Whew … what a crazy 24 hours it’s been, huh? While many of us, me included, were merely trying to process the loss of Farrah Fawcett we were shocked to learn of the death of Michael Jackson yesterday afternoon. My immediate response was shock and awe … and the only way I knew how to process was to put on my fave Michael Jackson songs in remembrance. Of course, I was also reminded by just how many of his songs were faves of mine (Rock with You, hands down, is my fave Michael Jackson song of all time). Because I needed to get away from all of the media that was playing nonstop since word of MJ‘s cardiac arrest broke, I met up with my good friend Dino for a bite to eat and some friendly personal interaction. He was so kind as to give me one of the new military-style DSC Helmet Bags which are available for sale starting today:
Altho the helmet bag is really designed for air force pilots to carry around their helmets, I think I can find other uses for it :) Dino and I had a great time together but, invariably, I had to return home to the media dirge of newsreports. I managed to watch both hour-long 20/20 specials on ABC last night … one for the late Farrah Fawcett and one for the late Michael Jackson:
Farrah‘s special really educated me on her final years … it was very painful to see the way she wasted away in her final months but very heartening to see how hard she fought to live. MJ‘s special reminded me that while the man was a musical genius and is owed much for his contributions to pop culture, he had many problems and was really a very troubled man for most of his life. Time magazine published an honest piece on the death of Michael Jackson, titled The Death of Peter Pan, and I’d like to share an excerpt that really puts his troubled life in perspective:
Jackson’s profound weirdness — not just the glove or the seaweed hair striping his face but the blanched skin, the pained eyes, the tremulous soul — hinted that Peter Pan was the wrong role for him. Wasn’t Jackson really one of Peter’s Lost Boys, stranded between childhood and adolescence, loved by the public yet feeling caged and abandoned, and searching, groping for the Edenic innocence he believed was any child’s birthright? Or, to pick an image from another Disney cartoon classic, Neverland could also be Pinocchio’s Pleasure Island, where careless lads were transformed into slaves and donkeys. And this pop-star Pan could instead be the Pied Piper, the musician who lured children into a cave as their parents gasped in fright.
We really cannot forget the troubled life that MJ lived … because it was troubling for us to bear witness to. I recall the interview he did with journalist Martin Bashir, Living with Michael Jackson, where in his own words and by his own admissions he did the most damage to his persona. There are many ways to remember Michael Jackson … he was a hero to many, a villain to many and a sad, lost little boy who never really grew up to pretty much everyone. In the end, tho, I choose to remember the good things … his amazing body of music that will ensure that the best parts of him will live on for all time. Thursday June 25, 2009 is a day that a great many of us will remember for a long, long time. Some are dubbing it “The Day the Pop Music Died“. I think yesterday will always be one of those days where you’ll remember where you were when you heard that Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson died. I know, for sure, I will always remember.
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I agree whole heartedly that we have lost someone truly remarkable. And although that documentary did do damage to his persona…you have to realize there was more to the interview that was cut out. I think he was a sitting duck in terms of the lies and manipulation that surrounded him. People always gossiped about him, and thought of him as the “sideshow freak”, and now that he’s gone… they’ve automatically switched to the other side. Whatever, I was always a fan and always will be! Rest in peace Michael.
I agree. I hate how people are starting to like his music now now that he’s gone, if you go on iTunes and look at the popular songs/albums list, it’s alllll MJ.
RIP Michael and Farrah! You both will not be forgotten.
He lived a very sad life…I hope he is at peace now wherever he is. Also, my prayers are with his three children.
I understand that some people will remember him as a “freak” or “weirdo”; others will remember him for his influence in modern music. Regardless, we will ALL remember him and I do believe that is how a legacy is born. I will always remember the music videos and dancing when I was little to songs I’ll continue to listen to for years to come. Ms. Fawcett and her death is also troubling because she was young and full of life. I feel for both of their families.
@Amanda — very well said, I totally agree.
I never believed Michael was guilty of hurting those children and I think the pain he suffered during 2 trials was too much for his gentle soul. He died of a broken heart.
