Michale Jackson´s last rehearsals:






For those who dared to say he was "done".... watching those scenes make me wonder how cool those shows in London were about to be.

I never liked MJ but I must admit that musically speaking, he wsa a genious; otherwise he was completely insane...

Despite the fact that I've never like anything from M.J., do you really think he has the health for 50 gigs while the summer ? I am not sure...

I wasn't a big fan. He was definately talented, but I wouldn't class him as a genius. In my opinion he was nuts. There's been a lot of talk about the legal issues etc. Enough about that. I arrived at my conclusion as a result of: Neverland ranch, the animals, circus rides, the spending - not the spending itself, but what he bought, the facial reconstruction surgeries, the skin bleach, and last but not least - the dangling of his baby over a balcony. I was skeptical too about his ability to pull off 50 shows. One, because of his rumored health issues, two, I didn't think there would be demand for tickets. I was wrong about that it seems.

Tickets were selling fast.

Health....well, he is dead now, so I guess he wasn´t healthy enough.

But anyway, not wanting to see his talent amazes me. I´m not saying "liking" his music, but at least recognizing that guy had something.

There is no doubt he was a phenomenal entertainer. I loved watching him dance. He was one strange dude, though. He suffered child abuse, and it no doubt warped him. He strove to capture the childhood that had eluded him. Was he a pedophile? Honestly, i don't know. He seemed more asexual to me, than anything else. Well he is with his maker, now, and must answer. We will never know for sure.

only one thing from me

Rest in peace MJ

While Jackson played a huge part in my childhood, I didn't find myself mightily affected by his passing - didn't get terribly sad, suddenly crave to listen to his music, or any of the things that happened to me when, say, Sam Butera passed.

But then I watched the tribute yesterday (though I missed the first part of it, so didn't see Stevie or Mariah). I admit I am a big sook. I thought John Mayer's "Human Nature" was wonderful. I got a little sad watching Brooke Shields' heartfelt speech. When Usher got off the stage and put his hand on the casket as he sang, I had tears in my eyes. When they showed video footage of the Jackson Five singing "Who's Lovin' You," I completely lost it, racked with sobs even while Smokey so joyously and incredulously spoke about the 10 year old boy who had no business being able to sing his song like that. These people were all talking about and singing about and playing about a human being that positively impacted their lives, not some celebrity trainwreck. Suddenly I felt like I'd just lost a member of my own family, it was then that I really, deeply realized that someone who is a big part of my childhood has died. The people that paid tribute to him yesterday, the specials that have been running all week, have been celebrating the Michael Jackson that we all knew and loved and want to remember - the one that conquered the world with his innovation and talent. That is who I now, finally, mourn.

And today I can't get enough of listening to the Jackson Five, Off The Wall and Thriller.

Well said Andi.

I thought the tribute was beautifully done too, andi. I learned some things I didn't know, too, like he was in the Guiness Book of World Records for the most charitable donations by a pop star. Janet Jackson seemed so motherly with MJ's daughter, too, after she made her very touching statements. I wish the kids the best.

The kid that first accused MJ of abusing him, taking him to court, confessed this past week it was all a lie, and that his parents made him say all those nasty things just to get some money and get out of poverty.

The kid is now a grown-up man, and speaks for himself. Late, but well.....

Hum.....it is regretable that Michael Jackson's Thriller was played so often....everyone/everywhere was playing it in the early eighties, while i was listening to stray cats. They thought i was weird.
If success is measured by hit records and music videos - then there is no denying that MJ was one of the best.
None of the songs really appealed to me personally - well it's POP isn't it - doesn't rock my boat. But respect for what he acheived musically.
I won't comment on his 'private' life. I had no idea about it because i haven't listened to the gossip over the years.
What is sad is someone dying before their time. Anyone i mean. My cousin died two weeks ago aged 36. So it can't help MJ's family to have stories about him plastered over the newspaper.
'Billie jean' and 'thriller' are the songs i'd think of if someone mentioned him name. And i'll always remember a tv presenter singing 'Bad' - which he did badly, and i've always thought it was a bad song anyway.
Just a thought - i wonder if there would be such a big thing about his death if he had stayed in the Jackson 5 and never branched out on his own? Thinking about it 'Ben' was really 'off the wall' perhaps 'thriller' saved him.
One last thing. I think Michael Jackson perhaps helped black singers stamp their mark on the pop market. He became an idol. Rather like Chuck Berry and Little Richard in the fifties. Although perhaps in a way that wasn't a good thing sometimes because a lot of rap music became popular after that! Yes we can blame MJ for anything!
Maybe i should start this again....with ABC