RIP Michael Jackson

[Leaping Lindner]

Forget his personal issues, he was probably the most influentiual musician/performer the world has ever seen and ever likely to be seen.....many memories growing up listening to his music.....a truely sad day

People are comparing this to Elvis, IMO there is no comparison....

It's sad the guy is dead but let's be serious.

[Dutchy]

Jarvis Cocker sends his regards.

Who?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upbbz_Eyq4Q

going to have to do better than that sorry

[mick]

Forget his personal issues, he was probably the most influentiual musician/performer the world has ever seen and ever likely to be seen.....many memories growing up listening to his music.....a truely sad day

People are comparing this to Elvis, IMO there is no comparison....

It's sad the guy is dead but let's be serious.

Absolutely right, it's terrible when anyone dies at such a young age. I'm afraid I never rated him as a musician he apparently was good in concerts and made a couple clever music videos. Elvis he ain't.

[Dogwatcher]

Mick, I reckon that's a debate for another thread

[Strawb]

its a shame that he has passed away. His music will live on forget his personal issues for the time being. Michael grew up with the world watching him all his life he has been infront of the world. His ever changing face was creepy and so was his white king bleaching of his skin. But he was an entertainer and alot of people loved his music.

[whufc]

RIP Michael Jackson

I heard a great comment from a journalist on t.v, when you think of Michael Jacksons music you don't think of it being the 80's, 90's or 00's, you just think of it as legendary timeless music.

Love him or hate him he is a music industry legend.

[Lunchcutter]

Yes very sad indeed, i have a great memory of getting up early in 1983 (I was 13) to watch the video hits and see the new extended thriller clip that went for 12 mins.. was totally awesome and as someone said he definitely was a major influence to pop culture around the world. RIP Baby Jackson

[JAS]

Pity it takes his death for his songs to get air time again. BBC Radio 2's show all seem to be playing loads of his hits today from the very early right through his career. Never a big concert going/CD buying fan but nice to hear some of them again. Ben is on at the moment...geez that takes me back a bit...do hope they won't show the awful film it came from.

I imagine the scenes in the US will be pretty insane for a while but then I guess these truly huge stars (not your BB wannabes) are essentially their royal family.

Regards
JAS

[zipzap]

I heard a great comment from a journalist on t.v, when you think of Michael Jacksons music you don't think of it being the 80's, 90's or 00's, you just think of it as legendary timeless music.

Wow really? I'd struggle to name more than a couple of his (dreadful) 90s songs and I'm damn sure I can come up with nothing from the 00's. 70's maybe but 80's definitely. Along with Madonna he would be the quintessential 80s pop star I would have thought. But after that it's been downhill all the way sadly.

[Thiele]

RIP MJ

[Interceptor]

First heard about it around 7:15 this morning on Triple J -they played 'Don't Stop Til You Get Enough' in tribute...

Meanwhile the Courier Mail will apparently have a 16 page liftout tomorrow
I guess the Tiser will do the same or similar.

Didn't mind his Thriller stuff growing up, but gradually lost interest after that.
Very talented, but his strange persona, plus the child abuse allegations and apparent payoffs really tarished his reputation for most I suspect.

[Rik E Boy]

Forget his personal issues, he was probably the most influentiual musician/performer the world has ever seen and ever likely to be seen.....many memories growing up listening to his music.....a truely sad day

People are comparing this to Elvis, IMO there is no comparison....

It's sad the guy is dead but let's be serious.

More people would disagree with you than be on your side on this one Lindy. There was a time when Jacko led the way, especially for black artists cracking it on MTV. Problem was he peaked at a young age and then went steadily backwards.

regards,

REB

[Leaping Lindner]

Forget his personal issues, he was probably the most influentiual musician/performer the world has ever seen and ever likely to be seen.....many memories growing up listening to his music.....a truely sad day

People are comparing this to Elvis, IMO there is no comparison....

It's sad the guy is dead but let's be serious.

More people would disagree with you than be on your side on this one Lindy. There was a time when Jacko led the way, especially for black artists cracking it on MTV. Problem was he peaked at a young age and then went steadily backwards.

regards,

REB

Come on be serious Rikky Lad. Of ALL time. Some might say MTV isn't a good yardstick anyway

[ORDoubleBlues]

Truly sad news.

