Breaking News: Michael Jackson "dies from heart attack"

[nj1]

I'm not a fan in the least but you have to respect the talent the man had, he was probably the best known music star in the world.
Let's just hope that his funeral doesn't turn into the disgusting media circus that he had to endure at various times in his life (eventhough some of it was probably courted IMO)

Also, I wonder what will happen to his kids now? Will they're mother get custody again?

[Interference]

Originally Posted by HoopyFrood

When things like this happen, it's always amazing to see how fast the media goes.

And despite the fact that the BBC is still putting quotation marks around the word dead, there's already an obituary on there.

The BBC has a vault of stand-by obits, just waiting for the dates to go in. Basically they're potted biogs that are updated every few months or when something extraordinary happens to the celebrated figure. All that's missing is time and cause of death.

I'm sure all news agencies carry similar rush-to-print copy.

[Interference]

Originally Posted by nj1

... he was probably the best known music star in the world.

Bigger than Jesus Chain??

Originally Posted by nj1

Let's just hope that his funeral doesn't turn into the disgusting media circus that he had to endure at various times in his life (eventhough some of it was probably courted IMO)

Of course it will. Watch out for the celeb obits that are bound to proliferate over the coming months, solicited and otherwise. He had a huge celebrity fan-base too, of course. And then, of course, there's Uri Geller.

[HoopyFrood]

Originally Posted by Interference

The BBC has a vault of stand-by obits, just waiting for the dates to go in. Basically they're potted biogs that are updated every few months or when something extraordinary happens to the celebrated figure. All that's missing is time and cause of death.

I'm sure all news agencies carry similar rush-to-print copy.

Yes, I thought that was probably what happened.

It was more the fact that it wasn't even certain that he was dead yet...

[Rodders]

I'm not a fan either, but MJ and Farah Fawcett. As a friend of mine said, you know you're getting old when all your childhood heroes die.

[Urlik]

Originally Posted by nj1

Let's just hope that his funeral doesn't turn into the disgusting media circus that he had to endure at various times in his life (eventhough some of it was probably courted IMO)

it has already happened.
I was watching a bit of TV earlier and of course MJ is the big topic of the day. one show was interviewing other celebs over the phone and one had the caption "friend of Michael Jackson". during the interview, this "friend" said that he had never met MJ or even been to one of his concerts

[Dave]

I found this interesting. I didn't know which forum to put it - Technology, World Affairs or Music. I eventually decided to add it here.

Certain events, generally deaths, seem to stop the whole world - Diana, John Lennon, Elvis Presley, Kennedy - and Michael Jackson is no different. What is different is that we now have the Internet.

BBC NEWS | Technology | Web slows after Jackson's death

[WizardofOwls]

Personally I think the real tragedy here is that MJ died on the same day as Farrah. Farrah was a beautiful person both inside and out, and now because of MJs death Farrah's death has been pushed to the back burner, hardly even mentioned except how it relates to MJs death. She was a brave, beautiful person who faced her death with dignity and courage. Its a shame she has been forgotten.

[manephelien]

I don't think she has been forgotten, and who's to say that Ryan O'Neal isn't relieved that he can mourn her in peace, without being hounded by the media?

Michael Jackson was a controversial figure to be sure, but no matter how troubled his private life was, he remains a musical genius and a true pop icon. His music will live on, if not forever, at least for a very long time to come.

[SJAB]

I liked his music, wasn't interested in him as a person, never done the "fan" thing to that extent with anyone, it always seemed weird to me.

What freaks me out is all the nashing of teeth, and media coverage. A person is dead, it is sad for the family ,and those that personally know them, but beyond that I can't understand why people who do not know him are bawling their eyes out. But, then, I never understood all the ho-ha over Princess Di. I found that whole thing very, very creepy, and strange.

[Connavar]

Originally Posted by SJAB

I liked his music, wasn't interested in him as a person, never done the "fan" thing to that extent with anyone, it always seemed weird to me.

What freaks me out is all the nashing of teeth, and media coverage. A person is dead, it is sad for the family ,and those that personally know them, but beyond that I can't understand why people who do not know him are bawling their eyes out. But, then, I never understood all the ho-ha over Princess Di. I found that whole thing very, very creepy, and strange.

I think those people that are crying out publicly are attention seekers. The real fans are crying inside,outside the public eye. Or like the people that danced outside Apollo Theatre as a homage.

For me its very sad since he was the greatest artist,singer,dancer since i was born. Watching his music videos on VH1 are like a kick in the teeth thinking he is gone from the mortal world. But after a week or two you will listen to his music again and see that some people live forever really to the people that knew them,their fans.

