admittedly, i haven’t been as affected by mj’s sudden death as most others seem to be. while i’m saddened by his untimely end, the news registered with me more in a “damn. someone famous as f*ck just died!!” sense than a “he was a part of my life” sense.
(in fact, when my girlfriend first texted “m.jackson just died” to me, i assumed she was referring to “mark jackson“, which strangely made me feel a little worse than the actual truth)
despite this relative detachment, i’ve been mesmerized and amazed by the consensus public reaction to this news, and, by “the consensus public reaction to this news” i totally mean “the way we’ve, in our odd competition to be the best and most sincere at memorializing him¹, completely glossed over how f*cked up the last 25 years of his life were hawk the slayer online download “
mind you, i’m not attempting to throw more salt on michael jackson’s star-crossed life. if that were my goal, i’d merely spend 600 words juxtaposing his career, social, and public perception arc with r. kelly’s (they’re much, much, much, much, much more identical than you’d probably like to believe)
still, when a person has been…
a) defined by their abject weirdness for 90% of their adult life,
b) a lazy punchline for 50% of their adult life,
and
c)
a suspected ***insert word that rhymes with “ghettopile”*** for a third of that time period
…i dont see how you can’t at least acknowledge this exaggerated freakishness when putting their legacy in context.
mj aside, his situation sheds a bit more light on the perception phenomenon discussed yesterday. while we don’t have definitive control over how we’ll be remembered, we can control what we remember about everyone else. you can even argue that our conscious choice to only recognize the positive aspects of a person’s life is our most desperate hope that this same luxury is extended to us.
thing is, whether you view this type of projection as practical or pathetic, you can’t argue the fact that there’s no bigger affront to what makes us fully human and no more disingenuous way to recall a person’s life…especially when you consider that our deeds usually come from the exact same place as our demons.
this is supremely true in regards to celebrities. the same visceral fervor that made tupac iconic basically killed him before his 26th birthday, and the hyper creative eccentricity that made mike moonwalk also contributed to his multiple self-mutilations, arrested development, and early death.
omitting these facts actually downplay and dishonor their accomplishments. there’s no such thing as an adversity-less icon. how can you fully appreciate malcolm x without being completely aware of malcolm little, and what future relevance would “black or white” hold without knowing that the song’s architect was actively attempting to be both black and white
i realize that this isn’t the most popular line of thinking, that some will see this as (at best) tactless and (at worst) malicious, and that its (extremely) presumptuous to tell someone how they should remember a person. still, this isn’t about michael jackson as much as my fascination with our peculiar reliance on technicolor memories. i just happen to prefer HD.
you know, with all this being said, i still hope that the half-page obit in the pittsburgh post-gazette honoring my (eventual) passing chooses not to include a half paragraph burb on my (future) infidelities and (present) p*rn addiction. lol, i guess i’m not so special after all.
yeti curse of the snow demon movie download on second thought… it might not be the worst thing in the world. at least it’d show i was human, and i think mike would have wanted the same thing.
—the champ
¹despite my general antipathy for BET, i can’t help but defend them in regards to their substandard tribute to michael jackson during their awards show. mj died on a thursday, and, from my understanding, the awards were filmed early saturday. when you consider the hours of inactivity after the initial shock of hearing the news, they probably only had 12-20 hours to tackle the logistic nightmare of preparing a proper tribute. plus, the three people most well equipped to pull this off were either in europe, banned for busting rihanna’s ass, or the person responsible for effectively ending janet jacksons career. as long as they promise to never air baby boy ever again, BET gets a mulligan from me
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{ 472 comments… read them below or add one }
Once again, Champ, very well done.
I don’t think the media has glossed over Michael’s past…they’ve brought up the surgeries, the accusations of child molestation, the weird behavior, all of that.
The common person, though, has allowed their love for the man’s music to cause them to ignore or deny the fact that he was, without a doubt, a disturbed individual. But I suspect that these are the same people who didn’t believe the accusations in the first place and, for whatever reasons, didn’t let MJ’s forever changing face and fading star dim their love for his music. They ‘loved’ him, regardless. And I don’t think his death has so much caused them to forget the bad: I think they didn’t even accept the bad when he was living.
It’s sad thought that, even in death, his life is a spectacle.
@iloVEGrits,
Maybe he means how everyone…and I do mean everyone, who has been on TV acting like they just had Sunday brunch with this mofo or like that wasnt them talking about the child molestation cases like MJ TOTALLY showed up with kids underroos in his back pocket (Geraldo Rivera, Im LOOKIN at you brother.)
Let me post some real mess in a min….
@An Uninspired Muse,
on the real tho one of the kids that accused mike jus came foward and said his dad made him lie jus so he could get 20 mill.
@BLUNTBLAZER, thank you for pointing that out…yeah it looked bad for Mike because he admitted to sleeping with children on television but it is not beyond the realm of possibility that Mike was exploited for his eccentricity and his wealth by two different unscrupulous individuals who’s parents were on the come up. What kind of parent wants money in lieu of punishment if their child was abused by the monster that Mike was accused of being????
Yeah Mike was weird… but Mike also gave his entire life to giving us music and inspiration. And he deserves for his legacy to be preserved in a positive light.
@klysha,
“What kind of parent wants money in lieu of punishment if their child was abused by the monster that Mike was accused of being????”
Which is why I never bought into the child molestation charges. But he exercised poor arse judgment. After the first set of accusations, you would have NEVER seen me near a kid. lol.
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Holy Crap! I didn’t know that. And the first kid was the one I was on the fence about. I always thought the ’05 one was a liar.
@iloVEGrits, this line here, “It’s sad thought that, even in death, his life is a spectacle”, I totally co-sign. The media will not let him die. There will be enough MJ “news” to last the rest of the year and into next few years . It’s sad that his affairs like his life was in such disaray, paternity of the kids, financials, the cause of his death…too many questions and there will really never be any answers.
@iloVEGrits,
Yeah, I don’t think the media glossed over much. In fact, they just had “Jacko’s 5 most bizarre moments” on ET last nite and it wasnt pretty.
As far as normal folks glossing over stuff, it’s just a matter of the people feeling that the loss of talent outweighs the other stuff. If Mike was as strange as he was and the eccentricities out-weighed his talent, ppl would take a very different tone. Is this noteworthy or intriguing? Not really, IMO. Don’t we do this for everyone?
Question: What’s the fascination with remembering in HD about? I don’t find it particularly useful.
@Me fail english?,
“it’s just a matter of the people feeling that the loss of talent outweighs the other stuff.”
see, i don’t think you can have one without the other. i think the talent and the “other stuff” are inextricably linked.
as far as the HD question, i just prefer to remember things in the exact context they occurred. without that, (to me) the memories are meaningless
@The Champ,
Well obviously, the man was who he was and no part could be without the other. I meant in terms of his importance to fans, some stuff outweighed the rest. The way we tend to remember Gandhi more for nonviolent resistance than his racist law school essays. They’re both Gandhi, but we find one thing more relevant to his legacy than the rest. Doesn’t mean we forgot.
@Me fail english?,
I meant in terms of his importance to fans, some stuff outweighed the rest
if this is what you meant before, i agree.
@The Champ,
“see, i don’t think you can have one without the other. i think the talent and the “other stuff” are inextricably linked.”
Naw, that can’t be true. The phrase “separate the man from the artist” wouldn’t even exist if that were the case.
And I don’t think he would’ve been nearly as consistently successful as an adult solo artist if folks weren’t able to separate the two.
@Cheekie,
Naw, that can’t be true. The phrase “separate the man from the artist” wouldn’t even exist if that were the case.
lol, thats a bullsh*t cliche though. when you’re talking about art, you can’t overlook the fact that a person’s personal demons have a direct role in the art they produce. even on a physical level, you don’t think half the popular music released during the 70′s would be any different if everyone wasn’t hopped up on tical?
that “other” sh*t matters
@The Champ,
But, that phrase has to do with how people react (i.e. support it or not) to his music, not how he created it. They DO put his other stuff aside because they become lost in his music…the other stuff DOESN’T matter because you’re too busy getting into the groove.
Who actually seriously ponders about the weird stuff about MJ when listening to his songs? If you do, you’re ruining your music experience. Like how you look writing mental essay regarding the various levels of weirdness throughout MJ’s life while listening to the pure bliss that is Billie Jean?
That’s why folks use music as an escape from the daily stresses in life…it does make you forget about the “other” stuff, whatever that may be.
@The Champ,
‘that “other” sh*t matters’
I think this is the part me and the other MJ fans don’t get. Why does it matter?
Do I really need to look up vitiligo on Web MD in order to “get” Remember the Time? I think someone here said on Friday, when his records went overseas they’d translate the lyrics into nonsense. Not all of those fans around the world even knew what he was talking about and they were still in love, crying, passing out, everything.
U tryna tell me they didn’t “appreciate” Thriller unless they knew about Bubbles?
And I’d like to add (not that anyone asked me, heh heh) that MJ was an international star before anyone suspected him of being strange. Nobody knew the little kid singing “ABC’ was so lonely or self-conscious or sensitive. Ppl just thought he liked James Brown. It wasn’t until nose job #2 (cf. Thriller time) that ppl started asking “what’s up with dude”? And even then, they didn’t think he was a nutcase yet.
The point is long before we even knew about “the other shet” ppl loved and appreciated him. So to say we can’t love and appreciate him now unless we harp on the other shet makes no sense.
In fact I’d argue, that although I’m a lifelong MJ fan (including Invincible), I connected LESS with his music as I learned more about his other ish. Not because he was getting weirder. Just a question of musical taste.
“there’s no such thing as an adversity-less icon”
This, my friend, is so on point. You have been taking your wisdom pills.
This entire entry is probably one of the best piece I have read in years. Again, good job.
@iloVEGrits,
And, to show that I am a nerd and that I actually read footnotes, I will comment on those, too!
I agree that BET needs to be cut some slack on the awards. They had very little time to pull it together. Yeah, New Edition didn’t sound great but they had less than 24 hrs to rehearse and, to be real, Ralph T. is too old to be singing a song written for a pre-teen boy. But they got the steps down. They tried. They tried. And it’s the thought that counts.
*nerdiness ends here*
@iloVEGrits, I think BET should have had a separate tribute for MJJ, and the Neo/Jaime bit at the end, with shoutouts sprinnkled throughout would have sufficed.
The BIG ARSE CHAIN ruined it for me.
@overit,
They did try to do a lil’ too much in one show. At one point, I was wondering where the awards were. But they tried.
@iloVEGrits,
“I was wondering where the awards were. But they tried.”
Aight so of Harriet had just TRIED to escape slavery, we woulda just applauded her too? The Underground Railroad woulda been a broke down train car.
*cackles* Ok I’m pushing it.
But still. BET doesn’t get an E for effort. I won’t applaud their failed attempt. I give a 5-yr old a gold start for trying to sing “Twinkle Twinkle” and not quiet getting it. I give BET a *side eye* for trying to call that show a “tribute”.
@Luvvie,
Stoopid. Just stoopid. lol.
Again…we expected one kind of tribute and are all mad cuz we didn’t get it. But, he!!, the Oscars tribute is a video montage of all the folks who died that year. There are different ways to pay homage to someone. Did they promise a musical tribute? I’m not sure…
@VEG,
]YES! BET promised a musical tribute. Debra Lee got her *$$ all up thru the TV saying how so many celebs were volunteering to pay tribute to Mike at the show.
iCan’t with you and this Johnny Cochraning of BET’s fail.
@Luvvie,
BET can’t make the artists do something.
As I mentioned below, performers like Beyonce…if they wanted to pay tribute, could have reworked their routines. Instead, they didn’t.
I think the ones who called and offered help were given assignments. Folks are up in arms cuz the bigger stars didn’t do anything. I don’t BET can be blamed for that.
@Luvvie,
Aight so of Harriet had just TRIED to escape slavery, we woulda just applauded her too? The Underground Railroad woulda been a broke down train car
heh heh heh, foolish gel!!!!! still heated, huh? ha ha!
@Luvvie,
I agree the awards sucked. They were just sloppy as hell even if without mentioning the MJ tribute. And if it was taped “early Saturday” and didnt air til Sunday night, how come no one could edit out the Star Trek lady peeing when she was sposed to be onstage? How about editing the cussword out of Eddie Levert’s speech instead of whatever non-cusswords came after? And how the hell does a taped and edited show run 4 hours long for a 3 hour spot? I actually woulda cut them more slack had it aired live. In a former life I worked for a network with lots of live broadcasts and we NEVER effed stuff up that bad. You mean to tell me they had a whole 24 hours to edit that BOOSHEET?!?!
*dies softly*
@Luvvie,
@Me fail,
that show still would’ve been bad w/o all the MJ stuff. the MJ stuff was actually good. Ne-yo, Jamie, Janet…that was good. It’s the fact that the entire show was the usual BET ninja shyt, and i think many of us expected them to at least try to act right for MJ…act like they would if they were at the Grammy’s or the Oscar’s….
@iloVEGrits,
I feel like BET tricked everyone into thinking a bulk of the show would be dedicated to MJ. Why else would CNN cover it? Not b/c they are just ITCHING to see Souljah Boy “turn his swag on”. They wanted to see how BET was gonna pay homage to the King of Pop
@Luvvie,
Actually, quite a bit of the show was dedicated to MJ. Just not in the way we expected it to be. We wanted performances, not monologues from folks on how they remembered MJ. We wanted to see video tributes, all that. They put together what they had time to do.
The show was bad but not, IMHO, b/c of the MJ stuff or lack thereof.
@iloVEGrits,
Yes the show was bad but in the past, I’d just change the channel and watch something else. What made me keep watching was my expectation of that final GRAND tribute to MJ that never came.
@Luvvie,
I was looking for the finale, too. lol. And I am sure they tried to pull something together but couldn’t. lol.
@Luvvie,
hell yea exactly I thought they was gonna bring some dancers out but nuthin jus dumm a$$ bey and her weird a$$ outfits and Jay Z aka mr king of BET D.O.A. 4 real? I woulda rather seen CB dance
@Luvvie,
I agree, I only watched to see the MJ tribute, the tributes were the best part. Fortunately I was brushing my teeth during the Lil Wayne and Drake stuff. I never watch the BET awards and I love award shows but I can’t get with too much of today’s music.
@Luvvie,
I just wanted to make it clear that the only tribute that was good was Neyo’s. I don’t want anyone thinking I approve of Ciara’s “singing” and whatever Beyonce did (I left the room).
@Luvvie,
“Yes the show was bad but in the past, I’d just change the channel and watch something else. What made me keep watching was my expectation of that final GRAND tribute to MJ that never came.”
I’m calling bullshyt on that statement. I’m highly inclined to believe that you was going to watch the show IRregardless of an MJ tribute. You need more people, animals, parasites, aliens, and naps from yours and Naturally Alise’s hair put together for me to believe that one boo.
@iloVEGrits,
@VEG
BOOOOOO!!! Don’t gimme the “They tried to pull something 2getha” line. Even BET said “Many celebs have called us to ask how they could help”
All they had to do was tell the celebs. “You go on at 9pm. work something out. we need it big.” Mariah and her spandex dress coulda done something. Re-Re Franklin coulda donned her fave spaghetti strap dress. ANYBODY coulda dome something.
That don’t cut it!
@Luvvie,
“Even BET said “Many celebs have called us to ask how they could help””
That don’t mean they wanted to come up with a routine in two days. C’mon, dude. You are giving the network – which I admit, sucks – a lot of he!! for not having Usher, dressed as MJ, fly across the auditorium while singing Billie Jean, then landing on stage as Chris Brown and Justin Timberlake moonwalk onto the stage, at which point the three of the have an MJ sing off.
Folks are mad cuz BET didn’t get Tracee Ellis Ross to dress up as her mom perform “Ease on Down” with an MJ look alike dressed as a scarecrow.
For all I know, they did tell the celebs to think big and what we got was Kerri Hilson in some bu!!shit outfit, and a bunch of ‘we love you MJ’ in the acceptance speeches.
If Beyonce WANTED to pay tribute to MJ, she would have got her arse in the studio and did something. So I doubt celebs were calling with the ‘how can we help?’ crap BET put out there. I’m pretty sure the ones who asked how they could help were put on the stage…New Edition (rather, Diddy made them do it), Ciara, etc. and share their personal memories. The other stars…did jack.
@Luvvie,
I agree, even if it wasn’t celebs, they coulda invited a dance team to re-enact “Beat It”, I’m sure they coulda called on “Brutha” to sing like one verse outta”Dancin Machine”. And this aint hindsight talking. I was actually lookin forward to seein smthg in that vein before the damn show! Nada. Zip. Zilch. How you got a company full of interns and that’s the best you can do?
On any other awards show parkly gloves and “Michael Jackson is guns.” would not qualify as a tribute. BET is giving affirmative action style sympathy.
edit: Neyo and Jamie did great. And Bey sounded like an angel
Heh, heh. I meant to say BET is getting Aff. Action style sympathy
@iloVEGrits, If Beyonce WANTED to pay tribute to MJ, she would have got her arse in the studio and did something. So I doubt celebs were calling with the ‘how can we help?’ crap BET put out there. I’m pretty sure the ones who asked how they could help were put on the stage…New Edition (rather, Diddy made them do it), Ciara, etc. and share their personal memories. The other stars…did jack.
now I completely co sign this.. yall know Beyonce got a blond jerri curl wig she could have thrown on and sang off the wall or rock wit you … but instead she said F1ck it.. Imma sang this prayer in this tutu and f!ck MJ..my written statement read during the pre awards show is enough..
hell Jay could have done something too mr. I can write a song in 10 minutes.. that ninja could have rolled out song cry with a mj verse…..and then Jamie didnt help with his constant..this shyt here, this shyt here comin up next? shtick……
@shay_d_lady,
Why she chose to sing the animal cruelty song is lost on me. She needed to be presented with a ‘h*, sat down gift basket’ for that one.
