Mob grief proves Britain is more wacko than Jacko

The Daily Mail (U.K.) ^ | June 30, 2009 | Richard Littlejohn

[Stoat]

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I couldn't help wondering how many of those on the streets proclaiming their sadness at the death of Saint Michael would have been banging on the side of the prison van if he'd been convicted of child-molesting

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On one level, Michael Jackson was Gary Glitter with money, which enabled him to buy off the parents of his alleged victim Jordie Chandler with $22million.

If he'd tried that in Britain, the same self-appointed mourners singing 'Beat It' out of tune this weekend would have been standing outside his front door, throwing petrol bombs and chanting 'Kill the Paediatrician!

 

That's not to say that Jackson was without talent - although as someone steeped in the history of Motown, I'd argue that he's a fairly minor figure compared with Smokey, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Holland-Dozier-Holland, the Tops and the Temps.

The Jacksons were little more than a novelty act churned out at the fag end of the Motown production line - the black Osmonds.

Michael's global fame and fortune was predicated upon a single album, Thriller, which owes as much to Quincy Jones's brilliant production and John Landis's groundbreaking video as it does to the songs themselves.

Elvis, he wasn't. Nor was he Sam Cooke, James Brown or Otis. None of that matters to his fans, nor should it. But a sense of perspective is in order.

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[Stoat]

My apologies for the severe editing of this article...this was done in order to remain in compliance with Free Republic posting rules pertaining to the posting of articles from The Daily Mail.  Please click on the main article link to read the full story.

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A little trip down memory lane...a Free Republic thread from 2005:

'Never in Neverland' say fans (Jacko's True Believers)

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A few more fans, from Britain, Holland and Spain, sat in their cars outside the low wooden fence, hoping to catch a glimpse of the man they say has been wrongfully accused of sexually molesting a 13-year-old boy and plying him with alcohol.

Jackson had already been accused of child molestation in 1993, but settled the case out of court in a multi-million dollar deal.

"Some people like to go to the beach, this is my vacation," said Wiedjai Sewgobind, 39, who travelled from Amsterdam to show his support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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"We can't understand them. They just sit at the gate and wait to see limos driving in or out," said sales rep Shelly Christensen, as she returned from a bike ride in the scenic countryside near the ranch.

But then again, she says, she can't understand Jackson either. "I think he's a very strange man."

 

[Stoat]

In Central London, the provisional wing of the Friends of Dorothy and the usual coven of madwomen took to the streets in a vomit-inducing display of sentimentality and exhibitionism.

Given that they couldn't afford to fly out to California to flaunt their compassion, they manufactured their own Glastonbury of Grief in the West End.

Half of them didn't even know the words. Bobby Jean, you're not my mum!

Seized with the spirit of Lady Di, Old Compton Street clones and bovine birds with pierced navels in Matalan crop tops united in the hedonistic pursuit of vicarious grief.

If ever a crowd needed 'kettling' this was it. I'd have even turned a blind eye to a baton charge and the judicious application of a water cannon.

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Our British Friends shouldn't be too quick to feel ashamed....wait until the American Loons come fully out of the woodwork around the time of his funeral.  I've heard today that his father wants it to be 'a big event, because Michael would have wanted it that way' and there was talk of a Leninesque glass coffin which would allow fans to file past and look at the body.  When all is said and done, I'll wager that one point will be in agreement.... The American Loon can be just as Loony as the Brit Loon.

[Brytani]

Can’t they just please hurry up and recycle this guy....

[USFRIENDINVICTORIA]

“chanting ‘Kill the Paediatrician!”

I do hope that was meant to be a joke (however weak).

[Maine Mariner]

So will the body be on permanent display at Neverland, like Lenin’s body at the Kremlin?

[parsifal]

And oh, BTW, what is with these damn idiot mothers who took their kids to see MJ and encouraged them? I like Lydia Lunch and whatshisname Blavatski, you know the poet one, not the Theosophist one although I thought she was definitely entertaining, but I would never have taken my kids to see him, what with him being a freakazoid. Heck, I even like the Sex Gang Children, but Boy George, can you believe people were dressing their little boys up like him and what kind of sicko would do that my God some people are whacked!

parsy, who shouldn’t operate heavy equipment right now.

[odin2008]

He has been using TiTo for spare parts

[Stoat]

From 2005:

Balding star's wiggo Jacko The Sun News

Top British hairdresser Feleny Georghiou whose clients include Victoria Beckham and the Duchess of York declared: “It is definitely a wig ... and one of the worst I have ever seen.”

Feleny, who works at swanky North London salon Connect, explained: “The big giveaway is at the top of the forehead where you can quite clearly see where the hair has been sewn in.

“When he turned up in court from his hospital bed on Thursday his hair was just too perfect to be his own.

“It was pristine. Only hair from a wig falls in that way.”

[Stoat]

So will the body be on permanent display at Neverland, like Lenin’s body at the Kremlin?

If they can charge a hefty admission fee for the next fifty years, I wouldn't put such ghoulishness as being beyond his family and debtors.

[Maine Mariner]

Nor would I. Charging admission may go a long way to reduce the $400 million dollar debt. Heck, people visited Valentio’s grave 60 years after his death.

[Stoat]

as being beyond his family and debtors

Creditors, rather. 

[Stoat]

Charging admission may go a long way to reduce the $400 million dollar debt.

I couldn't imagine amassing a debt like that, but then again I've never owned giraffes nor built a vast complex designed to attract children.  Astonishing.

[Pining_4_TX]

Ha, ha. There are quite a few MJ jokes floating around, but most can’t be posted on FR.

[Slings and Arrows]

Michael Jackson is dead?!

[AnotherUnixGeek]

That's not to say that Jackson was without talent - although as someone steeped in the history of Motown, I'd argue that he's a fairly minor figure compared with Smokey, Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, Holland-Dozier-Holland, the Tops and the Temps.

I'm the first to say that Jackson was a pedophile who preyed on helpless children as well as a walking freakshow, but this statement is nonsense. Jackson's impact on music in the '80s and his worldwide reach are comparable to that of the Beatles in the '60s. The article's attempt to trivialize Jackson by comparing him with Motown greats completely misses the point - Jackson's music was much bigger than just Motown or the R&B genre. And while "Off The Wall" and "Thriller" aren't my kind of music, they are undeniably great albums.

Michael's global fame and fortune was predicated upon a single album, Thriller, which owes as much to Quincy Jones's brilliant production and John Landis's groundbreaking video as it does to the songs themselves.

Quincy Jones' production talents were used by a lot of artists, most of whom never came anywhere near the kind of artistic and commercial success "Thriller" achieved. Jones also believed that "Billy Jean", the first #1 off the album, should not have been included in the album at all. And Jackson's success was also due to "Thriller"s predecessor, "Off The Wall", and it's followup "Bad".

[FreedomOfExpression]

Thanks for the pings.

BTW, don’t you ever sleep?

[Slings and Arrows]

Sleep is for people who can’t handle caffeine.

[FreedomOfExpression]

You are SO COOL!

[Slings and Arrows]

Oh, come on! *blush*

[dr_lew]

How is it at all possible that young men who dedicate their lives to the most spiritual goals do not feel the first instinct of spirituality, the spirit's instinct of self-preservation - and drink beer?

- Nietzsche