goodbye Michael Jackson

[tuixiu]

Hah I see media-leech Jesse Jackson has managed to insert himself in front of the cameras, standing solemnly demanding justice and full inquiry on behalf of the grieving Jacksons, using the "friend of the family" angle.

No doubt Al Sharpton is somewhere fuming at this latest twist in the desperate battle to remain relevant.

[Midpack]

MJ was a great entertainer, dancer and musical talent - and a very tragic and troubled human being.

Who would have ever thought that of Michael Jackson, Elvis, Hendrix, Joplin, Jim Morrison, Freddie Mercury, Bill Haley, John Bonham, Bon Scott, Karen Carpenter, Harry Chapin, Dennis Wilson, Keith Moon, Sid Vicious, Terry Kath, Jerry Garcia, Duane Allman, Marvin Gaye, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, and Michael Hutchence - Madonna would turn out to be the smart survivor! Bizarre...

[clifp]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tiuxiu Hah I see media-leech Jesse Jackson has managed to insert himself in front of the cameras, standing solemnly demanding justice and full inquiry on behalf of the grieving Jacksons, using the "friend of the family" angle. No doubt Al Sharpton is somewhere fuming at this latest twist in the desperate battle to remain relevant.

My god didn't Jesse, and Al get the memo. African-American have a new leader. His name is PRESIDENT Barrack Obama. I may not agree with the President on a lot of things, but I rather listen to him talk for 30 minutes than Jesse or Al for 30 seconds.

[Purron]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Midpack MJ was a great entertainer, dancer and musical talent - and a very tragic and troubled human being. Who would have ever thought that of Michael Jackson, Elvis, Hendrix, Joplin, Jim Morrison, Freddie Mercury, Bill Haley, John Bonham, Bon Scott, Karen Carpenter, Harry Chapin, Dennis Wilson, Keith Moon, Sid Vicious, Terry Kath, Jerry Garcia, Duane Allman, Marvin Gaye, John Lennon, Kurt Cobain, and Michael Hutchence - Madonna would turn out to be the smart survivor! Bizarre...

Not so bizarre. Madonna's a strong, intelligent woman who has never abused drugs or booze and takes excellent care of her health.

While not a big fan of her music, I've been fascinated with Madonna's persona. One thing I really like is how she exudes strength and control in her performances and her life. This is so different from many other artists, particularly female ones, who are used and abused by the music industry and their own family and friends. Like her or not, you have to admire this quality in Madonna.

I bet she could teach us a thing or two about handling money. She's done quite well in that department. On June 22, 2009, Forbes named her the top earning musician in the world. She won out over the likes of Beyonce, one of the hottest young artists today; and Bruce Springsteen, an icon in the music industry. Pretty impressive given many considered her "over the hill" when she hit 50.


The Year's Top-Earning Musicians - Forbes.com

[HFWR]

YouTube - Weird Al' Eat It (HQ)

[dixonge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Purron I bet she could teach us a thing or two about handling money. She's done quite well in that department. On June 22, 2009, Forbes named her the top earning musician in the world. She won out over the likes of Beyonce, one of the hottest young artists today; and Bruce Springsteen, an icon in the music industry. Pretty impressive given many considered her "over the hill" when she hit 50. The Year's Top-Earning Musicians - Forbes.com

What if Madonna had only one Top 10 hit? How much would she be worth?

One-hit wonders come and go, and end up doing the casino tour or fading into obscurity. And then there's Jimmy Buffett. Restaurants, beer, tequila and hamburgers all paying him licensing money. Several successful books. And in 2004, 27 years after Margaritaville topped the charts, he released an album Licensed to Chill singing old country songs with other country singers and it hit #1 on the Billboard 200 chart! He rakes in around $40 million a year from his concert tours too.

THAT guy is freakin' impressive.

[HFWR]

But seriously, folks, I look at it this way:

The early, rockabilly Elvis was ok in my book, though I'd argue that the real "King Of Rock-N-Roll" was/is Chuck Berry. Lennon's talent as a singer/songwriter/musician win's out over both EP and MJ. Jackson was undoubtedly talented, but was just not my cup-o-tea. In his defense, if we rejected celebrities because of their weirdness, we'd have few "heroes" left to admire...

YMMV...

[quietman]

Quote:

And then there's Jimmy Buffett. Restaurants, beer, tequila and hamburgers all paying him licensing money.

I think you may be confusing Buffet with Buffett. Just because a restaurant offers a "Buffet" does not mean that they pay a licensing fee to Jimmy. Or Warren.

[dixonge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by quietman I think you may be confusing Buffet with Buffett. Just because a restaurant offers a "Buffet" does not mean that they pay a licensing fee to Jimmy. Or Warren.

I hope you're being cute....

Margaritaville, Las Vegas, is said to be the top-grossing restaurant in the country

Jimmy Buffett, mogul of Margaritaville

[ChrisC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by HFWR But seriously, folks, I look at it this way: The early, rockabilly Elvis was ok in my book, though I'd argue that the real "King Of Rock-N-Roll" was/is Chuck Berry. Lennon's talent as a singer/songwriter/musician win's out over both EP and MJ. Jackson was undoubtedly talented, but was just not my cup-o-tea. In his defense, if we rejected celebrities because of their weirdness, we'd have few "heroes" left to admire... YMMV...

I look at it this way. Elvis was a copycat of Chuck Berry and others. Lennon was truly a gifted songwriter -- but his songwriting ability didn't make people bounce or dance -- limited in my view and his music does not translate well in other languages. As singers, Lennon and Elvis were simply mediocre. Dylan even transcends Lennon, in my view, as a songwriter in that genre.

They weren't my cup of tea.

I prefer music that makes one dance; all a matter of taste.

