw him as a meal ticket. Perhaps they were right. As for his hardcore fans (who are suddenly legion), they simply don’t see the surgical freak he turned himself into except as fuel for their desire to worship a “misunderstood, tortured artist”.
I wish peace and quiet reflection for his family and closest friends. I wish people would stop setting up random shrines everywhere with candles, flowers, cards and crap that then have to be cleaned up. Pious graffiti.
Sorry if my previous post was peevish; MJ’s life was a giant car accident and the media were his consort. Yes, his fans are already legion and so none of this is surprising — just a bit disappointing. His life was a co-dependency; so many of his mourners want the cameras turned on themselves, using him in death as in life, something I find terribly disrespectful.
How about by saying ‘no’ to them consistently? I know Jackson couldn’t be expected to do it as an abused 10 year old, but how about doing it as a rich 50 year old? Greta Garbo and Agnetha Fältskog found the ability to say no and mean it.
I am sad that MJ has passed away. Also, I am primarily sad at the way he wasted his talent for the last 15 or so yrs.
However, I have to admit I do remember videos BEFORE MJ’S Thriller album. For me I will always remember his solo 1970s work. Thriller wasnt bad but it was almost more of an album on the level of the collaborative works that artists have been doing since the late 90s. With all the guest joining in and adding to each song. Not that it was bad, Michael was in charge directing & composing.
BUT MJ’s 70s work is about the sound of the music, the audio experience & the lyrics. Whereas in the 80s it was more about the look of things & in some cases name-recognition with various performers. Not to fully diss his accomplishments in Thriller, which i will get to later.
In response to statements such as “can anyone remember a music video before Thriller without googling”, the answer is “Yes I can.”
At least 5 videos that stand out in my little life & small brain, are “Rough Boys” by Pete Townsend, “You better you bet” by the Who, “Tom Sawyer” by Rush, “Video Killed…” by the Buggles, and “Whip it” by Devo. All late 70s/early 80s pre-Thriller music vids. I cannot recall the music video show(s) (the show(s) ran for no more than an hour & probably lasted no more than a year or two). MVT was not the first TV show to exclusively feature musc videos. However, it was the first to go round the clock on cable, & then generate the need for more “scripted” & “song narrative” based videos AND Thriller was a milestone in the genre that brought music videos into being a work of art deserving of serious attention. He set the mark which has not been broken since (unless folks want to include vidoes with CGI but that is cheating, and many of those are simply not the good.). MJ mastered the video format by using traditional performance art skills he had also mastered, ie vocal skills, dancing & acting at a very young age.
Of course I remember Thriller being an event, going over to a friends house & watching it for the first time on MTV. It was impressive & “THRILLING.” But the music was secondary to the “event.” It was like watching a short movie musical centered on horror & romance. to repeat: is was quite “thrilling.”
Personally I feel that today, its the sounds of music & lyrics that have once again become more important, and it would have been what MJ would have been judged on if the comeback shows had been allowed to go on, or a new CD was released.
sadly, the world will never know.
MJ was not “the most gifted musical peformer of our time.” I really feel emotion is getting the better of people & fans when I hear comments like this. For the early to late 80s HE WAS. But lets be realistic, if not more truthful: he did not show his talent at his 80s level anymore.
Michael is a musical genius but NOT THE ONLY ONE. THERE IS NO ONE BEST MUSICAL PERFORMER OR GENIUS. He is one of a select FEW, and stands at top in the solo performer catagory of the late 20th century, with the 80s being a peak for him. Thats it.
Again, I for one hold his 70s work even more timeless than ANYTHING that came after Thriller, and possibly even Thriller itself.
Thriller is a great semi-concept album that wed video & pop sounds better than any that had come before, or since. It was pivotal but it was based on somewhat of a progression that had been going on for about 20yrs prior in the music world. MJ saw the video has having so much importance then other performers had shown it. Michael took it as another artistic challenge. He wanted it to be as integral to the musical experience as the sounds. He was SERIOUS ABOUT IT. That is very praiseworthy but MJ was more than just musical videos. He could create at a damn great pop song better than most musicians 3 times his age…he simply lost his way around the Bad album and never really found his way back.
Just my two cents.
