tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post4148394618294944628..comments2024-03-28T02:15:06.910-07:00Comments on Tossing It Out: Who Killed Michael Jackson?Arlee Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-7755451961133219782014-03-02T16:14:32.898-08:002014-03-02T16:14:32.898-08:00Buck -- Hard to stay out of the public eye when so...Buck -- Hard to stay out of the public eye when so many eyes are following your every move.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-56470597649478023292014-03-02T13:01:12.419-08:002014-03-02T13:01:12.419-08:00Interesting post Lee! I never thought about it, b...Interesting post Lee! I never thought about it, but you are right most of these idols become victims of their success and fame. The ones who stay out of the limelight are best equipped to live a close to normal life. That's almost like having your cake and eating it too. Easier said than done.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-77744957912920356302014-02-27T21:40:48.940-08:002014-02-27T21:40:48.940-08:00I guess I was just taking the statement literally....I guess I was just taking the statement literally.<br /><br />Who do you think I am anyway? The Prince of Puns?<br /><br />Besides I think the other commenters adequately "covered" Michael's relationships with kids. I didn't want to milk the issue any more than was needed. I think we Ben there and done that enough times.<br /><br />Now I think I'll take a Wiz and go to bad---er, I mean bed.<br /><br />LeeArlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-44657940617749508462014-02-27T20:05:13.395-08:002014-02-27T20:05:13.395-08:00Wow-neither Lee or McCarthy touched my blanket sta...Wow-neither Lee or McCarthy touched my blanket statement line...<br /><br />You guys must be slipping!<br /><br />LCDiscConnectedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07013919800637508392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-75994989813250158682014-02-27T17:24:08.601-08:002014-02-27T17:24:08.601-08:00Guilie -- I'm not sure that many readers will ...Guilie -- I'm not sure that many readers will be saying "Of course" about my song pick. It is rather obscure.<br /><br />You've and your teammates have been doing a spectacular job promoting A to Z. Just what we need!<br /><br />Thanks<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-54976792786465920672014-02-27T17:02:34.921-08:002014-02-27T17:02:34.921-08:00Clueless about the clue, Lee--but I like the sound...Clueless about the clue, Lee--but I like the sound of that Battle post on Saturday! I'll be sure to come vote--and find out what the song is so I can (maybe) go "Of COURSE! How could I miss that?"<br /><br />I wasn't a huge fan of Michael Jackson, but I respected him as a musician and performer, and I thought his death (if death it was) was a tragedy. You're right--there's been so many of these "kings" and "queens" of pop culture that die (or disappear) and leave us wondering what their lives might've been like if things had been different. It's a little like the chicken and the egg, isn't it? If things had been different, would they have gone on to greater greatness? Or was it their very greatness that caused their downfall? <br /><br />Thanks for stopping by my blog earlier today, Lee, and for all the support to #TeamDamyanti. We love being part of the A-to-Z minion team, and I hope whatever we're doing makes a difference in workload for you awesome co-hosts.<br /><br />Have a lovely evening!<br />Guilie @ <a href="http://guilie-castillo-oriard.blogspot.com/2014/02/azchat-first-ever-atozchallenge-twitter.html" rel="nofollow"> Making History: join the #AZchat! </a>Guilie Castillohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09006999087139126972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-8034269329314994452014-02-27T14:33:59.105-08:002014-02-27T14:33:59.105-08:00Susan Kane -- In many cases I think you're rig...Susan Kane -- In many cases I think you're right.<br /><br />Elsie -- I wonder how far his capacity for decision-making and good judgment went from his childhood. He was in a circumstance few of us could ever understand.<br /><br />Jackie B-- I'm sure there is plenty of blame to pass around in MJ's case. Charlie Sheen probably should have known better.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-15004440050053015122014-02-27T10:40:05.550-08:002014-02-27T10:40:05.550-08:00It's a tough call if you look at all the facts...It's a tough call if you look at all the facts. I still maintain that his doctor was more responsible because his negligence and lax response time when Michael Jackson was going under prevented him from getting the care that could have saved his life. And how the Hippocratic Oath says "Thou Shall Not Do Harm." However drug-addled he was at the time, Dr. Murray should have showcased the judgement in not fulfilling his wishes.