Michael Jackson's death versus others in recent history

[parrot 789]

When Madonna kicks it (not soon enough IMO) where will she rank? I know she didn't sell as many records, but wasn't she a cultural phenomenon close to on par with Michael?

[Thornton Melon 648]

Not even close...

 

You shut up!

[FeelingMN 273]

How big could he have been?

 

I think only a handful of 7 year olds really know this answer.

[cbfalcon 827]

Walter Payton. Hello???

 

Maybe if Payton had been shot during the Super Bowl against the Pats.

 

....nah, still not then.

[NewbieJr 541]

When Madonna kicks it (not soon enough IMO) where will she rank? I know she didn't sell as many records, but wasn't she a cultural phenomenon close to on par with Michael?

Madonna had a lot of good songs, but very few great ones. I think the thing that Madonna specialized in is re-inventing herself and keeping herself in teh spotlight long after her talent dried up. The may have been the best publicity-machine that we have ever seen. The way she used Britney ('the Kiss") at the MTV Awards show to get herself back 'in' with the young crowd was a good example. Sghe did it with her Truth or Dare documentary, too. Showed her breasts. That's why 90% of the people saw that movie.

[parrot 789]

Madonna had a lot of good songs, but very few great ones. I think the thing that Madonna specialized in is re-inventing herself and keeping herself in teh spotlight long after her talent dried up. The may have been the best publicity-machine that we have ever seen. The way she used Britney ('the Kiss") at the MTV Awards show to get herself back 'in' with the young crowd was a good example. Sghe did it with her Truth or Dare documentary, too. Showed her breasts. That's why 90% of the people saw that movie.

 

All good points. So how do you think she compares on the death scale?

 

Like Elvis, and the Beatles to some extent, Madonna also has the branch out into acting/movies, which Michael never really had.

[FeelingMN 273]

When Madonna kicks it (not soon enough IMO) where will she rank? I know she didn't sell as many records, but wasn't she a cultural phenomenon close to on par with Michael?

 

Depends on how she dies. If she kicks it at 98, will anyone really be all that upset? I mean sh!t, people die.....who aren't named phillybear.

 

So far everyone mentioned here has suffered a premature death. If a star/celebrity just dies of old age, I think it takes a bit of the luster off of their death.

 

Also, Jacko ain't really getting his money's worth out of this death....I mean heart attack? Seems like everyone else here has died of an overdose, murder, vehicle crash, suicide......Jacko's pump just quit....he died much the same way most octogenerians do....pretty anti-climatic.

 

Top 5 all-time tragic deaths

 

JFK

Elvis

Marilyn Monroe

John Lennon

Princess Di

 

All the above were still relevant when they passed. Jacko....not so much....more of a sideshow than anything else.

[shovelheadt 71]

Depends on how she dies. If she kicks it at 98, will anyone really be all that upset? I mean sh!t, people die.....who aren't named phillybear.

 

So far everyone mentioned here has suffered a premature death. If a star/celebrity just dies of old age, I think it takes a bit of the luster off of their death.

 

Also, Jacko ain't really getting his money's worth out of this death....I mean heart attack? Seems like everyone else here has died of an overdose, murder, vehicle crash, suicide......Jacko's pump just quit....he died much the same way most octogenerians do....pretty anti-climatic.

 

Top 5 all-time tragic deaths

 

JFK

Elvis

Marilyn Monroe

John Lennon

Princess Di

 

All the above were still relevant when they passed. Jacko....not so much....more of a sideshow than anything else.

 

One of the Jackson family lawyers or managers mentioned last night that his 'multiple pain medications' were getting in the way of rehearsals. Wouldn't be surprised to see a Heath Ledger type of deal here.

[shovelheadt 71]

Depends on how she dies. If she kicks it at 98, will anyone really be all that upset? I mean sh!t, people die.....who aren't named phillybear.

 

So far everyone mentioned here has suffered a premature death. If a star/celebrity just dies of old age, I think it takes a bit of the luster off of their death.

 

Also, Jacko ain't really getting his money's worth out of this death....I mean heart attack? Seems like everyone else here has died of an overdose, murder, vehicle crash, suicide......Jacko's pump just quit....he died much the same way most octogenerians do....pretty anti-climatic.

 

Top 5 all-time tragic deaths

 

JFK

Elvis

Marilyn Monroe

John Lennon

Princess Di

 

All the above were still relevant when they passed. Jacko....not so much....more of a sideshow than anything else.

 

One more thing on this post. No way in hell Elvis was relevant when he passed, and you could argue John Lennon had jumped the shark too. Hell, now that I look at the list further...not even Di was relevant IMO. They were all 'relevant' off of their past.

