Michael Jackson was a freak.
No, I'm not talking about that stuff -- having his face sculpted from man into pixie; the arrested development that led him to follow his private Tinkerbell into his own, literal Neverland; the bizarro antics ready-made for the tabloids.
Here's why Michael Jackson was the ultimate pop music freak: He became the King of Pop in a way no one else had before, or has since.
Unlike Elvis, Sinatra or Madonna, Michael the Man-Child and his music, even his fabulous dance moves, oozed all the sexual swagger of a mollusk.
No, I'm not talking about that stuff -- having his face sculpted from man into pixie; the arrested development that led him to follow his private Tinkerbell into his own, literal Neverland; the bizarro antics ready-made for the tabloids.
Here's why Michael Jackson was the ultimate pop music freak: He became the King of Pop in a way no one else had before, or has since.
Unlike Elvis, Sinatra or Madonna, Michael the Man-Child and his music, even his fabulous dance moves, oozed all the sexual swagger of a mollusk.
Growing up from the cute, Afro-headed tyke who fronted his siblings in the Jackson 5 into the most famous entertainer on the planet, Michael completed the strangest of crossovers. As a child, Jackson sang more tender, heartfelt love ballads ("I'll Be There," "Got to Be There"), than the adult Michael. (Quick, name Michael's sexiest hit, or a Jackson song you'd put on your stereo to set the mood for a romantic evening -- "Wanna Get Something Started," "Rock With You"? Really?)
Unlike the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, John Lennon or U2, Michael didn't reflect the consciousness, or conscience, of a generation. (Sorry, one celebrity-studded, humanitarian-driven single doesn't rise to that level, as heartwarming as "We Are the World" was. And sure, "Black or White" was a cool video, but Three Dog Night had a better song with that idea.)
Rather, the self-proclaimed King of Pop claimed that crown in the most freakish of ways: He crafted music and videos that were merely pure pop entertainment ... but that were amazing. All those delicious beats, insane dance moves and videos were as fun as a Spielberg flick.
And now, after Jackson's death at age 50 last week, we the people are assessing his fame in uniquely American ways: Is his death "bigger" than that of Elvis or John Lennon? Will his music live on in 100 years?
Yes, Jackson's death is more of a worldwide event than that of Elvis or Lennon for the same reason Jackson was a "bigger" star: the global reach of today's media (including the MTV that initially spurned him).
Yes, Elvis' pelvis rocked Ed Sullivan's world and spawned impersonators in Japan and Latin America. Yes, when a Beatle sneezed in the 1960s, the press giddily took note.
But, Elvis and the Beatles came of age in an era with only three TV networks. No MTV, no international 24-hour cable TV news stations, no DVD or even VHS players.
Comparing the fame of Elvis, the Beatles and Michael Jackson is like comparing the home run-hitting prowess of Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds. Different eras have changed the rules of the fame game.
What about Michael's musical legacy? Will people be listening to his music 100 years from now? I used to think the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and U2 would survive. But then I thought: When was the last time I heard Sinatra's "My Way" leaping out of the ether and into my psyche?
These days, I think only the Beatles and Duke Ellington have a chance of infecting the consciousness and culture of future generations.
Sorry, Michael. But you really were the King of Pop. More than anyone else, you proved that pure, escapist pop music, like the pure escapism of the "Stars Wars" and "Indiana Jones" flicks, could make such a wonderful difference on this planet.
Unlike the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, John Lennon or U2, Michael didn't reflect the consciousness, or conscience, of a generation. (Sorry, one celebrity-studded, humanitarian-driven single doesn't rise to that level, as heartwarming as "We Are the World" was. And sure, "Black or White" was a cool video, but Three Dog Night had a better song with that idea.)
Rather, the self-proclaimed King of Pop claimed that crown in the most freakish of ways: He crafted music and videos that were merely pure pop entertainment ... but that were amazing. All those delicious beats, insane dance moves and videos were as fun as a Spielberg flick.
And now, after Jackson's death at age 50 last week, we the people are assessing his fame in uniquely American ways: Is his death "bigger" than that of Elvis or John Lennon? Will his music live on in 100 years?
Yes, Jackson's death is more of a worldwide event than that of Elvis or Lennon for the same reason Jackson was a "bigger" star: the global reach of today's media (including the MTV that initially spurned him).
Yes, Elvis' pelvis rocked Ed Sullivan's world and spawned impersonators in Japan and Latin America. Yes, when a Beatle sneezed in the 1960s, the press giddily took note.
But, Elvis and the Beatles came of age in an era with only three TV networks. No MTV, no international 24-hour cable TV news stations, no DVD or even VHS players.
Comparing the fame of Elvis, the Beatles and Michael Jackson is like comparing the home run-hitting prowess of Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds. Different eras have changed the rules of the fame game.
What about Michael's musical legacy? Will people be listening to his music 100 years from now? I used to think the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and U2 would survive. But then I thought: When was the last time I heard Sinatra's "My Way" leaping out of the ether and into my psyche?
These days, I think only the Beatles and Duke Ellington have a chance of infecting the consciousness and culture of future generations.
Sorry, Michael. But you really were the King of Pop. More than anyone else, you proved that pure, escapist pop music, like the pure escapism of the "Stars Wars" and "Indiana Jones" flicks, could make such a wonderful difference on this planet.
Leave a comment