PS …and to the folks that post or on the talk shows that state he sold more than any other solo performer, with all due respect to Michael & his fans but Elvis has a few more sales. Link provided:
http://www.elvis.com/elvisology/faq/faq.asp?qid=8
sorry if this post sounds too clinical or combative. no offense to anyone who has MJ as their favorite performer. I do consider myself a fan. I simply am a fan of many musical performers.
may MJ RIP.
Some people have a stronger backbone, others have sleazy advisors and family that were complicit in refocusing the spotlight.
in jeopardy of losing my ‘GAY Membership Card’ for I had to Google Agnetha Fältskog . . . but as usual ILC you provide such enlightenment.
(sigh) I just can’t agree that Jackson, as a 50 year old of means and experience who nonetheless *wanted* a big comeback (the strenuous workouts for which may have helped trigger his heart attack), was a victim. By the time you’re 50, your life is what you chose.
When Elvis died, a cynic opined: “Good career move.”
Frank Sinatra gracefully transitioned from teen idol to “Old blue eyes.” His talent was real and, rough as he could be, Sinatra was also authentic.
Michael Jackson was more space alien than human. He was a perpetual pixie who had no exit plan for aging. But deep in his soul, there was no one there. He was starved for simple love, he was consumed by a fear of failure and he had no core. Katherine Hepburn recognized his fragile ego early in his fame and talked him into taking off his ever present dark glasses. She knew that they were a mask and the damage that such hiding from eye contact would cause.
Unlike Elvis, there will be few imitators who try to impersonate the Michael Jackson of his later life. That would require a face that is more a composite of comic book outrage than any known human form.
Nothing will cloud the artistic accomplishments of Michael Jackson among those who are touched by his talent. That is as it should be. But the disaster that was Jackson’s personal life will be continued by the vultures who will descend on the bones of his estate.
It was never a question of whether Michael Jackson would kill himself, but only a matter of when. His death is both the passing of a major talent and the end of endless agony. Hopefully, there will be some escape clause that allows Michael Jackson to “rest in peace.”
I don’t like all the excuses being made about his life that led to the terrible crime of molesting children.
All I see is a man who mutilated his body and then set out to abuse children. Sure he had musical talent, so what??
I don’t buy the myth of his lack of childhood, if that were the case than his whole family should be in the same boat. They aren’t, they may have messed up lives to a certain degree, but he took it to the nth degree.
He is responsible for the miserable human being he became. Meanwhile, it may not have been a natural death but drug related – with a disappeared Dr. involved.
If I believed Michael Jackson molested childen, I would not be as sympathetic toward him as I am. A jury found him innocent of the accusations. And it’s not just that. I know one person who had met with Jackson on numerous occasions. And while he found the late entertainer strange, he said there is no way he would have touched the children in an inappropriate manner.
Watching them play together, he saw the entertainer as just a kid “trapped” in an adult’s body.
Jackson’s father, Joe, seeing his son’s talent pushed him to a far greater degree than he pushed his elder brothers, making him rehearse more and granting him less free time.
It’s unfortunate that many buy into the belief that he molested adolescents, based only on accusations of people whose families sought to extort the entertainer. Strange he certainly was, but criminal he was not.
Same with O.J. BTW, they were found “not guilty”. It’s not a declaration of innocence, only a declaration that there is enough reasonable doubt to take them out of the criminal justice system.
Even if Jackson wasn’t a pedophile (i.e. sexual acts), he did other inappropriate things with children, like insisting that his own kids be called Prince Michael I, Paris Michael and Prince Michael II – and shaking the latter over a high balcony railing. His extensive sleepovers with kids happened, and even in the absence of sexual acts, they were inappropriate because kids should have sleepovers with their actual peers; not with a troubled grownup trying to repair his damaged childhood by pretending he’s their peer.
GPW, I am very sorry, but you’re starting to creep me out a little. Jackson wasn’t a kid trapped in an adult’s body. Jackson was an adult. Never growing up is, by age 35 or 40 or 50, a choice. Jackson was rich and famous enough to get away with his choice, fine. But don’t view it through rose-colored glasses. It’s not a choice that is innocent and charming choice, it’s a choice that is creepy and narcissistic.
