June 26, 2009
Oh dear
Michael Jackson, originally uploaded by Richard E. Aaron.
So, I just realized that when I wrote that post yesterday about surfing the Internet at 30,000 feet, it really should have gone like this:
In-flight wi-fi is great, now I don't have to worry about being isolated from the world for the three hours I'm in an airplane. Let's take a look at what's going on in the news, shall we? Ah, good ol' Yah - HOLY FUCKING SHIT MICHAEL JACKSON DIED!!!!!!!!
Seriously, if you want a kick in the gut, this will do it. It really is hard to believe that Michael Jackson is gone. At the same time, I think everyone will agree that this wasn't a surprise. Shocking, but not surprising.
He died way too early, and it's sad because he could have done so much more with his career. There's an instant comparison with other died-too-young musicians, namely Elvis and John Lennon. The only problem with this comparison, I think, is that Jackson hasn't been relevant for his music in nearly a decade. Elvis was performing weeks before he died; John Lennon was murdered a month before he had a new record coming out. If not at the height of fame, they were still firmly within the limelight. On the other hand, Jackson had devolved into a tabloid curiosity.
Jackson, of course, had those 50 sold-out shows in London upcoming, but who knows where they would have led? Maybe they would have set him off on a career resurgence, or maybe he would have fizzled like so many of his other comeback attempts. We'll never know what was in store next, and I think that is truly the saddest part.
When I was a youngin', Jackson was it. I can still remember when he would premiere music videos in primetime on Fox, after The Simpsons. Or when he would have blow-out Super Bowl half-time shows. If there is one good thing to come out of this, perhaps his legacy will be rehabilitated, and his legendary music will finally take precedence over his wacky persona. RIP, Michael.
entry no. 1394
Posted at June 26, 2009 03:30 PM