OK. I am a child of the '80s. I recall the "event" that was the premiere of the Thriller music video. I recall the red leather "Beat It" jacket. I recall Michael Jackson on fire. But none of these things were life-altering events for me. Setting aside all (and there is an impressive list) of the whacked out aspects of Michael Jackson's life, his career in pop music has been over for some time. When is the last time any radio station played a Michael Jackson song, other than the lite-FM stations who play a few Jackson 5 classics during their kitschy "disco-retro" nights? His music doesn't fit any modern radio station's format, not even easy-listening.
I can think of two things Michael Jackson did in terms of reshaping the music scene: 1- His videos helped catapult MTV into the mainstream 2- His success led directly to the pop culture phenomena which resulted in boy bands and Britney Spears For these two things, Jackson should not be celebrated but condemned. His style lacked substance, replacing it with a basic, danceable backbeat. He set the course of lyrical and instrument-based music back by at least a decade, championing the cause of a successful music video being more important than a well performed single. Should he be pitied because fame was thrust upon him at an early age? Maybe, but an early age was the only time he seemed human to outside observers. The death of Michael Jackson should not be the lead story in any local or national newspaper or news broadcast. In print, it should be in the entertainment section, just before the comics. On TV, it should follow the words, "And finally tonight," as a 30 second tag to the newscast, with a simple card with his name and a picture as a few seconds of one of his songs plays under the closing credits. Michael Jackson's death matters... to his family and his friends. It is not a devastating blow to the music industry. It does not impact society on any level. The very definition of pop culture is that it pops into and out of fashion rapidly. Michael Jackson popped out of fashion a long time ago. Had he died in the 1980s, his death might have held a small degree of social relevance. But pop music is of the moment, and Jackson's moment has passed. I am neither happy nor saddened by his death, but I am shocked and somewhat appalled by those who have chosen to place great import on his passing. At day's end, Michael Jackson will be remembered, not for his music, but for the allegations and rumors that surrounded his later years. And I specifically chose not to write about that because, at day's end, allegations and rumors matter even less than decades old pop music. I know a lot of people have written, tweated, and blogged that Michael Jackson should "rest in peace." I won't do that, not because of any deeply held convictions, but because it doesn't seem appropriate to the man he was (or seemed to be). So, to Michael, I can only say, sham on. -- Kevin M. (RPCV) --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ TV or Not TV .... Smart (TV) People on Ice! You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "TV or Not TV" group. To post to this group, send email to tvornottv@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to tvornottv-unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/tvornottv?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
