I've been waffling on whether to weigh in on you-know-what, since we've just about OD'd (no pun intended) on coverage, but I'm finally giving in. Aside from news of the ongoing investigation, the only thing I really wanted to read was my former LA Times colleague Bob Hilburn's remembrance about his involvement with Michael Jackson (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-me-jackson-hilburn27-2009jun27,0,4897003.story). Bob had told me these stories and I'm glad he put them together for the paper. (They were excerpted from his memoir, which is being published in October.)
I've been torn watching the outpouring for Jackson because, despite his acquittal in the criminal case, I don't believe his involvement with young boys was as innocent as he claimed. That trumps all else for me. Truth be told, MJ was flat-out weird. Of course, much of that weirdness comes from his family--particularly from his father, who is a flat-out idiot. And now his family, surrounded by The Glimmer Twins--Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton--is lamenting that the media is focusing too much on MJ's problems and not his musical legacy. Gee, sorry.
On the musical side, there is no question that Jackson was a fantastic performer, but I don't think enough attention, or credit, has been given to the army of songwriters and producers who worked with him over the years, starting with The Corporation--Freddie Perren, Deke Richards and Alphonzo Mizell--the Motown staffers who were responsible for all those great Jackson 5 hits. (Berry Gordy was also listed as a member of The Corporation, but I suspect that just reflected his shrewd business acumen and not necessarily his artistic contributions.) Then there was Rod Temperton, who wrote "Rock With You," "Off the Wall" and "Thriller." And, of course, there's Quincy Jones, who produced the albums "Off the Wall," "Thriller" and "Bad." After "Bad" didn't live up to "Thriller," MJ increasingly looked to more au courant producers--including Teddy Riley, "Babyface" Edmonds and R. Kelly--but none could recapture the magic of "Off the Wall" or "Thriller." (Dr. Dre reportedly declined an offer to work on Jackson's last studio album, 2001's "Invincible.")
The bottom line is that it had been 18 years since Jackson recorded some legitimately good songs. Most of his time since then has been spent in and out of surgery wards, attorneys' offices and courtrooms. Oh, and becoming a parent. (And inspiring the Jeff Koons sculpture pictured above.)
I have to admit I'm a bit befuddled by the outpouring over Jackson's death. His death wasn't a tragedy. His entire life was.
Shamon! You know it.. I stopped buying records (or CDs, whatever the kids call them these days) right around 2002. Then last year, I was suddenly overcome with the urge to own Off the Wall. Heavens to Betsy, methought, I'm sick of only hearing snippets of those songs on the radio or TV or at other people's parties. I NEED them in full length! So I took myself to Amoeba and bought both Off the Wall and Thriller.. That's my tribute to MJ: I actually PAID for his music.
PS: Yes, Quincy Jones deserves major props in my book for his collaborations with Jackson. Then again, his "Hicky Burr" record with young Bill Cosby is awesome to the supreme, too!
Posted by: sd | June 30, 2009 at 03:58 AM
This is awesome. It's so lame that when someone dies, suddenly everyone is afraid to say anything negative. My dad who is on the old side and considers Pavarotti to be a pop music icon, said Saturday over fish tacos in San Diego that he never really cared for MJ. I said: "What? Was it the fact that he was a pedophile or that he dressed like a woman?" My dad is a retired judge, very liberal, and never one to rush to judgment--or to judge anyone else's life choices, gave it some real thought before he said: "I don't know what it was... He just... rubbed me the wrong way." Hahaha!
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