Michael Jackson’s Coverage
All the media attention given to Michael Jackson gets me thinking. Where does this rank in terms of pop-culture mourning? From the post Kennedy era, that leaves John Lennon, George Harrison, Princess Di, and Michael Jackson. Personally, I’d rank them as Princess Di, John Lennon, Michael Jackson, with George Harrison as a distant 4th. It could be argued, however, that Michael Jackson as a pop icon was larger than any of them. Certainly not as significant in terms of historical contributions as John Lennon, or as universally loved as Princess Di, but purely as a pop icon, probably at the top. Who am I overlooking? Actually, Frank Zappa belongs in there somewhere, but that’s just me.
Elvis
I think Jackson overrides every single one of them; Elvis & Lennon included. He’s more than a pop icon. Racial barriers were torn down because of him. He’s been in our lives since he was 10 years old… 1968. 40 years completely in the public spotlight. The guy could sing & dance like no other.
Watch him dance. Watch Elvis dance. No comparison.
As for singing, put him up against anyone.
IMO, I believe the ONLY reason the magnitude of who he was is *questioned is because of his publicized personal life & legal issues; being that he wasn’t convicted I won’t go as far to call him anything.
*I’m not suggesting that you are questioning his greatness because of that, but the media & public, in general.
Jane – I wasn’t a Michael Jackson fan, but I agree with you, he was the entire package. By the time he died, Elvis’ fans were surprised it hadn’t happened sooner. John Lennon hit me very hard, I was in college, cut classes that day, and drove around smoking and listening to Beatles songs. What shocked me was the reaction to Di’s death, it was much worse than I ever imagined.
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