(and, on the basis of that last, I think the accusations are at least possible; certainly the first round is possible, the 1994 cycle where Jackson paid his accuser $25 million and the accuser then changed his police statement)
It is a shocking a difficult time for all of us. Michael Jackson will live on forever as the king of pop. He will be deply missed, I was uterly shocked and I couldn’t believe that he passed away. He is in a better place know where he can fly free. Best wishes to his family- his brothers and sisters who also shared with him fame, his parents aunts and uncles and most of all his children. Lisa Marie I also pray for as he was married to her. True he may have done things that he wasn’t proud of, but we are all human. We must remember him for when he was at his best. I’m playing his songs right now and I cannot believe he is dead. May he rest in Peace. Gone but never forgotten.
Micheal Jackson 1958-2009 R.I.P. Thriller Man.
MJ was honored by three Presidents. The Gipper, BUSH Sr. and Clinton.
Like many geniuses and highly creative people, he was a troubled soul. R.I.P. Michael Jackson.
A jury found him innocent of the accusations. And it’s not just that. I know one person who had met with Jackson on numerous occasions. And while he found the late entertainer strange, he said there is no way he would have touched the children in an inappropriate manner.
Dan, like ILC said, juries don’t find defendants innocent, but rather not guilty (beyond a reasonable doubt). While someone’s word who knew Jackson is worth a lot, I’d be surprised if Jackson gave this person the impression that he molests children. Similarly, I wouldn’t expect a wifebeater to tell his friends, or even give them the impression, that he beats his wife.
I saw a news segment with two of the jurors on the criminal case. They said that based on the judges instructions on the crimes that Jackson was charged with, it was easy for them to make a determination that the burden of reasonable was not met for those charges. However, they were convinced that he did molest children. Again, this is not proof positive either. So bases on the evidence I know, I could only say that the preponderance of evidence shows that Jackson molested children by, at the very least, inappropriate touching and exposure.
…before his molestation cases broke. (Well, Clinton’s may have been after the 1994 case broke for all I know; but then my answer would be: “That’s Clinton.”)
“At least 5 videos that stand out in my little life & small brain, are “Rough Boys” by Pete Townsend, “You better you bet” by the Who, “Tom Sawyer” by Rush, “Video Killed…” by the Buggles, and “Whip it” by Devo. All late 70s/early 80s pre-Thriller music vids.” –
Comment by lu-ee
You forgot to include the amazing, tres odd & dramatic “Bohemian Rhapsody” video by Queen circa 1974, lu-ee. The faces/shadows scenes spooked me out at the time.
“You forgot to include the amazing, tres odd & dramatic “Bohemian Rhapsody” video by Queen circa 1974, lu-ee. The faces/shadows scenes spooked me out at the time.”
Comment by karen
you are correct karen! I overlooked it & i believe i also first saw it BEFORE Thriller came out. I believe i saw it for the 1st time on the same short-running music video hour show i alluded to. I guess our comments on all these song videos proves that there were alot of vids before Thriller that alot of music fans remember.
I always thought the faces/shadows scenes looked cool in Bohemian Rhapsody, because they did look to spook us out a bit. kind of like a phantom of the opera/vampire clan just steping out of the shadows for a long night.
MJ made the music video an event, as opposed to before where it was a “nice to have if you have time.” And Queen was always more theatric than most so I am not surprised they led the charge on developing a video image…OH BTW, I just remembered ANOTHER pre-Thriller vid! “crazy little thing called love” by Queen circa 1980/81. AWESOME VID and very cool song. Also 1980s “Tide is High” & “Rapture” & a few other Blondie 70s vids.
MJ RIP
“I guess our comments on all these song videos proves that there were alot of vids before Thriller that alot of music fans remember.”
Indeed, lu-ee.
“MJ made the music video an event, as opposed to before where it was a “nice to have if you have time.” ”
eh, to be honest I was never all that impressed with ’em – or other musicians video epics, either.
“Also 1980s “Tide is High” & “Rapture” & a few other Blondie 70s vids.”
Yes, I had a Blondie video collection that was issued on VHS/Beta about 1979/80, I remember “Viktor” from it in particular.
Y’know even the “one glove” shtick wasn’t new, you’d have to go back to about 1967 and the grunge-a-delic “Music Machine” for that:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJR_KGZO4U0
(Music Machine – “Talk, Talk”)
Michael was a sweet talented young boy at one time, though and that’s what I’ll remember. Not the 80s re-inventing, the epic videos, the weirdness, etc.