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisC I look at it this way. Elvis was a copycat of Chuck Berry and others.

I think one needs to be careful with the word "copycat" as it applies to music. Music builds on past influences, and Chuck Berry had his share. Read more of them at the wiki link. For example:

Ida Red - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

"Maybellene" In 1955, Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" reached #10 on the pop charts and #1 on the R&B charts. Berry based the music in his song on Bob Wills' versions of "Ida Red" and "Ida Red Likes the Boogie."[5]

YouTube - BOB WILLS NUMBER ONE HITS OF 1940

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisC As singers, Lennon and Elvis were simply mediocre. Dylan even transcends Lennon, in my view, as a songwriter in that genre.

You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but one prominent music publication does not agree (from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chuck_Berry):

Quote:

In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Chuck Berry #5 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time, being the 3rd individual singer behind Dylan and Elvis.

-ERD50

[Purron]

OK, going out on a limb here. Great musicians? Patti Smith anyone?

YouTube - patti smith,because the night

[ChrisC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 I think one needs to be careful with the word "copycat" as it applies to music. Music builds on past influences, and Chuck Berry had his share.

I was referring to the total package, not just taking works of others. Berry may have used the works of others -- and in music you're absolutely correct, one generally builds on the body of work of others, but Elvis was not Chuck Berry in terms of being a pioneering influence on music the way we speak of people like Robert Johnson, Bill Monroe, or Armstrong. Elvis was simply the next generation's Sinatra.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERD50 You are certainly entitled to your opinion, but one prominent music publication does not agree -ERD50

It's all a matter of musical taste; like a poll in 2005 that had this somewhat obscure singer ahead of Elvis.

YouTube - Eva Cassidy - over the rainbow

[HFWR]

YouTube - Pretenders - Room full of mirrors (Dortmund 1984)

[ChrisC]

YouTube - The Platters - Great Pretender, Only You (live)

[ERD50]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisC -- and in music you're absolutely correct, one generally builds on the body of work of others, but Elvis was not Chuck Berry in terms of being a pioneering influence on music the way we speak of people like Robert Johnson, Bill Monroe, or Armstrong.

Coincidentally, I have converted most of my CDs to FLAC files on a hard drive over the past month (I think I'll tackle the vinyl over the next winter), and I have several CDs of each of those artists you mentioned (the 2 CD Box set of RJ is everything he did, maybe they found one song since then). I've often thought that it was Bill Monroe who was really the most original - although Bluegrass builds on other styles, it really has some unique and (AFAIK) previously unknown components. I'm not enough of a musicologist to say that with any authority, just an impression of mine. I would say that Monroe's music was a bigger step away from the predecessors/contemporaries that was Johnson or Armstrong. But all are fantastic artists with a lot of originality.

Quote:

It's all a matter of musical taste; like a poll in 2005 that had this somewhat obscure singer ahead of Elvis.

Well, Eva Cassidy was an amazing interpreter of some classic songs. And her sad story helped her to connect (posthumously) to the public. To get back closer to the OP, I'll take anything Cassidy recorded over anything MJ recorded, any day. As you say, a matter of taste and personal preference. But then, I can't dance

-ERD50

[REWahoo]

Michael Jackson died on June 25. The news media, promoters, lawyers, attention-seekers, fans, memorabilia whores, ticket scalpers and other assorted leeches have worked their magic for 11 days and he will finally be buried tomorrow. The TV networks have devoted hundreds of hours to his death and the aftermath and will provide wall-to-wall coverage of the "big event" tomorrow.

Pardon me if I seem callous, but the attention paid this "man-boy" is beyond my comprehension. I can't help but wonder what the now adult children who spent some time in their youth 'entertaining' Mr. Jackson in his bedroom think about all this hoopla...

[dixonge]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Pardon me if I seem callous, but the attention paid this "man-boy" is beyond my comprehension. I can't help but wonder what the now adult children who spent some time in their youth 'entertaining' Mr. Jackson in his bedroom think about all this hoopla...

I keep wondering that myself. Where are all the tell-all books? Where are his many accusers now? Where are the pictures and videos and such?

[W2R]

Quote:

Originally Posted by REWahoo Michael Jackson died on June 25. The news media, promoters, lawyers, attention-seekers, fans, memorabilia whores, ticket scalpers and other assorted leeches have worked their magic for 11 days and he will finally be buried tomorrow. The TV networks have devoted hundreds of hours to his death and the aftermath and will provide wall-to-wall coverage of the "big event" tomorrow. Pardon me if I seem callous, but the attention paid this "man-boy" is beyond my comprehension. I can't help but wonder what the now adult children who spent some time in their youth 'entertaining' Mr. Jackson in his bedroom think about all this hoopla...

My grandmother, born in 1895, was pretty disgusted with Jerry Lee Lewis because his third "wife" was only 13 years old and his cousin, to boot. She considered him to be an admitted child rapist, forcing incest on her to boot (not to mention Satan in the flesh, I could go on). I was not allowed to play his music (even at home!), or to talk about him. Many times I had my ears and/or eyes covered by my relatives if there was a chance that I would even see his photo, hear his name, or (heaven forbid) hear his music. Many people felt that way back in the 1950's. But as time has passed, what we remember is his music...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VvQ4x...eature=related

Similarly, I tend to think that we will remember Michael Jackson for Man in the Mirror, Billie Jean, and the moon walk, not for his bedroom activities.

[REWahoo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Want2retire I tend to think that we will remember Michael Jackson for Man in the Mirror, Billie Jean, and the moon walk, not for his bedroom activities.

I don't disagree with this at all. What I do disagree with is the circus atmosphere surrounding the aftermath of his death - and the fact it has dominated the "media" for two solid weeks as if he were someone really important.

Where is that puke emoticon...