I was among the saddened and dismayed folks who grew up in the Thriller era adoring Michael Jackson. But all of our stories are the same: “I had the Thriller album.” “I made up dances to Thriller.” “I had the Thriller record player.” “I had a folder with Michael Jackson in his yellow ‘Human Nature’ sweater vest.” (ahem) But whoop de doo. CNN trotted out more than enough of those testimonials as the news of MJ’s death spread on Thursday.
I’ve since read any story of the MJ coverage that might have something new in it, but only found a few that say something right on. First is the cartoon above, as seen on The Awl.
The second was a reaction quote from a woman on the street in The Onion’s regular American Voices feature: “Why do the really weird celebrities who probably already wish they were dead anyway always have to die so young?”
Finally, Rob Tennenbaum wrote a thoughtful piece that appeared on today’s Vulture blog. Wait for it in the last sentence, it somehow made all the sad details coming out in the wake of Jackson’s death seem even sadder.
Howard Halle has a very thoughtful piece in TimeOut New York on Jackon’s affect on America. http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/music/75947/michael-jackson-changed-america
ProfRobert
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Jun 29 09
at
7:36 pm
Pineapple, yes it is. I was made aware of it via The Awl.
ProfRobert, thanks, that was a good read.
Luke, guess you zung everybody and no one should feel pity for someone who was so messed up. Keep up the street justice.
Colleen Kane
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Jun 30 09
at
9:46 am
Right on–Achewood really nailed it. Thriller’s a pretty perfect album, but it’s even perfecter when you’re a kid and that’s your perfect intro to pop music. MJ back then was as dynamic as Elvis, and as empathetic a character to children as Peter Pan or ET. The dude could MOONWALK! Who ever conceived of something like that until he busted it out? That’s magic to a kid. Only now that I’m older and I appreciate Quincy Jones’ mindblowing production + MJ’s unreal talent have I really appreciated Thriller (and OTW, and to a lesser extent, BAD). Doesn’t it suck that someone has to die for everyone to come out and show them empathy for once?
Kevin
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Jun 30 09
at
12:01 pm
Colleen - how is Luke’s remark “street justice?” He took no personal action against a likely pedophile, other than to state his opinion that he was one. I question the medium (crass, jokey), but essentially the message has some truth to it. It is not a matter of lacking pity for “someone so messed up,” it is a matter of hoping others will be protected against the mess so as to avoid becoming messes themselves. Anyway, most of the “pity” you address here is self-pity, not pity for Mr. Jackson. It is an important distinction, and the widespread lack of recognition for that distinction says much about what made Mr. Jackson the tragic figure he was/is.
jeezuz
commented on
Jul 04 09
at
3:25 am
pineapple
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Luke
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