<br /><br />At the same time, though, Michael is partially responsible because he got so addicted that it became impossible for him to sleep without medication. If he hadn't gotten to that point, we wouldn't be in the situation.<br /><br />But more often than not, I will give celebrities whose lives are cut short due to overdoses the benefit of the doubt. Unless they impress to me that they're vindictive in saying in that mindset. I think of Charlie Sheen when I say this, but I don't know for sure if he was high when he had that blow-up in early 2011 or just high on his own ego. Jackie B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/00710967201214369828noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-20613909482002141912014-02-27T09:58:34.011-08:002014-02-27T09:58:34.011-08:00I'm torn about Michael Jackson. I believe he ...I'm torn about Michael Jackson. I believe he was a victim of his own circumstances but he always had a choice. A person knows right from wrong. He made some decisions in the course of his life. But, his music was still good.<br /><br /><a href="http://mockturtlemusings.com" rel="nofollow">Elsie</a><br /><a href="http://http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com" rel="nofollow">AJ's wHooligan in the A-Z Challenge</a><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-7648525726306703682014-02-27T09:35:31.212-08:002014-02-27T09:35:31.212-08:00I believe that these extremely talented musicians/...I believe that these extremely talented musicians/actors/painters/etc. are living on the edge throughout their lives. Tortured souls, who can't give anymore.Susan Kanehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09834094675218254410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-69152444271583379462014-02-27T09:06:13.818-08:002014-02-27T09:06:13.818-08:00Julie -- Yeah, I hope his kids turn out better tha...Julie -- Yeah, I hope his kids turn out better than Dad.<br /><br />StMc -- I'm glad you did too. Remember, my titles are often come-ons to lure more readers. The post turned out to be more about MJ than I had intended, but he seemed like an example more people could relate to. My post tomorrow might clarify a lot. Then again it might be a whole new nest of fire ants. I think you may appreciate it though.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-57632954494306769442014-02-27T09:00:12.335-08:002014-02-27T09:00:12.335-08:00LEE ~
Yes, I too enjoyed this discussion. And to t...LEE ~<br />Yes, I too enjoyed this discussion. And to think I nearly didn't even come here to read the blog bit. Seeing the title in my Dashboard and having no real interest in Michael Jackson, I was planning to pass on this one. Later though I thought: Well, what the heck, I'll pop in to see what folks are saying. Glad I did.<br /><br />Yak later, Boidman.<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground'Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-57047742757738143022014-02-26T22:56:44.371-08:002014-02-26T22:56:44.371-08:00I don't think we'll ever know the whole st...I don't think we'll ever know the whole story behind Michael Jackson's death. I like to think of him more from his Jackson Five days. Regardless of the rumors, I feel badly for his children.<br /><br />JulieEmpty Nest Insiderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10074223969046687064noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-43892006420338488902014-02-26T20:19:33.626-08:002014-02-26T20:19:33.626-08:00StMc-- I've qualified my statement about Mozar...StMc-- I've qualified my statement about Mozart with a "maybe" because we don't really know yet. I'm just speculatin'. I may plan to still be around 100 years from now but I don't know what will happen then. <br /><br />It's really a moot point I guess.<br /><br />Stephen Foster has been called the "Father of American Music" and he's the first American composer I can think of though I know there were more. His legacy probably goes down the line to Woodie Guthrie and Bob Dylan. I'm not going to knock Foster cause I've been a fan since I was a kid. How many kids today will say that. And after Dylan dies will kids be counting themselves as Dylan or Beatles fans.<br /><br />I'm not dismissing modern music. You probably know from what I've written in my blogs that I'm well acquainted with much modern music and have a deep love and appreciation for a lot of it including screeching artists like Lisa Dalbello.<br /><br />There's also a matter of something called taste and preference involved. We may have difference opinions on certain kinds of music but that doesn't make any of it necessarily inferior to any other. Well, except for rap and a few other genres.<br /><br />The indisputable fact is that the music of old dead European guys has withstood the test of time and are still held in pretty high regard.