kenlacam said:

never!

Yes. I think after seeing the video to " You Rock My World" i coudn't bare to see how bad he looked. I coudn't keep my eyes off his face!

Timmy84 said:

39 releases of grestest hits/compliliations.....

Graycap23 said:

Pretty much.

And about 23 studio recordings, only nine released by MJ solo-wise between 1972-2001, lol.
[Edited 11/10/08 9:53am]

Timmy84 said:

When u break it down.....not much of a career.....material wise.

Graycap23 said:

And he's only had like 47 songs on the Billboard charts, about 37 of those were top 40 hits, something he hasn't had since 2002's "Butterflies". His last charted singles "One More Chance" (2003) and "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin' '08" with Akon, which in retrospect was just an MJ featurette, only peaked at #83 and #81 respectively on the pop chart. OMC peaked at #40 R&B.

If he had a more prolific career (minus the J5/Jacksons stuff), he'd outdone James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder by now. But he hasn't.

His long career is REALLY based on his performing career, which isn't really the same thing as a recording career.

Marrk said:

That's why it's frustrating though I have most of that work too! He could continue to make good music like that but if he wants his tarnished image and car-wreck antics to overshadow it, I'm not going to be defending him anymore either and cringe at how worked up I used to get. If he does put out new music, of course I will support it, but I really don't think he's interested anymore and I'm just very disappointed. I listen to tons of other music too but really, really miss him. I remember parts of the 80's with seeing his videos here and there so based on that I know how big he was, even if I was too young to really comprehend just how huge, he was an important name. But it's sad how much that has shifted in recent years.
[Edited 11/10/08 12:13pm]

alphastreet said:

To me, it´s sad to read posts like this. I mean what do you, guys, expect from him? To keep you entertained from the age of 5 till the age of 80? I just respect the fact that he decided to put his family before his career and lead a "normal" life for a while. It is also frustrating for me. I also would love to hear new music from him, but I don´t feel I have the right to complain. I should be grateful for what he has given us, instead. I am also not happy to see how his image has been. I am a teacher and it´s sad to see young kids knowing about his plastic surgery and alleged child-abuse and find out that they have never seen Thriller. I just played it to them at Halloween and they loved it. I think if people would like to see the positive and appreciate him for what he has done, they would, but that´s not human nature. People wanna know everything about the rumours, not his work.
I can´t speak of Michael and say if he has given up or not, but if he has I would not be surprised. I´d be actually amazed if he had the energy to fight the publics opinion because I am not sure that I would have if I were in his shoes. But Mike´s always been strong, so I just believe he does. I try to live my life and if Mike decides to trill me again, I´ll be very happy. If not, I´ll have to accept that without feeling bitter, cause he doesn´t owe me anything.

And Mark, as a younger fan (not the youngest cause I am in my late 20s) it sounds very insulting to me to read posts like this, you were just lucky not to miss the boat and it´s not anyone´s fault as to when they were born. If the younger ones adore him now, there´s nothing wrong about that as you say as there was nothing wrong about people adoring MJ in the eighties. If someone has discovered his work now, why couldn´t they adore him? I agree that blind adoration is not a good thing, but why act as if MJ fans were the only blindly devoted?

Dedicated to all the fans who miss MJ

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

What year?

You guys just don't believe anymore.


[Edited 11/10/08 15:14pm]

Bishop31 said:

Look at that kid!

He was the torch bearer for Frankie Lymon and James Brown. Now...

dag said:

It wasn't directed at you dag or anyone like you, infact reading your posts over the years, you're far from the type of fan i was referring to, so please don't feel insulted. Your last point is on point, blind devotion of any artist is absolutely ridiculous, but you have to recognize MJ has more than his fair share of crazies and they just happen to fall into the age demographic i was getting at.
[Edited 11/10/08 15:20pm]

there is nothing to give up. He doesn't have to prove anything. I mean all he has to do is sit there and be michael jackson. He has done more than enough and doesn't owe anyone anything in the entertainment business.

but i would love to see more from him, regardless i still love him

"be michael jackson" has taken on a total different meaning and context now from 20 or even 25 years ago. Sorry.

Marrk said:

OK.
Well, I am not sure who has the most crazies, but I think, since MJ is so highly discussed everywhere, you tend to see them more often, I guess.

He doesn't owe me anything. Music isn't always the #1 priority for him these days. The man does have a family.

scorp84 said:

everyone has a family, he's not the only one.

alphastreet said:

Yes but if he doesnt want to make music anymore you cant hold that against him. It's up to him. What you can hold against him is that he wont come out and say to his fans what he's up to. that's what pisses me off

LightOfArt said:

You shouldn´t be pissed off because of something you don´t know. You don´t know if he´s gonna come back or not.

I don´t think he´s going to retire soon. I don´t think he could imagine doing nothing for the rest of his life, but that´s just my opinion. Let´s just let him be.

If he doesn't want to make music, he can be a man about it and announce his retirement instead of making announcements about plans that never go through. He's following jermaine's footsteps if anything now.

alphastreet said:

No, everyone does not. Is everyone in the music business? He's taking care of his business & living his life. So much of his life has been 'the industry'.

He's making music. He's just not working on your schedule. Projects do often fall through. That's the nature of the business. Sometimes, it's even out of the artists' control. When he's ready to put out an album, he'll put out an album.He's not on anyone else's timetable, so he's taking full advantage of it. Life will still go on, with or without new material.

you're taking what I said too literally. Madonna, Britney, and tons of others, even his peers when they were younger had children and were still putting out music and having hits.

alphastreet said:

Are they Michael Jackson? How does that relate to his situation?
[Edited 11/11/08 12:03pm]

no but they have more in common with him than you'd think

britney was a child star too and has released just as many solo albums as he has now and has been through terrible backlash and mental issues too

Madonna is his age and can do it all, maybe men like him could learn a thing or two about feminism, Madonna is a great example of the modern day liberal feminist who can do it all. Work, have a family, etc. I'm sure mj could balance it out too but he doesn't want to and is not even honest with fans about it.
[Edited 11/11/08 12:21pm]

alphastreet said:

exactly!

^ in a day and age when artists are so open with fans and the public about their plans and following through, it does not make mj seem genuine with not following through like that at all.

alphastreet said:

3 different people. 3 different lives. 3 different sets of circumstances. Each individual has to do what they feel is best for themselves and their families. Liberal feminist wtf? Are you high? lol Do you know any of these people?

out of these three people, mj is the laziest and craziest motherfucker of them all, and I think he likes being a punchbag cause without the music, that's all he has going for him