I wish people would stop being so negative. He was never convicted of anything. Remember his music and pray
for his family. RIP Michael and Farrah.
the man just died and he is being berated once again in an article, common seriosuly, more like the pied piper??? that is so unaccpetable and disrespectful and it is very irratating to see people still berate his on his death day, or even worse, those who so soically and casually ‘cussed’ and brought down his name by calling him so many name and such now love him cos he suddenly died or because he suddenly decided to have a concert…i honestly hope his true fans are okay through this time and the rest the people need to go listen to man in the mirror and think about how they talk and percieve people, espaiclly someone as talented and amzaing as michael jackson.
@beeba — I don’t think the article is “berating” him at all. Did you read the entire piece? IMHO, it’s an honest piece on his troubled life. It is very sad that he died but it’s also very understandable that people are remembering all aspects of his life.
Thats Dino for ya! Love the new bag.
Oh, I love DSC. Dino’s awesome.
thanks for the link to the time article, it was heart-breaking, but put into words how I’ve always felt about MJ, he was such a lost, confused soul. I’ve always felt so bad for him, he never really did grow up. I am still kind of shocked and devastated at this loss … but I’m definitely comforted by listening to his incredible music! he was one-of-a kind.
I’m just annoyed that these news people are bashing him like they know him. They’re jumping to too many conclusions and everything else; it’s ridiculous. Leave the poor man alone already – he’s dead. We should just remember him for what he’s done… People forget how much money he’s donated to charities and how much of a good person he was. Yes, he had his flaws and troubles but don’t we all? Oh wait, ours aren’t publicized. RIP MICHAEL
It is pissing me off that everyone chooses to remember him as this great musical legend. HE WAS A PEDOPHILE -he got little children drunk and molested them. I don’t give a crap if he’s the Queen of England. He deserves to be rememebered as a disgusting human being that bought his freedom. Do you think O.J. will be remembered as a athletic legend? No, I don’t think so. People need to stop mourning this horrible man.
# CHASE Says:
“Yes, he had his flaws and troubles but don’t we all? Oh wait, ours aren’t publicized.”
Precisely. I think he was less “lost” and “poor” spiritually than many people walking around today, and definitely less so than most paparazzi and media whores.
morgenne- then go be pissed off in a corner or something.
Yet still no mention of the atrocities in Iran on your blog.
@Michael- I understand people who are outraged that the passing of MJ is covered more than political warfare, but this is a celebrity gossip blog. Why would you look to PITNB for coverage on Iran?
get over it, people die everyday. I am so sick of peoples self indulgent grieving….this site sucks it hard….
Wow, i love trolls!
Trent, i thought your entry was very well put…not too sure how I feel about the article about him in Time however.
In regards to the allegations about molestation, It was never proven. Even if it was true, don’t you think he made up for the ones he did hurt by donating a lot of his money to charities? Possibly he was making up for the things he had done wrong, you don’t always have to be incarcerated to know what punishment is. I always have to question those people who are so gung ho about him being this horrible man because of what he apparently did. Not to say that i think it is ok or anything to molest children, but the extreme hatred kinda reminds me of those homophobes who are soooo hardcore anti gay but in all actuality are gay themselves?
@Michael – you’re wrong. Search Iran on this blog like I just did and you’ll see you’re wrong. I was fairly certain I’d seen it on here before, and the search confirmed it. If you’ve visited this blog before then you should know that politics and contemporary issues are not ignored here.
@Come on…. one day, when you grow a heart, you will become able to grieve.
I watched that 20/20 stuff last night, too. In fact it caused me to remember that I still have a copy of that Martin Bashir documentary on tape (I was obsessed with that for awhile when it first aired). I’ll have to go back and re-watch it, I think.
MJ’s troubles and his phenomenal artistry combine to make him a legend. Face it, non-believers, you have just lived through something similar to the death of Princess Diana, Elvis Presley, John Lennon and Marilyn Monroe. You are part of an historical hallmark – cherish it.
For Farrah Fawcett though, my heart just breaks. I always loved her so much and I’m so sorry that she had to suffer. I don’t want this to sound cheesy, but I’ve always thought of her as an angel and now I always will.
@kent I have had many deaths that I grieved for, just happened to be for people I actually knew.