<br /><br />In the meantime, I still like my jazz, rock, show tunes, or whatever I like and I'll keep listening to what I like for as long as I can hear. Or not. We'll see what happens down the road if the road doesn't end soon.<br /><br />Bottom line is that you can give your opinion and I can give mine but neither of us really knows. But I enjoy the discussion.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-49960773077059672532014-02-26T19:44:35.426-08:002014-02-26T19:44:35.426-08:00>>... Dylan perhaps, but maybe not as much b...<i>>>... Dylan perhaps, but maybe not as much by popular standards as Mozart is in our time.</i><br /><br />I'm a bit tired of people putting the Classical composers on a high-rise pedestal.<br /><br />Surely you realize that the Classical composers were simply the "Pop music-makers" of their own time.<br /><br />Why has their music endured so long? Because it was rich, complex, great, innovative... for its time.<br /><br />The same sort of "Pop" music of our own era will endure for the very same reasons.<br /><br />When it comes to song lyrics, NO ONE was more "revolutionary" than Bob Dylan. There isn't a single songwriter alive today whose influence can't be traced back to Bob Dylan (whether directly or indirectly).<br /><br />Again, time will tell, but I assure you that when the topic is "lyrics", Dylan will be as well known 200 years from now (assuming the world as we know it survives that long) as Bach and Beethoven are known today for their musical compositions.<br /><br />And the Jazz greats from our very own era (e.g., Louis Armstrong, Dave Brubeck, Miles Davis, etc.) were every bit as musically rich, complex and innovative as ANY Classical composer from that bygone time.<br /><br />The musical geniuses will carry on and be remembered through all time. The popular (in their era) but more pedestrian performers - such as Stephen Foster - may only be remembered by a very small segment of the people. <br /><br />I know very well who Stephen Foster was, and I could name several of the songs he wrote. They were "Pop" in his day, but there was nothing about Foster, that I know of, that would indicate he was a musical genius. He just happened to write some melodies that people enjoyed and which have been remembered long after his passing.<br /><br />I mean, seriously,... Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Armstrong, Davis, Brubeck, Dylan, Foster... find the name that least belongs in that grouping.<br /><br />Future generations will know the answers to the questions we are now axing, but I strongly felt that your general dismissal of our current age of musicians was a bit short-sighted.<br /><br />Don't forget that OUR era's musicians were inspired by and built upon the musical legacy that was left to them. To think that they weren't able to create any lasting works with so much richness that came before them is... I dunno... not giving enough credit to our own very best musical artists.<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground' Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-33505348075891244442014-02-26T17:24:35.480-08:002014-02-26T17:24:35.480-08:00Larry -- And to add to your list of images on shir...Larry -- And to add to your list of images on shirts, etc we see Marilyn Monroe and Che Guevarra. Maybe 50 years from now kids will think the Obama "Hope and Change" shirts are still cool. Actually 50 years is not all that long, but if we wait for a couple of generations to pass those iconic images may be forgotten for the most part. As for pop music being responsible for the ills of the world, I don't think we can blame the music as much as the spirit and thought movement behind the music. <br /><br />Susan GK -- Celebrity is less an intended destination than it is a shaping by marketers and media. I don't know MJ's mind, but from what I've heard about him he remained a troubled child who never really grew up and had way too much money than was good for him.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-13597923215105948532014-02-26T17:08:32.615-08:002014-02-26T17:08:32.615-08:00Michael Jackson is responsible for his own death. ...Michael Jackson is responsible for his own death. I'm so sick or rich, self-absorbed 'stars' being left off the hook for their failures because they had too much money and success. I never get them a second thought except to wish media wouldn't make such big news of it. Susan Gourley/Kelleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02669793865290876168noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-15702777617027659452014-02-26T16:05:32.413-08:002014-02-26T16:05:32.413-08:00StMc -- Yes it's difficult to say who will las...StMc -- Yes it's difficult to say who will last through the years. 