Thriller was the first album yours truly ever owned at the age of 8 in 1984 and for anyone younger than 30, he was truly huge in this period before the mobile phone and internet era's had begun.
Thriller was such an off the charts success that his next two albums weren't considered as good - 1987's Bad and 1991's Dangerous - even though they were still very good albums IMHO and sold plenty.
Was a public figure in early childhood and his lack of a childhood had what would appear to be a bad effect on his life and I don't know what would posess an already good looking man to do what he did to his features but that was his choice.
A good song of his that tends to have been forgotten is the Paul McCartney duet "Say, Say, Say", which was a number 1 around the world during 1983/84.

RIP Michael.

[whufc]

I heard a great comment from a journalist on t.v, when you think of Michael Jacksons music you don't think of it being the 80's, 90's or 00's, you just think of it as legendary timeless music.

Wow really? I'd struggle to name more than a couple of his (dreadful) 90s songs and I'm damn sure I can come up with nothing from the 00's. 70's maybe but 80's definitely. Along with Madonna he would be the quintessential 80s pop star I would have thought. But after that it's been downhill all the way sadly.

Sorry i probably didn't explain myself well enough, what the guy was trying to say was that when you listen to Elvis it has a clear feel for that era, where as Michael Jackson's sound is timeless no matter what era you listen to him in.

[zipzap]

I heard a great comment from a journalist on t.v, when you think of Michael Jacksons music you don't think of it being the 80's, 90's or 00's, you just think of it as legendary timeless music.

Wow really? I'd struggle to name more than a couple of his (dreadful) 90s songs and I'm damn sure I can come up with nothing from the 00's. 70's maybe but 80's definitely. Along with Madonna he would be the quintessential 80s pop star I would have thought. But after that it's been downhill all the way sadly.

Sorry i probably didn't explain myself well enough, what the guy was trying to say was that when you listen to Elvis it has a clear feel for that era, where as Michael Jackson's sound is timeless no matter what era you listen to him in.

Even the disco numbers? They sound pretty of their time to me.
Sorry to sh*tstir though, I do know what you mean

[Mr66]

All this fuss over a singer?
Just imagine the hysteria if he was a useful human being such as a nurse,doctor,teacher, paramedic, firefighter etc....

[JAS]

The 'fuss' is probably because, like it or not, he was more than just a singer...I know Wiki isn't always 100% accurate but...not many other singers will ever be able to boast this sort of sales figures...and that's just for one album

In just over a year, Thriller became—and currently remains—the best-selling album of all time. Sales are estimated to be between 100–109 million copies sold worldwide.

...and he might not have been a surgeon or a firefighter but I think there's no question that he did help save lives...

He donated his $5 million share from the Victory Tour to charity...

Jackson co-wrote the charity single "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie, which was released worldwide to aid the poor in Africa and the US. He was one of 39 music celebrities who performed on the record. The single became one of the best-selling singles of all time, with nearly 20 million copies sold and millions of dollars donated to famine relief...

From 1985 to 1990, Jackson donated $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund, and all of the profits from his single "Man in the Mirror" went to charity...

Jackson founded the "Heal the World Foundation" in 1992. The charity organization brought underprivileged children to Jackson's ranch, to go on theme park rides that Jackson had built on the property after he purchased it. The foundation also sent millions of dollars around the globe to help children threatened by war and disease. The Dangerous World Tour began on June 27, 1992, and finished on November 11, 1993. Jackson performed to 3.5 million people in 67 concerts. All profits from the concerts went to the "Heal the World Foundation", raising millions of dollars in relief...

In 1985, Jackson wrote the charity anthem "We Are the World"; humanitarian themes later became a central component of his life and music...

Following the illness and death of Ryan White, Jackson helped draw public attention to HIV/AIDS, something that was still controversial at the time. He publicly pleaded with the Clinton Administration at Bill Clinton's Inaugural Gala to give more money to HIV/AIDS charities and research...

Regards
JAS

[Mr66]

So now he found a cure for aids?
...and like 99% of all celebrities, only did anything charitable when the cameras were on him.
Just another shallow phony.

and I forgot about him paying hush money to the family of the kid he molested...

[JAS]

So now he found a cure for aids?
...and like 99% of all celebrities, only did anything charitable when the cameras were on him.
Just another shallow phony.

Ridiculous comment imo.

Why shouldn't he get publicity for his charity work and don't forget the charity gets masses of publicity from it too...it can make a huge difference in raising awareness and their profile and getting other donations when stars as well known as him align themselves to a charity.

Regards
JAS