Ukedude
"Michael Jackson is dead"
A Place for Music Fans!
Rating:
I heard through Twitter that he'd died and it was definitely a very sad day. I remember when I was 7 or 8 years old watching the Thriller video in England (where there were only four channels at the time), and literally everyone in the whole country watched it on Top of The Pops, and people were talking about it for weeks. Church groups decried it as Satanic and parents were scornful of its edginess, but even then I remember thinking - this is really, really amazing. So when the news of his death came, it did feel like a piece of my childhood had finally moved on, and it made me reflect on his career rather than his scandals.
+5
Michael Jackson was a comi-tragic figure that wouldn't have been believable in fiction. A man who was forever a child, with a dreadful father, surrounded by sycophantic hangers-on who will fight in court over his wealth long after his death. The owner of a private theme park, a chimpanzee called Bubbles, a personal debt of a magnitude that normally receives a bailout, and friendships with bizarre celebrities who have stepped out of the limelight. And these were all the good things, long before he butchered his appearance through decades of plastic surgery, and before the sordid accusations of child abuse started to appear.
And yet our Greek tragedy is cut short: we've experienced the rising star, his dramatic fall, and the expectations of his Phoenix-like return to prominence, but it was never to be. Yet there were signs that his final tour would never happen: many of the shows were uninsurable, and many ticket holders have expressed their gut instinct that they would never see the man behind the Moonwalk in person. It's almost as if the shock ending was the intended ending all along.
Personally, I will remember Michael Jackson as the man who owned music in the 1980s - period. Every generation has a musician who not only represents an era but defines it, and it's extraordinary how often these icons disappear early as a result of burning the candle so brightly at their peak.
What did you think of this review?
Helpful
18
Thought-Provoking
17
Fun to Read
14
Well-Organized
15
More Michael Jackson reviews
Yes, there's a nasty streak of ferocious anger on his later records, but they didn't call him the King of Pop for nothing.
Comments (4)
Compliments (9)
review by Ukedude.
June 25, 2009
No matter what you think about Jackson's personal life (or rather public life), he was as important to the history of music as Elvis. Starting with the Jackson 5 when he was just a child, he changed his clothing style, his nose and his skin color, but he kept the same soulful sound. He was very distinctive and there is simply no way anyone could mistake him for anyone else. He was 50. He may have been an extreme weirdo, but you have to admit that he was talented and influentual. … more
Comments (12)
Compliments (75)
Michael Jackson died today. He was only 50 years old. There is no question that Michael was one of the most talented entertainers of his generation. As the story goes he and his brothers were discovered at the Indiana State Fair by none other than the great Diana Ross. Diana recommended the boys to her boss Berry Gordy at Motown and the rest as they say is history. The Jackson 5, led by 10 year old lead singer Michael were an immediate sensation. … more
Comments (4)
Compliments (70)
Quick Tip by harven.
January 06, 2011
you are great !!The number 1 is belong to you !
Comment
Compliment
Quick Tip by brittany1995.
December 27, 2010
I love you michael...and always will support you baby.
Comment
Compliment
Quick Tip by alagarsamy.
December 05, 2010
Oh Michael...how can you disappear? just beat it..where we will meet you it is empty world without you alagarsamy India
Comment
Compliment
Like most of the world, when I heard that Michael Jackson passed away, I was in disbelief. Surely it must be a hoax, I thought. Then the radio announced it (after they played Billie Jean) and I still coulnd't believe it. Then his music videos and about a million specials played on television and I was STILL in disbelief. If there's one thing Michael Jackson has showed us for sure, it's that you never realize how much you miss someone … more
Comments (2)
Compliments (48)
review by michelleyd.
June 30, 2009
The boyfriend and I were thrift store shopping in Compton when I received a text message that read "Michael Jackson is dead!" ... "What?” It isn’t Dominic’s style to send out nonsensical texts but maybe he was drunk in the afternoon. I was confused so before I slipped my iPhone back into my purse I googled simply “Michael Jackson” and the first headline to appear read, "Michael … more
Comments (1)
Compliments (48)
I grew up with Michael's music; I had Jackson 5 posters in my room. Growing up as he went on his own, his videos thrilled the world. Back then as a young adult, the only time to see his videos was on MTV; he actually is the one who launched black entertainers on MTV. Just one milestone for him, and many more to come. I loved watching him dance, and was also amazed with his sister Janet's dancing as well. I thought his voice was angelic - perfect tone, pitch, never any mistakes; after all … more
Comments (3)
Compliments (6)
Loved Michael in the Jackson Five and his early MTV work. He just got so weird that I couldn't stand who he became, for me it interferd with whatever pleasure his music could bring. He toppled like a classic figure of Greek tragedy in the end, too bad, he had been a great talent.