@shay_d_lady,
LOL so sad that a song about angels has been reduced to the animal cruelty song.
damn puppies.
I heard Beyonce’ was scheduled to do her set which included an MJ song….”I’ll Be There”…I wanna say…(don’t quote me on that song tho) at the end of the show. For some reason they asked her to move her performance and do somethin else I guess so Jamie and Neyo could do it.
@shay_d_lady,
“yall know Beyonce got a blond jerri curl wig she could have thrown on and sang off the wall or rock wit you … but instead she said F1ck it.. Imma sang this prayer in this tutu and f!ck MJ..my written statement read during the pre awards show is enough..”
Like really? Is this why people didn’t like the awards show…because of what they felt like the entertainers could of/should of done?
Fugg outta here.
@iloVEGrits,
Actually, quite a bit of the show was dedicated to MJ. Just not in the way we expected it to be. We wanted performances, not monologues from folks on how they remembered MJ. We wanted to see video tributes, all that. They put together what they had time to do.
**nodding head**
again, i think we’re letting our feelings about mj and BET make us forget how impossible it would have been for them to pull that off. i mean, sh*t…it takes most families at least 4 days to plan for a funeral for a single family member. i can’t imagine trying to completely choreograph a tribute to the king of pop in 24 hours.
@The Champ,
“i can’t imagine trying to completely choreograph a tribute to the king of pop in 24 hours.”
Me neither. But then they shouldnt have said they would and sat the h*ll down w their braggadocious faces. That’s all i’s saying,
Overpromised but underdelivered majorly
@The Champ,
“i can’t imagine trying to completely choreograph a tribute to the king of pop in 24 hours.”
You do realize that Chris Brown got into his trouble mere hours before the Grammys this year and JT and Al Green stepped in with an excellent performance.
And as a dancer, it is totally possible to put together an MJ dance routine within 3 days. He had a pretty distinct style so you couldve even put out some freestylers to take turns doing his signature moves. Let’s all admit BET just didn’t really try that hard. I blame Don Cornelius
@me fail
“You do realize that Chris Brown got into his trouble mere hours before the Grammys this year and JT and Al Green stepped in with an excellent performance”
good point.
@iloVEGrits, I think BET’s mistake was in the overhyping.. they said it was the best thing since motown 25 and then delivered that shyt. had they just said, we have a great awards show, we will do a small tribute now and it’ll get greater later…maybe but instead Debra Lee azz was all over the place talking about how “chock full” of MJ tribute the awards show was.
But I do think the tributes were lack luster because very few artist were willing or able (if you believe the tweets) to perrform….I mean BET is ridiculous but you really th ink they would have let CICI sing that shyt had chaka or diana… f!ck ashford and simpson been willing to get up on stage and do something?
@shay_d_lady,
“Debra Lee azz was all over the place talking about how “chock full” of MJ tribute the awards show was.”
I didn’t see any of these. My opinion would be different had I seen them. lol. Best thing since Motown 25? Wow. She had big dreams. And I’m sure as she called and folks weren’t able to perform…she was probably getting nervous. lol.
@iloVEGrits, Debra Lee azz was all over the place talking about how “chock full” of MJ tribute the awards show was.”
Girl yes, on her pre awards interview she was like “you have to watch the whole show we have done so much , you wont beleive how much we have managed to pull together in so little time” and I wanna say she actually said the awards WERE a tribute show to Michael…..
@shay_d_lady,
OMG. I am LMAO. I actually expected a video montage and hoped for an MJ dance off. Bare minimum. But she was promising BIG STUFF. I am glad I didn’t see any of that. Cuz then I’d be all bitter like Luvvie.
@shay_d_lady,
Word. I was thinking as I watched the show….”did she ever get told about the final product?” Surely, she didn’t know this was the tribute. LOL.
@shay_d_lady,
exactly she was sellin hellllllllllllllllllla wolf tickets i hate her for that hella false advertising i wanna sue that bish for the 3 hrs of my life back
@iloVEGrits, yeah, no. it is not the thought that counts. in show business, it’s the execution that counts. their execution sucked.
i’m sure them ninjas at BET THOUGHT they could pull it off. i’m sure they THOUGHT they did. the fact is, they did not. now, is it possible that people enjoyed the MJ tributes? of course.
i listen to Ray J.
my point is that, just b/c people like bad sh*t doesnt make it good. it just means that people like bad sh*t.
@Panama Jackson,
I would hope that they do not think they pulled it off. I hope they had a post mortem and decided never, ever to attempt to pull off big ish in less than three days time.
But, I give ‘em a ‘C’ for the thought and what I know was a long weekend for the staff.
@iloVEGrits,
That’s one thing I can give em a pass on. The size of the team. On creative projects, if there isnt a strong leader, you can get too many cooks in the kitchen. So a million great ideas can devolve into a single shetty execution.
@Me fail english?,
I am sure they all had big hopes and, after seeing the final show, let out a collective ‘awww damn’.
@Panama Jackson,
just b/c people like bad sh*t doesnt make it good. it just means that people like bad sh*t.
From the mountaintop, my brother…from the mountaintop.
@iloVEGrits, Who can pull together a tribute that can adequately remember the greatest entertainer of our lifetime perhaps all time in 24 hours?????? Those celebrities probably had other engagements and were just barely able to fly in to make the show, much less make the show and put in some extra rehearsal time on a totally reworked show….. Yeah we were let down, but only because our expectations were not realistic. So BET’s failure was in getting peoples expectations up. The timing was just unfortunate…..now the show itself sucked in a number of ways in it’s own right, but not because they didn’t adequately acknowledge MJ.
@iloVEGrits,
This entire entry is probably one of the best piece I have read in years. Again, good job.
thanks and sh*t
I’m not even tired yet, but my head is spinning so I can’t write just yet. Some valid points in here, but some I’d like to have more clarity on.
Be back in the am.
@overit,
Agreed. My stomach is still sick, but I just wanted to see what the topic was for the night. AM it is!
Of course MJ was a flawed being. and what sucks is that his last 10-15 years were spent being the butt of comedian’s jokes. Hell, I admit to making a couple myself. But admittedly, we sometimes dont appreciate folks until they are gone and this is definitely the case here.
But despite all of MJ’s weirdness, one cant deny the impact of his music on the world. No one comes close! Not even Elvis.
@Luvvie,
“we sometimes dont appreciate folks until they are gone and this is definitely the case here”
Honestly, I don’t think its a case of him not being appreciated while he was alive. His music career was held up as the standard other artists should aspire to. I think its more the fact that he provided so much fodder for ridicule and that, in the wake of his death, people seem to forget all of that. We want to, now that he’s dead, negate the “bad” when, as Champ so eloquently put it, the “good” – his career – fueled the decisions that lead to the “bad”. But, as I wrote, I think those who make no mention of the surgeries, accusations, disappearing melanin, probably didn’t put too much stock into those things while he was living.
@iloVEGrits, ;I think its more the fact that he provided so much fodder for ridicule and that, in the wake of his death, people seem to forget all of that.
Okay VEG…. if Lauryn Hill (knock on wood) should meet her demise anytime soon, I am sure you are going to be remembering them grammy’s and her talent and not wanting to constantly dwell on that clown shyt and walking around barefoot lookin for oodles of noodles or whateva she had going on…
@shay_d_lady,
“f Lauryn Hill (knock on wood) should meet her demise anytime soon, I am sure you are going to be remembering them grammy’s and her talent and not wanting to constantly dwell on that clown shyt and walking around barefoot lookin for oodles of noodles or whateva she had going on…”
But that’s the thing: If you recall, I don’t dwell on it now. He!!, I think I said that Lauryn was free and we all should pray to get to that level of freedom. lol.
@iloVEGrits@shay_d_lady, I got ADD.. and hit submit before I was finished! LOL
but even if you do choose to put in Miseducation and sing it loud while re-enacting videos..there is nothing wrong with that… those people who never recognized his issues are crazy true.. but most of us recognized it, were saddened by it and are hoping that in death he finds peace… we are not trying to make the world forget what he became, but instead asking them to celebrate who he was…..
@shay_d_lady,
“those people who never recognized his issues are crazy true.. but most of us recognized it, were saddened by it and are hoping that in death he finds peace”
I agree with your sentiment but there are many who were in deep denial then and now. I saw someone on some news show today say ‘it was his face. Nothing wrong with a little plastic surgery.” GTFOH.
@iloVEGrits, . Nothing wrong with a little plastic surgery.” GTFOH.
LMAO…. yeah there are lot of people in denial but the majority of tributes and such are coming from sane individuals just trying to pay their respect to someone that affected thier life (through his music) in a positive manner…
@iloVEGrits,
“I saw someone on some news show today say ‘it was his face. Nothing wrong with a little plastic surgery.” GTFOH.”
Ok NOW that person was just a crock pot full of Sh*t.
@shay_d_lady,
“…we are not trying to make the world forget what he became, but instead asking them to celebrate who he was…..”
aren’t these the same thing?
@shay_d_lady,
Good point. I DO think Lauryn is strange and angry now. And I DO make jokes now. God forbid she passed, I certainly wouldn’t make it a point to remind people “Remember that time she showed up in clown makeup at the concert?” “Remember how she was sleeping with Rohan, having all them kids and he was knocking down her cousin too?”
I just don’t see the point. And I disagree completely that this same shetty stuff is what made them special. There are a lot of self-mutilating plastic surgery addicts and chicks who get knocked up by philanderers. None of em can be Lauryn or MJ. What made them special was their gifts from God. That’s what I’m going to miss witnessing and that’s what I mourn for.
To the ppl who want us to remember all the flaws of our heroes, do you also celebrate adultery on MLK day?
@Me fail english?,
“To the ppl who want us to remember all the flaws of our heroes, do you also celebrate adultery on MLK day?”
ooooooo.
@Me fail english?,
To the ppl who want us to remember all the flaws of our heroes, do you also celebrate adultery on MLK day? .
It was years before I was aware of this. Good point.
@Me fail english?,
To the ppl who want us to remember all the flaws of our heroes, do you also celebrate adultery on MLK day?
of course not…instead they name schools, roads, and chapels after him, and want their sons to be like him….BS!!
interestingly enough, the people who weren’t really touched by MJ’s death are the same ones who want us to “remember” his flaws…you know what i say to that….
remember deez!!
@N.I.A. LivingLifeOffTheWall….,
“@Me fail english?,
To the ppl who want us to remember all the flaws of our heroes, do you also celebrate adultery on MLK day?
of course not…instead they name schools, roads, and chapels after him, and want their sons to be like him….BS!!”
But that’s the nature of canonizing someone. MLK, Jacko, Tupac, Jordan, ya mama…can’t do no wrong, they’re model citizens.
@Me fail english?,
To the ppl who want us to remember all the flaws of our heroes, do you also celebrate adultery on MLK day?
I knew there was a reason me like Me fail….
I’m going to go back to being mute for the day.
@Me fail english?,
“To the ppl who want us to remember all the flaws of our heroes, do you also celebrate adultery on MLK day?”
Check. MATE.
@Me fail english?,
“To the ppl who want us to remember all the flaws of our heroes, do you also celebrate adultery on MLK day?”
Tell ‘em! (no soulja boy)
@Me fail english?,
To the ppl who want us to remember all the flaws of our heroes, do you also celebrate adultery on MLK day?
knowing about mlk’s adultery doesn’t really put his achievements in a different context. does it put his legacy in a different light? sure.
thing is, when those flaws and accomplishments are directly related to each other, than yes, (to me) it is vital to know exactly what was going on behind the scenes
@The Champ,
“knowing about mlk’s adultery doesn’t really put his achievements in a different context. does it put his legacy in a different light? sure.”
You’re getting semantical now. What is his legacy if not his achievements? Further, can’t the same thing be said of MJ? What does Moonwalking have to do with arrested development? And how exactly, are you sure that there’s no link between adultery (and possible homosexuality) and beliefs in brotherhood and the importance of being colorblind?
So you only prefer HD for Malcolm X and MJ, but technicolor for MLK? Arent you still cherrypicking the things you remember about the man …like you accuse the rest of us of doing. I’m gonna bet anything, you didn’t do a post on MLK day asking why it seems, nobody was acknowledging his shortcomings. True? True.
@iloVEGrits, i have to wonder who you people are talking too in general. there really hasnt been a single tribute, article, or reference to him that hasnt included his failures.
people are largely speaking on how MJ impacted their lives when they do tributes. hell, its tributes where people are “glossing” over the uber-negatives. but man, if you cant do that in a tribute, where do you do it?
nobody thinks Mike was perfect. his imperfections have been broadcast to everybody for the past 20 years.
i guess i don’t see why there’s such a “seeming” divide. why is it that if folks want to pay tribute to MJ, SO MANY other people want to make sure that they correctly assess him as the flawed being that he was?
@Luvvie,
and ‘flawed’ is an understatement. We are all flawed. We’re humans. Disturbed, lost, distressed…is more accurate, I think.
@iloVEGrits,
Agreed. MJ was definitely disturbed. I shan’t lie.
@Luvvie,
“I shan’t lie.”
Good. Cuz if you did, your nose would grow long. And that’s not a good look.
@iloVEGrits, why is it so important to you to “accurately” assess MJ’s persona?
@Panama Jackson,
Like Champ, I just generally feel its important to have a realistic and honest view on a person/sequence of events, etc.
@iloVEGrits, let me rephrase. why is it important to remind OTHERS that he was flawed in convo?
its great that you want to make sure you have a realistic and honest assessment. kudos. really.
however, why would you make sure to note to others that perhaps they aren’t fully categorizing the man’s persona? why do you care so much how accurately other people chose to remember him?
@Panama Jackson,
Iunno. I guess it’s important to honor a person’s full and true self?
You make me think, man. I don’t like it.
@V.E.G., i’ll be patiently awaiting an answer on this.
i just honestly don’t get why its so necessary, especially right now. the man just died and people are doing their best to make sure that people know that he was f*cked the f*ck up. and for the life of me I don’t understand why that’s so important to people.
it’s one thing if somebody’s writing a book on the legacy of michael jackson and omits his more tenuous years, but it hasn’t even been a week since he died and already folks want to make sure we “accurately assess” MJ.
@Panama Jackson,
Dang, man! I said iunno.
Quit badgering me.
@V.E.G., pauvre bebé.
@Pan Pan,
I’ll take a stab at it. I think the HD view is really just a perverse kind of voyeurism. The same kind that drove folks to buy Nat’l Enquirer and read 12M articles about him sleeping in a hyperbaric chamber. The same kind that makes us watch Maury and turn our noses up at THOSE people who can’t find their baby daddy. People like to play couch potato psychologist (I admit, I like it too) and ruminate over “what’s wrong with that guy”. It has nothing to do with the man’s legacy, only our morbid preoccupation with trainwrecks.
Also, mourning in earnest kills the cynic in us. And we got reps to maintain. *tough*
@iloVEGrits,
erybody got issues some worse than others
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Naw, a serial killer or rapist has more than ‘issues’. lol.
And Champ, sorry but I disagree with you on the BET tip. I never have expectations for the BET Awards and expect CRAP. However, when BET themselves said that they would devote most of the show to MJ, they put it out there. If they hadn’t made that bold statement and had everyone expecting them to, people would not have thought “YES I WILL SEE an MJ Tribute SHOW”. BET made promises it couldn’t keep. Thats what it comes down to.
Isweahfo Queen Yawnce’s liquid leggings and one-piece spandex that BET is on my permanent sh*t list, next to beets, horror movies and clowns. iRebuke you in the name of Diva, Halo & Ego to the pits of Dereon Hades w/ 3-headed dog in the finest kanekalon hairhat.
BTW everyones. I wrote a SCATHING letter on my blog called “Dear BET, iQuit U” that further explains the reason why iRebuke BET in its entirety after that janky awards. Read it. Thanks you
@Luvvie,
This is where the problem comes in. People heard this:
BET would devote most of the show to MJ
and expected:
an MJ Tribute SHOW
That’s what we all get. “Devoting much of the show” can come in many forms. lol. They kept their word, I’d say, even if it fell far short of expectations. Having worked in live TV before, it is hard to turn on a dime. Especially when you have sponsors who paid to have their ads run before such and such performer. And when you’ve spent your budget making sure Bey can have a lingerie outfit to perform in. They probably had $200 left in the show’s coffers and spread it around as much as they could to pull off what they did.
@iloVEGrits, This is where the problem comes in. People heard this:
BET would devote most of the show to MJ
and expected:
an MJ Tribute SHOW
and BET knew that shyt and used it to their advantage.. they do get a fail for that shyt.. cmon it was bait and switch at its finest…..
@shay_d_lady,
if they promised something better than Motown 25, then I agree. lol. All I saw was “BET celebrates MJ”.
I didn’t hear all these promises y’all are saying they made.
@iloVEGrits, if they promised something better than Motown 25, then I agree. lol. All I saw was “BET celebrates MJ”.
