
John from
Pop Music Notes and I are kicking off a regular
joint blog series where we chat about
whatevrah--but always about something
music related.
This week, we talk about the passing of Michael Jackson and the aftermath.
me: You wanna kick off the MJ discussion now?
John: sure!
me: Lots of MJ reactions across the blogoverse today. Mixed ones! I read a
vicious one that took me back a bit...
John: There always have to be haters.
me: Yeah, whatever happened to the 24 hour "nice" rule?
John: I've called three people on that. Sadly, the window of niceness is about to expire. Here's my take on it...we may never know what happened behind the scenes, but at this point, how does the negativity help anyone?
me: Great point. I've heard that drugs were most certainly involved. I choose the high road, brutha
John: Focus on the positive things, ya know? The guy did a ton for charities. And he's the reason pop radio is as integrated as it is now. Autopsy is being done today. I hope it wasn't drugs, but it wouldn't surprise me.
me: Yes, I read he was actively involved/giving money to 39 charities. Who does that these days? That's great.
Ah, the drugs. I wonder if it will all come out or not?
John: I think the more compelling thing will be the finances. They are estimating that his estate is $400 million in debt right now.
me: He got paid for all those dates at the O2 that nobody thought he'd be able to do, right?
John: Dunno. But AEG is in a world of hurt at the moment. $85 million in refunds.
me: I wonder if they started the refund process last night or have yet?
John: They haven't. Details will come in due course. They're paying tribute to the man at the moment. More like finding a lifeboat big enough for all of their employees.
me: OMG..get this. Guy Oseary, Madonna's manager, tweeted today that she was planning a surprise performance with MJ at one of his London shows.
John: Had she ever said anything nice about him prior to yesterday?
me: Madge was a big fan. Apparently cried a lot. Not sure if I believe that but I want to.
I don't recall Madge bashing him. She did say the he didn't know the meaning of "In the closet" when he recorded the song....
Naive much?John: Yeah. Well, it's still good to hear good things being said. My favorite, which I'm ashamed to admit, was from Diddy.
"Michael Jackson showed me that you can actually see the beat. He made the music come to life!! He made me believe in magic."me: I read that. And how Billboard misspelled Britney's name! LOL.. "Brittney Spears" ... hilarious
John: You caught that, too, eh? Can you say "music dorks"?
me: How could my MA in English-brain miss it?! LOL... I wonder if they took those comments unedited from a website somewhere? Perhaps Ms Spears doesn't know how to spell her own name??? Imma believe that!
John: Yeah...Britney writes her own press releases. Sure. So what's your favorite Michael moment?
me: Perhaps Brit felt this time, she must! MJ moment? That's hard to say because I was a young man during the
Thriller era. I thought the video was genius - albeit a bit long. I think my fave MJ song is "Billie Jean". Yours?
John: Favorite moment...Motown 25. That was pop culture lightning. You won't see that ever happen again quite that way.
me: I agree. Magical.
John: Song? Tough one, but I think it's a toss-up between "Human Nature" and "Rock With You". While I loved a lot of MJ's later music, the stuff he did with Quincy Jones was just brilliant.
me: Both are excellent. I've read that "Human Nature" is what pop aspires to be and should be. That's from
XO, I believe. (
holla)
John: Big ups to XO. His response was dead-on.
me: I had totally forgotten about the ET Soundtrack. Quincy worked with him on that before
Thriller. Something like 4 months in the studio all together.
John: There's a reason you forgot about it, Yuri.
me: LOL...I'm sure there is! Quincy is quite proud of it to give it a holla today
John: "Buy any of his records I put my name on!"
me: Shameless! Could he really be meaning that? PROBABLY!
John: So what do you think Michael's legacy is?
me: Did you have the red leather zipper jacket as a kid? Legacy? Dancing can be cool and the "relaxing" of MTV's "all white" standards. At the time, MTV was quite the exclusive white men's club.
John: I wanted one, but no.
me: Oh, let's not forget "We Are the World". MJ sang the backing track!
John: I actually would say MTV as well. Prince owes a LOT of his success to Michael having paved the way.
me: Yeah, what MJ lacked in sexuality, Prince brought that shit on in spades!
John: MTV, which trickled down to radio and other media as well. Michael had sex? No!
me: Olga swears those kids he has are not "his" .. if you catch my drift...
John: 24 hour rule, Yuri.
me: And I think it is very safe to say that MJ lacked something in sexuality. And I am being nice!
John: But that made him safe and accessible to a lot of people that wouldn't have accepted him if he had been more "virile". So maybe that's what progress required at that point.
me: True. I think to many the lack of sexuality translated into innocence. He was extremely safe and thus appealed to masses of folks. That is the magic trick. If Grandma and grandson can enjoy the same songs and artist, then you have made it.
John: And my grandmother loved him. There's a warm and fuzzy note to end it on.
Well, that is a good place to end it for this week. Join us again next week when we talk about
whatevrah.