By Antonio "LA" Reid


Illustration by Tim O'Brien


Michael Jackson is the world's greatest entertainer. One of the most explosive performances I've ever witnessed was Jackson sliding across the stage at the Motown twenty-fifth anniversary show. Just watching that made us all know: That's what greatness is, and anything that doesn't measure up to that is beneath greatness. Before him there were the Beatles and Elvis and Frank Sinatra; Michael Jackson takes his place right alongside those greats.
I'm almost the same age as Michael, and I was one of the original fans. I first saw him at the Ohio State Fair, when I was very young; the Jackson 5 were performing with the Commodores. Michael came on, and that voice of his rang over the whole fairground. I was deeply touched by that voice from the very beginning.

"Billie Jean" is the most important record he's made, not only because of its commercial success but because of the musical depth of the record. It has more hooks in it than anything I've ever heard. Everything in that song was catchy, and every instrument was playing a different hook. You could separate it into twelve different musical pieces and I think you'd have twelve different hits. Every day, I look for that kind of song.

Michael has influenced so many artists, some of whom are picking up on the grandeur and showmanship of his live performances. You can see his influence in his sister Janet, in Justin Timberlake, Usher, Britney Spears, and in Jennifer Lopez and Mariah Carey. You can see his influence in the dance moves -- the syncopated choreography -- that a lot of young artists use. And a lot of them have picked up his work ethic. When you look at a Britney Spears production or a Justin Timberlake production, or if you look at an Usher production, you really see that they took a page out of Michael's book; they went to rehearsal, and they must've worked eight hours a day, because their shows are flawless, as Michael's shows were flawless.

There are many, many people who think of Michael as a spectacle, and it's sad. All of it has taken away from our ability to see him for the artist he really is. A world without Michael Jackson would be a very, very different world. And I think we should all feel very blessed that an artist of that caliber came into our lives, because he has enriched our lives.

(From RS 946, April 15, 2004)

http://www.rollingstone.c...p?pid=2876

Finally. someone in the biz other than his family has his back. It seems that most are holding their tounges until he is cleared. Friends are distancing themselves and denying they ever spent time with him, like Elton John for instance... what a little bitch. Maybe it was just time for some MJ housecleaning and this may be the bright side to this whole mess. I watched an older MJ documenatary and the man can not be touched. He is one of the greatest entertainers ever. He doesn't view the world like everyone else so no, he doesn't see that spending time with children is wrong. And is it? Who gives a flying fuck where they sleep. Would you go chill in the other room if you were a kid and got to hang out with your favorite star. I'm an adult and if I had the chance to hang with someone like MJ or Prince, I wouldn't let them sleep. It's soooo easy to lie but he doesn't, he has nothing to hide.
Now I'm lost with the whole face thing, His look in the Billie Jean video is where he shoud have stopped. But perhaps his face didn't match his changing complexion. And let's just say that it really is a skin disease. I give him even more props for pushing on and not going into seclusion. That's some stressful shit and the man is allowed to go a little crazy.

Yes, the guy is one of the most talented artists ever hit the planet!!! He has vitiligo that makes his skin go white and he is innnocent...They should leave him alone!!!

this is getting a a bit sickening
somebody needs to purify themselves in the waters of lake minnetonka!
Light u in the mood for a dip?

Luv4oneanotha said:

Whats so sickening about me that needs to be purified??

LightOfArt said:

I see, and you know this how, exactly?

VoicesCarry said:

Yet you go on as if you know he's guilty.

Cloudbuster said:

I never SAID he was guilty, but I think a lot of people act as if they know he's not.

VoicesCarry said:

I believe he is innocent!
Happy now?

Articles such as these annoy the fuck outta me...He simply isn't the greatest entertainer
in the world. He used 2 b that...not anymore. Billy Jean, 'Thriller' & 'Of The wall' r brilliant but over 2 decades old. Since then MJ has shown little artitistic growth. He keeps going back
2 the same formula over & over...I think a lot of that has 2 do with his downfall. Fuck
the allegations...just look at his output. I believe that an artist should b judged by his current work...not his reputation. 'MJ' is tired.

Martinelli said:

Brotha you definately havent seen HIStory World Tour or 30th Ann. Concerts
[This message was edited Wed Apr 21 5:55:38 2004 by LightOfArt]

Michael's talent has nothing to do with his behavior. These are two different issues that should not be confused. I'm not supporting Michael's behavior.