I didn’t hear all these promises y’all are saying they made.
maybe thats what I get for watching BET before the show!!! But yeah Debra was all on the red carpet before the shyt..they had clips of her in the commercials..Rocsi and Terrance were all on 106..them ninjas were writing mad checks that arena league version of an awards show didnt cash….
@shay_d_lady,
i saw that too got me all hyped up she was all like “im glad we get the chance to celebrate mike life/death first here on bet and ya gotta watch the whole show not jus wait till the end” shoulda known i was gettin tricked but i fell for it.
@iloVEGrits,
I didn’t hear all these promises y’all are saying they made.
me neither.
but if its true that she made this comments on the network, you can’t argue that you wouldn’t have even watched BET if she didnt say something…because you were obviously already watching BET to hear her say it.
i think i just crossed my own eyes, btw
@The Champ,
“you can’t argue that you wouldn’t have even watched BET if she didnt say something…because you were obviously already watching BET to hear her say it.”
I had the same thought.
@The Champ,
I would have definitely watched the show whether MJ died or not… and DEFINITELY would not have stayed up til 11pm if I wasn’t expecting an MJ tribute.
I was kinda embarrassed for BET. MJ tribute aside, I think it was one of the worst BET Awards I’ve seen in years.
@The Champ,
i didn’t hear her say this on BET. I saw other new channels report her saying this. CNN was not there to see Young Money….
@The Champ,
“you can’t argue that you wouldn’t have even watched BET if she didnt say something…because you were obviously already watching BET to hear her say it.”
Yeah cuz news clips and stories are shown exclusively on just one channel, Champ. o_O
@The Champ, you can’t argue that you wouldn’t have even watched BET if she didnt say something…because you were obviously already watching BET to hear her say it.”
I never said that, I said that chick overhyped some shyt she didnt deliver….
@Luvvie,
lol. I just realized what he meant! lol. She didn’t say it on BET! She said it on CNN and every other cable news network re-broadcast it!!
E for Effort, Champipple (not to be confused with “A”…for Achievement)
@shay_d_lady,
they used it to their advantage INDEED. BET got 10.6 mil viewers, a record for them, supposedly making the show the most viewed cable show of the year among “ad-supported networks”. they played a whole lotta ppl.
@Luvvie,
Queen “Yawnce”’s
Um…I’ma need a work cite…please and thank you…lmao
@miss t-lee,
Yawnce (c) Miss T-Lee. Addition of “Queen” was me.
LOL I’m mad I need footnotes now
@Thuggie Luvvie,
Thanks ma’am.
@miss t-lee,
Bey is boring i jus look at her body
@BLUNTBLAZER,
“Bey is boring i jus look at her body”
This cracked me up for a good min.
@Cheekie,
i always put her music videos on mute lolshakira get the same treatment
@BLUNTBLAZER,
So, I’m sure their (muted) duet is just bliss for you. lol
@Luvvie,
I just have to comment. Are we twins? I hate beets and horror movies too. I’ll add coconut and snakes to that list as well. I just had to say that, lol.
Now back to our regularly scheduled program.
Excellent post Champ. I can’t really add to what iloVEGrits has said about your writing today.
I’m an MJ fan, sincerely, and very sad that he’s gone. I was having a conversation with a friend today and my (completely unprofessional) analysis is that MJ was always looking for love. He found it consistently while performing and sought it inconsistently (and sometimes disastrously, see: trials) off stage. He was lonely.
Re: BET, they did pull together a show in less than 48 hours, so points for that. Subtract 1000 points for the Baby Boy nonsense and they still end up inthe red.
unrelated, yet relevant: I voted for VSB for the Black Weblog Awards
@ebonyI,
“BET, they did pull together a show in less than 48 hours, so points for that. Subtract 1000 points for the Baby Boy nonsense and they still end up inthe red.”
lolol
@ebonyI,
“unrelated, yet relevant: I voted for VSB for the Black Weblog Awards ”
So did I. Is VSB paying us for our votes?
@iloVEGrits, yeah. the check’s in the mail.
along with Lauryn Hill’s freedom.
*shots fired*
@Panama Jackson,
hahahaha.
I was gonna bit Champ and give you a ‘freedom deez’ but I can’t. You get an ‘A’ for that one.
@iloVEGrits, thank you kindly ma’am.
@Panama Jackson,
I was gonna bite Champ and give you a ‘freedom deez’. But I can’t. You get an ‘A’ for that one.
@ebonyI,
welcome and sh*t, and thanks and sh*t
“mj died on a thursday, and, from my understanding, the awards were filmed early saturday.”
The BET Awards were filmed LIVE which is why their censor man missed hella curse words, including when Eddie Levert said “Sh*t!”. Best moment of the night! I love when old people cuss!
@Luvvie, I Loved seeing Eddie’s azz up there cussing too..
but about halfway through the performance, i thought eddie’s azz was gone have a heart attack himself.. he was sweating so hard and moving about 2 and a half steps slower than the other two…LMAO
@shay_d_lady,
ME TOO! I was like, “ok, Eddie. Catch your breath.”
@iloVEGrits, tell me you didn’t love Eddie Levert a LITTLE bit more after that?
that’s one cool mofo.
@Panama Jackson,
Eddie’s always been cool to me. Sheeeeyat. When he sings…I forget that looks like a primate.
@iloVEGrits,
i give props to them and N.E, guy, bbd, keith sweat they actually broke a sweat i can appreciate that. Ima huge old skoo Bobby Brown/NE fan so I was giggin on the couch esp when bbd came out god i felt 12 again.
@Luvvie,
I love when old people cuss!
t-shirt potential
@The Champ,
“I love when old people cuss!
t-shirt potential”
One in which, I would wear, proudly. Everything old folks do is funnier, by default. Same with babies.
@Cheekie, this is why Betty White is still comedy gold. And Helen Martin before she passed.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
Betty White is a goddess.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
Yes, indeed.
@Luvvie,
I didnt see all the O’Jays tribute but thought it was pretty dope.
“My name is Eddie. This is what I do.” Hahahahaha! Ima start saying that when ppl look at me crazy.
lol@ the new OJay talmbout “I aint know Michael and I aint make none of these records. But I’ll enjoy this award.”
The O’Jays keep it real
@Me fail english?,
lol@ the new OJay talmbout “I aint know Michael and I aint make none of these records. But I’ll enjoy this award.”
That ish was funny as heyll.
I want to comment before I read anyone else’s so forgive me if what I say has already been said.
I have heard this same sentiment about 100 times since MJ’s death.
We are not forgetting, hell how can we, shyt we all saw what he looked like. That being said there is nothing at all wrong with recognizing a persons wrong, forgiving them and celebrating the good in them and how they touched or inspired you. I might not be Christian but I am a theist and in death I do believe we are all held accountable for our past transgressions so there is no need for me dwell on the negative.
@shay_d_lady,
“I might not be Christian but I am a theist and in death I do believe we are all held accountable for our past transgressions so there is no need for me dwell on the negative.”
You, my friend, have also been taking your wisdom pills.
@iloVEGrits, You, my friend, have also been taking your wisdom pills.
Girl, I had to do something after all them years I spent spinning in ignance…LMAO
@shay_d_lady,
great comment shay_d_lady!!!
*Calling VEG out*
Umm… don’t somebody owe me a coupla text messages? I sweah bout these Creoles sometimes. o_O
@Luvvie,
*sighs, takes off earrings, pulls hair into pony tail, puts shoes carefully to the side*
I haven’t gotten a text message from you today. What you wanna do now?
@iloVEGrits,
I text u 3 times. Don’t make me come to the southside and break all the heels of ur shoes!!! We can DO THIS!
@Luvvie,
Girl, you gonna be a breakin’ fool. You know how many pairs of shoes I own? You think you have shoe game? Puhlease, chile.
I didn’t get ‘em. Swear. Our tranny pr0n loving friend said he texted me, too. And I didn’t get it, so there must be a glitch in the matrix.
I agree that there is no “adversity-less icon.” I also was thinking of a quote “Behind every great fortune there is a great crime” and I also believe that behind fame there is always some great pain or adversity of some sort behind it. I think his death just shows the sad state of affairs of living in a celebrity obsessed world (and this sh*t ain’t new, folks have been worshiping false idols since the dawn of civilization).
@Naturally Alise,
I think his death just shows the sad state of affairs of living in a celebrity obsessed world
expound and sh*t
@The Champ, @The Champ, one thing she might mean is how the average Joe and Jane can go thru their crap in the peace of not having the TMZ/tabloid lens all over them. Celebs gotta be all Yonce-like and smile all the time, never let anyone see ‘em sweat and all that bomb shyet, lest they eff up their money.
On another end, it’s also how we treat celebs as our royalty. That’s who MJ, JFK Jr., and such are in this country where we don’t have kings and emperors.
The BET awards were laughable for the following reasons:
1. Ving Rhames forcing everyone to say something like “Guns is Michael Jackson” I was startled and uncomfortable as was most of the audience. The Baby Boy skit was, I’m sure, not a part of the MJ celebration. Why wasn’t that cleaned up?
2. Beyonce did not swing her weave or wail on a note. Oh wait that’s a bonus. Nevermind. Her voice was flawless.
3. Joe Jackson- why can he ever find a corner, a chair, and some sat down? Why are you shucking and jiving down the red carpet and in the front row. NEWSFLASH Joe the Bruiser NOONE wants whatever you’re peddling. Hush and grieve like a father should.
4. There was clearly no sound check. I love NE, BBD, Keith Sweat, and Guy. However, they were not at their best and it was moderately embarrassing as a fan but I still was jamming though.
5. The shameless plugs of Jamie Foxx’s tour.
6. The MJ tributes were lackluster at best and if somewhere down the line BET wants to repurpose some of the footage into an ACTUAL tribute program I’m sure they’ll have to look very hard to find anything that was better that just OK. Last minute is not the best excuse for a substandard show. If your higher-ups at work handed you a project and said hey I need this in 48 hours you would not show up to work 48 hours later and say” But you just handed this to me 48 hours ago and after a period of inactivity and the initial shock of it all I wasn’t left with much time to put together anything of substance so here’s a little flash and dazzle with mostly filler.”
Best Part of the night? Shenene & Wanda as Skank Robbers
Runner up? Ne-Yo
@Nola Darling,
“But you just handed this to me 48 hours ago and after a period of inactivity and the initial shock of it all I wasn’t left with much time to put together anything of substance so here’s a little flash and dazzle with mostly filler.”
Ummm. I wouldn’t but I think most people would. lol. He!! most people I’ve worked with in the past can’t pull off anything great in 6 weeks. But I digress.
@Nola Darling,
The Baby Boy skit was entirely too long and the movie, entirely too old for a 2009 awards show reference. It’s not even the tenth anniversary or anything? Keep that ish to “I HATECHU JODY!” and keep it moving. Maybe it was funnier in person.
And I agree, 48 hours or not, I’m sure somebody at BET knows a falsetto who knows the lyrics and can sing an MJ tune (Sowwy Ralph
).
Everytime I see Joe Jackson I think I’m gonna get a beating.
@Me fail english?,
Everytime I see Joe Jackson I think I’m gonna get a beating.
LOL Joe looks like he had some surgery, himself…
@K to the…,
He has. And I think he so needs his arse kicked for ‘jamming’ at an awards show, peddling ish after his kid died.
@K to the…,
If he does, that’s kind of unfortunate… he had that aura of “rotten jack o’ lantern” about the face for me…
Maybe he’s one of Droopy Dog’s descendants??
@Beez,
Lol. He DOES look like the Legend of Sleepy Hollow
@Nola Darling, 1. Ving Rhames forcing everyone to say something like “Guns is Michael Jackson” I was startled and uncomfortable as was most of the audience. The Baby Boy skit was, I’m sure, not a part of the MJ celebration. Why wasn’t that cleaned up?
allegedly, Ving Rhames WASN’T supposed to come up there. Tyrese told him do it and he did. Debra Lee was, allegedly, pissed at that whole segment. not sure for anybody else, but didn’t it look at little TOO real? like they were really going to square off up there? hell, the acting on stage was better than their beef in the movie.
@Panama Jackson,
I think Ving was high.
@iloVEGrits,
All joking aside, I thought so too.
@Panama Jackson,
When Ving Rhames ent up there, I was like “Mkay what is Holiday doing playing in Snoop’s clothes?” I just didnt comprehend.
@Thuggie Luvvie,
Ya know. My mom has the hots for Ving Rhames. It’s b/c of Baby Boy, too. Seein ghim do the aggin hop across the kitchen with ol’ girl did things to her. I am so ashamed for her.
@iloVEGrits,
ralph, guy and bbd sounded bad but they broke a sweat so fuqq it Keith still got it tho *pinchin my nose doin my keith sweat nasal clogged voiced*
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Guy sounded like ish. I’ve seen N.E. live many times…I am just holding on to the thought that Ralph was too old for that song. lol. And Keith: yeah. He’s still Keith. I whooped when he came out.
@iloVEGrits, my husbands GRANDMother.. loves baby boy just for that scene with him cooking them eggs butt naked…LMAO she calls me everytime it comes on
@Nola Darling,
Best Part of the night? Shenene & Wanda as Skank Robbers
All the anti-”Black men in drag” stuff aside [/nod to Chappelle] , I laughed when I saw it and thought that would make for a funny movie if written right!
I want to take this moment to say thank God Im not in Cali now because I would have had to pack up and move.
Everyone has a MJJ memory,everybody jammed to the tunes in their school gym, and even a few made their own bedazzled glove. So I wasn’t surprised that a few ‘normal’ fans were down because Michael kicked it….not surprised (frail looking dude he was), but sad. Ill even give a few NOLA peeps being a lil extra sad because they remember that poster, shirt, or The Wiz LP that they just realized was destroyed in storm.
***Sidenote: My home girl, I think, put it perfectly when she said this whole passing is on par with thinking of an item you you want to pull out, only to remember you lost it in the storm.
Deep.
But I digress, I figured there would be a side show that would come along with MJJ death. I have friends that live in Encino that prepared for the extra traffic b/c of the fans that were going to stand at the gate. And the news was going to have their turn at bat. But I honestly didn’t prepare for the shhstorm thats going on now. Call me dumb like a bag of bricks, but I didn’t think I would have to hear mess about this man on every channel……EVERY CHANNEL? The rerun of music? heck yeah. But the court cases, debt, the now canceled tour, the auction in Vegas of his belongings less than 24 hours after he died, his friggin kids, Debbie friggin Rowe, who is gonna get the kids=money, his family, his health, what he ate, how bald he was, what pills, was his will official, what he weighed, the last time he took a sh… the whole thing like screams buzzards and freaks me out a bit….
I get the whole celeb gig, Mikes had a hard row to hoe. The whole family did and still do. But I hoped they would let the man finally rest….and let the circus mess go.
Real talk, dont let me catch Joe Jackson in the street…shame, brother.
And Im waiting on Mrs. Jackson to snap and tell folks off, dont doubt an ol school mother about her child.
Thats it.
@An Uninspired Muse,
Call me dumb like a bag of bricks, but I didn’t think I would have to hear mess about this man on every channel
lol, sh*t. if anna nicole smith still gets airplay, you know mj’s death will be covered and discussed at least until (no exaggeration) 2020
@The Champ,
I dig.
Before all this Ive had Moonwalker on my ipod (because Im cool like that.)So Someone at work though I would want to see that CPR pic.
I had to have a moment…
@An Uninspired Muse,
“But the court cases, debt, the now canceled tour, the auction in Vegas of his belongings less than 24 hours after he died, his friggin kids, Debbie friggin Rowe, who is gonna get the kids=money, his family, his health, what he ate, how bald he was, what pills, was his will official, what he weighed, the last time he took a sh…”
LOL! They showed is 9th grade report card last nite! I’m at the gym like, WTF? Almost fell off the floater!
@Me fail english?,
“They showed is 9th grade report card last nite”
NO THEY DIDN’T. lmao. Woooow. I am surprised he had a report card b/c, truth be told, I always thought the Jackson kids had some of the worst grammar ever. I just assumed they had piss poor teachers with them on the road.
@iloVEGrits,
LOL! I woulda assumed he was being homeschooled by then. But nope.
Mike had some kinda unspoken beef with subject-verb agreement that he didn’t resolve until late in life… They couldn’t enunciate well either unless they sang the word. All the same, he got almost straight A’s.
See! Even in life we overlooked the flaws! lol.
@Me fail english?,
“Mike had some kinda unspoken beef with subject-verb agreement that he didn’t resolve until late in life… They couldn’t enunciate well either unless they sang the word.”
This is so true! And what teacher was passing out ‘A’s’ for this? lol.
@Me fail english?,
They showed is 9th grade report card last nite!
“We don’t believe you, you need more people..”
lol You are lying to me…stop it!
@K to the…,
Oh, but I wish I was! It was on ET last nite. They even criticized his B- in French!
@Me fail english?,
“LOL! They showed is 9th grade report card last nite! I’m at the gym like, WTF? Almost fell off the floater!”
LMAO…WHAA? Imma ’bout to quit humans in one sec…I mean, WHAT? Why, people? Why?
What’s next, the Unauthorized Bio of Michael Jackson’s baby tooth written by the Tooth Fairy?
@An Uninspired Muse,
Yea they gone be like “Im sorry ms jackson” cause once the old black moms gettin ta cussin its all bad somebody gone cry in the car on the way home
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Thank you!
How many dang chitlins that woman have? Im waiting for her to tell anyone to go get her a switch.
