And Now Michael Jackson

[Lee Gordon]

This afternoon I heard that, not unexpectedly, Farah Fawcett had died. So, when I got home I went on line to find a few details. But the first thing I saw was not about the death of Fawcett but of Michael Jackson who apparently suffered cardiac arrest at the age of 50. Wow!

[PierceVoice]

It's been a week of giant entertainment loss.

A tribute: http://www.piercevoice.com/michaeljacksontribute/michaeljacksontribute.mp3

[chucktaylor]

With Ed, Farrah, and Michael, what a week. I guess the old the celebs always die in threes is holding true.

[Kenneth_Bruce]

Too bad about MJ though. He influenced a lot of people. Rockers, rappers, country, the list goes on. I'm a little sad. I grew up listening to him.

Know what else sucks? My girlfriend broke up with me yesterday. It's a week of death. Blah. Sorry, jack daniels and the internet does not mix.

[Mike Sommer]

What a crazy day here in LA.

A friend from Epic called me at 1:00, and said that he had a cardiac arrest. It took a moment to register, at first
I thought he was talking about Michael Jackson the local radio talk show host. But no it was the gloved one.

Michael Jackson is one of the most successful entertainers in the world. Love him or hate him, he was indeed the King of Pop.

[Scott Pollak]

He was, Mike, and in his earlier years I was convinced he'd easily outdistance Stevie Wonder in terms of overall musical impact, and I suppose he did. The tragedy is the weird turn his life took over the years with the plastic surgeries, the allegations and suspicions and the eccentric lifestyle. It made us wonder if he was losing it somewhat over the years. No matter, it's still a tragic loss, along with Ed, Farrah, and as you'll see in a thread above, the son of a friend of ours today, which hits home the hardest for me.

[Colin Campbell]

Over the past year or two, I've lost...

My best friend and mentor in voice. (Scott Kahler.)

Another female freind of 24 years who totally understood radio. (We simply called her "KP.")

Paul Harvey.

Brian James.

Don LaFontaine.

Then...

Ed McMahon.

Farah Fawcett.

Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson and I were the same age. I remember growing up when they talked about how young he was, it was always the same age as me. He was born in 1958, so was I.

Everyone is dying.

Colin

[Mike Sommer]

Well Colin, birth is the leading cause of death in the world.
But I wouldn't get to upset about all the loss, it motivates me work harder, to achieve my dreams, to leave my mark upon the world, all while having fun doing it at the same time.


And yes MJ did lose control with all the "work" he had. But when you have that much money you can do just about anything you want to yourself. What's normal for one person is not necessarily normal for someone else. But I believe it was deeper than that.


I'm sure it was some kind of self imposed lacking or need; these manifest sometimes in self destructive behaviors. With MJ I'm sure it was his need to please his father, despite the fact that he was successful beyond all measure.

Then there is the idea that he need a visage to hide behind, to be something or someone else. (His ideal of success, Diana Ross)

Oh and then the Peter Pan syndrome. In his case, there was no need to grow up.

It's probably was all these, cupeled with a never ending supply of money to achieve it.

Nothing like throwing money at a problem.

[John Bigl]

Mike....
i read an article about 'fame' not too long ago, and the author reflects fairly well what you've said:

" Studies show nothing is more stressful for a human than when their goals are tied to the approval of others. Particularly when those "others" are an enormous crowd of fickle strangers holding you up to a laughably unrealistic ideal built by publicists, thick makeup and heavily Photoshopped magazine covers. You could seek comfort from your circle of friends, only now your friends have been replaced Invasion of the Body Snatcher's-style with hangers-on, vultures, unscrupulous characters and plain dumbasses who only want a piece of the spotlight. . . even if it means selling you out later"

and with that... the whirled loves doggin their celebs....

Michael Jackson - Leave me alone

[Colin Campbell]

What am I supposed to take from this? I try every day to strive to be on a national commercial.

I suppose voice is somewhat immune to this phenomenon?

Anyway, MJ's first "hit." Copyrights be damned, it's my birthday and I am the exact same age as Michael was, and he died. Joe J., if you want to pull this post for copyright worries, that's fine, I understand.

The kid was talented and that's what got him in the end. Talent makes your head explode.

The Jackson 5... "I Want You Back..."