[FeelingMN 273]

One more thing on this post. No way in hell Elvis was relevant when he passed, and you could argue John Lennon had jumped the shark too. Hell, now that I look at the list further...not even Di was relevant IMO. They were all 'relevant' off of their past.

 

Elvis was still pretty relevant when he passed. He wasn't the Elvis of the late 50s and 60s, but still plenty of folks listening to his music/attending his shows.

 

Lennon had just recorded Double Fantasy and was still in the public eye. He had a very strong voice that people took seriously and listened to.

 

Same with Di. She was doing amazing work with children and other humanitarian causes.

 

Each was doing something different than the thing that brought fame. In the case of Diana and Lennon, you see an expansion of their celebrity into the realm of social activism.

 

Jacko? Tabloid material....financial issues....child molestation charges. He was definitely an icon....a great performer....but he made his name 20-30 years ago and did nothing with it except befriend a chimp and build a theme park.

[shovelheadt 71]

Elvis was still pretty relevant when he passed. He wasn't the Elvis of the late 50s and 60s, but still plenty of folks listening to his music/attending his shows.

 

Lennon had just recorded Double Fantasy and was still in the public eye. He had a very strong voice that people took seriously and listened to.

 

Same with Di. She was doing amazing work with children and other humanitarian causes.

 

Each was doing something different than the thing that brought fame. In the case of Diana and Lennon, you see an expansion of their celebrity into the realm of social activism.

 

Jacko? Tabloid material....financial issues....child molestation charges. He was definitely an icon....a great performer....but he made his name 20-30 years ago and did nothing with it except befriend a chimp and build a theme park.

 

Dude sold out 50 shows in one city. Freak...yes. Relevant...yes

 

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/update...003951183.story

[wiffleball 4,797]

Taking into account everything that is Michael Jackson, I think you'd have to go back to Princess Diana and maybe even Elvis to hit a bigger death.

 

Thoughts?

 

 

I'd say for blacks, this is their Elvis. I was listening to some of the 'soul' stations last night and they were just overwrought with emotion. I know DI did that for a lot of young women. For other folks a bit older than me, I think you're definitely missing John Lennon. Haven't read the rest of the thread, I'm sure someone else mentioned that.

[FeelingMN 273]

Dude sold out 50 shows in one city. Freak...yes. Relevant...yes

 

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/update...003951183.story

 

Yeah, that's pretty impressive. And I'm thinking of a scenario of him coming to the Twin Cities. If he did, this place would be nuts....so yeah, maybe you're on to something.

 

Still, he's such a tragic figure....and he probably had more skeletons in his closet than most other performers.....both literally and figuratively. Who he was at the time of his death was far different than the Michael Jackson of the 70s and 80s.

[Rusty Syringes 478]

I'd say for blacks, this is their Elvis. I was listening to some of the 'soul' stations last night and they were just overwrought with emotion. I know DI did that for a lot of young women. For other folks a bit older than me, I think you're definitely missing John Lennon. Haven't read the rest of the thread, I'm sure someone else mentioned that.

 

 

Yeah, I was trying to pose the question of when the last time there was a death this big. I'd definitely put Lennon's death ahead of Michael Jackson's.

[edjr 6,890]

Cobain?

 

 

[posty 2,807]

How was it when Sinatra passed in 1998?

[shovelheadt 71]

I'd say for blacks, this is their Elvis. I was listening to some of the 'soul' stations last night and they were just overwrought with emotion. I know DI did that for a lot of young women. For other folks a bit older than me, I think you're definitely missing John Lennon. Haven't read the rest of the thread, I'm sure someone else mentioned that.

 

I'd love to see a break down of white to black fans and their reactions. I seem to remember a TON of white teenagers losing their minds over this guy, just like the Beatles.

[KSB2424 3,173]

Dale Earnhardt!@#!

[phillybear 366]

You mooks are completely overlooking how Cobain changed music, ending 2 decades worth of hair rock and poppy British invasion stuff for a grinding, angry grunge movement, spawning modern rock as we know it over the last 2 decades. What exactly did Michael Jackson change? Nothing.

 

Michael Jackson diddling fingers aren't worthy of scooping any salsa out of that dip bowl we call Kurt Cobain's head after the gun shot. Only real stars get that privilege. Ed McMahon has gone in for a third serving already.

[titans&bucs&bearsohmy! 2,745]

Timberlake would be a shame. This was a blessing.

 

Dude, please. In terms of stardom, Justin Timberlake is a fart in the breeze. He is on par with Rick Springfield moreso than Michael Jackson.

 

I mean for all the focking hype in his career, what has Timberlake really produced?

 

The N'Sync crap.

Cry Me A River

Sexyback

 

Will you be listening to any of this crap in 20 years? I doubt it. I mean, you are a phag for listening to it now, but in 20 years?

 

When timberlake dies, it will briefly flash across the ticker at the bottom of CNN, as they discuss the latest sex scandal. That's about it.