100 years? Dylan perhaps, but maybe not as much by popular standards as Mozart is in our time. I think of Stephen Foster. His songs were very popular in the latter 19th century and some are still known, but ask most people and I doubt whether they'd know who Foster was and a good many would not be familiar with his songs. I would also question any lasting interest in modern "serious" composers such as Philip Glass or Steve Reich. What makes them particularly memorable other than the novelty of their work?<br />But, yes, time will tell. Vivaldi, Bach, Beethoven and the like have stood the test of time whereas many others have not and I can't tell you who they are for that very reason. Maybe not "all" modern celebrities will be footnotes, but more like stubbed toes. <br /><br />Fanny -- I think he's already making far more money now that toward the end of his life. The tour might have killed him if he hadn't died first.<br /><br />Yvonne -- I will remind you that my post actually has more to do with the BOTB song that I picked for Saturday. My Friday post will also reveal another aspect of this. I'm not trying to be morbid, but I'm trying to make a point about the power and influence of celebrities.<br /><br /><br /><br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-62223849358736857062014-02-26T15:45:50.363-08:002014-02-26T15:45:50.363-08:00Just wanted to add a thought-while I agree with St...Just wanted to add a thought-while I agree with Stephen that not enough time has passed to make a fair determination, we do see that forty-five years after the Beatles split up, young people who were not alive at the time of John Lennon's death wear his image or the image of the band. Ditto for Jim Morrison and Janis Joplin.<br /><br />There are indications that some of our musical figures will endure in the public consciousness, but even if they do not, does that mean the one-hit wonders produced music without merit?<br /><br />I have been working on a post that addresses an article I read that basically blames popular music for many of the ills in the world.<br /><br />I always think blanket statements are a bad thing.<br /><br />Not all music is bad, not all artists will be relegated to footnotes and there is a lot of music that would qualify as pop fluff that is still worth a listen.<br /><br />Go listen to The Jackson Five singing "ABC" and tell me it does not make you smile, or maybe make you feel like a kid again.<br /><br />Not everything has to be an eternal classic-I know from our old desert island disc posts that we all have guilty musical pleasures, and that's ok.<br /><br />But whether or not they needed the sixties to spring from, the seventies RULED for rock music!<br /><br />Larry<br /><br />PS....pun intendedDiscConnectedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07013919800637508392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-16362504182946102762014-02-26T15:44:25.023-08:002014-02-26T15:44:25.023-08:00Although not a fan of MJ. I was saddened at his pa...Although not a fan of MJ. I was saddened at his passing. He will not rest in peace because people keep speculating at what or didn't happened I think it's morbid Lee.<br />LET'S THINK ABOUT LIVING.(BOB LUMAN SONG)<br />YVONNE. <br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-91787369191393645502014-02-26T15:40:25.233-08:002014-02-26T15:40:25.233-08:00Michael Jackson wasn't fit enough to do the to...Michael Jackson wasn't fit enough to do the tours and earn the money he needed. Perhaps he couldn't face up to it.<br />My hubby (bless!) is certain Jackson will earn more money 'dead' than doing more tours.<br />I thought it was partly suicide; hubby believes he's chilling out somewhere, with a new face!Frankie Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10787954599014677407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-45856452373225141572014-02-26T15:14:50.169-08:002014-02-26T15:14:50.169-08:00LEE ~
I wrote the following: "But I strongly ...LEE ~<br />I wrote the following: <i>"But I strongly feel that the adulation and the praise was well beyond what [Michael Jackson's] talent truly merited."</i><br /><br />You replied with: <i>"This is essentially true of all modern celebrities."</i><br /><br />Really? "All"? <br /><br />You also wrote: <i>"I think it boils down to lasting talent of the ages as opposed to the flash in the pan artist du jour. ... It would be ludicrous to put MJ next to Mozart as being essentially equal. Just as people who added to the Beatles to the likes of Bach and Beethoven."</i><br /><br />Well, by your own standard, "time" will be the judge of a person's real depth of talent. And I basically agree with that.<br /><br />But... there has not yet been enough time passed to judge whether or not "ALL modern celebrities" will be forgotten 100 years from now while Bach and Beethoven remain in the minds of The People.<br /><br />I have ventured a guess that MJ (and some others named) will eventually become musical footnotes. But if you think "ALL" modern musicians will not stand the test of time, I disagree.