Comment
Compliment
About the reviewer
James Beswick (jbeswick)
Lunch.com's "token Brit".
Consider the Source
Use Trust Points to see how much you can rely on this review.
You
jbeswick
Your ratings:
Recent reviews by jbeswick
About this musician
Died on June 25, 2009
view wiki
Michael Jackson was unquestionably the biggest pop star of the '80s, and certainly one of the most popular recording artists of all time. In his prime, Jackson was an unstoppable juggernaut, possessed of all the tools to dominate the charts seemingly at will: an instantly identifiable voice, eye-popping dance moves, stunning musical versatility, and loads of sheer star power. His 1982 blockbuster Thriller became the biggest-selling album of all time (probably his best-known accomplishment), and he was the first black artist to find stardom on MTV, breaking down innumerable boundaries both for his race and for music video as an art form. Yet as Jackson's career began, very gradually, to descend from the dizzying heights of his peak years, most of the media's attention focused on his increasingly bizarre eccentricities; he was often depicted as an arrested man-child, completely sheltered from adult reality by a life spent in show business. The snickering turned to scandal in 1993, when Jackson was accused of molesting a 13-year-old boy; although he categorically denied the charges, his out-of-court settlement failed to restore his tarnished image. He never quite escaped the stigma of those allegations, and while he continued to sell records at superstar-like levels, he didn't release them with enough frequency (or, many critics thought, inspiration) to once again become better known for his music than his private life. Whether as a pop ...
Filmography:
Men in Black II,
The Wiz
TV Appearances:
The Simpsons,
The Carol Burnett Show,
The Midnight Special,
60 Minutes,
The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour,
20/20,
Entertainment Tonight,
The E! True Hollywood Story,
Top of the Pops,
Soul Train,
The Arsenio Hall Show,
The Ed Sullivan Show
Nationality:
American
Bands or Musical Groups:
Jackson 5
Solo Albums:
Thriller (Michael Jackson album),
This Is It (2009 Michael Jackson album),
Michael Jackson 25th Anniversary of Thriller,
The Essential Michael Jackson,
Michael Jackson - Dangerous,
Michael Jackson: Michael
Instruments:
Vocals, piano, drums, beatbox, guitar
Genre:
Pop
Debut:
1964
Country:
United States
Website:
http://www.michaeljackson.com
Birth Date:
August 29, 1958
Birth Place:
Gary, Indiana, USA
Gender:
Male
Height:
5' 11"
Lists with this musician
Polls with this musician
First to Review
- About Lunch
- Press
- FAQs
- Contact Us
- Terms of Service
- Privacy Policy
- Sitemap
- Report Abuse
© 2013 Lunch.com, LLC All Rights Reserved
Lunch.com - Relevant reviews by real people.
He overcame the tragedy of a terrible father, the betrayal of many people he thought were his friends, and the relentless acts of the press who only were interested in writing about his eccentricities. Michael, I believe, had more inner strength in his little finger than most have in their whole bodies. Unfortunately, after the allegations of child molestation, he had no way to deal but to look to greedy physicians who enabled his addiction. His family and real friends said that Michael lost the light in his eyes; to be accused of something he did not do, and have the whole world watching, especially after living his life to enable children to have a better life, was devastating for him. Despite all of this and his addiction, he went on to continue his mission.
Unfortunately also is the fact he felt he had to change his appearance so often with surgery, because he hated the way he looked. His father had a huge impact on his self-esteem; telling him his nose was too big, and "Don't look in the mirror because you are ugly;" - Michael never liked himself physically, which was a true tragedy; if he saw himself the way others saw him, he would have known he was beautiful on the outside as well the inside.
If every person in this world who is fortunate enough to have money and power had the generosity and kindness in their heart that Michael had; the world would be a little better for it. He is gone too soon for sure, as he wanted to accomplish so much more.
He is one man who I idolize and admire, not only for his talent but because of the man he was. I can only imagine the pain his children have gone through, as they adored him.
I also believe he knew a tragic end would come. He told Lisa Marie Presley when they were married that he would end up dying like her father. If you ever heard the song "Morphine" - you will hear him tell you he is addicted; was this his way of telling the world that he was in trouble? I believe so, because he used his music to convey messages. I did not hear this song, as no video was made of it, until after his death, and the lyrics are eerily true to life and to his death.
Michael is truly the Man In The Mirror and will never be forgotten.