[NewbieJr 541]

Dude, please. In terms of stardom, Justin Timberlake is a fart in the breeze. He is on par with Rick Springfield moreso than Michael Jackson.

 

I mean for all the focking hype in his career, what has Timberlake really produced?

 

The N'Sync crap.

Cry Me A River

Sexyback

 

Will you be listening to any of this crap in 20 years? I doubt it. I mean, you are a phag for listening to it now, but in 20 years?

 

When timberlake dies, it will briefly flash across the ticker at the bottom of CNN, as they discuss the latest sex scandal. That's about it.

You are way, way off on your assessment of Timberlake. He is probably the most-talented performer we have today. Dance, sing, act, likeable, funny, self-effacing.. I don't know one person who doesn't like the guy.

[posty 2,807]

You are way, way off on your assessment of Timberlake. He is probably the most-talented performer we have today. Dance, sing, act, likeable, funny, self-effacing.. I don't know one person who doesn't like the guy.

 

I don't dislike the guy personally, but I am not a fan...

[BMoney 0]

What exactly did Michael Jackson change?

 

 

the outfits of the little boys into something a little sexier?

 

 

 

I guess Im struggling to keep the shock part from the original question of magnitude..where does it rank?

 

no one is truly surprised that drug users like jacko or cobain passed...maybe morso that courtney love hasnt...

 

but on a scale of how big...its up there...top 5-7 for sure...it actually got MTV to stop playing their shi1 shows and air all jacko videos..it was amazing to see videos on mtv again...

 

paul mccartney will be another big one someday as well..as far as how many loved him....

 

how shocked u were that so and so died may be another list altogether...

[wiffleball 4,797]

You are way, way off on your assessment of Timberlake. He is probably the most-talented performer we have today. Dance, sing, act, likeable, funny, self-effacing.. I don't know one person who doesn't like the guy.

 

You could've said the same thing about Donald O'Connor 50 years ago.

 

 

 

And everyone says: "Who?"

 

Exactly.

[Snoopy1 0]

Dude sold out 50 shows in one city. Freak...yes. Relevant...yes

 

http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/update...003951183.story

 

And he was getting paid 1 million PER SHOW

[BunnysBastatrds 2,583]

I remember where I was when I heard Elvis died. I remember where I was when I heard Lennon died. I remember where I was when I heard John Bonam died. I remember where I was when I heard Randy Rhoads died. Twenty years from now, I'll remember where I was when Michael Jackson died, for only one reason. There was a foursome in front of my group getting ready to tee off. One of them gets a call. He gets out of his cart and says, " Michael Fawking Jackson is fawking dead. I caint fawking believe it." One of his buddys says," You still wear that red leather jacket? Now is as good a time as any to bury it!" Thanks brother!

[phan a tic 6]

Truthfully, it's the 50 plus face surgeries, bizarre behavior and child molestation that ranks MJ up there just behind Elvis or Princess Di or John Lennon etc.

 

On singing and dancing alone, he falls way down the list behind Richard Pryor and George Harrison for sure.

 

 

Otherwise he's just a child star who gained fame as an adult for a few years.

[lambert58 73]

You mooks are completely overlooking how Cobain changed music, ending 2 decades worth of hair rock and poppy British invasion stuff for a grinding, angry grunge movement, spawning modern rock as we know it over the last 2 decades. What exactly did Michael Jackson change? Nothing.

 

Michael Jackson diddling fingers aren't worthy of scooping any salsa out of that dip bowl we call Kurt Cobain's head after the gun shot. Only real stars get that privilege. Ed McMahon has gone in for a third serving already.

 

Blah blah blah..... You and I both remember how the Ramones and The Sex Pistols "changed music" and when their band members died there was nary a sound.

 

Cobain only became an icon after his death. Before that he was a garage band geek in flannel who had a semi-large following and a crappy teen anthem.

 

 

Paul Stanley is more of an icon than Kurt Cobain. (And that is pretty damn weak).

[Thornton Melon 648]

You are way, way off on your assessment of Timberlake. He is probably the most-talented performer we have today. Dance, sing, act, likeable, funny, self-effacing.. I don't know one person who doesn't like the guy.

 

[NewbieJr 541]

Truthfully, it's the 50 plus face surgeries, bizarre behavior and child molestation that ranks MJ up there just behind Elvis or Princess Di or John Lennon etc.

 

On singing and dancing alone, he falls way down the list behind Richard Pryor and George Harrison for sure.

Otherwise he's just a child star who gained fame as an adult for a few years.

Wow. You may be the most out-of-touch person I know from a pop culture standpoint.

 

I'll give you Elvis and Lennon (highly debatable on Lennon), but Pryor and Harrison? You're out of yopur mind. Jackson was as big, globally, as teh entire group of Beatles. And you want to put him with the third Beatle?

