Michael Jackson - Status Unknown

[Pete70s]

I can't say I've ever been a huge fan, especially from '87-on, but there were quite a few tunes I liked a lot, especially Jackson 5-Jacksons-era. It is quite shocking, especially since I'd heard recently he was working on a comeback.

[cairnterrier]

Also another one here who admired his work pre-1984. While not big into his later material he was indeed a talented performer who set the bar for pop music, stadium shows, and the ability to capture the audience. Best words to describe Micheal Jackson....larger than life.

Tonight, all the radio stations here....even the classic rock and country ones are playing MJ songs...many listeners calling in with their memories of him. Like what Railyn stated above, I'm sure there was some degree of mental issues going on....some which I'm sure took control of his life in a negative way. But with all the negatives, the world has been left with memorable songs as the positive legacy of what we all can agree on from a remarkable artist.

[dave910]

"Thriller" was the first tape I purchased back in 1983. I played the tape until I wore it out. I prefer his first two solo albums and of course the Jackson 5 stuff is incredible.

A great entertainer and larger than life figure. He had some hard times and controversy in the 1990's. But he was working on a comeback tour in the U.K. Not sure if he was working on anything new. There was even a rumor of a Jacksons reunion with the all the family including Michael and Janet.

Very sad indeed. Michael R.I.P.

[Ken]

R.I.P. Michael

I still can't believe it, although I did hear stories that he was not in good health (the trouble is you never knew what to believe)

I loved (and still love) the Jackson 5 material (I even watched the cartoon!

I also liked "Rock With You" I remember when it was current, a buddy's sister had the 45, and he would play it whenever I was at his house.

But the "Thriller" era material was just overplayed and I grew tired of it quickly, it was everywhere.


It has not been a good day, Farrah Fawcett passes away, Michael, and I just read that Sky Saxon of The Seeds died today as well.

[Railyn]

Agreed Ken. I always though Thriller was, well, back when I was 10 I believe I used the term "too fussy", but now I would say it was overproduced. And way overplayed. But that's how it goes. I could say the same of a number of other artists as well. I still have my Thriller album (it was gift from someone for either my birthday or Christmas - can't remember).

But as a roller rink rat, I adored "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and I do own "Off The Wall" on cd. As well as one with his brothers (not The Jackson 5 - it's just The Jacksons, and it's not "Victory" - I think it might be "Triumph"). It has the song "Can You Feel It?" which I've always loved too.

Sirius has listener call-ins right now who are taping messages and one that I heard this morning was pretty good. I don't remember exactly what he said. He echoed my sentiment that they liked his stuff up to Thriller, but that his "pathetic" personal life (his words - not mine) overshadowed his good points, but also how he was just a kid trapped in an adult's body. He said it well, but I just can't remember exactly what he said.

[Jughead]

At least some people can look beyond his screwed-up personal life to see the musical legacy he brought. I logged onto Facebook, and, there are some people who are being needlessly cruel...not just about Michael himself, but cruel towards people who have tried to leave behind positive comments.

I mean, yeah, everyone has an opinion about him...some good, some bad. But, some just seriously need to shut up.

[Railyn]

Jun 26, 2009 8:00:36 GMT -5 Jughead said:

At least some people can look beyond his screwed-up personal life to see the musical legacy he brought. I logged onto Facebook, and, there are some people who are being needlessly cruel...not just about Michael himself, but cruel towards people who have tried to leave behind positive comments.

I mean, yeah, everyone has an opinion about him...some good, some bad. But, some just seriously need to shut up.

I see a lot of it too, and it's tasteless. If you're not a fan, that's cool, but if you have nothing whatsoever constructive to say, then keep it to yourself.

[gremashlo]

It is interesting to try to separate the musical genius from the extremely diseased man...my daughter was rather irritated that so much TV time was devoted to the "child molester"--but, she grew up after MJ had reached his peak, and ONLY knew him as the plastic surgery-addled sideshow. I feel sorry for her.

What I found rather sad was that I heard about his death while listening to an AM sports radio talkshow, which pretty much stopped talking about the NBA draft and went totally into Michael Jackson overdrive--but, when I turned to FM music stations, they had already switched to afternoon automated programs (such as John Tesh with his comments inserted between downloaded music) and didn't feel it was necessary to shut down the friggin' computer to announce that he had died...so much for the convenience of pre-recorded programming. But, almost all of the smaller Midwest stations do it that way now, to justify playing commercials at 3:00 AM.

