Riverpoet31 said:

I have to believe that I could not imagine MJ getting old. I always thought he would die at a young age.

And to be honest - it's only consequently. It will manifest his myth. Now he's a legend.

This untimely death is the perfect cinematic ending for a sad, sad life.

I woke up saying please let it all be a dream....nope.

God bless Michael Joseph Jackson, all i got to say really.
I'm absolutely hollow inside.
Love you man!

The L.A. Coroner's Office Press Conference just finished . No final statement on Cause of Death since they have to do more Toxicology Tests which can take 4 to six weeks to complete. They concluded no evidence of trauma or foul play to the body.

The part that hurts the most is that he spent his entire life seeking something he never quite reached. Something he sorely deserved, considering all the things he gave the world. His impact cannot be measured. This week was unusually hard on me so I'm not sure if that has anything to do with how I feel, but it's shocking how bad this hurts.

I am very reluctant to show respect for MJ's death.

He might have done some significant things on a 'pop level', but he is also way overrrated.

He was a commercial artist in the first place, with his head too high up in the air, when on an artistic level he hasnt made any real difference or impact.

The hysterical behaviour by the media, fans and press towards his death, simply shows the superficiality and hypocrisy many amercians use.

MJ was a pop-icon, not a great musical artist, just because he had commercial succes doesnt mean he was really relevant.

After Thriller (A Quincy Jones-product) he has been busy to get that same kind of succes with his next albums and tours (when you have some common sense, you know that its a one time thing), but what we did get was a confused, childish moron with issues, an adult guy way to fond of little boys, a mental wreck.

What was left was a sad, pathetic guy trying to defend himselves. A guy who hasnt done anyting musically important since the Thriller album.

I really wonder what really happened to Michael

Stress? Suicide?

45 years of trends, records set, sweat poured
imitation, emulation, fainted fans, from emisaries to popes
kings, queens, over mountians deserts and seas
from the have nots of 2300 jackson street a home that was safe
from afros 2 bell bottoms, butterfly collars, penny loafers, acne
he shied away at times he wished he could fly away from his anxiety
this life of fame a monkey on his back on a ferris wheel
a merry go round that never slowed down
he was rhythm, he was rock n roll, he was soul, on the moon he walked
he spun, he kicked, he screamed, he pointed, we screamed, we enjoyed
they laughed, they pointed, at the accusations the lawsuits, we supported
he carried pain, suffering, misery, pitch dark nights inside the cameras lights
the tabloids, the lies, the confusion, a man, a child, they called him a monster
an alien, an extra terrestial, treated him like a punching bag, a whipping boy,
a scarecrow, a scapegoat, so somewhere in between 20 and 40 his sanity
turned insanity from being infamous mixed with a little schizophrenia
they wouldn't leave him alone they wouldn't beat it leave him no peace no sleep
no justice just fear, taxes, trouble, madness, exhaustion, bein that hero
and in 1 instant bein called a heel, a martian, a ufo,
on hard copy, inside edition, entertainment tonight, and national enquirer
a baby killer, a pedophile, he said hell no I'm still a child I'm God's child
I ain't happy I'm lonley strectched out way too thin and gettin thinner
I'm not a smooth criminal despite all the riots and if you're lookin at me Jesus
I just might see you soon after a few swallows of wine, 20 xanax, and valiums
just 2 deal with my up's, my downs, my crescent highs, and hell on earth lows
being the sensation they don't know is still a sensitive human being
not just here for your reaction everytime I take an action this was his life
this was a gift and a wicked curse of the courts, the I.R.S., the invasions
and we cry now 'cause the lights went out and he was gone too soon
the end of an era...the end of the life of a KING...an ICON... a beautiful man
will there ever be a 2nd coming? another one further ???? NEVER AGAIN....
[Edited 6/26/09 15:52pm]

[Edited 6/26/09 15:54pm]
[Edited 6/26/09 16:03pm]

He is the most important 'crossover' artist ever.

No doubt, that is his legacy.

for the doubters, 'case closed'.

novabrkr said:

I just wanted to recognize this huge moment between the two of you

Riverpoet31 said:

Alrighty then.

I woke up this morning and I couldn't even fix my face. I was still so sad. I turned on the radio and Michael Jackson's music was on every station. "Got To Be There" came on and tears mixed in with the shower water and trickled down my face.
This whole thing has just been too much. I had no idea that I would feel this way.

NMuzakNSoul said:

this is so cute

This is pretty cool footage of Michael and James Brown (and it's NOT the famous Prince-pulls-the-lamp-post-over footage!)


Two undeniable musical icons, paying respect to one another.

The thing that most strikes me, is how people here are whining about his death, when he simply was a child molestor.

There is no excuse for that: a bad childhood, so? He could have seeked help

So, when musicians have done nice and/or important things, you 'forgive' their faults automatically?

Rick James and his wife have kidnapped another woman, and have abused her. Still I see people defending Rick James here.

Michael Jackson has let little boys sleep in his bed, and did also abuse them. His kids are all white, and are event his own kids.

When he wasnt Michael Jackson, but simply Jake or Hank living around the corner, you would have condemed these men for child abuse.

But since it is Michael Jackson: the one who kept whining about his bad youth, his non-existing skin disease, all the lies about his plastic surgery, all the empty victim-behaviour, you keep defending that moron.