@An Uninspired Muse,
With all due respect, what does any of what you said have to do with living in California? It’s not that crazy in the whole state over MJ, just at Jackson-related homes and in the press. It’s business as usual elsewhere.
@Stuff Ghetto People Like,
My friends couldnt get to their HOUSE after work after this MJ mess. Hence, me not wanting to live there. And were talking, walking through folks lawns kind of deal.
People dont play with their lawns out there…
First, in regardless to Mike Jack’s “weirdness”, we should all consider these great points from Minister Louis Farrakhan from my post below:
http://presidentialtelevisionandfilm.ning.com/profiles/blogs/minister-louis-farrakhan-1
By the way, of course the first clip is from The Arsenio Hall Show and led to the show’s cancellation. One particular line that stood out from the second clip was when he said this:
“Say he’s weird? Ummhmm…that’s what they said about Jesus…that’s what they say about all those NON-CONFORMISTS.”
People who live their lives in a non-traditional way will forever be looked at as outcasts especially considering how judgmental people tend to be.
As far as the B.E.T. Awards and the network in general, I’ve said it over and over again – why do y’all keep watching it?? If you don’t like the programming or the so-called buffoonery, turn the freakin’ channel. You’re NOT forced to watch it. I don’t like watching the girly-girl shyt on Lifetime so guess what, I don’t tune in. I don’t have anything negative to say about the shows because I’m not a fan and I know that the network doesn’t cater to my interests. I don’t watch National Geographic because I don’t fux with wild life like that. Again, it doesn’t spark my interests.
Every fuggin’ year though, people are ALWAYS slamming the B.E.T. Awards and nit-picking any and every thing that they find wrong with it, rarely noting the great aspects of it. Nevertheless, they tune in FAITHFULLY the following year and do the same damn thing. Makes no logical sense to me. Especially if you’re gonna bytch and moan about how you just wasted 3+ hours of your life and shyt like that. That’s YOUR fuggin’ fault, genius.
@Monk,
Especially if you’re gonna bytch and moan about how you just wasted 3+ hours of your life and shyt like that. That’s YOUR fuggin’ fault, genius
*snickering loudly*
@miss t-lee,
*letting out a loud guffaw*
@Monk,
Every fuggin’ year though, people are ALWAYS slamming the B.E.T. Awards and nit-picking any and every thing that they find wrong with it, rarely noting the great aspects of it.
I usually don’t watch BET, and this was my first time watching the awards since Steve Harvey was the host. So, if you don’t mind, could you please point out the great aspects? I think I missed them since I usually don’t watch, and probably wouldn’t recognize them if I saw them. Thanks.
@N.I.A. LivingLifeOffTheWall….,
In my opinion:
*Jamie Foxx did a remarkable job as the host. He was funny and overall extremely entertaining…especially when compared to hosts of other award shows who are kinda “stiff” for lack of a better word and not as engaging.
*I thoroughly enjoyed a lot of the performances especially New Edition’s opening and Ne-Yo’s “Lady In My Life”. The staging, pyro effects, and other theatrics were on point with the performances also.
*The pre-taped trailer of the Wanda and Sheneneh movie was hilarious.
*Everyone from the presenters to the performers made what would be a somewhat somber occasion, a festive one that put you in a better mood despite the the great loss many of the entertainers were feeling.
@Monk,
i’ll give you jamie at the beginning, Ne-yo, wanda/shenehneh skit, and add the O’Jays. but to me, even that was only just good…i didn’t find anything about the show great. to me, the negatives were glaringly obvious, and unfortunately outshined the few bright spots.
@N.I.A. LivingLifeOffTheWall….,
I agree. We’re not talking “a single blunder” like Monk said below. Nitpicking would be taking a mostly good show and zeroing in on its flaws. But this show sucked more than it was good (to most viewers). Even when compared to other BET Awards years. That’s just plain not liking it.
@Monk,
Nevertheless, they tune in FAITHFULLY the following year and do the same damn thing. Makes no logical sense to me. .
I don’t get this either. I think they watch, just so they can talk sh*t about how they won’t watch it again (until next year’s award show) and to make it seem like they are above BET. If you don’t like it, don’t watch it. I don’t watch BET
because I don’t have cablebecause there aren’t any shows I want to seebesides the Tiny and Toya show. If you don’t like BET, watch TV One or QVC. It’s not that hard to flip the channel.@V Renee,
I don’t watch BET because I don’t have cable
Say that!!!
And the only reason I saw the show this year is because I was at my staying at my homegirl’s house…lol
@miss t-lee,
“And the only reason I saw the show this year is because I was at my staying at my homegirl’s house…lol”
Put me down for this club too! We meet on Tuesdays at 7 at somebody else’s house…
@V Renee,
“I think they watch, just so they can talk sh*t about how they won’t watch it again (until next year’s award show) and to make it seem like they are above BET.”
This is pretty much what it boils down too. Many Blacks just feel like they are “too good” to watch B.E.T. because of the programming and whatnot. Instead of their uppity selves doing something about it, it’s a lot easier to talk shyt – especially when all the guppies in your circle are going to talk the same shyt with you. It’s like it’s “cool” or “popular” to diss the network that has employed so many Blacks in television production AND in which many of them grew up on. It gives them a sense of superiority in a way, because their choice of what they choose to watch differs. You gotta realize, a lot of folks who throw mud at the network STILL watches it. They just keep their shyt in the closet. But hey, to each his/her own.
@Monk,
i agree with what you’re saying (especially in regards to the BET awards) but calling mj “non-traditional” is like saying kim jong is a little “misunderstood”
@The Champ,
Agreed. Some people are just extremists.
@Monk,
Ya know what? I actually didn’t hate the BET awards last year. My recap of it didnt rebuke ANYBODY. They did good. But eff that. People gon stop using folks’ overall disdain as a reason to overlook this year’s crappy show. Y’all got more excuses for BET than K-Ci got to explain that white powder around his lips.
@Thuggie Luvvie,
And you are letting your dashed hopes for what we all consider a proper tribute to cloud your opinion, causing you to overlook the time crunch they were in and the logistical nightmare it would have been to pull the kind of show we wanted together.
I agree with N.I.A.: the MJ stuff they did manage to add made the show much better than it would have been had they not.
But I am not holding that against you.
@iloVEGrits, And you are letting your dashed hopes for what we all consider a proper tribute to cloud your opinion, causing you to overlook the time crunch they were in and the logistical nightmare it would have been to pull the kind of show we wanted together.
I totally disagree with this..they had what appeared to be (minus soulja boy and lil wayne) a good show. For the most part the Mj stuff, seemed to throw the award show off. Cause they 90′s tribute was part of the original show, new edition plus bobby was part of the original show (they would have probably sounded a lot better doing whatever they were first going to perform. I saw them in concert last year and they sounded waaaay better)…Maxwell, the ojays tribute, etc….as someone said earlier, their first priority should have been a good awards show, and they should have done a tribute section and kept it moving…..
@shay_d_lady,
I’m just mad they had NE sing THAT song. The Jacksons made records together til 1984. Mike was a grown man by then. I woulda loved to see NE do “Can You Feel It” “Show You the Way to Go” or “Heartbreak Hotel”.
Maybe that was a poor choice on NE’s part…
@Me fail english?,
Yeah. Ralph’s voice is no longer suited for the song they chose. And why they even let Bobby sing a section is beyond me.
I DO give BET kudos for keeping the fact that it was N.E. hidden (no direct lights) until Ralph sang the first lyric. I let out a whoop.
Good thing you aint watch the Red Carpet. Marlon Wayans spoiled the surprise! lol
@Me fail english?,
I still haven’t recovered from the sight of Bobby’s tongue… got me rocking and sighing at intermittent periods.
@V.E.G.
“Ralph’s voice is no longer suited for the song they chose.”
Has his voice REALLY changed much over the years. He sound the same to me.
@Thuggie Luvvie,
We just disagree here because I found it very entertaining and no one did a “crappy” job. I was entertained.
Black Star Power!!
@Monk,
Especially if you’re gonna bytch and moan about how you just wasted 3+ hours of your life and shyt like that. That’s YOUR fuggin’ fault, genius.
Tell em why you mad, son!!!
@Monk, it’s easier said than done.
you’re right. a lot of people watch the sh*t just to slam it, which isn’t fair. i agree with that.
however, in this case, knowing that the BET awards were on Sunday, most folks probably suspected that they’d at least attempt to do something, or somebody would say something, etc. so it’s not surprising that so many people watched. the thing is, if you are watching it, you can’t help but notice the problems.
like the censors F*CKING up so badly.
or the 12 year olds on stage during the Young Money set
like those are glaring things that just seem wrong, regular viewer or not.
and further, my guess is a lot of people watch b/c you all know that in the Black community, that’s what folks are going to be talking about so you might as well, time and patience permitting, watch so you can get in on the convo.
i never watch BET, not even on purpose, they just don’t show sh*t that i want to see, but i did watch the BET awards so i could be apart of the Monday convo on it.
@Panama Jackson,
I also think, as a less frequent viewer, that you sometimes forget how badly BET can eff smthg up when you havent seen it in a while.
For example, one year, it seemed every rapper from below the Mason Dixon got on stage and they did a whole Southern medley. It was awesome! Then another year Mo’Nique did a funny Bey impersonation. Sometimes it’s good. This time, it was not. I still can’t believe the stage was covered with ads. smh
@Me fail english?,
“I also think, as a less frequent viewer, that you sometimes forget how badly BET can eff smthg up when you havent seen it in a while.”
Co-sign.
@Panama Jackson,
I’ve never seen any award show of any stature be pulled off without a single blunder. Because of the nature of the elaborate production, shyt happens. I’m not excusing it but it is what it is. You can score 30 points in a basketball game and not miss a shot, but SOMEBODY on your team will.
@Monk,
“Especially if you’re gonna bytch and moan about how you just wasted 3+ hours of your life and shyt like that. That’s YOUR fuggin’ fault, genius”
HAHAHA!
Truth be told, I don’t feel like I wasted 3 hours of my life because the opportunity to roast on folks is never wasted time. Second, best believe that 99% of the folks who didn’t like the BET Awards were sitting there waiting, just waiting, for something better to come along finally. A grand finale, if you will.
I figured the real stuff was gonna wrap everything up.
Anyhow, I don’t usually nitpick about awards shows, but this wasn’t promoted as a regular award show. It was the second coming of all conglomerate award shows, the most anticipated award show in a long time and unfortunately, it failed at life.
@Cheekie,
You’re a roaster…that’s what you do. A lot of people are just bandwagon jumpers and as I said above, it’s fashionable to hate on B.E.T. and nit-pick EVERYTHING that the network does.
@Monk,
Bet did good a few years esp when Mike Jacks came out with James Brown that was classic
@BLUNTBLAZER,
I agree. That was the hotness.
@Monk,
I look at like this. Many of us have blogs and read them on a pretty regular basis. Say there’s a blog (read: network) that you claim you don’t like (hate), and you don’t read (watch) it. Watching B.E.T. and picking apart every small thing that you find wrong with it is like consistently visiting that blog, JUST so you can call out the typos, misspelled words, grammatical errors, appearance of the page and the colors on it, etc..
Let’s say Michael Jackson just passed away and you’re curious to see how B.E.T.’s going to handle it with their annual awards show a couple of days later. Guess what, chances are, that blogger that you so despise is likely to have a post on it too. Do you still read it? If so, WHY?
You have the choice of going to that blog (tuning into the network), reading it (watching it), dissecting the errors (going on and on about the misspelled words, poor use of language, and the fact you don’t like the fonts that’s used), BUT…if you don’t like it, why even put that much energy into it? Is it because everybody else is doing it and you wanna d*ck ride like the rest of them? You don’t have anything better to do such as SOMETHING YOU ACTUALLY LIKE?
I just don’t understand and maybe it’s not for me to understand. Regardless, more power to you.
Wow Champ. That’s some good writin’ right there
.
I really can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said. Michael Jackson was a person that I really just never expected to die… crazy as it sounds, but he’s been a presence in a lot of our lives, for all of our lives. Michael Jackson was the STANDARD. With this latest tour that he was supposed to have launched, I remember thinking that I hoped he was on top of his game (or at least didn’t come out and embarrass himself). There are only a couple celebrity deaths that actually made me grieve a bit. MJ’s is one of them (the other is Bernie Mac. I swear I was sad like he was a relative when he died). I agree w/ Shay-d-lady’s perspective. It’s not that fans are forgetting what Mike became – we’re just celebrating his brilliance. And Mike will have his judgement time with the lord just like everybody else.
I also think that BET could have done better if they wanted to. 48 hours or not. They have a whole lot of resources and a lot of talent at there disposal. They are BET and are supposed to be professionals. There are plenty of thirsty a$$ artists who prolly know every knee twitch in the Thriller video that would have died for the opportunity to dance in tribute to MJ – same for singers. There really just aren’t any excuses.
@pgh muse,
Co-sign everything here.
@pgh muse,
“I also think that BET could have done better if they wanted to. 48 hours or not. They have a whole lot of resources and a lot of talent at there disposal. They are BET and are supposed to be professionals. There are plenty of thirsty a$$ artists who prolly know every knee twitch in the Thriller video that would have died for the opportunity to dance in tribute to MJ – same for singers. There really just aren’t any excuses.”
exactly thas BET they got pull it aint that hard ninjas would pay for they own ticket to get shine like that and do mikes moves flawlessly
@BLUNTBLAZER,
I wanna know how VH1 came up with a 15 second interstitial commercial the next day that was more poignant and entertaining than the whole damn BET awards?
I’m still trying to figure out why everyone was replacing God in their thank you speeches with MJ. I know I heard stuff like “without MJ no one would be in this room” or “MJ made this all possible.” Last time I checked, that was God.
What the h*** did Beyonce have on?
If the show was supposed to be a tribute to MJ why was Soulja Boy allowed to perform and hop around on a bed on stage?
What the h*** was Keri Hilson thinking?
Even considering the fact that he died on Friday, I think they could have done a little bit better!
@Tay,
“I’m still trying to figure out why everyone was replacing God in their thank you speeches with MJ.”
I think I love you for this. I too found this to be excessive. How folks just gon give MJ ALL the glory. I know God was thinking “These negroes don replaced me w/ flooding pants and shiny gloves man. Ain’t that bout something!”
MJ: “My bad, Lord. I ain’t tell em to do all that.”
EVERYONE’s speech deserved o_O
@Thuggie Luvvie,
“I too found this to be excessive”
Impossible to please! People were trying to/thought they were paying tribute. They thought they were doing something.
@iloVEGrits,
So is there no place to thank MJ AND the good Lord?? I’m just saying.
You know what, V? I bet you watch 106 & park & know the words to “turn my swag on”. Ur defense of BET is just that strong. AND I bet you liked Rocsi’s Tracy Turnblad hairhat. AND I bet you’d *shiver* touch Lil Wayne. YUP.
@Thuggie Luvvie,
Ummm. I don’t watch BET. I turn it on for the awards, cuz I like to see black award shows, no matter how bad they are. And I’ll catch a Girlfriends re-run every now and then. I don’t even know who Rocsi is so your attempt at comedy is lost on me.
But I give you a ‘C’ for the effort. Maybe BET is hiring…you should send ‘em your resume.
@iloVEGrits,
I sent them my resume but they said you already filled the position :p
@iloVEGrits,
Y’all caught me. Geesh. I work for BET.
@Thuggie Luvvie, i think she already works for BET.
lol. i know them’s fighting words.
@iloVEGrits,
i thought bey was gonna fake some tears she jus happy she beat j-hud in something
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah. LMAO. Jay Z WAS extra excited for her. lol.
@V.E.G., so was joe jacks i thought he was bout ta slap her on the a$$ like “good job Bey, by tha way ya kno im startin a new label” lol
@Tay,
I could totally see “Turn My Swag On” being MJ’s morning anthem.
I got a question, why they hatin on me (Hee-HEE)
@Me fail english?,
iQuit you in your ENTIRETY. please pack ur ish and GO!
@Me fail english?, you’re joking, but if MJ allegedly wanted to help fix the 50 Cent and Game rift, he just MIGHT be hopping up out his bed and turning his swag on.
seriously, would it surprise ANYBODY if you found out that MJ was listening to Soulja Boy? that song is catchy as hell.
@Panama Jackson,
Mike seemed to liked any kinda art/music/dance/film/anything that moved him. I really do think he prolly liked that song!
“You’re a vegetable/ You’re a vegetable”? Mike wasnt always the deepest lyricist his damn self.
@Me fail english?,
HOL UP Mike is a bomba$$ song writer Soulja Boy cant even write a recipe I mean he should be banned to nickolodean. Really is this what rap has come to.
@Me fail english?,
lololol. You are cracking me up today.
@Me fail english?,
He probably did. I saw this clip of him jamming in the back seat to Ignition, which wasn’t the greatest song lyrically, but d*mn if it didn’t make ya move:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oDqO5iiPoog
Shooo, he was jammin, and I probably woulda jammed with him.
@Beez,
Wooow. lol.
@Tay and related replies to this comment,
Uhhh, thought police much?
Ever occur to you (all) that not all Black artists (or their audience) are theist/religious/Christian?
I know we’re supposed to keep it generally light here, but comments like those always irritated me.
“you can even argue that our conscious choice to only recognize the positive aspects of a person’s life is our most desperate hope that this same luxury is extended to us. ”
As you know this alway happens…at almost every funeral you attend when people get up to talk about the deceased it’s always in the best light.