<br /><br />Bob Dylan, for one, ain't goin' nowhere. He was too big an influence on songwriting to disappear from the public consciousness. I believe The Beatles will also still be well known 100 years from now (although I am not a fan of theirs). Perhaps The Beach Boys, too. Certainly some Jazz musicians like Satchmo and Miles Davis will still be well known a century from now. Beyond that, I wouldn't want to guess.<br /><br />As you have already indicated, time will tell. But I do not believe that "ALL" of the performers of our age will be nothing more than musical footnotes 100 years hence.<br /><br />~ D-FensDogg<br />'Loyal American Underground' Stephen T. McCarthyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00249125637725791567noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-58863519141225056492014-02-26T13:09:44.373-08:002014-02-26T13:09:44.373-08:00Jo-- At this point it's all a matter of tabloi...Jo-- At this point it's all a matter of tabloid speculation. Nothing can be done to change what happened.<br /><br />Larry -- I think marketing hype can kill the spirit and impair the judgement. Michael became more product than real human being. This post was totally in response to my reaction when I was thinking of clues for my song. The relationship of the source of the song compares in many ways to the MJ story.<br /><br />Faraway -- "no such thing as bad publicity" is undoubtedly a marketer's mantra that reduces people to products. As far as Mozart and all those others, I think it boils down to lasting talent of the ages as opposed to the flash in the pan artist du jour. We've seen so many come and go because most only speak to today whereas the ones who last speak to the ages. It would be ludicrous to put MJ next to Mozart as being essentially equal. Just as people who added to the Beatles to the like of Bach and Beethoven. I guess when things are current ten years seems as good as a hundred, but in reality the true test is time. How can we really equate pop stars to the lasting greats. Also, I think we should separate a person's talents and accomplishments from their morality and behavior. If we went by that test nothing would pass muster. Like you say, we aren't the judge that matters.<br /><br />Yvonne -- MJ has been dug up the grave many times and oft paraded through the media scrutiny. As long as people are interested and curious there will be no peace.<br /><br />Lee<br />Arlee Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11663942782929929334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-47089784850107631542014-02-26T12:36:43.057-08:002014-02-26T12:36:43.057-08:00Whatever circumstances Michael Jackson died I thin...Whatever circumstances Michael Jackson died I think he should be allowed to Rest in peace.<br /><br />Although not famous, I wouldn't like it if someone started to ask question how my husband passed away and if someone was responsible.<br /><br />Yvonne.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-149224757183756660.post-53515221982345593092014-02-26T12:33:52.460-08:002014-02-26T12:33:52.460-08:00No idea what your BOTB pick might be.
With respec...No idea what your BOTB pick might be.<br /><br />With respect to your comment about the public perception of celebrities and the media manipulation of said celebrities... apparently, 'there is no such thing as bad publicity'. <br /><br />Often it seems that publicists think keeping someone in the public eye and up for some sort of scrutiny makes them relevant and therefore preserves their celebrity status (even after their death).<br /><br />There seem to be a lot of mediocre talent celebrities, kept afloat by constant scandal and tabloid fodder. (Can someone tell me what it is the Kardasians really do other than make headlines?)<br /><br />If you really think that Mozart and other 'classical' musical artists were kept in the public eye simply by their talent, pick up a copy of the book, 'Bach, Beethoven and the Boys', it might open your eyes to exactly what these guys were up to in their day. It's not to say that their music did not endure because they were truly talented, but it just might be that their personal escapades elevated them to a certain celebrity status, that allowed them to outshine and outlast other very talented artists of their day. The same might be said about Shakespeare - the bawdy bard of Elizabethan times.<br /><br />With respect to Michael Jackson and his guilt or innocence and who is to blame for his lifestyle and death -- each of us will have to be judged one day for our own choices and actions. There really is no excuse for bad behavior. Michael Jackson will be judged just as will Mother Teresa and Adolph Hitler, along with St. Francis of Assisi. I don't think God really cares what our celebrity status might have been on earth, only what we did with the life he gave us to live.farawayeyeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17578277501054242356noreply@blogger.com