That is what is called: hypocrisy, and by defending that overrated, creepy child molestor, you try to maintain some superficial fairytale, when you should be ashamed about yourself.

dreamfactory313 said:

This part is a total trip. I would have guffawed my ass off at anyone who felt devastated and now, I feel devastated

Riverpoet31 said:

I think people's hostility, mine certainly, is towards the fans that cannot and will not acknowledge that people have a legitimate right to feel this way. Michael was imperfect to put it nicely and Prince aint the only one with fams.....

Just saw a pic of his daughter crying. So sad! Regardless if you think he was their biological father or not, it doesn't matter. He raised them. He is the only parent they have ever known. I feel so bad for them. I wonder who will take care of them now.
[Edited 6/26/09 16:03pm]

For some MJ fans that are also wrestling fans, Sharmell (wife of Booker T) speaks:

So cute!

His new music didn't move me the way his music did when I was a child, but he will forever be the man who made me love music and recognize the power it held over people. Great entertainers leave you speechless. He did just that.

...Motown 25 performance of Billie Jean, gliding effortlessly across the floor (a performance he wasn't happy with)...
...the video for Thriller...

Those are what come to mind immediately when I think of the power of his performance. I can still get the very same feeling I had when I first saw them. Amazing.

Not even reading this thread deeply, but on World, Creed or religious values, absolutely the greatest of all time, there can be no arguments about this.

Janet Jackson has arrived in Los Angeles, it has been reported.

The 'Control’ singer was photographed at Van Nuys airport earlier today, according to US Weekly.

Jackson was apparently in Atlanta at the time of her brother’s death, after working on the movie sequel to Why Did I Get Married Too.

A source told the publication that the Jackson family are currently gathered at his rented Los Angeles home, where the popstar was said to have gone into cardiac arrest.

Brian Oxman, the family’s attorney for 20 years, spoke of their shock, saying: "They are stunned. They are barely even able to speak about it."

Michael and Janet recorded the duet 'Scream' in 1995.

As a lover of music, I have to honor and praise Mr. Michael Jackson. He gave soo much to music history that he deserves to be respected for his amazing contributions. From the 60s to the new millenium; from the Jackson 5 to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson dedicated his life to making great music that has inspired every generation that has followed him.

I fell in love with Michael when I was 7 years old. I'll never forget playing the "We Are The World" and "Thriller" vinyls on the record player. Memories of putting that needle on that record and smiling at the sounds that emerged still give me a grin after all these years.

I adore 'The Wiz' and still have an obsession with 'Moonwalker' to this very day. I'll never forget seeing him do the Moonwalk and believing, like many did, that he was magic.

I remember tuning in to watch 'Jam', 'Remember the Time', 'Black or White', 'You Are Not Alone', and 'Scream' when they made their world premieres on MTV. The sheer excitement at getting to hear a new MJ song and see a new music video overjoyed me. With every new song and video, he delievered something extrordinary and mesmerizing to me that kept me a fan despite all the negativity surrounding his private life. His private matters never destroyed my love for the music he made and never will.

When I got my first CD player, one of the first CDs I bought was 'History Vol. 1' and I still have that very copy. It's super scratched and skips like hell, but I refuse to throw it away. I remember begging my dad to go to Disney World so we could see 'Captain EO' and never getting to see it . Michael was a big part to the soundtrack of my childhood. I may not have known him personally, but he was a part of my life and he touched my heart and soul in ways that very few artists, old and new, have ever been able to do.

He will always be the true King of Pop to me and nobody will ever compare or replicate successfully what he gave to the world. He died in the pursuit of doing something that he loved...giving a great show to all those who loved him. The angels are getting a great concert right now and someday we'll all get to see it. RIP Michael and thank you for touching my life. My prayers to all his family, friends, and fans.

Riverpoet31 said:

ROTFL, Okay I can agree on some of it, I appreciate your frank opinion! I am NOT one to bash anybody for speaking their minds...

Cinnamon234 said:

That pisses me off to no end!! How can the media not understand that taking that picture is a sick, selfish invasion of the privacy of those children?

It sickens me that ppl are more concerned with ratings and entertaining the curiosity of others than for the feelings and respect for the family.

Riverpoet31 said:

'NOT GUILTY'

Sorry you are not rational. But that was the outcome, apart from your immediate family, Unlike Mike, nobody givs a shit about you, and never will.

.
[Edited 6/26/09 16:18pm]

rip michael

Riverpoet31 said:

...I mean its your opinion and all but.... ..... ..... ..... ..... .....
[Edited 6/26/09 16:19pm]

What i like to focus on

Rick James gets defended here, when he was an ignorant cokehead who abducted a woman with his wife, and abused her sexually and mentally.

Michael Jackson was accused of childabuse. He didnt get jailed. But there was enough proof he was being acting sickly at least.

Just the fact these two people are artists you like, seem reason enough for accept their ´missteps´.

The fact is.. when those two werent artists you loved, you probably wished them 30 years in jail, or for life sentence.

How hypocrite you are then

i like what ?uestlove said about how since Sinatra wasn't portrayed as a mafia thug when he died, then Michael deserves to be remembered as something other than a sex offender. hey, that's fair.