LightOfArt said:

Actually, i was thinking of the History world tour in particular.

Martinelli said:

Gimmie a break. He didn't show any artistic growth until AFTER those f*cking overrated albums.

Yeah stuff like 'Little Susie' & 'History' is really out there

Martinelli said:

I wasn't aware that Michael only recorded 2 songs after he released Thriller. And yes, Little Susie does show artistic growth

martinelli if mj is tired like u stated what the hell is prince{dead}

riverdean7 said:

What does Prince have to do with his argument, though?

Or is this simply a game of "my aging superstar is better than your aging superstar!".
[This message was edited Wed Apr 21 7:39:49 2004 by VoicesCarry]

cause hes hatin on mj and since this is a prince website so i decided to bring up prince
and princes decline has been much more evident to me than michaels so if your gonna say mjs on a decline or tired as he put it please compare his decline to prince so it balances everything out and puts everything intp prospective

riverdean7 said:

Well, no offense, but why aren't you at an MJ site if you don't want people to hate on MJ (especially when Luv4Oneanotha keeps posting 20000-page dissertations on his man-child innocence)? I know the mods on those forums are ultra-Nazi about anything negative. Don't expect everyone to be all-loving of MJ here; just like I don't go on an MJ board and expect everyone to be receptive to Prince.
[This message was edited Wed Apr 21 8:17:14 2004 by VoicesCarry]

A quick guestion: Hating on MJ? When has Prince said he hates MJ.

And VoicesCarry, I don't know was it you or another person who said to me to "go on an MJ board", but you see, I already go to MJ borads. I go to Prince boards. I love them both, and I know it's stupid to think these two fan bases could ever live in harmony but it just saddens me when people dis him, so, just let me just do what I do ok? You can always ignore my posts.

riverdean7 said:

I don't hate MJ at all, so don't get ur knickers in a twist. I'm just saying
it's a bit silly 2 write an article on the brilliance of someone based mainly
on 1 song...a song that's older than 20 years no less. That kinda says
a lot about his recent efforts....most of that
I happen 2 find uninspired & well yes, tired.

but that's just my opinion....it's not the gospel.


Franky Says RELAX!

Seesaw said:

My response was only directed toward riverdean, who seems to expect everyone to comply and love MJ. I have no problem with other opinions, but I don't like people telling me what to think

I really don't think that what Martinelli said is "hating", though. He had an opinion, and he explained his reasoning. He didn't post something like "MJ IS SHIT AND EVERYONE WHO LIKES HIM IS TOO!". That's hating. Having an alternate opinion is not.
[This message was edited Wed Apr 21 9:00:30 2004 by VoicesCarry]

Prince never Hated MJ
he HAted BAD lol
wtf is Prince doing buying MJ records lol
he knows he was feelin Human Nature lol

I am usually on Mj boards coz im a big fan of mj too! They respected Prince a lot until his nasty lyrics about MJ...
[This message was edited Wed Apr 21 10:47:49 2004 by LightOfArt]

LightOfArt said:

NASTY lyrics about MJ??

accurate Lyrics or nasty?

what nasty lyrics?
are we talkin about that one verse In Life O the PArty
Prince already stated that that it wasn't regarded in that MAnner
even if it was its an accurate one
its the truth not a dis lol
Prince is like "that aint no dis to my boy Mj"
i find it hilarious how people assume things lol

VoicesCarry said:

'Benefit of the doubt'

you heard that expression?

Prince: that aint no dis to my boy Mj
oh come on!!

My Name Is Prince~ "I don't wanna B King, cause I've seen
the top, and it's just a dream". The whole Tony M rap is aimed
directly at MJ, ending with "U must become a Prince before U're a
King anyway".

To Whom It May Concern~ "U must come 2 U're senses, there
R no kings on this earth, only Princes"

Fascination~ "U wake up in a cold sweat, cause one of them's in u're
room (child screaming). Singing on the telly, makin' more bucks than sense...
'so called' king gives birth 2 'so called' Prince."

love this pic

LightOfArt said:

ur goin ver board
Facination was Recorded in the mid-80's wasn't regarded toward Mj
this is a result of over Analyzation
and Refferring to kings and Princes he's been doin that since 1999
the whole king of pop none-sense started late 80's early nineties
the tony M ra could be regarded in anyway thats it interpreted but i highly doubt their talkin about MJ
C'mon now im started to lose respect 4 u