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Five-Star Fridays: King of Pop Double Shot Edition
Friday, June 26th, 2009We’ll obviously be taking a break from the Dylan countdown this week. Jackson lived one of the strangest, most fantastical lives a human being could possibly live. But he was damned talented. I’m a huge fan of the Jackson 5, and I think I’ve already posted “Going Back to Indiana,” so let’s start with the perfectly-crafted pop song, “ABC.”
And from his solo career, “Want To Be Starting Something.” Help me sing it: Ma ma se, ma ma sa, ma ma coo sa.
I know that some were influenced by MJ, but I just don’t see how so many people could be “distraught” over the death of someone they didn’t know personally.
My facebook account is littered with comments about how sad/heartbroken/shocked/amazed they are at MJ’s passing. Maybe I’m a cold-hearted bastard, but I don’t really think we’ll be missing much.
Michael was great in the 70′s 80′s, and 90′s, but he hasn’t done anything of importance/significance in the last 10 years; not as far as I’m concerned. His career was a shadow of what it once was, kind of like Michael himself.
I do think he’ll finally get peace, tho, something he truly deserved.
Despite being old enough I was never a fan. To me he was just some tabloid freakshow.
Sorry he’s dead as I would be for anyone else but . . . meh.
I’ve been pushing my band to work up “I Want You Back”, and I will not relent. I’m old enough that The Jackson 5 are where it’s at, for me. That stuff was seminal in my music experience, and it’s what I take with me from this whole wretched affair.
Never cared for him one way or the other.I’d rather listen to my R.E.M. CD.
“I just don’t see how so many people could be “distraught” over the death of someone they didn’t know personally”
Really? I think these street gatherings where everyone cries and holds up pictures and such are ridiculously over the top but I can see people getting upset – performers, athletes and other iconic types can have a large influence on, or at the very least provide important memories for, someone that didn’t know them personally. I mean are you surprised that people were distraught when JFK, RFK or MLK was assasinated?
As a kid, (I’m 48 now), I loved the Jackson 5.
I also really like Off The Wall and Thriller.
And the man could dance like nobody’s business.
I’ll miss him in the same way I miss Elvis and John Lennon.
All gone way before their time.
I loved the Jackson 5 and the pre-plastic surgery Michael. the freaky child-molesting creep he became is not going to be missed by me.
I was listening to it today on the radio, and it occurred to me that Beat It may be one of the best pop songs ever made (recorded and received by the public). It may not have been the song that got the most airplay from Thriller, it may not have been the first single, it may not have been the longest lasting, but it was the song that got a lot of people to buy that album.
It is unforgettable, in a way that all pop songs now are not. It has one of the biggest hooks ever made with that driving guitar riff. It was just the right amount of anthem, too.
And of course this pushed both Farrah Fawcett and Ed MacMahon off the screen. Feh.
I’m with ktc2.
BTW, Mark Evanier is the new King of Pop.
Frank
Yeah. I cared a lot more about Farrah Fawcett, although, in her case it appears to have been a mercy for her.
(Jackson’s death, by contrast, seems to have been a mercy for civilization.)
I was far more saddened when Rick Wright of Pink Floyd died.
Mike appeared to be a tortured soul that may finally get some peace. Farrah was beautiful inside & out and I’ll miss her talent and goofy laugh.
Farewell to Mike & Farrah.
EeeEEE HeeeEEE!
Agree about Beat It. Last night as my band rehearsed for tonight’s gig, I suggested a tongue-in-cheek MJ tribute. The bass player launched right into Beat It, I and the drummer followed and it was one minute of pure joyous pop abandon.
“They’ll kick you and they’ll beat you and they’ll tell you it’s fair, so beat it.” — Pretty good synopsis of man vs. state
I don’t carry any water for MJ the man, he passed just as all of us will — thanks for the music, at least the interesting stuff.
Michael Jackson knew that all that popin and lockin was dangerous.
And all of the anxiety brought on by years of pedophilia may have led to drug abuse. But hey we all loved thriller, RIP
I can’t say I’ll miss Jacko either personally (it’s not like we were planning on grabbing lunch next week) or as a fan (he hasn’t been musically relevant for well over a decade). I think for me the sadness of his passing stems from reflecting on the tragedy of his life. Sure, he was a freak show, but given the circumstances of his childhood it’s hard to imagine him growing up to be anything BUT a freak. That’s what’s got me bummed.
Oh, and Optimistical…. The best tongue-in-cheek MJ tribute EVER was last year at the Hideout Block Party in Chicago. Alt-country legend (and libertarian) Robbie Fulks did a full set of MJ and Jackson 5 songs with Rhymefest coming in at the end to freestyle over their Thriller jam. Great stuff…
[... going back to Cynical, optimistic doesn't feel right for me.]
You know, with MJ, maybe ‘tongue-in-cheek’ wasn’t the best turn of phrase to use after all….
/groan
As a 36yo male, I was in grade school when MJ was big. The vast majority of kids in school listened to his music, watched his videos, moonwalked on the playground, and bought MJ licensed stuff. The coolest kid in school was the one guy who had the red leather zipper jacket. Glove jokes abounded. MJ was bigger than life, and he helped shape our little minds of mush. What he did in latter years doesn’t matter, as I had already grown tired of pop and had moved on in my adulthood. However, he was the shit then.
His passing killed off that part in me that hoped he’d get his act together, that he’d find a miracle surgeon and fix his horrific mug, and that he’d make really good music again, music I could appreciate and love once more. The truth would come out about his personal life, good or bad, and he’d get the help, praise, or condemnation he truly deserved.
See ya on the flip, Michael.
Ha! I outlived another one. Ed McMahon wasn’t hard. Lasting longer than Farrah could be expected given her troubles over the last few years. But Jackson? All that dancing made him an aerobics athlete!
Yep, I can sit back in my high-backed chair and pat my over-indulged girth with a contented sigh. There’s still time to get back to cycling and swimming.
I’m with Nando on this. I didn’t know the man, wasn’t excited one way or the other by his work or the fiascoes of the last few years, and don’t personally mourn his passing. It’s just a mile marker.
Latest news: Since MJ was 99% plastic, the current plan is to melt him down and turn him into Lego(tm) Blocks. That way they kids can play with him for a change. :)
Well, he was no John Wayne. Hah. Just another rich guy who died.
The autopsy results are in: food poisoning.
He ate 12-year-old nuts.
“Will You Be There” from Dangerous really hit the spot and brought tears to my eyes. It’s also the song from the movie “Free Willy”. I couldn’t help but think Michael really identified with that whale. It’s the perfect song for the movie. Anyway, I’m gonna miss Michael Jackson, he was the best there was and there is something to be said for that. He was elegant.
Everyone copied him and many leached off of him. Now all those people are going to have to fend for themselves, including the media who made tons off of his “freakiness”. The boy was controlled and made to perform for money from the time he was 6 years old. He gave so much enjoyment to so many. How can anyone really criticize him? I don’t believe that bullshit pedofile crap for one minute. Just another family trying to make millions.
I’ve really enjoyed looking back at his videos. He really was talented and earned every dime he ever made. I believe his talent probably came from his black-ness, yet he wanted to deny that. It’s sad. That is a commentary on our society and it’s biases.