I mean, he was a legitimate music legend--sure, his last two decades were essentially one madia train wreck after another--but, they COULD have easily paused the stupid computer and announced his death...

[Dawn]

I too am disturbed by some of the hateful comments I've seen on various sites.

Yes, Michael Jackson had many personal issues, and made some unwise choices in his life. But he also left a huge legacy as a musician and entertainer, and his music meant a lot to many people. It's one thing not to be a fan, but these people should at least show more respect to Michael's family at this time and stop with the unnecessarily cruel remarks.

[Dawn]

Jun 26, 2009 7:10:37 GMT -5 Railyn said:

Agreed Ken. I always though Thriller was, well, back when I was 10 I believe I used the term "too fussy", but now I would say it was overproduced. And way overplayed. But that's how it goes. I could say the same of a number of other artists as well. I still have my Thriller album (it was gift from someone for either my birthday or Christmas - can't remember).

But as a roller rink rat, I adored "Rock With You" and "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough" and I do own "Off The Wall" on cd. As well as one with his brothers (not The Jackson 5 - it's just The Jacksons, and it's not "Victory" - I think it might be "Triumph"). It has the song "Can You Feel It?" which I've always loved too.

Sirius has listener call-ins right now who are taping messages and one that I heard this morning was pretty good. I don't remember exactly what he said. He echoed my sentiment that they liked his stuff up to Thriller, but that his "pathetic" personal life (his words - not mine) overshadowed his good points, but also how he was just a kid trapped in an adult's body. He said it well, but I just can't remember exactly what he said.

I agree about Triumph containing some great songs - Can You Feel It, Heartbreak Hotel/This Place Hotel and Lovely One especially.

[Dawn]

Jun 25, 2009 23:55:41 GMT -5 Ken said:

R.I.P. Michael

I still can't believe it, although I did hear stories that he was not in good health (the trouble is you never knew what to believe)

I loved (and still love) the Jackson 5 material (I even watched the cartoon!

I also liked "Rock With You" I remember when it was current, a buddy's sister had the 45, and he would play it whenever I was at his house.

But the "Thriller" era material was just overplayed and I grew tired of it quickly, it was everywhere.


It has not been a good day, Farrah Fawcett passes away, Michael, and I just read that Sky Saxon of The Seeds died today as well.

I have a couple of the Jackson 5 cartoons taped from when VH-1 did a '70s retrospective week - about 8 or 9 years ago, I think.

Much as I liked the Thriller material (and still do), I agree that it was overexposed. You had 6 or 7 singles from the album consistently played on the radio for over a year, plus the videos and commercials, award shows - it did seem to be everywhere.

[SAT-I need more room!!]

I don't have a whole lot of nice things to say, so I'll keep it brief. 50 was too young. I had a lot of people tell me to look past the negative and focus on the positive. I have trouble in this particular case given what the negative is.

[Ken]

Jun 26, 2009 11:02:54 GMT -5 Dawn said:

Jun 25, 2009 23:55:41 GMT -5 Ken said:

R.I.P. Michael

I still can't believe it, although I did hear stories that he was not in good health (the trouble is you never knew what to believe)

I loved (and still love) the Jackson 5 material (I even watched the cartoon!

I also liked "Rock With You" I remember when it was current, a buddy's sister had the 45, and he would play it whenever I was at his house.

But the "Thriller" era material was just overplayed and I grew tired of it quickly, it was everywhere.


It has not been a good day, Farrah Fawcett passes away, Michael, and I just read that Sky Saxon of The Seeds died today as well.

I have a couple of the Jackson 5 cartoons taped from when VH-1 did a '70s retrospective week - about 8 or 9 years ago, I think.

Much as I liked the Thriller material (and still do), I agree that it was overexposed. You had 6 or 7 singles from the album consistently played on the radio for over a year, plus the videos and commercials, award shows - it did seem to be everywhere.

Very cool!

The last time I saw an episode of the cartoon was back in 1996 when I was on vacation in Reno with my Dad.

One morning I was in the hotel room watching Cartoon Network. At that time, the station was airing several Saturday morning shows from the 60's and 70's. It was great to see it again!

[Dawn]

Some very candid and emotional words on Michael's death from Lisa Marie Presley:

celebrity.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=celebrity.blog

[H2IZCOOL]

Arguably the three biggest icons of Rocks first 3 decades. Elvis - dead at 42. John Lennon - dead at 40. And now Jacko at 50!