RIP Michael Jackson
So much has been said recently about the passing of Michael Jackson. He was a superstar, he was a pop icon.. we was and still is arguably the single most influential entertainer of our times... He was weird, he was genius, he was gentle and sweet, he was sick and perverted. So many things have been said about him, I don't think the world needs another article about the life and death of this enigmatic genius.
The world is talking about his every single day now... It is one of those moments in life where you really remember when you were when you first heard it. When Princess Diana died.. it was the eve of our national holiday.. I heard the news on TV... completely devastated. This time, I was in my hotel room in China, getting ready for the day.. I switch on the TV to watch CNN while getting ready.. and there it was.. Michael Jackson reported dead.. at the time.. it wasn't confirmed officially yet.
Over the next 2 ~ 3 days there were tributes upon tributes to him, and everyone talked about how sad they were, and how they missed him, and that he will forever be in their hearts. People crying on tv, talking about how Michael Jackson changed their lives, and remains a part of them, like their just lost someone so special and important in their lives. Which brings me to my point really... why do people suddenly miss him now, why only after his death? I mean, prior to last week, Michael Jackson was still alive and kicking.. He was planning a comeback tour.. and there was news of his child molestation cases, and the name wacko jacko seemed to be more of what people think of him rather than the impact he has made in the music scene over the past few decades... Everyone was busy singing along to High School Musical, raging on about the latest American Idol and talking about frumpy little Susan Boyle.....
But come his shock death.. and the jokes stop. Suddenly people start to remember again who MJ was and is.. suddenly now that he's gone and calling him names and speculating on his personal life isn't so funny anymore.. and people start to remember the artist that he was first and foremost and the fantastic music and dancing he pioneered.
I bet everyones Facebook pages were pouring with tributes to MJ.. music stores are suddenly packed with MJ CD's and videos... and radios start playing his songs over the hour... we all feel sad that he is no more.. we all feel the lost thinking never again will we have more musical genius from this man... And now, we all miss him.
But do we sincerely miss someone who has been there all this while but ignored for a good few years? Why is it that we suddenly 'miss' him only after he's dead? Why do the acknowledgments and praises of his contribution come only after he breathed his last breath? Why is it that we feel the lost of his creative output only after he is no more? Its human nature I guess.. to only start to appreciate what you have only when you have lost it. We take people for granted when they are there.. and start to realize their importance only when they are gone... It feels almost as if he's respected in death today more than he was when he was alive. I guess its just like any other great painter or artist.. their work can only be appreciated after they are gone. I honestly think MJ was a fantastic artist.. the consummate entertainer. But I'm just a bit irked by how everyone suddenly professes how much MJ was a part of their lives.. and how much they were going to miss him. I do understand the pain and shock of this lost... but I honestly do not think he's death is going to be THAT big an impact to anyone's lives except his immediate family and dependents.. The family will be sad... the children will have to be taken care off.... and there will be genuine mourning over a lost son, brother and father... But for the rest of us, its just a passing of a great pop icon.
MJ made fantastic music.. and through his music.. people of different background, races and religion all found a common ground.. We all found his music catchy and his dance moves uber cool and we all at some point or anther, locked ourselves in our bedrooms, trying to do the moonwalk. But for his entire life, he was essentially just an artist / entertainer. He did not cure cancer, or bring about world peace. Neither was he a respected figure & beacon of society. I can't recall his using his fame and fortune to make the world a better place (like his song said) except when he got that bus load full of stars for the 'We are the World' thingy for Africa... He did not fully commit his time and efforts to a worthy cause the way Princess Diana did with landmines and AIDS, or how Mother Theresa dedicated her life to the poor. MJ was an entertainer and business man first.. then philanthropist second. Just like Hugo Chavez's reaction to the news coverage, I too felt a bit annoyed at the way the world seemed to be pouring out a wee bit too much sympathy and coverage over his death. We all felt sad for sure, the amount of news covering the issue is almost as if the Pope had just died. Even then, I'm not sure if there were as many people crying and professing their grief over his death of MJ's death. Beyond missing whatever potential creative output he might have still had in him, I have to frankly wonder what else will the world miss of him. Even news on the current world economic crisis, government bailouts of huge companies & banks and even the swine flue pandemic all seem to take a back seat. We suddenly forget that hundreds of thousands of people are facing retrenchment, people's life savings and investments have been lost due to unscrupulous banking and the world is facing yet another pandemic that can potentially mutate into something more sinister anytime. That's how much coverage MJ's death has been given.
I certainly do not wish to downplay or brush off the passing of MJ. But as I said, this is not another tribute article. This is just my observation of how (1) People all only start missing people / things they had only after they are gone and (2) The world seems to be over reacting or blowing his death out of proportion in terms of significance to our real life issues the world is dealing with.
Though you leave this world, you have made your mark & your legend lives on through your music. May God have mercy on your soul. Rest In Peace MJ.
posted by Compulsive Blogger @ 11:45 pm
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