The Associated Press reported today that the King of Pop has died from an apparent cardiac arrest today in a Los Angeles hospital. At around 12:30 PM paramedics found Jackson in his home in Los Angeles not breathing. CPR was administered and he was taken to the UCLA Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
I personally never cared for Michael's music or that of the group the Jackson 5. But when you are 11 years old and the 2 most famous teen aged heart throbs are also 11, you notice. The other heart throb was Donny Osmond. My sister's rooms were wall papered with posters of them both.
As troubled as Michael's life has been of late, this is quite a surprise. I wonder if there were any reports of Michael having heart problems. But it should remind us all of just how fragile life is and that we all need to sit back and think about that for awhile.
What ever you think of Michael Jackson, there's no denying the impact he's had on the music world and pop culture in general guarantee's he'll be remembered a good long time. But like many artists Michael's view of reality I think was often confused and obviously very self destructive.
What are your memories of Michael?
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Comments: 10
When I heard of it, I immediately thought of the last time I saw an image of him, when I commented that he looked anorexic... which could easily bring on cardiac issues. I don't KNOW this, of course, but you can't deny that he did not look healthy.
I wasn't a fan of most of his music, but I LOVED "Man in the Mirror" or whatever the name of that song was... and a few others. He was undeniably an enormous talent and influence on music.
His children have my sympathy. Who know what they have endured and we may not know until they are grown. He was all they knew.
He may have been very kind and loving... we don't know!
I very much enjoyed his music from the 80's...he was a good artist, but then I found out he was a deplorable pedophile...which means he must stand now to face the "other" music. I feel sorry that he put his family through so much shame in the end...very few will remember his accomplishments without the overshadowing of his failures.
Cute picture. How weird this is and Farah Fawcett - two major icons on the same day. I keep thinking the poor messed up kid, but Michael Jackson was not a kid. I liked some of his songs when I was able to not think about them being Michael Jackson songs, but that was a guy with loads of talent and charisma that brought a lot of joy and energy to a lot of people.
I wish I had a tenth of the musical talent Jackson had. It will be interesting to see what filters out over time about his cryptic mysterious character. His talent, his family and father, and brothers, his skin color changes, and plastic surgery, and his penchant for little boys and his fantasy world. What a unique person. But in a way I have to admire him for living life on his own terms, whatever I or anyone else might think of Michael Jackson, he made his people love him. He was one of the most recognized faces on the planet, someone that hardly any human being that has ever lived on the his planet has achieved, and he did not kill millions of people to do it.
I hope he finds some peace and clarity where he went and his fans can come to terms with his strange life and its strange passing. Rest in peace Michael.
Devin,
Just one question. Why was this posted to the Science Fiction Writers Collective? That it was I find amusing and despite having come up with some imaginative reason for it, the question remains.
News is news Carol. When I post opinion articles I'm very selective, but when it's pure news I post to all groups to which I belong.
I'm 44, so I grew up watching the Jackson 5 cartoon show, MTV started when I was in high school, so even though I've never been a fan, it's been a real adventure watching him.
I give him all the credit for his musical achievments, he is very good.
But, I have no sympathy for child molesters. Especially rich ones that buy off their victims. Don't get me going on what I think of the parents that let their kids stay over night at his place once the allegations started to spread. So, to be blunt, all I say is "more air for me to breathe". Sorry to be so blunt, but once this guy started buying off victims, the media and the general public should have dropped him like a hot potato.
And, why wasn't he happy being a black male? Why did he want to become a white female? I don't get it.
It's too bad Farrah Fawcet died on the same day. Everyone will say "Oh she died on the same day as Michael Jackson". Now being a young teenage boy in the late 70's, Farrah was everything a 14year old boy dreamed of. I predict that the hairstyle will now come back.
As with John Lennon, I'll remember where I was when I heard the news-online at the library. And, as soon as I arrived home & put my key in the door, the tears came...
It's too bad that he had to live most of his life in the public eye, the object of so many fan's "devotion". That has to wear on even the most well-adjusted person.
Despite the personal demons that must have driven him to the behaviors that some of these posts are so judgemental of, Michael was a truly gifted artist. I just wish he could have concentrated more of his efforts on his music rather than his bizzare lifestyle.
When I watched the famous interview Jackson did with Ed Bradley it seemed obvious that he really didn't understand what all the hoopla was about. I think he truly thought of himself as a kind of Peter Pan character. He was a boy trapped inside an adult's body. Was bathing with boys and sleeping with kids acceptible? There is no question that it is not. But I seriously doubt Michael's motive was sexual.