Posted on 06/30/2009 8:52:45 AM PDT by AJKauf
Am I the only person in the world not moved by or concerned with the death of Michael Jackson? Like all bereavements my heart goes out to his family and close friends.
But a genius? The greatest entertainer of all time?
Why am I writing this article at all?
I believe it is important, especially for the young, to understand the true meaning of greatness and to appreciate the real essence of genius. This may sound like a sacrilege but, as I write, millions of youngsters are breakdancing to Jackson tunes and evidently thinking this is the be-all and end-all of lifes expectations. If I had a young child now I would want him or her to read books, go to orchestra concerts, and be exposed to selective media under my and my partners supervision. Whether or not the stars I am about to venerate grew up in such a rarefied atmosphere is debatable, but after hearing Al Sharptons pronouncements I would like to reflect on what true greatness entails.
The Rev. Sharpton said this week that Michael Jackson broke down a barrier: he made it acceptable for black entertainers to rise to the top in a white world. What is Al Sharpton talking about? ..
(Excerpt) Read more at pajamasmedia.com ...
Obama learned from Jackson that you can walk backwards while looking like you are walking forwards.
Transcript of Bashir interview. Video of it also.
Excerpt:
Jackson: "When you say bed, you're thinking sexual, they make that sexual, it's not sexual." "We're going to sleep, I tuck them in and I put a little like, er, music on and when it's story time I read a book." "We go to sleep with the fireplace on. I give them hot milk, you know, we have cookies, it's very charming, it's very sweet, it's what the whole world should do."
Posted on Friday, June 26, 2009 10:03:14 AM ET by ETL:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2279938/posts
I was moved, but only because I had had my second cup of coffee.
I remember the original MTV 1981-1983 and Thriller video premiere with Vincent Price's voice. That's it.
OK, stop right there.
Carol, you aren’t the only one who thinks those thoughts.
Well, he proved that you can start out as a black boy and end up as a white girl. I guess that’s important ...kind of... sort of...
Credit where credit is due. 10 year old Michael Jackson and the Jackson Five were groundbreaking. The kid was a major talent.
His Thriller album was a perfect storm. Quincy Jones was at the top of his game, and MJ could sing and dance.
It all went down hill from there.
Apparently Al Sharpton has never heard of Sammy Davis Jr.
Frankly, Jacko doesn't even come close in that category. Sure, he was a good dancer, but that was about it. He sang lousy songs, and had an average voice.
The best entertainer of all time was Al Jolson. ...and then probably Louis Armstrong. And of course Elvis Presley is right up there. And Sinatra. THOSE were entertainers.
Yep! Didn't need to read any further.
He was mostly 'smoke and mirrors'. As much of a Motown fan as I am, I never once considered buying one of his songs. The J-5 were ok, but near the bottom of the Motown list in my opinion. The stuff he did later on solo, I have even a lower opinion of.
Agreed. Adding Eddie Van Halen to “Beat It” was genius, imho.
Micael Jackson-— Never liked his music and his image was way too gay. He was an embarrassment
In my opinion the best thing MJ ever did was his role in “The Wiz”.
Lots of types of genius...Made-off was a genious at con.
I haven’t seen this kind of overreaction since Elvis died.
Of these, I vote for Sinatra as having the most talent, but that's just my opinion.
Of course, if you disagree, Frank's associates might help you change your mind.
James Brown.
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