R.I.P. Michael Jackson

[JR Journey]

Michael Jackson dies at 50

http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/200 ... obit_N.htm

[indulgedcountrymusic]

*shivers* He was such a creeper

But R.I.P. 'cause I'm nice like 'dat

[Chris D]

*shivers* He was such a creeper

But R.I.P. 'cause I'm nice like 'dat

See, most people today only know the creepy MJ, when he used to be such an amazing pop star- that's been completely overshadowed which is terrible. I love "P.Y.T.", "Beat It" and "Thriller"!

[JR Journey]

*shivers* He was such a creeper

But R.I.P. 'cause I'm nice like 'dat

See, most people today only know the creepy MJ, when he used to be such an amazing pop star- that's been completely overshadowed which is terrible. I love "P.Y.T.", "Beat It" and "Thriller"!

I still jam to some old-school Michael Jackson when somebody else is playing it too. And creepy or not, the man was a major influence on popular American music and in effect, on world music. He was the first black singer to gain major widespread appeal and still has the best-selling studio album of all time (by about 5 million copies) according to the RIAA.

[Sam G]

It's too bad every 25 and under primarily remember Michael Jackson as the freakshow he became. I was a kid in the "Thriller" era, and even though I wasn't a huge fan, there was no denying he was the biggest star on the planet during that time.

[Drew]

He definitely was an icon, and you really have to put his life into two distinct personas... one as a musical superstar, and one as a tabloid freakshow. It's pretty sad though that so many will remember the latter moreso than the former.

[Razor X]

He was the first black singer to gain major widespread appeal ...

What about Johnny Mathis, Lionel Ritchie, Nat King Cole, Sammy Davis Jr., Diana Ross and countless Motown acts that preceded him?

[Stormy]

Razor--Michael Jackson was the first black artist played on MTV.

Chris: I was never actually a fan of Michael's pop. We had a tape player in the school bus when I was a kid and we were allowed to bring tapes. For me, he was always who I had to listen to when I couldn't play my Flatt and Scruggs tape instead. In my memory he will always be that guy who DIDN'T have a song about Bonnie and Clyde.

Sam: I will deny he was the biggest pop singer in his era with a single word: Madonna. During the 80's and early 90's there were only about 6 trends she did not start. She was only of the only pop artists to survive Grunge by releasing a dance pop album that would appeal to flannel wearers (Ray of Light) and she is still around and still able to keep making music that is current.

[indulgedcountrymusic]

I find it hard to consider him black, since technically he isn't thanks to all the plastic surgery he's had done

I will deny he was the biggest pop singer in his era with a single word: Madonna. During the 80's and early 90's there were only about 6 trends she did not start. She was only of the only pop artists to survive Grunge by releasing a dance pop album that would appeal to flannel wearers (Ray of Light) and she is still around and still able to keep making music that is current.

I'm with you, Madonna tops Michael Jackson... especially because she's still making good music and didn't turn into a freak

[JR Journey]

I'm with you, Madonna tops Michael Jackson... especially because she's still making good music and didn't turn into a freak

That's because she started as one.

[Stormy]

I'm with you, Madonna tops Michael Jackson... especially because she's still making good music and didn't turn into a freak

That's because she started as one.

Almost all sucessful musicians are to a greater or lesser degree "freaks."

[Razor X]

Almost all sucessful musicians are to a greater or lesser degree "freaks."

I wouldn't say that.

[Steve Harvey]

I find it hard to consider him black, since technically he isn't thanks to all the plastic surgery he's had done

I will deny he was the biggest pop singer in his era with a single word: Madonna. During the 80's and early 90's there were only about 6 trends she did not start. She was only of the only pop artists to survive Grunge by releasing a dance pop album that would appeal to flannel wearers (Ray of Light) and she is still around and still able to keep making music that is current.

I'm with you, Madonna tops Michael Jackson... especially because she's still making good music and didn't turn into a freak

I take issue with both the idea that she's still making good music, or that she ever made good music.

On the subject of Michael Jackson, at the time of his death, he was a has-been who hadn't put out anything worthwhile in about 20 years. During the eighties, he was one of the finest pop writers and singers working, but unfortunately because it was the 80s, his records were stymied by atrocious production. Some great songs there though, and even though he had a tendency to oversing post-Off The Wall, he had an awesome set of pipes.
I do blame him for inspiring a whole generation of pop singers who think it's more worthwhile learning to dance than learning an instrument though.

[indulgedcountrymusic]

I do blame him for inspiring a whole generation of pop singers who think it's more worthwhile learning to dance than learning an instrument though.

And then there's Shakira, who can do both, and very well

[Stormy]

Madonna ave a nice eulogy.

http://tv.msn.com/2009-mtv-video-music- ... ?GT1=28103