On a rare occasion someone will actually tell a story not so becoming to the dear departed and you can hear the teeth sucking and eye rolling.
For everyone’s sake it’s just better to remember the good.
I would appreciate if my folks told the truth though…lol
Oh yeah and I watched the awards…considering I was at my BFF’s house with actual cable. Imagine that!!!
I just wonder if the censor person still had a job…lol
@miss t-lee,
Yeah, I’m totally with you. If dude was an ax murderer and they said “Remember how much Michael valued life
” I’d do a side-eye. But for me (maybe cuz I never formed an opinion on the molestation thing) what defined who Mike was to me, was stuff that happened on stage. All the rest was just funny/sad/ugly/unfortunate/weird shet that was going on around him. Kinda like BIG was the nicest MC I’d heard up to that point…who just happened to be a wife-beating, philandering, overweight prankster.
@Me fail english?,
You already know how that goes.
Real good ish right here homie. I like the little tweeks to the site as well. It’s interesting seeing the split in opinions of Michael Jackson since his death. Before he died, everybody had jokes. Once he passed, suddenly it was tears and memories of his music. Quite honestly, the last 10 years for the man haven’t been the greatest. There’s been a lot of turmoil, but folks/media still need to acknowledge his accomplishments.
Icons are people too. Everybody has their skeletons and demons. In reading this, I thought of a T.I. line…”I hate the price of fame. It cost too much.” Everything about your life will get magnified to the Nth degree.
We actually did a post over at Three Ways on people OD’n about Celebrity Deaths. Drop by and check it out if you have some time.
hxxp://www.threewaystotakeit.com/mourning-celebrities
-Slim
@Slim Jackson, Before he died, everybody had jokes. Once he passed, suddenly it was tears and memories of his music.
people mock the easy targets. especially in entertainment. it’s like journalism and if it bleeds its a lead. MJ was an easy target. it doesn’t mean that people didn’t respect and admire him. hell, i’ve made beaucoup jokes. but i write and i’m the arsonist. i take shots.
when taking shots at MJ it was separating the man from the legacy and focusing on a small part intended to garner laughs from everybody else. standard fare.
when the man passes, and you realize whats lost, even if nots a “personal” loss (i read your post), it still resonates. folks were falling the f*ck out when he was alive at his sight…what did you expect would happen in his death??
@Panama Jackson,
“folks were falling the f*ck out when he was alive at his sight…what did you expect would happen in his death??”
Pretty much. Im more surprised by the people who are surprised at the reaction. People forgot there was a time when celebrities were actually “special”. When they didn’t overxpose themselves and release sex tapes and lack talent. They weren’t disposable everymen. They were heroes.
Even with the child molestation charges, did you see the crowds of fans (of all races) screaming for him like he had an album out recently. Let Bey go 4 years without so much as a public appearance and see how many people surround a courtroom crying for her. And I like Bey.
@Panama Jackson,
they joke bout eryone ray charles, stevie, barack anybody can get it.
@Panama Jackson,
“folks were falling the f*ck out when he was alive at his sight…what did you expect would happen in his death??”
This is what I have been trying to tell folks. Have ya’ll SEENT the pure ecstasy that is video footage of grown men fainting over Michael Jackson?
Mike died on Thursday, right? Friday, aka the next day, B did this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osKawXaYHf8
BET has no excuse, and doesn’t really need one. Their programming hasn’t been for the ‘we grew up with MJ’ demographic for years. This is why Souljah Boy could still do his bed thing, Keri Hilson could prove she’s a better songwriter than performer, and Lil Wayne and Drake could do their Pedobear tribute. The fact that a lot of us tuned in was gravy for them.
As for Michael…
Welp, in the name of objectivity, the media has done a good job of cataloging Michael’s lawsuits, surgeries, painkillers, etc. and letting anyone with an axe to grind speak on the man.
As for the general public, i’ve seen people split on this by mostly racial lines here in the states. People who loved Mike are suddenly defending him-and ultimately themselves-against those who believe that he’s a child-molesting, pain pill popping, face-changing, non-debt managing reclusive sideshow freak. It’s almost like a celebrity civil war.
@maximillian,
And Bey could have done the same thing on Sunday. She chose not to. I don’t think BET told her or the other artists not to do anything and to stick to their craptacular plans.
@maximillian,
“Lil Wayne and Drake could do their Pedobear tribute”
lol. I regret missing this.
@Me fail english?,
man… them girls couldn’t have been more than 12 or 13. I didn’t watch on TV either… saw it on Youtube before Viacom pulled it.
I was like.. fa real? What part of the game is this?
We need some “Fool SADDOWN” Gift Baskets for these ninjas.
@maximillian,
Lil Wayne and Drake could do their Pedobear tribute
LOL
I don’t think people are forgetting his past indiscretions, nor or they trying to gloss over them or pretend those things didn’t happen. I think people are choosing to show respect by remembering the good times in celebration of life, rather than go into lenghty diatribes regarding his internal/external disfuntion in the vein of “keeping it real.” I think it goes without saying that the man had issues…he11, you could see his issues all over his face. But, what kind of person chooses to dwell on the negatives in life? For me, his troubled past is what has really made his death a sad state of affairs, but I choose to celebrate his life by uplifting the positive.
As for BET, I can only blame myself for tuning in, knowing damn well that I would be disappointed. I just hate I told my mom to watch, thinking something special might happen. I had a momentary lapse in judgment, and I forgot that BET ain’t shyt!! Truthfully, they could’ve just cut the entire show, mailed those lame azz awards to the winners, and used the time to just DO BETTER….
@N.I.A. LivingLifeOffTheWall….,
Yeah, what was up with not announcing the nominees? Like , who couldve run against Day 26 for “Best Group”??? Maybe Brutha. Their album was better than both of Day’s imo.
Also, good point. I think if MJ would have died as a normal man I wouldve been very sad, but what makes it sadder (for most people) is that he died never getting over his weirdness or demons (which most people took as a sign of his mental/emotional problems)
Champ, great post, pre-footnotes. i don’t necessarily think it’s necessary to focus on a persons downfalls in their death, no matter how present they were while living, but i do think it’s funny so many ppl who have been cracking MJ jokes the last 10yrs are acting life their oxygen supply has been cut short now that he’s dead.
music is NOT going to be any different then it already is and won’t change anymore than it’s already changing becuz the King of Pop is dead. let’s face it, Mike hasn’t made a revolutionizing or even relevent album in many years. this isn’t to take away from what Mike is to the music industry, it’s just the person/artist Mike USED TO be is was has stood an example for many artists now. so i think it’s silly to say music won’t ever be the same now that he’s dead. if anything, more young ppl are being exposed to MJ than they would have if he were still alive. becuz Mike is rarely played on MTV, VH1, BET (what kids are watching these days *smh*) or even on the radio, save “old school hour” perhaps.
Mike’s life would have only gotten more troubling and more bizarre and been under more scrutiny. so now may he FINALLY rest in peace.
@Gem-N-Eye,
ok there’s all kinds of grammatical and syntactical errors in this post. sorry if it’s hard to read. hopefully you get the point.
@Gem-N-Eye, if anything, more young ppl are being exposed to MJ than they would have if he were still alive.
so now may he FINALLY rest in peace.
Excellent points, dear Gem-N-Eye
@pgh muse,
Yes. Yes they were.
@Gem-N-Eye,
I’d agree that his life would’ve probably gotten more bizarre and tragic with time. As for the music, I don’t know. People have been saying MJ was finished since the mid 70s once his voice started changing and he started getting taller. They said the Jacksons were has beens way back then. So even if he was never able to recapture his commercial success as an artist, who knows how he could’ve contributed as a songwriter, producer, hell even filmmaker. That’s what I think sucks for so many fans. There’s no way of knowing what could have been.
@Me fail english?, i’m inclined to agree with you a little.
hell, when Thriller dropped, it was initially written off as a flop by NUMEROUS critics (you can read up on all that online).
that’s the thing about MJ, you just never knew. i’m not even sure he ever made revolutionary style music, his music just impacted more b/c of the quality of it. he did revolutionize the art of bringing music to life.
@Panama Jackson,
Wow. I didn’t know that about Thriller. I know Off the Wall got snubbed left and right tho.
I still can’t settle Off the Wall vs. Thriller vs. Bad.
I’ve been listening to “Girlfriend” and “Can’t Help It” all morning.
@Gem-N-Eye,
so i think it’s silly to say music won’t ever be the same now that he’s dead. if anything, more young ppl are being exposed to MJ than they would have if he were still alive
**nodding head and sh*t**
Yall then made some changes around here. Adding pictures and ish. Getting brand new.
I don’t get the whole don’t forget Michael Jackson was a loony argument. WHO IS FORGETTING THIS STUFF?!?!?! It’s been drug out in the media for years and it continues to be a media circus. I don’t think there is anyone in denial of his f.u.c.k ups. Well at least no sane person.
When people mention that we need to remember MJ’s crazy antics, I always have to ask, what is the reaction you’re looking for? People to say R.I.P MJ with your crazy azz???? I truly don’t get what we’re supposed to be doing. Can the man rest in peace? I believe the media circus is partly to blame for his demise. He’s been in the spotlight since he was a little boy. 40+ years. He’s been ridiculed for at least 20+ years
cause he did crazy is.Besides, MJ was a tortured soul. I think most genuises (musical or otherwise) are off (Ex. Kanye, A Beautiful Mind). MJ had issues. Deep issues that manifested in many ways. And many of the ways they manifested were wrong. But the man has been beat up. Must we continue to beat him up even after he’s dead?
@V Renee,
“R.I.P MJ with your crazy azz?”
LOL. This was probably wut they bleeped outta Eddie Levert’s speech.
@V Renee, When people mention that we need to remember MJ’s crazy antics, I always have to ask, what is the reaction you’re looking for? People to say R.I.P MJ with your crazy azz???? I truly don’t get what we’re supposed to be doing. Can the man rest in peace?
CO-SIGN!!!
@V Renee,
“When people mention that we need to remember MJ’s crazy antics, I always have to ask, what is the reaction you’re looking for? People to say R.I.P MJ with your crazy azz????” lol
EXACTLY. Folks acting like they’re brand new. Since when do people fill tributes with NEGATIVE attributes?
Besides, MJ was a dichotomy. He was odd, yes, but on the other hand he made folks forget that while listening to his music. Like who actually deeply pondered about Bubbles the Chimp while listening to the pure bliss that is Human Nature? And even amongst all the things he was accused of, on the other hand he was a huge humanitarian.
@V Renee,
“When people mention that we need to remember MJ’s crazy antics, I always have to ask, what is the reaction you’re looking for? People to say R.I.P MJ with your crazy azz???? I truly don’t get what we’re supposed to be doing. Can the man rest in peace?”
to be perfectly honest, i dont know. it just feels a bit odd to read glowing tributes about a person who’s been an unadulterated punchline (for basically everyone) for the majority of their adult life. it just doesn’t make sense to me
Oh and Eddie had the best line of the night “My name is Eddie. This is what I do”. I am sooooo stealing that.
@V Renee, yes, that was a great line. i said that to my boss yesterday. of course she had no idea what i was talking about. score!
@V Renee,
Another GREAT moment in B.E.T. history.
Black Star Power!!
and what future relevance would “black or white” hold without knowing that the song’s architect was actively attempting to be both black and white
not sure anybody else addressed it or not, but i’d like an explanation on that one.
granted, i’ve made jokes about that type of stuff before, but i know where i’m coming from with it…what do you mean by that, champ?
@Panama Jackson,
I also thought it was interesting that in his quest to become lighter skinned (almost translucent according the ol’ dude who had the last interview with him), he really valued Africa and made a point to put its culture into the forefront of his videos and image.
Dichotomy, thy name is Michael Jackson.
@Panama Jackson,
Good point Mike was hella worldy He could prolly end a war with a bomb a$$ concert
@Panama Jackson,
to me, its impossible to listen to that song without knowing about mj’s struggles with his skin and identity. instead of it just being a randomly ambitious pop song, knowing the context gives it more meaning
Great Post! I like how the site is looking more and more every day.
Now there are pics of people and everything. Cool!
Post comment:
I haven’t really been any more saddened by MJ’s death than I would be for any other famous person. I don’t have a strong attachment to his music either. My main like for his music comes from the fact that when his songs come on people run to the dance floor and a party becomes a party or a cookout becomes fun.
I also had the opportunity to actually LISTEN (process the words) to some of his songs. Are they really that deep or is it the sentimental value we place on them like with every song? I remember where I was when I first heard…
I feel this is another opportunity for people to just be a part of something no matter how disingenuous it is. Everyone just wants to say they loved him and his music so they can be apart of the club or be on the same boat. In sports talk this would be defined as… jumping on the bandwagon.
After sitting on the couch listening to a Bill Simmons podcast ( I love Bill!) I feel even more that people are blowing him up for nothing more than selfish reasons. Few were this committed when MJ was having court issues.
@Ivy St.,
Yeah. I was wondering where all ‘these’ friends were coming from.
@iloVEGrits,
I totally emphasized the wrong word. Sickness and insomnia are not your friend.
@Ivy St.,
“I also had the opportunity to actually LISTEN (process the words) to some of his songs. Are they really that deep or is it the sentimental value we place on them like with every song? ”
Haha, I don’t know most of the words to most of his songs. But the ones I do know aren’t deep as much they’re interesting esp given the arrangements and inflections. Like stream of consciousness (which is one of my least fav types of prose…or does that qualify as poetry). His deeper songs were mostly written by someone else.
@Ivy St.,
“After sitting on the couch listening to a Bill Simmons podcast ( I love Bill!) I feel even more that people are blowing him up for nothing more than selfish reasons. Few were this committed when MJ was having court issues.”
Yeah, Al Sharpton said something similar that a lot of people who would be making statements about him have betrayed and/or hurt MJ in the past.
@Cheekie,
I’d like to know what Rev. Al’s purpose was in this. I appreciate his willingness to play the heavy when he perceives an injustice. It’s a difficult and scary thing to do.
However, he told CNN “Im just here to make sure the world remembers him as a genius and not a freak.” as he walked with Joe Jackson.
Really, Al? Just how do you intend to do that?
@Me fail english?,
I think Al adds to the freakiness of it all, actually.
@V.E.G.,
Right! I be scared to disagree with Al sometimes. Like I’m selling out Chicken George style. But he actually CONTRIBUTED to it being a media circus. Who’s next up? Carrot Top’s gonna befriend Janet? Will Randy bring out Gloria Allred? Kato Kaelin, is that you?
WTF?
@Me fail english?,
LMAO at the entire scenario. What is ole Kato up to these days? lol.
@Me fail english?,
“However, he told CNN “Im just here to make sure the world remembers him as a genius and not a freak.” as he walked with Joe Jackson.”
And he said this while walking with Joe Jackson, the allegedly (I had to put that because my e-lawyers said so) caused said freakiness? Message automatically lost in translation.
@Me fail english?,
yea and jesse jackson I know they got the same last name but dam ninja does he jus wake up thinkin of ways to get on tv
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Jesse Jackson would push a toddler into traffic to get in front of some tv cameras.
ummmm… er uh where’s my avatar? I tried to do it myself but wordpress wouldn’t let me. It’s like that VSB?!?! I thought we was betta than that!
***snatching back the 50 lbs of chicken I would have marinated for the VSB cookout***
NOW! Take that!
@pgh muse,
Hon, with all these black folk, you were gonna need more than 50 lbs of chicken.
But, ummm, yeah, I can’t get my avatar to show up either.
@iloVEGrits,
Yeah…I don’t know how to work that ish either…lol
@iloVEGrits, with all these black folk
lol. Shooot..u are not lying… 50 lbs is the best they get outta me (and that’s doing REALLY good lol). Somebody else is going 2 have to put in on it.
@pgh muse, lol…
***snickering to myself while thinking if this was a real cookout i’d bring a watermelon – uncut***
Mwahahahaha!
@pgh muse,
that’s why you don’t get invited nowhere….
triflin.
@blackberry molasses,
lol.
@iloVEGrits,
Hon, with all these black folk, you were gonna need more than 50 lbs of chicken.
LOL
@pgh muse,
Am I gonna have to log into a wordpress account to get an avatar? No other way around that? No bootleg avatars for sale?
Also, I feel some kinda way about everyone avatar being white. lol
@Cheekie, Am I gonna have to log into a wordpress account to get an avatar? No other way around that? No bootleg avatars for sale?
lol… i think u do, Cheekie ol’ girl.. and
I feel some kinda way about everyone avatar being white
**(old man newport laden jailhouse voice)**
See! It’s a CONspiracy. They know we mourning MikeJack so they tryna turn brainwash us wit’ these white avatars. They tryna turn us the God cuz ain’t nuthin’ wrong wit a lil’ plastic surgery. It’s a CONspiracy…
lol… i amuse myself easily
@pgh muse,
**(old man newport laden jailhouse voice)**
lol. I’m mad I can hear this voice in my head. Like we at the Shawshank Redemption
@pgh muse,
“lol… i amuse myself easily”
*giggle*
You amuse others as well, include me!
“still, this isn’t about michael jackson as much as my fascination with our peculiar reliance on technicolor memories.”
This makes me think of the Final Cut starring Robin Williams.
@Voiceofreason,
Despite how anyone may feel about how MJ lived his personal life, it’s my opinion that he has impacted all of our lives through his music. If there is at least one pop song out there that you love, like, or just listen to while your cleaning, Mike very likely inspired the artist who sings it. And there probably wouldn’t be an MTV with out him either. Before MJ, videos were nothing but people standing in front of a camera swaying and singing.
