While I wasn't a big fan its hard to dispute his influence and contributions to the industry over his career. I guess this cover could be a bit of a tribute.
In comparison Charles Chaplin had publicly well-known and trivially provable thing for underage girls, but I don't see people shouting "pedophile, pedophile" every time his name is mentioned.
In an obituary in the LA Times today, they indicate Michael Jackson "studied the sad Hollywood exile of Charlie Chaplin."
Maybe Jackson found some solicitude in the perceived unjust persecution of a fellow clown.
I think Jackson was close to releasing a version of Chaplin's "Smile" just before his death.
Maybe 30 years from now people won't be chanting "pedophile, pedophile" when Jackson's name comes up but they probably won't forget the multiple accusations, cash payments, charges, trials, etc either.
As with Chaplin, it's part of the whole and part of the permanent record.
Edit: A media commentator looks at where the media has focussed . . . the music legacy or the overall record:
I had figured, when TMZ confirmed Michael Jackson's death before everyone else, that the media would focus mainly on the wildly successful singer he once was. There tends to be a subconscious airbrushing when someone famous passes.
But that didn't happen.
Even in the first, frantic hours, cable commentators talked about the plastic surgery, sharing a bed with young kids, the child abuse allegations, the trial, the Neverland seclusion, the dangling baby, the essential weirdness. It has, after all, been many years since Jackson was known mainly for his performing.
There is a generational split in the reaction to MJ's untimely death. Those who came of age during the era of the Jackson Five, Thriller, the moonwalk, are devastated because they have lost a piece of their childhood. Somewhat older folks were less enthralled by those early years and more likely to dwell on how he frittered away his success and his fortune.
Location: A simple man leading a complicated life....
Exp:
On December 25, 2004, Ed Bradley with CBS News interviewed Michael Jackson regarding the new charges he is facing. The interview aired December 28, 2004 on "60 Minutes." Here is a portion of the transcript from that interview which CBS posted on their web site.
Quote:
Bradley: "Do you know any other man your age, a 45-year-old man, who shares his bedroom with children?"
Jackson: "Of course. Not for sex. No. That's wrong."
Bradley: "Well, let me-- let me say, from my perspective, my experience, I don't know any 45 year old men, who are not relatives of the children, who share their bedroom with other children."
Jackson: "Well, what's wrong with sharing your bed? I didn't say I slept in the bed. Even if I did sleep in the bed, it's okay. I am not going to do anything sexual to a child. It's not where my heart is. I would never do anything like that. That's not Michael Jackson. I'm sorry. That's someone else."
For everyone in here declaring their hatred of pedophilia and alleged pedophiles (and really, I'm right with you regarding hatred of pedophiles), you sure seem to get a kick out of the child abuse and molestation jokes.
Whether or not MJ was a pedophile, I personally find jokes relating to the topic pretty sickening. How is it funny?
Just my $0.02.
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This is one of my favorite Michael Jackson clips. He's just an awkward teenager but this was in 1979 I think, one of last before he got his nose surgery. After this era, it was pretty much whacko Jacko to the end. You can tell that as a performer, he has charisma and confidence like no other, but when asked to simply sit still and speak, he's still awkward and shy as always.
For everyone in here declaring their hatred of pedophilia and alleged pedophiles (and really, I'm right with you regarding hatred of pedophiles), you sure seem to get a kick out of the child abuse and molestation jokes.
Yeah. I don't really chuckle at the hookers and hobos jokes either. I guess it's just me. My mind goes more to the reality of the situation than the humour when the jokes are getting pretty bad. The image of "fiddling MJ's knob" or whatever from the etch-a-sketch joke just does not put a funny image in my head.
For everyone in here declaring their hatred of pedophilia and alleged pedophiles (and really, I'm right with you regarding hatred of pedophiles), you sure seem to get a kick out of the child abuse and molestation jokes.
Whether or not MJ was a pedophile, I personally find jokes relating to the topic pretty sickening. How is it funny?
Just my $0.02.
Because, obviously, we're all just terrible people.
We crack a few jokes and then get on with our terribly boring, uneventful, non-child molesting lives...
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Location: In a land without pants, or war, or want. But mostly we care about the pants.
Exp:
Humour is a way of dealing with the disturbing by taking away its power to horrify. Like all other methods of deflection, it's best not to indulge in it to the point where it seeks shock for its own sake.
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For everyone in here declaring their hatred of pedophilia and alleged pedophiles (and really, I'm right with you regarding hatred of pedophiles), you sure seem to get a kick out of the child abuse and molestation jokes.
Whether or not MJ was a pedophile, I personally find jokes relating to the topic pretty sickening. How is it funny?
The LAST photo...so far of Michael Jackson. I'm guessing that it was taken from outside the ambulance (because of the glare) as it was backing out of the estate.
There is a video (on http://x17online.com) showing a bunch of people going on one of those Hollywood tour things, and in it you can see a bunch of guys running up to ambulance taking pictures. I'm guessing that the photo came from one of them.
Last edited by RedMileDJ; 06-27-2009 at 01:39 AM.
Reason: Add some info and web link of video.
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I've listened to and loved music my entire life. I know one Lou Reed song because of a movie (not nitpicking at whoever mentioned him, just the one that stood out), I liked Led Zeppelin when I was a teenager with long greasy hair and thought it was cool to be grungy, Nirvana a year or two later, Bob Marley only in the last 5 years but mostly from some dance remix was I ever exposed to him. Music sounds good, everybody has their tastes.
Bunch of Nazis!!
You've probably heard more than that and didn't even realize it. The Velvet Underground is one of the most covered bands ever. Just from the top of my head, I know the following musicians have covered them:
David Bowie, U2, Nirvana, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elvis Costello, R.E.M., Duran Duran, Joy Division...
...and lesser acts like Blind Melon, Beastie Boys, Beck, Sonic Youth, Cat Power, Billy Idol, Phish, the Bangles (lol), The Pixies, Garbage, Ween, Nick Cave, Tori Amos, Patti Smith, Cowboy Junkies (love their version of "Sweet Jane")... the list goes on and on.
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"A pessimist thinks things can't get any worse. An optimist knows they can."
I can't read every page.. ah well.
Me either.