[NewbieJr 541]

Cobain only became an icon after his death. Before that he was a garage band geek in flannel who had a semi-large following and a crappy teen anthem.

Paul Stanley is more of an icon than Kurt Cobain. (And that is pretty damn weak).

True dat. Cobain was at teh right place at the right time. The best thing he ever did was kill himself. Otherwise, he'd be an Eddie Vedder, Dave Pirner-type has been. When you die on top, people always remember you that way. He was the leader of the grunge movement, but if you'll recall history, grunge didn't exactly have legs. It came and went faster than disco.

 

K.C. (from the Sunshine Band) >>> Cobain

[wiffleball 4,797]

Wow. You may be the most out-of-touch person I know from a pop culture standpoint.

 

I'll give you Elvis and Lennon (highly debatable on Lennon), but Pryor and Harrison? You're out of yopur mind. Jackson was as big, globally, as teh entire group of Beatles. And you want to put him with the third Beatle?

 

Yeah Newbs, gotta give you that one.

[kpbuckeye 3]

http://www.southparkstudios.com/episodes/103885/

[phan a tic 6]

Wow. You may be the most out-of-touch person I know from a pop culture standpoint.

 

I'll give you Elvis and Lennon (highly debatable on Lennon), but Pryor and Harrison? You're out of yopur mind. Jackson was as big, globally, as teh entire group of Beatles. And you want to put him with the third Beatle?

 

 

>>>>>Wow. You may be the most out-of-touch person I know from a pop culture standpoint. <<<<<

 

Well I've read some of your posts concerning 80s music and Rick Springfield in particular and I'd say one of us is the most out of touch person concerning pop culture.

 

 

>>>>>Jackson was as big, globally, as teh entire group of Beatles.<<<<<

 

Okay, conversation over. You just lost all credibility. ALL!

 

 

And you know what else. Take away the whaco Jacko surgeries and pedophilia and marrying women w/o having sex with them and living with monkeys. Just on musical ability alone, Alive or dead - Hank Williams, Jr. and Willie Nelson go past Jacko.

And prolly many more given time to think about it.

 

OBVIOUSLY CLAPTON. I'd rate him above any musician.

[wiffleball 4,797]

on musical ability alone, Hank Williams and Willie Nelson go past Jacko.

 

 

Willie's DEAD?

[phan a tic 6]

Willie's DEAD?

 

 

No but neither is the entire Beatles group so this conversation has gone past just dead people.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,583]

There haven't been many black superstar celeberties die lately, until MJ. Rappers don't really count because they only represent a small few and they die in a hail of bullets. Die of syphliss, and I'll get curious about the story. No big Hollywood actors in a while. Some sports legends, Sweetness and a few others. I think when Ali dies, it's going to be a huge deal. Even though he hasn't been relevant or news worthy in a while, his persona and legend won't be ignored. I hope he dies in his sleep so the media gets screwed out of any conspiracy that last for months like Jackson will. I think Ali is bigger than Jackson, and his death will be bigger globally.

[phan a tic 6]

There haven't been many black superstar celeberties die lately, until MJ. Rappers don't really count because they only represent a small few and they die in a hail of bullets. Die of syphliss, and I'll get curious about the story. No big Hollywood actors in a while. Some sports legends, Sweetness and a few others. I think when Ali dies, it's going to be a huge deal. Even though he hasn't been relevant or news worthy in a while, his persona and legend won't be ignored. I hope he dies in his sleep so the media gets screwed out of any conspiracy that last for months like Jackson will. I think Ali is bigger than Jackson, and his death will be bigger globally.

 

 

Relevant lately or not

Ali is THE GREATEST.

Most definitely bigger than Jacko. Bigger than Sweetness.

 

Martin Luther King is the only one bigger than Ali. Rosa Parks should be but never had that following for some reason.

[BunnysBastatrds 2,583]

Relevant lately or not

Ali is THE GREATEST.

Most definitely bigger than Jacko. Bigger than Sweetness.

 

Martin Luther King is the only one bigger than Ali. Rosa Parks should be but never had that following for some reason.

 

 

I agree with that!!! Have you ever read is biography? It's 800+ pages, and one of the best I have ever read.

[phan a tic 6]

I agree with that!!! Have you ever read is biography? It's 800+ pages, and one of the best I have ever read.

 

 

 

I'm not gonna lie. No, I haven't read it but I grew up knowing most of it.

 

 

A few years ago when they had stars and superstars carrying the Olympic torch, when they got to the end and the last superstar to light the final main torch was Ali and his hand was shaking from the Parkinson's ...... well I'll admit I got goose bumps and a tear slid down my face and I stood up from my chair.

It was powerful. POWERFUL.