I haven’t read the comments so forgive me for being redundant, but I’m going to speak on the BET thing.
For one, your facts are off. The show was live. It took place on Sunday night. This is evidenced by the horrendous job the network censors did on, well, censoring, people’s speech. They had 3 days. Granted, that’s not enough time to put together a full out MJ tribute, but they didn’t have 12-20 hours.
This leads directly to the second point, BET decided to do it. BET. You don’t get credit for half-assed attempts just because you tried, period. If you don’t have time, put together something small, and then put together a larger MJ tribute where you can get everything you want in order for a later time. Hell, throw up some pics and have Ne-Yo sing. Don’t dedicate the show to MJ’s legacy and then half-ass it. You can make all the excuses you want for BET, but the fact is, they took it upon themselves to try and fell short. Period.
Everybody realizes that MJ died on Thursday and that there’s not enough time to put on a full show, but for some reason, BET, the station that specializes in not doing sh*t right, decided that they could pull it off. That’s their bad.
I think the better question is, what did anybody really expect from BET? I’m not BET fan, though I’ll give credit when its due. The BET Awards when Will Smith hosted it was great. Jamie Foxx is a great host for these events and the tributes they did pull off were at least decent. However, this is the same station that aired VIDEOS instead of the Coretta Scott-King funeral a few years back using the excuse that, “so many other outlets were showing it, we decided to give our audience a different viewing experience” – and i’m not making that up.
Then again, this is the same argument that so many folks made for CNN’s Black in America. Hey, they tried! Kudos. That’s BS. You do not get credit for doing a bad job on something just because you gave it a go.
People that tried and failed that don’t get any credit for, ya know, trying:
George Bush
Wile E. Coyote
Drake – his performance SUCKED at the BET Awards
Mike Tyson
Marvin the Martian
@Panama Jackson,
I think you could have written “I think the better question is, what did anybody really expect from BET?” and stopped. lol.
@iloVEGrits, i could have…but I’m Panama. when have i ever used brevity as a weapon?
@Panama Jackson,
i expected alot more The bet ceo chick was all on mike’s nuts tallbout “he always made sure we had videos same time or even before mtv/vh1″ I wanted janet to slapp the shii outa her one time
@Panama Jackson,
Drake – his performance SUCKED at the BET Awards
Agreed.
@miss t-lee,
ummm… that’s prally because Drake sucks. Period. **sheilds face from tomatoes ready to be hurled at me**
@blackberry molasses,
BOOOOO!!!!
Even though he delivered a truly sucktastic performance I still rides for ol’ wheelchair Jimmy.
@miss t-lee,
lol drake has flows but wus the big fuss about him really?
@BLUNTBLAZER,
It’s probably because he’s mastered rapper hand-gestures.
@Panama Jackson,
P-Money, for this comment, you are at LEAST a 5 today. Well said.
@Thuggie Luvvie,
LMAO! Yeah I cosign this post.
@Thuggie Luvvie, oh sh*t. a 5?!!!
glory day!
*doing leprechaun style leg kicks*
@Panama Jackson,
I <3 for this, Panama!! Especially this…”You don’t get credit for half-assed attempts just because you tried, period.”, and this ;”You do not get credit for doing a bad job on something just because you gave it a go.”
people always want to excuse mediocrity with the “they tried” excuse. NO!! unacceptable!
@Panama Jackson,
I’ll bite as far as my BET expectations. I am actually entertained by BET sometimes (2nd season of Baldwin Hills, a coupla those College HIll things, some years at the awards, etc.).
So I didn’t know what to expect. I just didn’t think a 3minute montage of his music (the kind that every other channel did in LESS than 3 days) would be that hard. It could be effective and heartfelt…and BET didn’t even attempt it.
I think the ppl who think critics were too hard on BET, assume we were expecting a million-dollar production, when really I think Ne-yo’s rendition of “Lady in My Life” was one for the ages. If Ciara didn’t sing like my ten year old neice, her thing woulda been great. But she does. If Bey woulda made it clear her thing was for MJ (I really had no idea til Twitter told me) I woulda appreciated her approach too. I really just feel like BET didn’t try. You couldn’t ask Ginuwine to do a Moonwalk or nuthin? We KNOW he needs the press.
@Me fail english?,
co-sign ginuwine I wnated him to hop on stage and show the suckas how its done thas my dogg G got skilllls on the floor he is the best dancin RnB cat in the game imo
@Panama Jackson,
“Then again, this is the same argument that so many folks made for CNN’s Black in America. Hey, they tried! Kudos. That’s BS. You do not get credit for doing a bad job on something just because you gave it a go.”
*hugs Panama*
Thank you, good sir. Mediocrity is far too accepted in our culture. Forget pointing out how Black Folks complain, how about pointing out how we are prone to settle for less than the best? And on top of that, they gloating their arses off about how MJ belonged to us. I’d like to think that as well, and yes my silly self stood up and clapped when he said it, but please believe I sat myself down after I digested the suckfest that was this “tribute”. He belongs to us? Well, I can’t tell.
BET as an entire conglomerate needs to sit down and stay there. Like, them mofos need to collectively hand their heads low as the song of shame effectively plays in the background. Then conclude with a “womp womp womp”.
@Cheekie,
I got a job at BET in 2007 and turned it down…to stay with Fox. Yup I thought I’d had it with Rupert’s conservative little hell…until I walked into BET. I’d heard all the horror stories before from peers and mentors who were there but it all became apparent when I started interacting with these folks. No jokes, from the first damn interview. That’s saying alot cuz I’ve been in some pretty hood work spaces (Rocafella, Def Jam anyone?? lol) and was able to hold it down.
I’m not gonna bore yall with stuff you already know but the whole corporate culture is built on half-assedness, evil and stank. And it shows in most of their products.
@Me fail english?,
I can believe it. SMH.
@Cheekie,
Girl, it was so many quotables from that ghetto asz interviewer me and my homegirls still have running jokes. The conference room was dirty as were some of the employees and they made you take this bum ass test with questions like “Name three BET shows.” Uh, does Baby Boy count?
Its a shame cuz there are some really capable, talented ppl that they lose because of the aggressively mediocre (Im being polite) leadership.
Ghetto as Def Jam was, their people were talented, dedicated and I believed in their abilities.
@Me fail english?,
“Girl, it was so many quotables from that ghetto asz interviewer me and my homegirls still have running jokes.”
For some reason, I think you should create a blog just so you can write a rendition of said interview. lol
I’m very intrigued.
@Cheekie,
I think BET aint wanna pay nobody they knew the world was gonna watch they aint care they got they bread
@Panama Jackson,
After a good number of the comments, Chris Tucker’s (as Smokey in “Friday”) voice keeps playing in my head.
“After the ’09 B.E.T. awards, I ain’t fuggin’ wit’ that channel no mo’!!…but next year, I’ll be watchin’ again.”
I bet “on e’rythang I love” that 95% of people who hated the award show (and/or B.E.T. in general) will be tuning in for the 2010 B.E.T. Awards. That’s on e’rythang!!
@Panama Jackson,
No you didnt, P Jack….. are you serious?
The heffa that runs BET said to the world, the show was all about MJ. She was talking like it was going down for the man on Sunday night….. and it was some hot mess.
If we can get over 100 celebs together at the last min for some world tragedy (ie, Katrina, tsunami, etc) they should have been able to throw something together a bit better than that mess on Sunday.
Dang PJack….
@An Uninspired Muse, um, i agree with you. in fact, i don’t even know what you’re disputing. i don’t think anybody should give BET a pass. i think that the least they could have done was try harder.
in closing, reading is fundamental.
I propose that on the 35th of Neveruary, at the VSB BBQ, all VSB’s and VSS’s work to stage a tribute to MJ.
This is how I envision the show:
Dressed as Ms. Ross at the height of her career, I will introduced the Jackson 5, starring Luvvie as Young MJ. Auditions will be held to fill the spots of the remaining brothers.
Champ may play Berry Gordy in the re-enactment of the group’s audition for Motown.
Monk shall star as “Beat it” Era MJ.
PJ could probably rock a white suit and fedora, so he gets the nod for ‘Bad’ Era MJ.
Of course, I am open to script and casting suggestions. We have plenty of time to plan.
@iloVEGrits, I get to play Iman in Remember the Time, I can do a mean African accent, lol.
@overit,
Hired!
@iloVEGrits,
LMAO! I’d love to see this.
On second thought, when can I audition? I’ve got more than a little scary Joe in me. Behold…
*ahem*
“WHO LEFT THE TOWEL IN THE POOL?! YOU GON GET BEAT?!”
*bows*
@Me fail english?,
Imma need to see how you deliver an arse whoopin. Joe looks like he could really tear a go-go up.
@iloVEGrits,
BWAHAHAHAHAHA!! We can be friends again. JUST for this comment. Your friendship bracelet is being FedExed back to you. Oh and you ain’t slick. You just gon get one of ur Call Out Ball gowns & bedazzle it to be Ms. Ross.
@Thuggie Luvvie,
“You just gon get one of ur Call Out Ball gowns & bedazzle it to be Ms. Ross.”
You already know.
@Thuggie Luvvie,
And what you mean we can be friends again. You know you can’t quit me. In fact, you remember when you told me “I wish I could quit you?”
@iloVEGrits, now look how quick you came up with that. and it’s already better than BET’s attempt.
and i do a MEAN “Bad” era Mike. i got the Smooth Criminal dances down pat.
my lean needs work though. but i’ll work on it.
@Panama Jackson,
Perhaps all the VSB’s and VSS’s should apply for gigs at BET. We could do some thangs…
@Panama Jackson,
Re: the lean.
I showed the video to my 12 year old nephew and he said “Why’d you show me that? Now Imma have to try it and Imma hurt myself.”
CTFU.
@Panama Jackson,
“my lean needs work though. but i’ll work on it.”
Gravity is a biatch…that stank ho is my enemy for life. I had plenty o’ pratfalls due to practicing Smooth Criminals leans.
I am the mastah of Beat It and Thriller, though. In fact, Imma have to grab my cousin and we need to rehearse for old times sake.
@Panama Jackson,
Eff the lean! *pouting*
I could NEVER do that ish.
@Me fail english?,
i think ery black kid tried to do the lean and fell lol thas crazy he is a strait icon
@Me fail english?,
Yeah, I almost bust my forehead open a few times too, tryna do it. I almost had it with a jump rope tied to the e doorknob and my waist though… then to think in recent years, the man had a patent out for those cool arse shoes used in his stage shows to do it…
Still didn’t ruin the magic for me though.
@iloVEGrits,
I play a mean tambourine… let me in this mug!!
@iloVEGrits,
“Monk shall star as “Beat it” Era MJ.”
I’d actually GROW a jherri curl for this. Fugg a wig, it wouldn’t do Mike justice.
Okay… I lied. I can’t be mute on this because… I. Am. A. Fan.
There are very few entertainers I can truly say I am a fan of. MJ is one of them.
His personal shortcomings and missteps notwithstanding, the man was an ICON. And not just for his music either.
Its really pissing me the h3ll off that people are forgetting the good (not just his music) MJ did and focusing on the weird, the bad and the really ugly. USA for Africa? Work with The Ryan White Foundation? Any of these ring a bell?
I’m not going to re-write it, but Phonte did an EXCELLENT tribute to MJ on his MySpace blog. Yes, I know its the dark, smelly, seedy alley of the innanets, but this is worth the trip over there.
I’m not saying the man was a saint. I’m not saying he was perfect. I don’t live in a cloud of delusion.
I will say he was a tortured genius, who finally has peace from his demons… both the internal and external.
But he will be missed. I’m one of those who will miss him.
@blackberry molasses,
I agree!
Its really pissing me the h3ll off that people are forgetting the good (not just his music) MJ did and focusing on the weird, the bad and the really ugly. USA for Africa? Work with The Ryan White Foundation? Any of these ring a bell? .
If anything, I think people are more so focusing on his crazy antics, than the good stuff (besides the music), so I don’t get the whole remember his crazy ish argument.
@blackberry molasses,
I agree completely!! people are spending more time focusing on the negative without truly emphasizing the good work he has done…basically, people’s perception of MJ is that he is weird and has issues, and people are choosing to gloss over the positives of his life, not the other way around.
@blackberry molasses, I won’t say I was sobbing when I heard the news, I def was floored. My memories of Michael trace Africa to America, and his music is definitely a litmus test for how I see people. You don’t like MJ’s music? SIDE EYE. I’m starting to make personal judgements on folks who talk wreckless about MJ because those are the same fools who were acting a fool when Biggie and Pac died. What MJJ allegedly did affected him mainly, we can argue the ideals Pac and Biggie espoused did far more damage, but people acted like the world was ending and Hip Hop died.
Aside from the music, MJ was the one celebrity who shared so much of himself, allowed himself to be vulnerable and didn’t put up no fronts, he had no alias when he was off stage, or on. He was always Michael. I was really sensitive as a child, and I learned early on that was n way to be in this life if you didn’t want to be stomped on. Michael dared t remain how he was, all the innocence and vulnerability we carried as children, he carried into adulthood. Arrested development, maybe, but if the facial god mother came to any of us on the playground after being teased about our nose, etc and we had the chance to change it, would we not? His arrested development combined with his fame and money allowed him to try to be what society beat him over the head with, what his own family wanted him to be. I don’t know how anyone cannot feel an overwhelming sense of compassion for this man. Instead of people analyzing what he did in his personal life, I wonder why they don’t analyze how he got how he is in the first place? Champ, I see what you’re saying (or trying to) by this comment:
“how can you fully appreciate malcolm x without being completely aware of malcolm little, and what future relevance would “black or white” hold without knowing that the song’s architect was actively attempting to be both black and white”
You lost me after Malcolm Little, I see what you are trying to say, but I find it interesting that as a people we STILL address symptoms and not the disease. If we are talking pathologies, we shouldn’t limit it to Michael, these pathologies plague our community and we have been assaulted by a European beauty standard for how long now?
Even if Michael did not look like one of us, he still repped for us, this is a list I am pasting from Phonte from Little Brother’s tribute to MJJ (which you all should read)
-portrayed Black people as kings and queens in ancient Egypt (“Remember the Time” video)
-called Tommy Mottola (his then label boss) a devil and a racist
-sang “white man’s gotta make a change” live on the Grammies in ’88
-sang about a beautiful African woman in “Liberian Girl”
-featured an African chant at the end of “Wanna Be Startin Somethin”
-donated over $25 million to the United Negro College Fund
-sang “I ain’t scared of no sheets” in “Black or White” and upped the ante by morphing into a BLACK PANTHER at the video’s end
-wrote a song called “They Don’t Really Care About Us,” with a Spike Lee-directed video that featured prisoners raising the Black power fist
-uhhh “We Are The World” and USA for Africa, anyone?
What celebs that we have now do any of that? Would you rather have MJ who “wanted to be white” or the celebs we have now, who say they love their people, but constantly portray my sisters and I as howes? I’ll take MJJ, ANY DAY.
In our celebrity obsessed culture, MJJ was one of the few who actually deserved the praise, and did not act like the world should stop when they walk into a room. How many of our generation’s artists are able to come across as humble and kind as MJ did? Alicia Keys might come close, but MJ was one of the very few who allowed his fans to see there was a person under all that, maybe flawed, troubled and tortured, but a person.
Bottom line for me, the man has passed. I never cared to talk about what he did in his bedroom, what race he truly wanted to be, or any of that. I appreciate what he put into the world, the standard he created as a humanitarian and an artist and the fact he was able to be THE KING, and still come across humble and appreciative-and believable. I guess he can say he is one those you respected for their art, and as a person. As far as the bandwagon comments go, I don’t see how anyone could judge how anyone is affected by a death, who am I to tell someone how they should be affected by a death? If it was Solja Boy, maybe…but it was freakin MJJ. If anything those who are criticizing people who are upset need to take a SAT.
@overit,
ZeeBaby. you know I heart you right? This was a tometastic comment if I ever saw one. Jeebs be some spacing & distinct paragraphs for u. Lawd. Making a negra squint to get through it. No justice, no peace
@Thuggie Luvvie, LOL, my bad! I’m terrible @ multi-tasking, and I still got one eye on the recession.
@overit,
y’know. I may sound crazy, but I never thought MJ wanted to be white. I think it ran deeper than that.
@V.E.G., i think he aint wanna look like his daddy
@Peysonic Temple,
When did he ever look like his father? I could see if we’re talking Tito.
@Me fail english?,
Maybe he wanted to make sure. Sad, cuz he was a good looking kid. Even Beat It era MJ was cute.
@Me fail english?, he resembled him enough. I rather believe that then say he was tryin to be white
@V.E.G.,
I loved “Rock With You” Mike. He was sooooo freakin’ cute! *swoons* A close second for me was “Dont Stop Til You Get Enough”
Beat It Mike was cute too tho.
@Me fail english?,
Even though he was lighter then, there was something hella sexy about “Bad” Mike. Maybe it was the crotch-grab when he said “You know I’m bad”. And that errant curl over his forehead oozed sexay time.
@V.E.G.,
I came to that conclusion in the mid 90s. I cant front tho. I saw the vids for Bad before I saw Thriller. So when I realized “That’s the same MJ?!” I immed. ran with lighter skin + keener nose= wants to be white.
When he continued to morph into a cartoon character (Peter Pan, maybe?) I think it was pretty obvious whatever MJ was going for did not look like a real human.