I dont care about his personal life, i think he deserved better family,someone that made sure he didnt become tragic as an adult. But that doesnt change how i see the MJ as an artist.

[Rodders]

I'm not a fan, but he will be missed.

RIP Or should that be a rather high pritched R.I.Pee hee.

[Vladd67]

The Death of Michael Jackson | Vladd’s view of the World
People need to move on

[Dave]

That might be a bit harsh on MJ Vlad. I know that it is easy and trendy-liberal-thinking to blame all of an individual's faults on their childhood and upbringing, but in the case of MJ I think it's probably true. When you have that much money, that many fawning hangers on, that many idolising fans, no one is ever going to tell you how it really is. As an example, I heard an interview with a doctor who refused to prescribe him painkillers - probably the only doctor who wouldn't. His friend, Uri Geller, doesn't think he was a child molester, but he did tell him many times that it was just wrong to have children in his bed. Unfortunately, he probably didn't have enough real friends.

As a singer, performer, dancer and choreographer is obviously had superior talent. He also had very good business sense when younger (or else good advisers working for him.)

I completely agree about the fan grieving fuelled by media-hype, but unfortunately this is not going to end quickly as you suggest. It is another Diana, Princess of Wales. The toxicology tests will not be available for weeks yet, but already we have the family calling for a second inquest, and blame being attached to his personal Physician. The radio reports last night claimed, "His death was a result of the stress of the 50 concerts." Next there will be conspiracy theories - he was poisoned with Polonium and the coroner is covering it up. No one saw the body, interviews with the paramedics, was he was really shot? It was a rival pop promoter, a crazed fan, Osama bin Laden, Homeland Security, Elvis did it!

Yes, I'm bored with it already. TV is showing nothing but Michael Jackson or Big Brother. The radio is playing endless MJ. Even online it is MJ this or that. Why I'm replying here, I have no idea!

But my previous post shows how much world-wide interest there is in his death. Even 9/11 did not bring the Internet so close to failure. I expect this speculation is going to continue all Summer long yet. It sells Newspapers in a typically quiet period if for no other reason.

[The King Of Rock]

On the Sudden Passing of Michael Jackson.
Raymond Q. Smuckles
President, Prime Time Records

It’s bad. It’s bad around here. It’s like today was fake. Even the sunlight seems staged. I wish they’d take it away.

When I got the Celebrity Death Beep on my Blackberry, I blew it off as a dumb rumor. That service is good, but I can see it makin’ mistakes. A false headline at, like, The Onion coulda’ triggered it. Michael had an eye on his health constantly. You know that about him. We all know the lengths he went to for health. Dude slept in a hyperbaric chamber. I like my health, but I ain’t gonna go that far, you know? Michael’s health was, to him, a special, magical thing. Something worth machines.

What I think a lotta folks are feelin’ now is a regret. Not regret that a man died; no. They regret that for almost three decades they been mockin’ this guy. This guy who wrote Thriller, and PYT, and Billie Jean. You know who you are, you Michael deniers, listenin’ to your The Cure or Aerosmith. You always considered Michael’s music silly. Not serious. Lame, mainstream. “Popular.” And his life — everyone gets a kick outta’ watchin’ the mighty fall. It sells paper. It makes us feel falsely superior, from our low places. Yet now, now that he’ll never sing another note, you listen to those songs anew —ABC, I Want You Back, Beat It — and you know who he was. Michael had more talent in his little finger than any act today has among four men. Try wakin’ up tomorrow and writin’ We Are The World. See what you come up with. See if you can get Stevie and Tina to come down to the studio, along with Bruce and Billy and twenty other people who cost a whole hell of a lotta money at the time.

Michael was our music. The next time you’re out alone in your car, and Smooth Criminal comes on, it’s gonna mean somethin’ different to you. You’re not gonna change it this time. You’re gonna hear it and think to yourself, “I missed knowin’ his music in the moment.” I don’t blame The Cure. That was your call. The Cure is just out there, like car horns or people who make noise when they cry. The Cure is a choice. When we hear Michael, it is not a choice to feel the beat. It is not a choice to **** your head and straighten all the fingers on your right hand.

His story went out like a light today, and now all we have is his music. He can’t make any more mistakes.* We can’t say anything bad about him anymore.**

R.I.P., Michael. You moved more wax than anybody, player.***

-=Ray Smuckles=-
Achewood Estates, CA
June 25, 2009

* Unless there is something weird in his will.
** I wish this were true.
*** Except: The Beatles (they had a huge head start), Elvis (even bigger head start), and Bing Crosby (40-year head start, and declining super-fast).

Ray Smuckles is a fictional cartoon character who has a blog, but at least he understands what Michael Jackson meant to music, and what a loss this is.

RIP Michael.