Michael Jackson

[justTripn]

OK, this is way off topic, but do we have any Michael Jackson fans out there? Which is your favorite song? Any favorite Michael Jackson memories? Or is his legacy too tarnished by the scandals?

For me, I guess, right now, I choose to remember him as a mezmorizing performer who amazed, thrilled, and inspired us. We had the CDs and videos and when my babies really were babies and in preschool, we used to blast the music and I'd pick them up one by one and we'd dance around the living room singing. "The thing about my baby, it don't matter if you're black or white." Anyway, that's how we heard the lyrics. As preschoolers they were absolutely entralled with Michael Jackson's videos and his dancing and everything about him. So was I. It struck me then and now that the man had no "beta" as it were, so some of ther elements are shocking, but you couldn't tear yourself away from watching. Right after he died, I went to pick up my one son at work, and he told me how shocked and sad he was and said, "Lets play Michael Jackson songs in his honor." So we plugged C.'s I-Pod into the car stero. The songs were already there from before. All my boys had his songs already on their I-Pods.

I guess my favorites are "Black or White," "Man in the Mirror," "You Rock My World," "Heal the World."

[Distracted]

I thought he was precious when he sang with the Jackson Five, but he pretty much lost me when he started the whole Diana Ross look-alike business, and his crotch-grabbing was offensive to me. Sorry. Not a fan.

I'm glad you have good memories of his work, though, JT.

[Alelou]

Yeah, personally I pretty much liked "ABC" and it stopped there. I wasn't offended, particularly, I just couldn't care less about it. To this day I just don't see why "Thriller" is supposed to be so thrilling. I can understand his fans being devastated, though; it's always sad when someone so talented dies so young.

What I find bizarre and offensive is that the big national networks have been treating this like the a lead story for so long. The first night it was essentially impossible to get news about ANYTHING ELSE. Hello? What about real news? It's not like important issues aren't being debated right now. If I wanted to watch entertainment news about celebrities, I'd turn on E or whatever it is.

[Linda]

He was very talented and I liked his "Thriller" and "Billy Jean" songs. And his dancing was fantastic - magical. I was not sure how to take him when he started changing his image and skin color. And I was suspicious of his relationship to children - not sure if he was actually abusive, just totally naive and a child himself, or off-the-wall nut case. Sigh, he lived in a whole different world from me - in his part of the real world and in his own mind. And a whole different economic bracket. Basically I admired his talent but just did not understand him.

[justTripn]

When you are talking about a different economic bracket? LOL . . . my mom reminded me of a funny story yesterday. Like 15 years ago, she and my dad moved back into the city into a gated community of townhouses, where everything is nice and new and neat, with manicured landscaping, and a community swimming pool. My boys, the first time we came to see the place, said, "Wow . . . maybe this is where Michael Jackson lives." LOL . . . .

[Asso]

"Thriller" was great for me, as great was his talent.
As to the man, maybe it's better we don't speak of him.

[JadziaKathryn]

What I find bizarre and offensive is that the big national networks have been treating this like the a lead story for so long. The first night it was essentially impossible to get news about ANYTHING ELSE. Hello? What about real news? It's not like important issues aren't being debated right now. If I wanted to watch entertainment news about celebrities, I'd turn on E or whatever it is.

Yes! I immediately got sick of seeing his ghoulish face on every other webpage.

[Kevin Thomas Riley]

Not a fan here, but I thought I'd post this avatar I made one from Impulse:

[Asso]

Absolutely awesome!

[Aquarius]

I'm not a huge fan, but I acknowledge that the man had talent.

It almost ticks me off, though, that he goes and dies the same day as Farrah. It's like he's staling her thunder. She was courageous at the end...and almost nobody is talking about her because they're carrying on about Michael.

[Asso]

Aquarius, HOW MUCH YOU'RE RIGHT!

[justTripn]

Not a fan here, but I thought I'd post this avatar I made one from Impulse:

WOW! Very impressive. Thanks, KTR!

I suppose I can see how people would be annoyed. He even swept the Iranian election protests off the front page. Hmmm . . . so, I'm picking up that he wasn't universally admired. *weak laugh*

[JadziaKathryn]

Hmmm . . . so, I'm picking up that he wasn't universally admired. *weak laugh*

No kidding. Complete and utter freakiness aside (which is hard!) I didn't even care for his music that much, not that I listen to it all that often, but sometimes when it comes on the radio. Or now, all the bloody time on the radio.

[Aquarius]

I suppose I can see how people would be annoyed. He even swept the Iranian election protests off the front page. Hmmm . . . so, I'm picking up that he wasn't universally admired. *weak laugh*

He has a loyal fan base and that's to be admired. He was a cool dude in the 80s, but he kind of became a train wreck and that's hard for me and possibly others to ignore. I'm not going to harsh on anyone for being his fan or missing him now that he's gone, but the guy had some serious issues and to be honest, THAT is probably what I'll remember him for, about equally with "Thriller."

[panyasan]

I'm not a huge fan, but I acknowledge that the man had talent.

It almost ticks me off, though, that he goes and dies the same day as Farrah. It's like he's staling her thunder. She was courageous at the end...and almost nobody is talking about her because they're carrying on about Michael.

I had the same feeling.