@Me fail english?,
image dysmorphia is a real issue and MJ had it bad. Lil Kim has the ish, too.
I also believe that he, in fact, did have vitiligo and just sped up the process with drugs and evened out patches with pale makeup.
@V.E.G., whenever I read that I think of “re-vitiligo” i think of Uncle Ruckus sayin “I keep getting darker and mo darker and darker and mo darker”
@V.E.G.,
Yeah. This wknd made me really sad for Lil Kim. Im not sure how talented she really is since alot of her image was a BIG and Un creation and allegedly BIG and members of JM ghostwrote her lyrics, but that’ll be a tragic passing to me too.
@V.E.G.,
the clincial term is Body Dysmorphic Disorder and he had it, Kim has it and so does that “Cat Lady”
They now psycologically evaluate people who come in for repeat cosmetic surgeries, especially on parts have have already been altered, to check for this.
@overit,
“Even if Michael did not look like one of us, he still repped for us”
Thank you for making this point! I wouldnt call Mike militant, but “tryna be white”??? Yall must not have been fans. All up in through his autobiography, published in the 80′s he makes reference to how proud he was to be black because he was continuing the tradition (an understatement, if there ever was one) of song and dance. He wrote about how black people are so incredibly innovative, courageous and resilient and how his roots contributed to him being able to attain the success he had. He also wrote that when he was younger and a reporter asked him and his brothers how they felt about the Black Power movement, the handlers jumped in to silence them, but they snuck and stuck up the black power fist at the end of the interview anyway (lol. one of my fav stories in the book).
Notably absent was the normative “Ah yes, and the latinos and asians do lovely things too.” Nope. He’d just write about his admiration for his own people and that was that. No pandering to other groups or fear of being called militant. How many ppl do you know do that today?
@Me fail english?,
co-sign.
@Me fail english?,
Yep.
@overit, Thank you for posting that because if you hadn’t have I would have.
@overit, Cotdang it Overitey. Testify!
@overit,
dam thas wha im sayin mike did alot. and he even gave props to james brown thas classy in my book
@overit,
Great great great comment!!
@overit,
*standing ovation*
@blackberry molasses,
Don’t forget the MJ Burn Center and all the countless surgeries he paid for terminally ill children
Im pretty sure he’s in the Guinness book as most charitable star EVAR
@Me fail english?, he definitely is in the Guinness Book for this.
@blackberry molasses,
I had the same thoughts… it seems like in the midst of all of the madness, people seem to have forgotten that he was human. A tortured, troubled human, but one nonetheless. I wrote a bit of something on mine just briefly about some of his good works.
I’mo say something. Tiger my cousin. I can say something (100 points to whoever gets this reference).
Anyway. I think I’ve gone through all 5 stages of mourning for Michael Jackson. There will be NO OTHER MJJ. BUT I do miss a time before ALL the tweets I read, ALL the blogs I read and ALL the news I see was dedicated to Michael Jackson. Yes, I miss last Wednesday. I’m just saying.
A tiny country off the coast of Africa could sink into the ocean and we’d miss it b/c they’re too busy covering why Joe Jackson isn’t in MJ’s will and why his eyebrows looks like its giving us ALL the middle finger. Like this: (^_^). EFF YOU TOO, Joe!!!
@Thuggie Luvvie,
A tiny country off the coast of Africa could sink into the ocean and we’d miss it b/c they’re too busy covering why Joe Jackson isn’t in MJ’s will and why his eyebrows looks like its giving us ALL the middle finger. Like this: (^_^). EFF YOU TOO, Joe!!! .
I agree that the news coverage is excessive, but at the same time expected.
There was a news anchor pissed because his segment on Obama’s health care plan was cut and replaced by more MJ coverage.
@Thuggie Luvvie,
“A tiny country off the coast of Africa could sink into the ocean and we’d miss it b/c they’re too busy covering why”
You and I both know they prolly would only make that a bottom of the screen ticker if MJ hadn’t passed. The media only focuses on African pirates.
@Thuggie Luvvie, CEDDIE SAID THAT!
@Thuggie Luvvie,
Is it me or does Joe wear the same Black suit with the red n black vest/tie underneeth
@BLUNTBLAZER,
Yes. He dresses like Satan in Devil’s Advocate every chance he gets.
@Me fail english?,
yea he does have that santanic look with tha suit on
I just wanna ask did anyone catch Scary Joe on CNN for the fitty-leventh time talmbout “I aint beat them kids. I spanked the family [his emphasis], yeah. Katherine spanked em more than me! They just like to blame everything on me. I don’t know why.”
Aww, poor Scary Joe. Lol. If that dont sound like the words of an asz-whuppin dad I don’t know what does.
@Me fail english?,
“If that dont sound like the words of an asz-whuppin dad I don’t know what does”
lolol. My moms has selective amnesia when it comes to whoopin us back in the day. She always says “I barely whooped y’all”. Yet, somehow, I memba getting whooped quite a bit.
@iloVEGrits, “My moms has selective amnesia when it comes to whoopin us back in the day.”
Mine too.
@iloVEGrits,
LMAO! My parents are like tha too! My pops claims he never hit us (ninja please) and my mama doesn’t deny beating us, but doesn’t remember the “spike belt” (it wasnt as bad as it sounds). She also alleges that we were raised in the church…
“My name is Mama English. Frontin is what it I do.”
@Me fail english?,
LMFAO @ his pseudo-cluelessness. Joe, please. Mofo, we weren’t born today. We know the deal. And you being dissed on MJ’s will even further cements the deal.
I think the bulk of the glorifying of Michael Jackson has to do with his staple in the music world. Even when he was alive, even amongst all the MJ jokes and the like, his music STILL could OWN an entire dance floor at the club. That’s why I don’t get this “where were his fans then” type of mentality. Of course he wasn’t featured every second of the news when he was alive…he wasn’t dead. Anyone and everyone famous — by default — receives more attention when they die. Maybe some of those people came outta nowhere when he died, but most? Well, the fact that he sold hundreds of thousands of tix in the first few hours of ticket release speaks for itself. I don’t know about some folks, but the circles I spent time in? Revered MJ as a music icon BEFORE he died. Whenever his song came on, people stopped in their tracks and just had to dance and/or mouth along to the lyrics. I’m not saying I knew folks that got the Grandiddy Holy Ghost whenever he performed, but a lot of people who liked him, always liked him.
Re: BET
That ish was simple. They could’ve just did a Powerpoint Presentation tribute with music overlapping it during the award show and decided to do an ACTUAL TRIBUTE SHOW at a later date. They are the ones that hyped it to be a great tribute, the audience didn’t go into it imagining it would be a great tribute, they said it. In fact, the majority of the audience only tuned in BECAUSE they promoted it as such.
Eff complaining. It’s about setting standards. How we gon’ claim MJ as ours on an award show that doesn’t have ONE dance tribute. A dance tribute that didn’t even have to be new choreography. They coulda did a Thriller or Motown 25 Billie Jean rendition. The ding dong choreography was already packaged up and ready to go…and more that likely, anyone who was worthy of performing such a tribute would’ve already known the gist of the choreography beacuse MJ would’ve been a lifelong inspiration to them. So whenever someone criticizes something, there’s gonna be someone else complaining about how we’re never happy instead of actually sitting back and evaluating that maybe — just maybe — it may be a valid criticism. It’s just like the hater theory that always gets my blood boiling. It’s the default response to every not-so-positive remark about someone or something.
*moonwalks off soapbox*
@Cheekie,
“The ding dong choreography was already packaged up and ready to go”
GIRL You know e’rbody can’t learn that so quickly! Mike had some intricate moves and the popping was natural.
But t I agree on the PPT presentation. I could have done better but I don’t expect much from BET. Maybe I am less critical of them b/c I know they have a hard time with decent shows when they have the time to prepare.
@iloVEGrits,
I gotta agree with Cheekie. Any real dancer knows the Thriller choreography…..Remember the Time? At least pieces of somethin… I walked away from the awards feeling like “was there even really a tribute?”…
I think they should have either waited like previously stated or just done a 20-30 minute tribute at the show. I know there had to be people just volunteering to perform.
@iloVEGrits,
“GIRL You know e’rbody can’t learn that so quickly! Mike had some intricate moves and the popping was natural.”
LOL…true enough. I ain’t even gonna hurt folks’ feelings by expecting them to get the intricacies that is the MJ dance routine, but a lot of the default folks like Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Usher, Ginuwine already knew his most famous dance routines because they value him as an inspiration for their own dance moves. More than likely, they were just like thousands of other kids who practiced his moves to a TEE…only they became famous for it.
@Cheekie,
Word. As I was bout to post before VSB so rudely shut me down, was I’ve been mimicking MJ all my life. A few days to pick up a coupla minutes of choreography wouldnt be all that hard. Esp. when we all grew up tryna perfect his moves. The coulda done one minute synched and took turns fresstyling the rest of the song. Or just done three dancers for one minute at a time of a medley if it was too difficult to remember
@Me fail english?,
Yeah, pro dancers be learning 8-counts in like .00034 seconds. And already knowing his stuff which is a guarantee would’ve made a bit of time to add their own stuff, which I wasn’t expecting…just decent a re-enactment.
And most def co-sign this:
“As I was bout to post before VSB so rudely shut me down, was I’ve been mimicking MJ all my life.”
Crotch grabbing, crotch thrusts, biting over the lower lip, diagonal shoulder bumps, gliding across the floor, upward head thrusts,
ill-fatedmoonwalks,tragicSmooth Criminal leans, wetting my hair so I can pull down a curl over my forehead, Thriller claps, the MJ leg-kick, fedora tilts, etc have been etch-a-sketched into my soul.@Cheekie,
Chris was banned, Usher was out of town, lol. So that leaves G and Ne-Yo and, yeah, maybe they should have done something. Maybe they didn’t want to??? I imagine that if Ne-Yo said, ‘ya know, instead of singing Lady in My Life, I am gonna dance.” Or maybe he didn’t know he could switch the format?
@V.E.G.,
Yup, too true. Even after writing that and thinking about it more rationally, I came to the conclusion that Ciara would’ve been a lovely choice. And hopefully that choice would’ve canceled out her singing and replaced it. I don’t understand how folks thought “singing” over “dancing” when Ciara’s name came up. That lady would’ve murdered it.
@Cheekie, good comment.
really good comment.
@Cheekie,
That’s why I don’t get this “where were his fans then” type of mentality. .
Me either!! I almost got in a fight with an old man at the bar on Friday. I don’t even know why he started with me. How did a man sell 50 MILLION albums without fans. GTFOOHWTBS!
@Cheekie,
“Even when he was alive, even amongst all the MJ jokes and the like, his music STILL could OWN an entire dance floor at the club”
One of my BFF’s got married on Saturday and at the reception the DJ did an hour long MJ set. Dance floor was packed…people didn’t dance that much the whole recpetion UNTIL the MJ set. We were all singing, dancing, re-enacting the Thriller dance…lol
I think that would have happened before and after his death. Nahmean?
@miss t-lee,
It is kinda hard to hear Thriller and not get your zombie or Ola Ray on.
@miss t-lee, that sounds awesome
awww!
@miss t-lee,
“Dance floor was packed…people didn’t dance that much the whole recpetion UNTIL the MJ set.”
THIS is what I’m talmbout. I said before that MJ can make wallflowers dance and ’tis true. I’m not blowing smoke, that mofo had that power, butt-of-jokes or NOT. This legacy talk didn’t come outta nowhere, my people. Maybe most people didn’t say it in so many words when he was alive, but when an MJ song came on, the legacy speech was heard through their reactions to his music.
And what a great wedding! Also, I always love those weddings that perform choreographed routines and I always said I’d to an MJ one at mine. Still holding onto that wish, now more than ever. Just gotta take care of those little fine print complexities…like, the groom, and I’ll be all set!
@Cheekie,
Yah to expect BET to get a PPT together would be too much like riught. Them fools probably still use Microsoft Works, with the generic “Presentation” software.
Or they may even use Word Prefect with an overhead projector. Just bootleg
@Thuggie Luvvie,
LMAO. I can see this…VH1 and MTV gets all the good equipment and software.
@Thuggie Luvvie,
LMFAO. Them mofos still using DOS commands.
@Cheekie,
Not DOS!!!!
**dearly departed**
@Cheekie,
great comment, Cheekie!
Hey Champ,
I know you are not referring to Justin Timberfake as one of the few people that could do a fitting tribute to MJ!?! He isn’t that good and I am glad that EBT didn’t stoop so low as to invite his over rated behind.
I agree with you with the Chris Brown reference though…
@RObleu,
welcome and sh*t
Finally a piece about how we as black people canonize our famous figures in a way that is peculiar to our group. I think we never really get to learn from our figures in a way that would truly benefit our people. Even though with Michael its less than others, we never gain a true appreciation and understanding of our famous figures outside of their fields. We never understood Martin to be an adulterer and thus missed that important message of how the cheater is also affected. We overlook how Tupac created a fraudulent “Thug Life” image and missed the opportunity to teach kids about the importance of self image. We continuously miss this opportunity because we are too caught in the mind set of “We cant tear that black (wo)man down”. We need to appreciate our famous figures but also gain and appreciate them as a human being both flaws and all.
I cant go in as much as I want to so I’ll direct you to people like C. West, Marc Lamont Hill and M.E. Dyson (who I absolutely cant stand at times) who have written about this topic in depth
@Peysonic Temple, I don’t even think we get to choose our own heroes, it can be argued everyone we hold up was allowed us by White America.
@overit, good point but why must we treat them like Gods? completely ignoring their ills and faults to the detriment of our people and our understanding
@Peysonic Temple, but think about it, who do we villify? malcolm x was relegated to “angry black man, headwrapped woman” only status, and we get to hold up big, pac and others who didn’t use their platform, or even DIE for us.
i think tupac did allude to it though, “we aint meant to survive cause its a set up”, i truly feel that way sometimes.
@Peysonic Temple,
“we as black people canonize our famous figures in a way that is peculiar to our group.”
Elvis? Marilyn Monroe? Frank Sinatra? John Lennon?
@Me fail english?,
add to that Babe Ruth, Ronald Reagan….
@N.I.A. LivingLifeOffTheWall….,
I’d take Ron Reagan off this list. Reg. white folk have not sainted him. Just Republicans…and that goes for black ones, too.
They resurrect his spirit for every election cycle.
@V.E.G.,
Yes and I really hate that ish. I thought he was a terrible president. But that could be cuz I was poor and black in the 80s. lol
@Me fail english?,
lol. Whenever I hear someone speak so fondly of him, I ask ”wasn’t the country in the toilet when he was president?” lol. I am too little to remember but my parents didn’t seem to like him…
V.E.G.,
I was little too. But I had a Reagan obsessed history teacher when he passed. I think the lesson was about why he was the greatest president ever but all the info was negative! lol.
I think he was the first pres to start “borrowing” from Social Security to pay off the interest on national debt…or in lay terms, the reason Gen Y will live to 100 before they can retire.
@V.E.G.,
idk, V.E.G. they may not all like him, but at the time of his death, I didn’t hear any 2520 bring up the fact that he supported the Aparthed regime in S.A., or how his administration did jack shyt about the burgeoning crack epidemic in the black community…and well did Reaganomics really work in the 80′s? Reagan remains on the list….
@N.I.A. LivingLifeOffTheWall….,
I don’t think they know, honestly. lol. I have found that a lot of 2520s, excluding a very well read and/or highly educated few, are pretty dumb when it comes to things that don’t effect them directly.
But we shall keep him on the list.
@N.I.A. LivingLifeOffTheWall….,
“or how his administration did jack shyt about the burgeoning crack epidemic in the black community”
Jack shyt? Girl he basically turned his head the other way while (or according to some, encouraged and aided) Nicaraguan Contras imported dope to fund their civil war. Then he came through the hood with tanks….muthaeffin tanks to “stop us from selling” the shet that was funding his war.
Reagan was evil as hell. Dont even get me started on that cavalier, cowboy shet he was pulling with the USSR that woulda got us ALL blown outta the sky.
And how about “Star Wars” . What an epic failure of tax dollars. The man was looney tunes.
I don’t know if he was more nuts, stupid or just plain evil.
@Me fail,
I choose evil, for $500, Alex….
@Me fail english?, Call MM a hoe, 2520′s say so, call Elvis a racist, they say “so”. Call MLK an adulterer black folk wanna fight
@Peysonic Temple,
Yeah, I think we, and other communities of color, are far more sensitive to the flaws/issues of our icons than white folk are.
@Peysonic Temple,
MLK is a bad example cuz his legacy runs much deeper than Elvis’. But even still, I honestly havent encountered ppl “ready to fight” over any fallen black icon but Tupac. Martin and Malcolm included.
I also disagree with “white folks wouldnt fight over some Elvis”. I don’t know what happened in the last decade or so, but there was a time when you couldn’t even say Elvis was dead without certain folks jumping on your shet. I know this cuz they used to appear on the Morton Downey Jr. show (throwback!)
Also, why would Elvis be called a racist? Ppl WERE mad that Chuck D said that and with good reason. The man publicly adored Ike Turner, Chuck Berry and Jackie Wilson and still got called a racist. No sarcasm, but somebody fill me in. I really don’t get it…
@Me fail english?,
I think Chuck D backtracked on his Elvis comments. He did some assignment when he had to travel to Graceland and was singing a different tune.
A racist quote, however, has been attributed to Elvis for years: “The only thing black people can do for me is shine my shoes and buy my music”. I could never verify when/where he said it.
@V.E.G.,
“A racist quote, however, has been attributed to Elvis for years: “The only thing black people can do for me is shine my shoes and buy my music”. I could never verify when/where he said it.”
This is the one comment that made my Mama hate Elvis…and it was serious too.
Plus let’s not forget he pretty much stole most of his music from Black folks and got the shine.
@miss t-lee
“let’s not forget he pretty much stole most of his music from Black folks and got the shine.”
But they ALL do. They seek out black music, then dilute it and claim it as their own. Even country music was jacked from us and flipped around.
@V.E.G.,
“But they ALL do. They seek out black music, then dilute it and claim it as their own. Even country music was jacked from us and flipped around.”
Very much true.
@V.E.G.,
Okay, that’s pretty effing racist! Joking or not. Never heard that before.
As for the stealing music thing, I don’t see it as racist. I didn’t think Justin Timberlake or Mick Jagger were racist either. As long as they don’t disavow any knowledge of the ppl that clearly influenced them
@V.E.G.,
I was watching a bio of Elvis and they interviewed Chuck D and he said he only mentioned Elvis and John Wayne because he knew they were icons in America. They also interviewed a black older man who was Elvis’ childhood friend and also talked about how Elvis used to go to black clubs because he loved the music and it was more fun. Don’t forget he also did a movie back in the late 60′s where he played a doctor in the innercity and his song “In the Ghetto” about the problems of racism and poverty in the innercity. Not saying any of these things prove anything but it’s a different perspective on Elvis than what we have heard.
@Peysonic Temple,
“Call MM a hoe, 2520’s say so, call Elvis a racist, they say “so”. Call MLK an adulterer black folk wanna fight”
Oh, 2520s got their celeb-attachment issues, too. Say Elvis is dead, you best get cut.
@Cheekie,
YeS! I wonder what happened to all the rabid Elvis fans. They were around for a while and then they just disappeared. Buyin commemorative plates and standing outside of Graceland like he was gonna come out any minute. Having sightings and shet. I aint NEVER seen black folks do some shet like that.
Okay, okay. We had ‘Pac sightings for a few months, but not for years after the fact.
@Me fail english?,
I drive to New Orleans every summer and always stop by Graceland (it’s right off the highway…I never go in, lol, just drive by) and it’s always packed!
I feel yah I didnt know how to feel when I first heard the news cause even tho I was a big fan in the 80′s/90′s but he kinda fell off in the 2000′s.
I didnt cry about it but I felt the pain cause alot of his older songs are hella deep and personal to me and being a musical genius myself I can appreciate him as a entertainer/pioneer/icon. I mean Mike was the shii back in the days white skin, jerri curl and all. Mike’s death taught me how weak music is knowadays the cats knowadays will neva have the attention to detail like mike and he still gave props to James Brown always kept it humble.
Only thing is struggling with is Joe Jackson. Should I give him props for bein so hard on mike makin him stick everydance move turning him in the the perfectionist. If mike didnt wanna be a perfoormer he woulda retired early (i like his post j5 stuff the best personally) and jus lived off his dough and say fuqq pops (and he did cause they say pops is out of the will) but he kept doin it. I admit Joe is actin like “a lil bissh right now”*in O-doggs voice* but bein a dad I cant imagine him not hurting inside.
Anyways ima say RIp Mike and remember him for the good times. Mike did, music, videos, movies, video games.
Fav Mike
song: the way you make me feel
music video: billy jean
movie: moonwalker
Just like the thread from the other day said, one event in a relationship can make you forget about everything that happened before. Michael dying made everyone forget about the crazy things he was known for and appreciate the music. Music really died the same day michael did, I hope everyone playing michael will make people start making real music. Rather than have soulja boy and OJ da Juiceman on magazine covers and on the radio, I haven’t heard this much good music on the radio or on tv in my life. I could get used to this
I just wanted to add really quickly about that BET shyt… there are people there making hundreds of thousands of dollars because they are supposed to be able to execute in situations like this… if you or me or any other “regular” person would have performed so badly in such a time – the shyt would have been unforgivable. We wouldn’t have a job. BET is effing fired as far as I’m concerned, but that should be the nail in the dayum coffin. The “tribute” was disrespectful to BET fans… and folks who patronize the station.
@pgh muse,
amen.
@pgh muse,
I can’t imagine MJ passing 3 days before the Grammy’s, AMA’s, hell even the People’s Choice Awards and not one dance routine, not one montage taking place, not one eulogizing celeb friend coming through to speak.
A “The World May Never Know” Question:
SOOO many people are saying Chris Brown woulda murdered an MJ tribute. Are me and me fail english the only ones who see the spaztastic-ness that Chris Brown dance routines embody? MJ’s fluidity is the formulaic opposite of that krumping ninja.
MJ = Smooth Criminal
Chris Breezy = Seizure Criminal
@Cheekie,
LMAO.
I def. think Usher is a better dancer than Chris. But maybe it’s b/c I’m older and Usher is grown. lol.
I think a lot of performers who, admittedly can dance, are not fluid, a la MJ. He!! Janet can work it but she isn’t as smooth as her brother. Same goes for Beyonce: she can dance but is not particularly graceful.
I think Usher and Ciara are the better choices for MJ dance tributes.
@V.E.G.,
Usher IS a better dancer than Chris. By far. You feel that way because you have eyesight
@Me fail english?,
Co-signage.
@Me fail english?,
I think Omarion is better than both.
@V.E.G., Usher is grown.
and getting s3xy these days with his little facial hair. I was just talking 2 a friend about how much more I like grown man Usher than teeny bopper Usher… she said he looked old. I was like heh heh heh – so do we lol.
@Cheekie,
Yeah. And they just re-aired a short clip of it last nite (Chris’ Thriller impersonation for MTV) It looked like Chris “krump” dancing to Thriller.
It was entertaining in its own right and I think Chris can dance very well, but as an MJ tribute? Mike embodied fluidity and precision, everything that krump isn’t.
@Me fail english?,
Exactly. The boy CAN dance and I did enjoy that Billie Jean routine he did on the VMAs before performing his own song, but it wasn’t a TRIBUTE. It was his own spastic, krumpy interpretation of the dance, which transformed it into a completely different dance entirely, IMO.
@Cheekie,
Chris Brown may be a good dancer (not on par with MJ though) but his singing voice is pretty bad unlike MJ who had a beautiful voice.
@pinksghetti,
That was one good decision BET made. Ne-yo’s ethereal falsetto covering “Lady in My Life”. And I’m glad they kept it to like one verse cuz I’ve never heard Ne-Yo beg and grunt like Mike did at the end of that song. I’d be disappointed had he tried and failed.
I have some mixed emotions about this post. Normally I’m right there with you Champ, but this time you hit a sore spot. I think more than enough emphasis was placed on Mikes freakishness during his life time. There’s really little need to bring that up more than it already has been. I think the excessive emphasis by the media on his freakishness may have contributed to his untimely death. All freakishness aside, to call Mike an incredible talent doesn’t come near doing him justice. I looked at some old footage of him on You Tube last night and I literally broke down into uncontrollable tears for the first time since I heard the news that he died. He had so much promise from a very early age. He literally spent his entire life trying to make other people happy through his music. His impersonation of James Brown when he was around 10 was spot on. And if the footage of the Jackson variety series doesn’t make you smile you’re just evil.
MJ is the only star that I know of that both my mother and I are huge fans of. We attended the Triumph Tour concert together in 1981. I was only 4 and a half but I remember them singing Can You Feel It. That song still gives me goosebumps to this day. Any artist who can make my now super conservative mom burst into tears when he performed on television (though she’d never admit to this now..but I remember!) deserves to be remembered in as positive a light as possible.
I need to go somewhere and work through the last stages of my grief.
@klysha,
“And if the footage of the Jackson variety series doesn’t make you smile you’re just ”
Lol. Mike said he hated that show!
But yes@ “Can You Feel It” I be feelin like its me and my sisters up there. I feel like a superhero when I hear that isht
“The blood inside of me is inside of you!”
@Me fail english?,
“But yes@ “Can You Feel It” I be feelin like its me and my sisters up there. I feel like a superhero when I hear that isht”
You can’t help but to NOT get crunk when you hear that song…especially the beginning…lol
@Me fail english?,
“But yes@ “Can You Feel It” I be feelin like its me and my sisters up there. I feel like a superhero when I hear that isht”
PERFECT description. I love how, in the song, each “Can You Feel It” is more powerful than the previous one. You can actually feel the wind blowing your jacket up all MJ legacy-like when this comes on. It’s so powerful.
@Cheekie,
I’ve had “Can You Feel It?” on repeat for several DAYS now….
and the vid has always been one of my faves… in all of its kitschy 70′s glory! That vid looked like the EARTH was giving birth.
I agree about how the media is now for the most part remembering the good Michael Jackson did. Maybe they are trying to make-up for all the dirt they’ve thrown on him for the past 15 years. Maybe they feel guilty for not believing in the “innocent until proven guilty” part of our laws (unfortunately the way MJ looked and acted made him an easy target and less likely to be seen as innocent to many people). I mean MTV, who Michael Jackson (along with Madonna and Prince but more Mike, lol) blew up refused to play his videos for years after the allegations (VH1 still did though). The only time the media focused on MJ was when he was doing something weird until this year regarding his concerts in London. I wonder if the media feels a little responsible for driving Michael Jackson into the pain he was in during his last years and now they are easing their conscience by remembering him for what he was known for, his music which made him a superstar. I’m a big fan of Michael Jackson but when i saw him I saw a person who was really in pain who hated himself so much that he changed his face completely (like most fans I never forgot the great music/videos he made). I never felt like he turned his back on his race but on himself. I’m going to miss seeing what weird things Michael Jackson is up to
So many humanitarian efforts Michael Jackson did that I and many others forgot about. When they were doing the restrospective of his life I was reminded how he wanted to help Ryan White the boy passed away from AIDS in the late 80′s or 90′s ( I was a child during this time so I really didn’t understand the way I do now) or his helping sick kids with cancer. His many songs urging other people to “Heal the World” or help the sick, hungry and poor. Deepak Chopra, MJ’s friend and a spiritual counselor said that he was working on a song about the environment recently. Like the others before like Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye and Otis Redding he wrote songs not just about love or fun but also to make us think and take action.
I totally agree with this post.
In addition, I think as a whole, our culture idolizes celebrities and it’s unhealthy. I have seen people more torn up about MJ’s death than about the death of family. And “King of Pop” or not, that is just ridiculous. I couldn’t turn the TV on this weekend to something that was not a tribute. And though I believe in general, any loss should be mourned. I also believe in allowing the dead to rest in peace.
I think the media has been trying half-heartedly to respect the family’s mourning so a lot of things about his life have been “forgotten” so as not to pour salt on their wounds, but I don’t think that speaking of the facts in his life are speaking ill of him. I think it’s importat to remember him as he was. The whole package. And only then is his legacy truly honored.
…And I couldn’t bare to sit through the BET awards. I never can. Or MTV. I did see Keri Hilson’s performance tho and I thought she rocked it
@Imperfect,
“I did see Keri Hilson’s performance tho and I thought she rocked it”
I’m sorry.
@Imperfect,
“I don’t think that speaking of the facts in his life are speaking ill of him. I think it’s importat to remember him as he was. The whole package. And only then is his legacy truly honored.”
The reason I don’t buy any of this is because all these HD thinkers are strangely short on telling the facts when it comes to someone they love or someone their loved ones loved.
Por ejemplo, when’s the last time you told your friend “Look James, I know yo mama died and you think she was all sweet, but did you know she used got a train ran on her by the Johnson twins back in eighth grade? Only then can you really feel her goodness!!”
No.
@Me fail english?,
lol
@Me fail english?, just want you to know that, today, we are sharing the same brain. ive agreed with nearly everything you’ve said to a T.
you and cheekie.
i just don’t get folks need to make sure that a proper focus is placed on his negative stuff…i mean f*ck, HE JUST DIED. and its tribute time. sheesh.
@Panama Jackson,
I agree! Me fail english handed folks their arses today. Explaining things all clearly and aptly and making me actually nod in agreement while reading the computer screen.
*slow clap*
@Cheekie & PJ,
Thank you! Thank you! Far too kind!
*waving bedazzled glove*
@Imperfect,
“…And I couldn’t bare to sit through the BET awards. I never can. Or MTV. I did see Keri Hilson’s performance tho and I thought she rocked it”
So did you just happen to tune in at the precise moment Keri Hilson performed, thought she rocked it, and immediately turn because you can’t “sit through the BET awards”. How did this work? I’m curious…
@BLUNTBLAZER,
“I think BET aint wanna pay nobody”
And that very well may be the case! Their budget for the show was probably gone and Viacom may not have wanted to kick in any extra $$$.
Why did this end up here????
I co-sign the post and many of the comments.
I how ever am one of those people (the few) that wasnt at all suprised when MJ died. I remember watching the trial and seeing people have to walk with im and hold him up. Like many folks i thought it was just to get a little jury sympathy, but then the trend continued long after the trial. A point came when he just never looked well. It was especially apparent at the times you would see him and he looked like his “normal” self. friendly with the fans, lots of waving and such then at a point that just stopped. I think Mike hadnt been well for quite some time.
Add to that all these new claims of pain killer addiction and what not and it just further cements my belief that he was a very sick man tword the end of his life.
and as for the BET awards (that i didnt watch because i havent watched BET in like 3 years (VH1 Soul is that ish {and shouts out to soulbounce.com} ), anyone who is going to give BET a pass for ANYTHING they did or didnt do, time constraints, financial restriants or what have you ets the Huey Freeman Side eye. For real, the folks that RUN Viacom know the net work isnt promoting a quality product. Why do you all think they banned the Boondocks BET episodes from airing eventhough they had ALREADY PAID for its production?
Its because the network is on some black face,jiggaboo, massa i kant pick thsin here cotton no faster NONSENSE. No passes for that kind of foolishness.
@ESQuared,
Isn’t VH1-Soul owned by Viacom also?
@Monk,
Technically it’s called “MTV Networks” since they split with CBS Corp. (stock purposes, Sumner Redstone still runnin this TV shet). But yes, MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, CMT and BET (im leaving some out…) are all owned by the same ppl.
@Me fail english?,
So even the fantastic network of VH1-Soul is owned and operated by the same parent company as exploitive B.E.T.? Cool shyt.
@Monk, Yep the same company owns several different channels that cater to different demographics. As much as BET makes my insides itch I can’t get too mad at them because I recognize that BET just doesn’t cater to my demographic. I think a big part of the problem is that people think that because they’re black that BET is supposed to cater to them. No they cater to who that cater to…I won’t specify…but you know which group they cater to. I’ve talked to hispanic people and they don’t watch Telemundo or that other Spanish language channel because the type of programming they air caters to a slightly less refined audience.
Why can’t they have peanuts on twixs?
@WuDaMan,
oh my. lol.
@WuDaMan,
I bet if you did an ‘x’ degrees of separation on twix, MJ will show up in there somewhere because ya know, he is everywhere. He was just that dope.
So, in some way, the above can be on topic.
And that concludes my “trying to figure out Wu” post of the day.
How can anyone hate on MJ? Like Chappelle said, he made Thriller….
After reading a good number of the comments, Chris Tucker’s (as Smokey in “Friday”) voice keeps playing in my head coming from a lot of VSB’s and S’s.
“After the ‘09 B.E.T. awards, I ain’t fuggin’ wit’ that channel no mo’!!…but next year, I’ll be watchin’ again.”
I bet “on e’rythang I love” that 95% of people who hated the award show (and/or B.E.T. in general) will be tuning in for the 2010 B.E.T. Awards. That’s on e’rythang!!
Mr. VSB from Pittsburgh…you make me sad with your comparisons of MJ to R. Kelly. I stand firm that I dont believe MJ was into the kiddies, just wanted to be a kid. Whereas Kelly….not so much.
In any regards. Whenever someone passes on, regardless if they r an icon or not…they deserve kind words…and if no kind words can be found then minimize all statements made….regardless if they were socially odd or if you don’t love their music, or can appreciate their career as much as others.
I loathe the constant media attention and the constant appearances of people who swear they know the “real” Michael. He was never given a moment of peace in life and I hope he finds it in the hereafter. This icon ish is dead to me….people get so caught up in an image they forget that behind every star is a real life person with feelings, and family, and real life situations and problems…….and how it feels to be going through trails and tribulations just like normal folk.
Thats the problem with human nature…..we have no boundaries and no respect….Janet said it best…..paraphrased-”to the public he is an entertainer, to us he is family”……a man died, i dont give a good eff how famous he is and who likes him or who hates him….his family is in mourning…..if nothing else humans should respect pain and loss…..and I know you feel differently but a good journalist doesn’t sensationalize, they report and they remember their ethics.
America Turn off ET and if you loved his music go turn on your favorite MJ cd……if you live in pgh…i’ll catch you at next yrs Michael Jackson vs. Prince party……..Creator Willing.
Life is fragile, exist tenderly.
Link for Phonte of Little Brother’s tribute to Michael Jackson on 215 mag.com
http://the215mag.blogspot.com/2009/07/michael-jackson-tribute-by-phonte-12-of.html
I totally feel this post. Besides the media, people have been acting like they were so ride or die for Michael before he died and it’s really fake as hell.
Also, I wasn’t even mad at the fact that some people felt like the whole molestation claims outweighed his musical accomplishments.